Hey guys Nitsuj here and welcome to another side blog the blogs between the blogs. Well, it’s time I finish up the Idol arc by talking about the Idolm@ster OVAs simply known as The Idolm@ster: Shiny Festa. These 3 OVAs came out with the new Idolm@ster game The Idolm@ster: Shiny Festa for the PSP released in October 2012. In the episodes the group is invited to perform at an international music festival but not everyone can go so each episode has a different group of the idols go to the festival. The plot is basically the same but the story in each episode is different. So let’s not waste time and let’s take a look at Shiny Festa.
Shiny Festa
We start off the first episode with the Producer announcing that the group is invited to perform but only a few can go. We cut to an airplane where we see that Iori, Yayoi, Hibiki, Ami and Mami have been chosen to represent 765 Pro at the festival. They arrive at the resort island simply known as Vacation Island where Iori makes the suggestion that they spend the first day playing and the next day working, even going as far as inviting Yayoi’s siblings to the island with them. So on the first day they play to their hearts content. The next day rolls around and as they practice for the concert Yayoi notices that Iori isn’t acting how she usually is and Iori confesses that she lost her rabbit Charles yesterday. They decide to stop practicing and all search the island looking for Charles (be very very quiet we’re hunting wabbit). They eventually find Charles who was picked up by a little girl and proceed to go to the concert where they perform their song Visionary which is too cute if you ask me. They get done with their concert and they discover that the rest of the group is there to join them for the encore performance which I’ll talk about later.
In the second episode Chihaya, Haruka, and Azusa are chosen for the trip but they seem to be having trouble deciding what song to perform. As they head to the island they get Ritsuko to perform with them since she’s accompany them in place of the Producer. When they check out the stage they discover that Jupiter is there as well and will be performing for the festival with an awesome stage that uses 3-D imaging and graphics (and you’ve already lost my vote because of the stupid gimmick). As they still try to come up with an idea for the concert Chihaya makes the suggestion that they should sing a song that is unique and matches their idea of music. So the next day they walk around the island seeing and taking in the many types of music styles from all over the world. After seeing all of this they finally decide on a theme for their song; to deliver music to the world. After coming up with the idea they decide to relax with the Producer coming to the island because he was worried about them and wanted to make sure they were doing okay. So the day of concert arrives and they perform their song Vault that Borderline which reminds me of K-ON I’m not gonna lie. So they perform the song and at the end they win the festival, get a trophy and the others show up to perform the encore with them.
In the final episode we focus on the last idols Miki, Makoto, Takane, and Yukiho where Miki says they should do a love song. While everyone is on board with the idea they come to the conclusion that none of them really know anything about love (makes sense, who has time for love when you’re busy trying to become a world class idol. Actually, now that I think about it how can any idol sing about love when they themselves have probably never been in a romantic relationship in their lives). So when they arrive at the island Miki comes up with the idea that they should each go on a date with the Producer to learn a little more about love (okay aside from Takane, I’m calling the cops if I see him with Makoto, Miki, or Yukiho). So throughout the first half of the episode Makoto, Yukiho, and Takane go on a date with the Producer with Miki feeling uneasy as she watches (looks like the bears are trying to steal the Queen Bee’s honey if you know what I mean *nudge nudge wink wink*). After the Producer shows up late for Miki’s date because he was talking to a festival executive she walks away angry and upset and even yells at the others who were trying to cheer her up. The next day after calming down Miki realizes her mistakes and tries to apologize to the group the next day for her behavior but the group waits outside for her with Makoto asking Miki out on a date (this just got interesting) but the Producer shows up all decked out in a suit to ask Miki out on a date to make-up for yesterday (lesbian or straight route which one will she choose). She decides to go on a date with everyone because she loves them all (so she’s bisexual. . .hot). That night they perform at the concert with their song edeN which is a pretty dark song considering their theme is love but the music video is awesome. After the concert it’s announced that the girls win and Miki goes to the Producer for an award for winning since he promised her a reward if she won (honestly, wait until you’re alone at the hotel room). After that they all go on stage to perform for the encore with the song Music which is one of the best songs the group has done and the song we hear at the end of each episode and that’s the end.
