Individuals who love anime know that the industry has more to supply outside heroic adventures, awesome mecha, and magical girls. Those that wish to see delightful anime stories with equal doses of song and dance will likely find idol anime very appealing. Numerous idol anime also feature quite catchy and fascinating soundtracks for fans to enjoy.
Together with great performances, the best idol anime are also fascinating tales of friendships and persistence within the face of overwhelming challenges. Area of interest because the genre is likely to be, idol stories are available many shapes and melodies.
Updated October 27, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Fall 2024 is well underway at this point, but does it contain any notable idol anime?
Fall 2024 Idol Anime
Overall, 2024 is not going to be remembered as a fantastic yr for idol anime. Most seasons barely had any shows that fit the theme, be it the male or female version, and the few exceptions weren’t particularly memorable either. The iDOLM@STER Shiny Colours received two cours (including one which is currently airing as a part of Fall 2024), nevertheless it is pretty removed from top-of-the-line entries within the franchise. Simply to be clear, it continues to be price a look ahead to anyone ravenous for idol content, but their expectations must be kept relatively low. While more of a comedy featuring idols than an idol anime, Nijiyon Animation 2 is harmless fun for probably the most part. Himitsu no AiPri has produced roughly 30 episodes thus far, however the show has barely made a splash. Oshi no Ko shouldn’t be an idol show.
After three lackluster quarters, Fall 2024 has to avoid wasting the genre’s yr by producing arguably the one notable addition. Is it price it?
Love Live! Superstar!! Season 3
Love Live! Superstar!! has a somewhat divisive fame. The primary season is thought to be a high point for the idol genre usually, largely due to all-around stellar animation and in addition the inclusion of the franchise’s best protagonist. A 3-dimensional figure who drives the story forward and consistently grows throughout the season, Kanon is only a well-written character who complements and enhances the show’s themes. The remaining of the primary girls are very likable as well, they usually even get moments to shine despite being support figures.
Then, the second season happened, and Superstar!! squandered a few of its goodwill. Although hardly unwatchable, the sequel dedicated plenty of time to a plot thread that ended up going nowhere, while also shining a light-weight on a “villain” (Wien) who was pretty uninteresting and annoyingly obsessive about Kanon. Despite being great in isolation, Kanon is arguably considered one of season 2’s weaker elements, as Superstar!! abandoned any attempts to be an ensemble piece and elevated the protagonist into everyone’s savior.
So, season 3 is in a weird spot. On the one hand, Superstar!! could turn things around with a follow-up so strong that it retroactively improves its predecessor; conversely, one other underwhelming entry could reduce the general series to a disappointing footnote in anime history. Truthfully, it continues to be too early to declare season 3 as a triumph, but there are enough positive signs to be at the least optimistic. Wien joining Yuigaoka Girls’ High School and starting an idol club with Kanon might sound convoluted on paper, nevertheless it has mostly worked out well. They’ve good chemistry, and Tomari is shaping as much as be a good latest character.
Kanon’s departure from Liella has also enabled the opposite characters to step out of her shadow, with the third episode doing a very great job of rehabilitating them. The music has been good as all the time.
Now, onto the perfect idol anime ever…
16 Sekko Boys
MyAnimeList: 6.25
Discuss stone-cold experimental. When Miki Ishimoto starts her job at Holbein Entertainment Co., she begins the large endeavor of managing a brand new idol group! As a fresh college graduate, Miki will stop at nowhere to make a profession within the entertainment industry, even when her latest talents are statues.
Yes, Plaster Boys is about literal statues. Miki becomes accountable for the Sekkou Boys, a boy band consisting of Greco-Roman Sculptures. Its members are Medici, Hermes, Mars, and St. George. Plaster Boys is arguably one of the crucial hilarious yet lovely releases to ever grace idol anime.
15 Locodol
MyAnimeList: 6.88
Idols all the time start somewhere. Sometimes, they start right of their very own hometowns. In Locodol, Nanako Usami gets her world turned the other way up when her uncle asks her to develop into a locodol or an area idol. Nanako gives this a shot, at first teaming up along with her senior Yukari Kohinata to create Nagarekawa Girls. They’ve began performing around their town of Nagarekawa within the hopes of promoting it to the world.
