Lovely Idol
Encyclopedia
is the title of a Japanese series which focuses on a group of young girls who are striving to become famous Japanese idol
s.
The entire series has a wide range of media, ranging from written prose
to a video game and even an anime
adaptation. Lovely Idol first began as a set of illustrated short stories
serialized in Enterbrain
's Magical Cute magazine. The franchise grew to include radio shows, drama CDs, a Japanese bishōjo
game by PrincessSoft
, and an anime
TV series which began airing in Japan on October 2, 2006.
who have become very popular. Managed by Tomohiro Fujisawa, there have already been two "generations" of performers, with a third about to debut. However, right before the third generation is cued onstage at a concert, Tomohiro learns that their debut has been delayed by the company president. He isn't told why, but is left to figure out for himself what, exactly, the next generation is lacking. While considering what he should do to remedy the situation, he finds a young street musician singing and playing a guitar. Tomohiro may think he's found the answer to his problem, but recruiting her could turn out to be harder than expected.
A shy girl, she and Mai are the only two in the third batch of Lovedols who had debut experience before.
Short but mild tempered girl. She often becomes the subject of jokes when compared to the breast sizes of the other members of the third generation. According to her, she was a child actor for 8 years before joining the third generation. She is also very proud of her beauty. Her given name means "dance" in Japanese.
Miu is a slow girl. She often says "nyuu~" at the end of her sentences. Miu is fond of dancing and is very energetic. She has problems imitating the sound of dogs. Her given name means "beautiful feather" in Japanese.
The Piccolo sisters have been known to be troublemakers.
This can be seen in episode 6 when they invade the apartment of the third batch. They used to live in the apartment the third generation lived in and they know all the secret routes within (as shown in the episode where they took out a map indicating possible secret routes)
's Magical Cute Premium magazine, beginning with the inaugural spring 2001 issue (released April 27, 2001), featuring the story by Kohki Kanoh and character designs/illustrations by Aoi Nishimata
. It followed the transition from the quarterly Premium to the monthly Magical Cute magazine on February 27, 2004, where it ran until the 13th volume. Serialization resumed from the 26th issue (released April 25, 2006) to the 37th issue (released March 24, 2007) with the New Lyrics subtitle, and introduced the "third generation" cast of characters. Story writing was credited to Agobaria, and copyright was shared by Enterbrain
and Omegavision (parent company of Navel
).
TV's Net Radio in 2003. In 2004, Lovely Idol became part of a Magicue show on Radio Kansai that was transitioned to Lantis
Net Radio in 2005. A new radio show based on the anime cast began airing on Animate
TV's Net Radio in 2006.
published four Lovely Idol Drama CDs, beginning in 2003, featuring the first two generations of idols, and a drama CD featuring the third generation was released in 2007. Another six-disc drama CD series was also released in 2007, with each disc telling the same story from the perspective of each of the third-generation characters.
video game was released on April 28, 2005 on the PlayStation 2
console, and was developed by video game company PrincessSoft
.
The player takes the role of Tomohiro, managing the girls' schedules and helping them improve their skills. The player must also talk to the girls about their troubles and go on dates with them. The game could be considered a part of the "raising sim" sub-genre of bishōjo games due to its focus on training the Lovedols.
adaptation of the series first aired in Japan on October 3, 2006. The TV broadcast consists of 12 episodes, where the 12th episode aired on 19 December 2006. The 13th and final episode was made available as a DVD-exclusive OVA
released in Japan on 28 March 2007.
Ending: "LoveLoveLove no Sei na no yo!" by Lovedol (Sakura Nogawa
, Mai Nakahara
, Haruko Momoi
, Yuko Goto
, Minori Chihara
& Kanako Sakai
)
"HAPPY CLOVER" (sung by all of the 3rd generation girls)
"Shiawase Kakumei" (episode 1, during the concert)
"Kokoro no Yajirushi" (episode 1, during the concert)
"KIIPON! KIIPON!" by Yūko Gotō
"Candy (bitter & sweet)" by Minori Chihara
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
s.
The entire series has a wide range of media, ranging from written prose
Prose
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
to a video game and even an anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
adaptation. Lovely Idol first began as a set of illustrated short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
serialized in Enterbrain
Enterbrain
is a Japanese magazine publisher established on April 1, 2000. Enterbrain magazines are generally focused on video games and computer entertainment as well as video game and strategy guides. In addition, the company publishes a small selection of anime artbooks. Enterbrain is based in Tokyo, Japan...
