The iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls

Uzuki Shimamura is an aspiring student who dreams of being an idol. After failing her first audition, a producer from 346 Productions tells Uzuki that she has been chosen for the "Cinderella Project," a new idol group. The project, however, still lacks two other , so the producer needs to scout suitable candidates.

The producer's eyes fall upon Rin Shibuya, who is in the midst of an incident with an upset crowd. As the imposing producer defends her, the two of them are taken in for interrogation by the police, and released after some explanation. Taking this opportunity, he scouts Rin for the Cinderella Project, only to be rejected. Will the producer be able to find two more for his idol group?

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Shibuya, Rin Main

Fukuhara, Ayaka Japanese

Kanzaki, Ranko Main

Uchida, Maaya Japanese

Futaba, Anzu Main

Igarashi, Hiromi Japanese

Anastasia Main

Uesaka, Sumire Japanese

Shimamura, Uzuki Main

Ohashi, Ayaka Japanese

Moroboshi, Kirari Main

Matsuzaki, Rei Japanese

Honda, Mio Main

Hara, Sayuri Japanese

Maekawa, Miku Main

Takamori, Natsumi Japanese

Producer Main

Takeuchi, Shunsuke Japanese

Jougasaki, Rika Main

Yamamoto, Nozomi Japanese

Toba, Yousuke Producer

Fukushima, Yuuichi Producer

Kashiwaya, Tomohiro Producer

Shimizu, Akira Producer

Reviews

Sep 7, 2024

lycoping

Recommended

I really liked this anime. I mean, really liked it.

It wasn't because of the music, because the music is just bland idol music that's completely forgettable (but there was a noted increase in quality as the show progressed). It wasn't really because of the costumes, or the performances, or anything like that, though they were quite well animated and nothing really to complain about, they did the genre justice.

It was because this was probably the most accurate depiction of performing, and being a performer, that I've ever seen. And it also somehow managed to be a quasi-harem anime with absolutely zero (or ... very, very close to zero) subtext or ecchi, which is quite an accomplishment.

I have performed some in my life, and sometimes in front of a LOT of people (I've performed in front of more people than probably 99% of you), and it really nailed the atmosphere before, during, and even after a performance. The nervousness, the excitement, all of that. I found myself reminiscing about the past, and even being a little unexpectedly emotional, because I'd actually forgotten a lot of that, and this brought it back.

And not only that, the idol events, etc., were *scarily* realistic. Love! Live, for as much as I loved that anime, was not realistic at all. This was realistic. In the variety show episode, for example, one the games they played was *exactly* like a game they played on an early episode of AKBingo. I actually felt like I was getting a glimpse behind the scenes of real idol culture (and industry, unfortunately), it was that true to form. It actually kind of made me appreciate them more. I mostly don't like idol music, I think idols are trite, untalented, can't sing and dance with any skill most of the time, and generally make their living by dancing around imperfectly and being cheerful. This anime did nothing at all to dissuade me of that notion, but it did implant the notion that maybe there is some value to smiling and being cheerful as your "schtick", as it were. Their talent isn't really one that I respect, but it's a talent, nonetheless, and maybe I shouldn't be quite as dismissive of it. I mean, I could never be cute like that, right?

(the fact that I'm a middle aged male notwithstanding, of course. I probably couldn't have been that cute if I'd been born a Japanese girl with Akimoto Yasushi as a father. It's something, anyway.)

The characters were a mixed bag. Some were well developed, and you started to care about them as the show progressed. Some were just one-dimensional moe-blobs (rock-girl and cat-ears, for example, though their fights were *legendary*). I guess with fifteen girls, though, if they'd tried to develop all of them equally, you'd just end up with no development at all. And the "baddie" in the second season was played perfectly, I think. You couldn't help but hate her, even though she didn't actually do anything evil or even wrong. It was just a difference in how she sees the world. I wonder if that's a comment on the evil stepsisters?

