This features some hot takes on Idol shows.
An AiPri is an idol that performs in the virtual world incognito, a sort of vtuber take on the idol genre; Himari finds a bracelet and enters the virtual world to discover that Mitsuki her best friend is an AiPri idol, breaking a childhood promise to debut together, joined by the mysterious Tsumugi, the three form Secret Friends idol group with the overarching theme of each girl having secrets and like all Pretty series shows become the top idol.
The whole season is mediocre, the Pretty series has a reputation for being the most off the wall of the idol shows but this feels so corporate that alot of the extreme rainbow colour palette feels dead on arrival, also tell me why monologues and commentary dominate the idol performances over I don't know the bloody selling point of an idol show, the music!
How do you mess this up?
Were getting to the point now where the well for idol shows has run dry, Aikatsu knew this trying to be a live action hybrid, the Pretty series needs to either evolve or end, because every season now is less quirky fun, more corporate bull shit.
Dub is non-existent.
Final Verdict: Going all corporate has spoiled a very fun franchise, I pray this isn't the new normal.
Over in Europe we have a music competition known as the Eurovision song contest where competing countries send some of the most weird and unusual musical performances ever. Over in Japan, you get some of these unusual music anime, some of these entries cover more than one title.
1. Adding Ice Skating to your Idol show from Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream
The pretty franchise has always been capable of adding several different elements to it's idol shows, the Prism Stars combine song and dance with fashion and figure skating to set the standard that saw it become a major franchise and be followed up with ever more crazy stunts and rainbow coloured performances.
2. The Magical Wardrobe to the Virtual Stage from Aikatsu
Aikatsu definitely has the best system for stage costumes as well as staging in general, by inserting cards into the Aikatsu system will allow each idol to emerge on stage fully ready to sing. Aikatsu Planet pushes this further by having live action actresses enter the Aikatsu World.
3. Reviving Classical Composers as Super Powered beings from ClassicaLoid
Imagine Beethoven as a hammy, gyoza obsessed bishy, imagine Mozart with flashy pink hair, imagine Liszt as a big booba anime girl, imagine them having everything from mecha and earth shattering powers then you get this anime.
4. A Mixed Genre Pop Group Performing on the Moon from Wandaba Style
The often forgotten comedy about an eccentric boy genius using the cleanest of technologies to get a pop band to perform on the moon is every bit as funny as you can imagine.
5. Blues Band chasing money for a Concert Hall on their Daikon Field from Nerima Daikon Brothers
Hideaki, Mako and Ichiro form the Nerima Daikon Brothers, a group of Daikon Farmers with loose family ties attempt to make money for their own concert hall with very wacky schemes plaguing them every time.
6. Zombie Idol Group from Zombieland Saga
So how to revitalise a declining idol business? Bring in zombie girls to make your band, because why not?
7. American Idol on Mars from Carole & Tuesday
While the plot to this anime is mostly played straight, you still get all the most bizarre performances in the talent show Mars Brightest, an obvious homage to talent shows. Highlights include the Mermaid Sisters, Fire Brothers and OG Bulldog
8. Ancient Marble Head Statues as Idols from Sekko Boys
Take the statues or Mars, Saint Giorgio, Hermes and Medici and make them a boyband because why not?
9. Music is a Super Power from Symphogear
In what I consider the dumbest anime franchise of all time, Symphogear combines idol singing with super armour powered fights with alien beings.
10. Isekai'd a Chinese Military Strategist into modern day Japan to become a night club legend from Ya Boy Kongming
Zhuge Liang or Kongming if you prefer gets a second chance in modern Japan and ends up becoming a legend in Shibuya with his sick rapping skills and using his tried and tested strategies to maximise the popularity of his nightclub and singing partner.
11. Turning Pilots into Idols from Idol Defence Force Hummingbird
This is what happens when you allow private companies to run your military, this unique experience actually offered a role to a very important voice actress, more in an upcoming review.
12. Singing is a Super Power from Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch
It actually isn't that weird for mermaids to use their voices as a power, what is weird is them becoming human idols to do it complete with idol dresses.
13. Becoming a Teen Idol by Magic from Creamy Mami
Quite big in the 80s when your average ten year old transforms into a teen Idol Singer.
14. Becoming a Teen Idol by Magic because Cancer from Full Moon Wo Sagashite
Arina Tanemura's take on the genre, features a girl given the chance to make her dreams come true because she's going to die soon. It gets worse from here.
15. Becoming Teen Idols by Magic to Save the Fairy Tale World
The much younger girls in Lilpri take on the forms of three classic teenage princesses to make the world happy again.
16. It's Supposed to be a Mecha Series from Macross
Nothing about Macross' mecha content is ever remembered it's always the idols and rock bands, I'm fairly convinced this was also a rhythm game at one point.
17. Liberating the Japanese People Using Smexy Male Rockstars from Bakumatsu Rock
I'm not making that up, a rock band is being used to liberate Japan from the Tokugawa Shogunate.
18. Singing Summons the Rain from The World is Still Beautiful
Whenever Nike sings about a tender rain, it absolutely pours it down.