's Magical Cute magazine. The franchise grew to include radio shows, drama CDs, a Japanese bishōjo
Bishojo
is a Japanese term used to refer to young and pretty girls, usually below university age. Bishōjo is not listed as a word in the prominent Japanese dictionary Kōjien...
game by PrincessSoft
PrincessSoft
PrincessSoft is a Japanese company specializing in the publishing and development of visual novel video games.-List of games:*Day of Love *21: Two One *Hourglass of Summer *Cafe: Little Wish...
, and an anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
TV series which began airing in Japan on October 2, 2006.
Plot
The Lovely Idols are a group of young idol singersJapanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
who have become very popular. Managed by Tomohiro Fujisawa, there have already been two "generations" of performers, with a third about to debut. However, right before the third generation is cued onstage at a concert, Tomohiro learns that their debut has been delayed by the company president. He isn't told why, but is left to figure out for himself what, exactly, the next generation is lacking. While considering what he should do to remedy the situation, he finds a young street musician singing and playing a guitar. Tomohiro may think he's found the answer to his problem, but recruiting her could turn out to be harder than expected.
Third generation idols
- Mizuki is known as "The Princess of Songs" on the streets, as she often plays on the streets with her guitar. Many famous record companies have asked her to officially record some songs but she turned them all down. When Tomohiro first asked her to become an idol, she strongly refused and said that she only sings for revenge. However, this all changed once when she first sings on stage with the other idols of the third generation, as seen in episode 3 of the anime. Ever since then, she officially became one of the idols in training in the third batch.
A shy girl, she and Mai are the only two in the third batch of Lovedols who had debut experience before.
Short but mild tempered girl. She often becomes the subject of jokes when compared to the breast sizes of the other members of the third generation. According to her, she was a child actor for 8 years before joining the third generation. She is also very proud of her beauty. Her given name means "dance" in Japanese.
Miu is a slow girl. She often says "nyuu~" at the end of her sentences. Miu is fond of dancing and is very energetic. She has problems imitating the sound of dogs. Her given name means "beautiful feather" in Japanese.
- Hina is the younger sister of the Chocorat Sisters from the first generation of idols. She often admires her older sisters with pride and joy. Whenever Hina brings up her sisters, she goes on and on about it until someone indicates her doing so. Hina also likes to make pastry, however she is very bad at it. Whenever Hina attempts to make them they are bound to explode(thankfully no one gets hurt),during the last episode where she tried to heat up Miu's miso soup, it exploded. It is possibly hinted that she's very bad with oven-ware.
- Ruri is Tomohiro's younger sister who personally asked the president of Sweetfish Productions to join the third batch of idols. A very cheerful girl.
Sweetfish Productions staff
- Tomohiro is a man who works as one of the managers in Sweetfish Productions. He is the first manager that all of the idols have had in the past and when the story begins he is currently managing the third batch of idols.
- Mariko is the president of Sweetfish Productions, which is the company that all of the Lovely Idols are affiliated with. She was the sole reason why the third batch had a delay on their debut until Tomohiro could figure out what they were lacking. She tends to have a serious, businesslike personality who only wants the best from her employees.
- Tomohiro's and Ruri's older sister who is also a manager. It was because of her Tomohiro got his job as a manager. She is somewhat tomboyish, and tends to attack her brother in a playful sibling way causing Tomohiro to fear her a little. Ruri doesn't seem to have a good relationship with her, as shown she speaks rather coldly to her older sister.
First generation idols
& (Chocorat Sisters)Second generation idols
& (Piccolo Sisters)The Piccolo sisters have been known to be troublemakers.
This can be seen in episode 6 when they invade the apartment of the third batch. They used to live in the apartment the third generation lived in and they know all the secret routes within (as shown in the episode where they took out a map indicating possible secret routes)
Media
Lovely Idol was first created as a series of illustrated short stories, and later adapated into radio shows, drama CDs, a video game, and finally a televised anime series.Illustrated short stories
Lovely Idol was first serialized in EnterbrainEnterbrain
is a Japanese magazine publisher established on April 1, 2000. Enterbrain magazines are generally focused on video games and computer entertainment as well as video game and strategy guides. In addition, the company publishes a small selection of anime artbooks. Enterbrain is based in Tokyo, Japan...
's Magical Cute Premium magazine, beginning with the inaugural spring 2001 issue (released April 27, 2001), featuring the story by Kohki Kanoh and character designs/illustrations by Aoi Nishimata
Aoi Nishimata
is a female, Japanese visual novel character designer and illustrator who works for Navel.Hiro Suzuhira and Aoi Nishimata have known each other from high school; their first work, Ritual, was introduced in 1996. In 2003, she joined Navel along with Hiro Suzuhira, illustrating Shuffle!...