Unlike other idol anime that branch out to relatively large plots, Locodol keeps its story and setting very local. The anime gives a relatively fresh tackle the small-scale local idol industry and a temporary look into the trials and tribulations that these idol groups face of their journey to success.
14 Kodocha
MyAnimeList: 8.02
Kodocha nearly qualifies as an idol anime. While not telling a traditional story for the genre, the anime’s protagonist is a baby actress who’s effectively an idol. More importantly, Gallop’s series is great and well price tracking down, although that is likely to be easier said than done nowadays. This shojo cult classic mostly revolves around Sana’s attempts to maintain her classroom functioning normally, which normally involves countering mischief attributable to the boys.
On the surface, this might sound to be a reasonably typical “boys vs girls” anime, but that might sell Kodocha short. Showing surprising depth and nuance, the series counters its many silly plot threads with grounded and mature themes, which ultimately emphasizes that the characters use the previous so that they can cope with the latter.
13 UniteUp!
MyAnimeList: 7.02
Just a few exceptions notwithstanding, idol anime are all the time fighting an uphill battle for attention, and the male variant tends to have it worse than their female counterparts. UniteUp! didn’t make much noise when it debuted at first of 2023, at the least outside of Japan; nonetheless, the show was successful enough to warrant a sequel. As a multimedia project, the franchise utilizes a unique marketing strategy than most. The concept launched on YouTube in 2021, and the UniteUp! channel has been very energetic since then. As such, the anime feels almost like a spin-off relatively than the primary focus, even when it continues to be central to this universe.
The story follows three YouTube sensations who’re approached by a talent agency and offered the chance to form a brand new idol group. While a few of them are hesitant at first, they eventually determine to just accept the proposal, starting them down a profession path with loads of upsides but in addition just as many challenges. While not necessarily “dark” or “gritty,” UniteUp! is comparatively realistic, with the characters coming across as real. Akira Kiyose is a very strong protagonist, and his arc is season 1’s high point. The core trio are all likable, they usually are backed by a solid supporting solid.
12 AKB0048
MyAnimeList: 7.35 (Season 1)
If music and friendship can save the world, surely it may well save the solar system? In AKB0048, idol groups enterprise into the longer term – one where a devastating war forced humanity to start out anew. At Star Calendar 12 months 0000, the Deep Galactic Trade Organization banned things that “disturbed” the guts, reminiscent of art and music. But music lovers won’t let such oppression occur and this resistance will cause the legendary AKB48 to resurface anew as AKB0048.
Such begins their relatively unique struggle of spreading music in a world where the music itself is treated as terrorism. Viewers will see members of AKB0048 be branded as each heroes and terrorists all of the while training hard to live as much as their historic legacy.
11 Uta No Prince-Sama
MyAnimeList: 7.02 (Season 1)
Albeit less of an idol anime and more of an idol competition anime, Uta no Prince-sama explores what happens within the early stages of an idol’s life. Aspiring composer Haruka Nanami enters the celebrated Saotome Academy, a performing arts school with students all eyeing to develop into a music producers or idols. And Haruka’s mission? To create a song for her favorite idol.
She stumbles upon a bunch of six classmates who all wish to develop into idols. Haruka eventually becomes entangled in the private lives of those six classmates and their journey to develop into popular performers.
10 Kirarin Revolution
MyAnimeList: 7.07
Kirari Tsukishima accomplishes what so many individuals only dream of – pursuing a profession in entertainment to pursue their ultimate crush. Kirarin Revolution begins when food-loving Kirari saves a turtle in a tree that belonged to Ships member Seiji.
When Seiji invites Kirari to a concert, a boy named Hiroto warns her to steer clear of him. Because it seems, Hiroto can be a member of Ships. Determined to pursue Seiji and see the reality for herself, Kirari buckles up and becomes an idol of her own.
Kirarin Revolution stays memorable for its amazing soundtrack and relatively grounded story. While it boasts cutesy graphics typical of a shoujo anime, Kirarin Revolution does give a sneak peek behind the scenes of idol life. These include Kirarin coping with concert events, production woes, and even scandals here and there.