There's a lot of symbolism to the Cinderella story spread across both seasons, but it didn't become clear until the very end, and it was kind of an amazing moment when that happened. But this is a no-spoiler review, so you'll have to see for yourself.

Oh, one other thing: Even though some of the outfits are a little skimpy in an idol kind of way, at the end of the day, there is zero fanservice and zero ecchi in this anime, at all. Not even swimsuits. Even the Producer (who never gets a name) seems to regard them as his... well, daughters isn't the right word... his kouhai, or maybe employees (but not quite, his relationship is a little less distant than that), and he only ever treats them as such. In fact, his inability to even address them in casual form is played for laughs, and I think that's very refreshing. (and if you don't understand Japanese, that will go right over your head, the different forms are untranslatable, mostly.) And they spent quite a bit of time on some rather, ittedly, gorgeous shoes, and that really just makes me want to hand in my man card even saying that. Shouganai. But it's funny, how seeing those kind of mature shoes on seventeen (or younger) year old feet is actually a bit, well... disconcerting. Not in an ecchi way, but, I wonder if that is a bit of what they were going for. Oh well.

That kind of alludes to what there *is* though: Where there isn't ecchi, there's fashion, and a lot of it, some of it kind of ecchi-adjacent. It's only ever treated as fashion, though, so... guess it could be lots worse. Or better, depending on if you like ecchi.

It is actually rather interesting how much this seems like a harem anime, but it isn't, and not even close. You have the producer, a strong, bland male character, and a gaggle of girls who hang around him and do their thing. He is very much the center of their professional world, much as a protagonist is the center of a harem's world. Is there a such thing as an entirely professional harem? Because it really kinda does feel that way. But it was a lot of fun how all the girls interacted with him and each other, they really did behave much like a CGDCT harem does, but, well, without the ecchi. That's a little odd, but very refreshing. They're all just doing their cute girl thing, and that was one of the things that gave this anime its personality.

In summary, if you want an anime with lots of idol music and dancing and cuteness, that nonetheless has a compelling story and treats the characters as real people instead of moe-blobs (most of the time), you'll enjoy this a lot. If you hate idols and the very idea of seeing them as anything but semihuman moe-blobs, you'll hate it. Simple as that. I liked it. Recommend from me.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Feb 2, 2021

askekmi

Mixed Feelings

Treat me fairly: this is my first idol anime I've ever watched. It's not even the first in The Idolm@ster series, but compared to the things I've heard, and haven't confirmed yet, from School Love Live Idol Project, it might be a fair series to watch. This review contains minor spoilers and some references from the same anime. This review is more like a criticism note towards A1-Pictures, but I guess it falls in the review category.

The show is a mid show. All things considered, it's made by one of the most well-known studios out there, A-1 Pictures, the studio that made (in my opinion) ... the great mistake of adapting Sword Art Online. Therefore, I wasn't expecting something EXTRAORDINARY. But I received what I came for. A fair show, with some basic characters and a basic storyline anyone can get behind.

I guess one of the things that burdened me a lot was the "main" character, Uzuki Shimamura. I'm saying "main" because she never was the only protagonist to begin with. In the first episode, she was the first to show up as a character from the idol group (before it was created), so I thought this story would revolve around her, and only her. As soon as the producer was introduced, she practiced a lot, got a ton of screen time, only to be left in the shadow by overly enthusiastic characters like Moroboshi Kirari and Mio Honda, or overly unenthusiastic characters like Shibuya Rin and Anzu Futaba, that I never wanted to deal with in the first place. The story made it seem like everything was around the first group of idols: Shimamura, Mio and Rin; but I, apparently, was mistaken. Maybe it's just because I don't understand Idol shows, or because of my inexperience with plots in this genre. Anyway, I was thrown way off by the writers because of this, so my experience was a little less enjoyable than it should've been.