Final Thoughts
These OVAs are good. They don’t add anything more to the anime; these are more made for fun episodes used to promote the new game. All of the songs are excellent and a joy to listen to with each one very different from the other so you’ll probably have a favorite one by the end; Visonary is cute and catchy, Vault that Borderline is light rock and energetic and edeN is hard rock and dark. My favorite song is Music but if I had to choose a song sung by the 3 groups I would have to say Vault that Borderline is my favorite song but I also have to give an honorable mention to edeN for it’s awesome music video being one of the best I’ve seen. Where the OVAs fall flat is in the story for the episodes; while not bad don’t expect a deep story to be told or get invested in. In the first one nothing really happens, the second one we get a philosophical thought of how music is universal and brings people from different countries together, and in the last one we don’t get to see what happens on the dates which is kinda a letdown they should have shown a few clips of what happened on the separate dates. My favorite episode would have to be the last one because of Miki and how she became jealous of everybody dating the Producer because it shows that despite her child-like nature and passes at the Proudcer in the anime her feelings are in fact genuine and that she really does have feelings for the Producer. If you liked the anime definitely check these OVAs out but like I said before don’t expect a deep story or major event to happen in them.
Well that concludes the Idol arc I hoped you enjoyed and *Isis appears* (Isis): Aren’t you forgetting something master? (Nitsuj): No, I don’t think so. (Isis): You sure? I’m pretty sure there was another Idolm@ster spin-off that deserved to be mentioned and looked at. (Nitsuj): Oh that! I don’t know I’m kinda tired I’ve been doing these blogs all month can’t you handle it for me. (Isis): Finish what you started troll *points pistol at my head*. (Nitsuj): Ah, okay, I’ll briefly give my thoughts on the Puchim@s anime.
Puchim@s
The Puchim@s anime premiered at the beginning of the year, it’s based off a 4 panel comedy manga written by Akane. In the anime and manga the idols find these small deformed creatures called the Puchidols which look exactly like the idols except they don’t talk and have special powers such as teleporting, flying, summoning animals and much more. The anime revolves around the many day to day activities with the idols and the puchidols, mostly the puchidols causing trouble and the idols saving them or vice-versa. There are 64 episodes total with each one lasting 1 ½ minutes so you can probably watch them all in one day within an hour and a half. Oh and for some reason the Producer has the letter P for his head; why is it like that never explained. For the most part I rather did like it, the puchidols are cute my favorites were Yukiho, Azusa, Kotori, and Makoto’s and the stories were rather funny. While I don’t hate or dislike this anime I feel that it’s a step backwards instead of forward for the series. This is something I would expect them to have to build attention for the Idolm@ster anime but instead it comes after the anime ended. I feel that the amount of time they put into this anime could have been used to start a whole new spin-off series that retold the story with a different setting like the manga Idolm@ster Break where the grandson takes over and becomes the producer for the idols or make the anime a spin-off where we focus on the idols from 876 Pro or Jupiter after they left 961 Pro this would have been an ideal time to explore their characters since they’re relatively new to the series or focus on a whole new batch of idols from the Cinderella project which takes place in an alternative reality where 765 Pro is big and holding auditions for idols. I feel that these ideas would have been the better choice to go but like I said for the most part this is cute and funny and if you have time check them out.
I know that there’s another idolm@ster anime out there called Xenoglassia. Will I review it? Maybe. But for now, I’m done with idols and ready to move on to the next big thing whatever that may be. Speaking of next big thing what do I have plan for next week? *Goes to check the list of animes to review* alright let’s see the next anime I’ll be reviewing is Mahou Sensei Negima the anime. *Stares blankly ahead* oh~ fuck me.
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