9 Aikatsu!
MyAnimeList: 7.48
Fans is likely to be surprised to learn that Aikatsu! Idol Activity is definitely a collectible card game. Players tackle the role of aspiring idols and use special Aikatsu cards to represent accessories and dresses. When used properly, their cards can earn them points to develop into successful idols. The Aikatsu! anime takes an analogous route, albeit with a more grounded take.
Within the show, a performance by top idol Mizuki Kanzaki inspires Ichigo Hoshiyama to try and develop into an idol herself. She and her best friend Aoi Kiriya enroll in Starlight Academy and, alongside classmate Ran Shibuki, train to develop into top idols. Producing 178 episodes, Aikatsu! is a time investment, and the anime takes some time to actually hit its stride. Season 1 might be the weakest of the 4 seasons, even though it continues to be full of catchy songs and lovable secondary characters. Because the show progresses, it builds up a fairly huge solid for the reason that later seasons introduce a brand new batch of idols, culminating in an “epic” feeling final act.
Aikatsu Stars!
can be great.
8 D4DJ
MyAnimeList: 7.64 (First Mix)
D4DJ transcends medium. The franchise has produced two manga series, a game, and multiple anime, with the primary shows being First Mix and All Mix. Together with a CGI visual style that may take some getting used to, D4DJ‘s primary gimmick is that it blends idols with DJs, with the story revolving around a number of different groups.
While this may not sound like an enormous departure since music is all the time an enormous a part of any idol story, it does end in a reasonably different overall experience than the norm. For probably the most part, D4DJ is a calming watch that rarely introduces significant tension. Most episodes highlight a number of different characters, and the music is usually enjoyable.
7 Symphogear
MyAnimeList: 7.03 (Season 1)
Symphogear is inconceivable to pin down. An motion show featuring magical idols who sing as they save the world, the anime is unapologetically ludicrous, and that could be a compliment. Consisting of 5 seasons, Symphogear has a rather rough start, nevertheless it picks up momentum toward the top of its first cour; after that, the show goes from strength to strength.
If a viewer is trying to find a conventional idol story, they may not find it here. Nonetheless, if someone desires to see over-the-top battles between lovable characters who undergo fairly engaging arcs, Symphogear must be perfect. Also, the soundtrack is nothing in need of implausible, arguably rating amongst probably the most consistent within the anime industry.
6 Zombie Land Saga
MyAnimeList: 7.51 (Season 1)
Zombie Land Saga is one of the crucial necessary idol anime of recent years, mostly since it attracts a more casual audience than the genre tends to administer. Putting aside the actual fact the show’s girls are the walking dead, Zombie Land Saga is basically not that atypical for an idol anime.
The comedy focuses on the growing friendships between its primary characters as they struggle to return to grips with the situation they find themselves in. There are many dance and song numbers too, and season 2 even has decent animation for these segments. Zombie Land Saga is a fantastic gateway anime into the world of idols, and hopefully, it inspires people to hunt down more of the genre’s offerings.
5 Wake Up, Girls!
MyAnimeList: 7.01 (Season 1)
Idol anime aren’t all the time about having fun and sharing the gospel of friendship with viewers. Within the case of Wake Up, Girls!, sometimes becoming an idol means doing whatever it took to make sure the survival of each their group and their entertainment company.
Green Leaves Entertainment is a small-time production company getting ready to collapse. In a last-ditch effort to avoid wasting their company, President Junko Tange hatches a plot to recruit seven girls to create Wake Up, Girls!, a brand new girl group.
Akin more to a drama anime than an idol anime, Wake Up, Girls! expands from the idol performance concept and dwells more into the lives of every member of their group. The anime explores not only the tough elements of reality as an idol team, but the various interpersonal conflicts that intertwine within the means of their growth.
4 Macross Series
MyAnimeList: 7.90 (Super Dimension Fortress Macross)
Surprisingly, an old-school mecha show, Super Dimension Fortress Macross, mainly created idol anime. Centering around a war between humans and aliens, Super Dimension Fortress Macross has motion, political commentary, complex characters, and a virtual idol with an angelic voice named Lynn Minmay.
Over the many years, the Macross series has taken many forms, with idols all the time serving as considered one of the franchise’s primary pillars. 2016’s Macross Delta pushes idols much more to the forefront than is otherwise typical for the franchise; this entry focuses on the Walküre, an idol group that sings to maintain under control a disease called Vár Syndrome.