The simple storyline I mentioned before is... pretty bland and basic. There is drama and conflict between some characters (Mio Honda after her first concert, the cat-girl and the rock-girl etc.), but it was kept to a minimal level, which is good for a show about idols. Other than that, it's a predictable plot (they each get a concert as a team, or solo; they get a big concert with all ; someone has a problem; they easily get replaced; they have a successful concert, and a happy ending with a small cliffhanger), but by all means, it doesn't make the show any worse. I honestly found a lot more enjoyment in the plot than I expected, even if it was as bland as it gets.

Characters are drawn as simple as it gets for a show that wants to imitate real life (in the idol category). Simple, to the point and it gets the job done. The animation is a little wonky sometimes, but you need to focus to see it. Like, some eyes that aren't moving right, dances are a little weird in the first half, but it isn't something that grabs the attention from the plot or the dialogue.

I guess sound is supposed to be the strong point of this show, but it didn't surprise me all that much. As you know, we have idols in real life like Blackpink, BTS and so on, and there are tens of millions of fans around the world that them and love their songs. And surely, I have some idols I appreciate myself, and their songs are absolute hits that I could put on repeat and still not get bored by. Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls doesn't prove too much with it's songs, except for the intro that never made it into the final concert (something I half expected from an Idol show). The songs are mediocre at best; pop-songs that you hear everyday on the radio, and most of the time, people get sick of them after 2 or 3 weeks are a norm here, so I was sadly disappointed in that regard. Except for Ranko's solo debut song. Even if I heard around 30 seconds from it in the show, it was the only banger that struck a tiny cord in my mind.

Characters are mediocre too. The first three are the focus-point of the series for the first 8 episodes, and the other 8 in the Idol group are just side characters for that period of time. Shimamura is enthusiastic, modest and happy most of the time. She was the only one from the first three that actually wanted to become an Idol and practiced in order to achieve her dream. Rin was just recruited because of her "smile", and Mio was told the same thing. The show doesn't tell us how the other were recruited, so we'll skim past that. They have their own concert after starring in another Idols show, and conflict appears. Mio is sad because of the number of people that came to her concert, and wishes to quit her job as an Idol. This triggers Rin to also leave, and the other are left in confusion as to why they both left. And here comes the greatest character of all: the Producer. This man is honestly one of the best-built characters in the series. A businessman that simply takes care of his workers. Sure, he gets in trouble because of this at some point, but he solves Mio's issue with ease. He is described by his secretary as "reliable" and "trustworthy", as well as "he gets any problem solved". And the Producer does deliver, as these qualities are not lies told because of their appreciation, but because they are the true nature of him. He's anxious at first about gathering all the girls, but he soon finds himself surrounded by young idols that appreciate his work. Honestly, the Producer carries this show heavily. After the disappointment I've had with Shimamura, I'm happy to see a great character that shines bright above girls in an Idol anime.

Overall, as a first watch in any Idol anime, I was a little disappointed. The songs were basic as hell, except for the intro and Ranko's single; the characters were blind, except for the magnificent Producer and the plot is bland. I didn't expect a lot, and I can say that I got exactly what I thought I would. It isn't a bad anime, it's just too simple for it's own.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Oct 11, 2016

bananapotato

Not Recommended

I finished the entire season in order to give the show a chance but it's just not good.

The Story:
It's about a shit ton of girls trying to become an idol. There's really not much to go on except for that.

The Characters:
Probably the majority of the reason why I didn't like the show was because of the poor characters. Seriously, a big cast like that and all of them are very one dimensional. These girls had poor personality, unmemorable and over all not relatable. The problem with a 12-episode show with a huge cast is that not everyone will be developed by the end ... of the season. I mean what are their motivations? They want to become an idol but why? And why is Rin so fucking emo?

The Music:
The music was okay. Like the characters, it wasn't memorable but it was decent none the less.

Finally, this was being compared to Love Live? Yeah I don't think so. Not even close to Love Live. (Don't get me wrong. Im not part of the fandom. I'm just observing and being honest. )

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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