Macross illustrates how diverse the idol genre actually is. Some anime are comedies, others are dramas, and a handful feature mecha and zombies.
3 IDOLiSH7
MyAnimeList: 7.71 (Season 1)
An adaptation of a mobile game developed by Bandai Namco Online, IDOLiSH7 revolves around a youngster, Tsumugi Takanashi, who’s put accountable for managing a male idol group. Although overwhelmed at first, Tsumugi quickly becomes enamored along with her group, although their future is not all sunshine and catchy songs.
IDOLiSH7 is easy within the sense that it focuses on the group’s rise in fame, which is hardly latest ground for idol anime. Nonetheless, IDOLiSH7 sets itself apart through the sheer strength of its characters and story, because the anime explores the darker side of the industry.
2 The IDOLM@STER (2011)
MyAnimeList: 7.61
Fans of idol anime would likely know The IDOLM@STER, the multimedia franchise revolving around games that had players tackle the role of a production manager that has to administer an idol group. Despite its many anime incarnations, the 2011 iteration of The IDOLM@STER gives a more down-to-earth, hilarious, and yet grounded tackle the complex lives of idol members.
Granted, its plot still revolves across the members of the core idol group rising to the highest. The show also explores how these members need to administer their overall presentation, fan pressure and reception, and rivalry even amongst friends.
The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls: U149
iDOLM@STER is such a large franchise that it, naturally, has inspired a number of spin-offs. Cinderella Girls shakes things up by specializing in a bunch of grade schoolers who’re taking their first steps into the idol industry. While the unique show is decent, U149 is superior in nearly every way, and it doesn’t require the audience to have any prior knowledge of iDOLM@STER.
Idol anime is usually a hard sell to the uninitiated at the perfect of times, but that goes into overdrive when the solid consists of just about nothing but young children. U149 gets over this by walking a effective line between healthful fluff and realism. While the women face real challenges that almost all people preparing for a life within the highlight undergo, the show predominantly maintains a positive outlook and tone. Consequently, the anime manages to focus on the appeal of becoming an idol without coming across as sugarcoated propaganda.
1 Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club
MyAnimeList: 7.50 (Season 1)
Anyone who’s ever loved idol anime will likely remember Love Live! and its penchant for idol games. It’s only about time for Love Live! to eventually get anime adaptations. Out of all of them, Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club is probably the most complete.
Set in Nijigasaki High School in Tokyo, the anime talks of the struggles of the Nijigasaki High School Idol Club in a college of extremely diverse majors and “free school style.” To make matters worse, the varsity is already within the means of shutting down their club. The eleven members of the club, all solo idols, now must work together as a unit to avoid wasting their beloved organization.
Honorable Mention: Oshi No Ko
Attributable to its popularity as each a manga and anime, Oshi no Ko is likely to be plenty of people’s first exposure to idol culture. Nonetheless, while the story features idols to an extent, it shouldn’t be a conventional entry within the genre. An argument might be made that Oshi no Ko shouldn’t be an idol anime in any respect for the reason that story doesn’t deliver lots of the tropes or thrills related to most of these releases. As such, the series shouldn’t be a fantastic introduction to this anime subset.
That said, Oshi no Ko is implausible by most metrics, and its more grounded and cynical interpretation of the entertainment industry serves as a refreshing departure from most shows’ sterilized presentations. Balancing dark themes with humor and splashes of hope, Oshi no Ko was top-of-the-line anime of 2023.
Season 2 focuses specifically on a theatre adaptation of a shonen manga, and it has little or no to do with idols.
Honorable Mention 2: Perfect Blue
Perfect Blue is an all-time great movie, be it anime or otherwise. While one of the crucial famous stories to feature an idol, the film can’t be classified as a part of the genre and will only be watched by people craving a psychological thriller. Satoshi Kon created an uncomfortable tale of obsession and fragility, with the previous being represented by a terrifying stalker who follows the previous idol protagonist.
In search of to go away the idol industry behind and develop into an actress, Mima Kirigoe goes through a radical change in presentation, one which shouldn’t be received well by her fans. Perfect Blue shows the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry and fandom usually, all wrapped up in a robust character study.