. It followed the transition from the quarterly Premium to the monthly Magical Cute magazine on February 27, 2004, where it ran until the 13th volume. Serialization resumed from the 26th issue (released April 25, 2006) to the 37th issue (released March 24, 2007) with the New Lyrics subtitle, and introduced the "third generation" cast of characters. Story writing was credited to Agobaria, and copyright was shared by Enterbrain
Enterbrain
is a Japanese magazine publisher established on April 1, 2000. Enterbrain magazines are generally focused on video games and computer entertainment as well as video game and strategy guides. In addition, the company publishes a small selection of anime artbooks. Enterbrain is based in Tokyo, Japan...
and Omegavision (parent company of Navel
Navel (company)
is a Japanese label of Omega Vision Inc. a publisher of bishōjo eroge visual novel video games. Its name is a reference to the navel orange.-Games produced:By Navel*Shuffle! *Soul Link...
).
Radio shows
A 16-episode Lovely Idol radio show first premiered on AnimateAnimate
is the retailing arm of MOVIC and is the largest retailer of anime, games, and manga in Japan. The first and headquarters store of Animate opened in 1983 and is located in Ikebukuro, a district in Tokyo, Japan. Currently, there are 38 Animate stores in Japan, and two in Taipei, Taiwan...
TV's Net Radio in 2003. In 2004, Lovely Idol became part of a Magicue show on Radio Kansai that was transitioned to Lantis
Lantis (company)
is a Japanese company that specializes as a music publisher label for Japanese musicians, anime soundtracks and video game soundtracks. It was established on November 26, 1999, and in May 2006, it was bought by, and became a subsidiary of, Bandai Visual...
Net Radio in 2005. A new radio show based on the anime cast began airing on Animate
Animate
is the retailing arm of MOVIC and is the largest retailer of anime, games, and manga in Japan. The first and headquarters store of Animate opened in 1983 and is located in Ikebukuro, a district in Tokyo, Japan. Currently, there are 38 Animate stores in Japan, and two in Taipei, Taiwan...
TV's Net Radio in 2006.
Drama CDs
LantisLantis (company)
is a Japanese company that specializes as a music publisher label for Japanese musicians, anime soundtracks and video game soundtracks. It was established on November 26, 1999, and in May 2006, it was bought by, and became a subsidiary of, Bandai Visual...
published four Lovely Idol Drama CDs, beginning in 2003, featuring the first two generations of idols, and a drama CD featuring the third generation was released in 2007. Another six-disc drama CD series was also released in 2007, with each disc telling the same story from the perspective of each of the third-generation characters.
Video game
The Lovely Idol visual novelVisual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
video game was released on April 28, 2005 on the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
console, and was developed by video game company PrincessSoft
PrincessSoft
PrincessSoft is a Japanese company specializing in the publishing and development of visual novel video games.-List of games:*Day of Love *21: Two One *Hourglass of Summer *Cafe: Little Wish...
.
The player takes the role of Tomohiro, managing the girls' schedules and helping them improve their skills. The player must also talk to the girls about their troubles and go on dates with them. The game could be considered a part of the "raising sim" sub-genre of bishōjo games due to its focus on training the Lovedols.
Anime
The animeAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
adaptation of the series first aired in Japan on October 3, 2006. The TV broadcast consists of 12 episodes, where the 12th episode aired on 19 December 2006. The 13th and final episode was made available as a DVD-exclusive OVA
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
released in Japan on 28 March 2007.
Episodes
| # | Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
Theme songs
Opening: "Koi, Hajime Mashita!" by Sakura NogawaSakura Nogawa
' is a voice actress born in Toyohashi, Aichi on March 1, 1978. Her height is 153 cm and her weight is 54 kg.-Notable voice roles:*Ryunmei Ranka in Arad Senki: Slap Up Party*Tsubasa in Angel Tales*Misha Arsellec Lune in Ar tonelico...
Ending: "LoveLoveLove no Sei na no yo!" by Lovedol (Sakura Nogawa
Sakura Nogawa
' is a voice actress born in Toyohashi, Aichi on March 1, 1978. Her height is 153 cm and her weight is 54 kg.-Notable voice roles:*Ryunmei Ranka in Arad Senki: Slap Up Party*Tsubasa in Angel Tales*Misha Arsellec Lune in Ar tonelico...
, Mai Nakahara
Mai Nakahara
is a voice actress. She is employed by I'm Enterprise. Some of her hobbies include cooking and watching movies, and she is skilled at kendo. She worked with voice actor Ai Shimizu in eight anime where most of the characters they voiced in together had close connections: DearS, Kage Kara Mamoru!,...
, Haruko Momoi
Haruko Momoi
is a Japanese voice actress and singer/songwriter. She was born in Tokyo, Japan and is affectionately referred to as 'Halko' by her fans, a nickname she gave herself which is inspired by HAL 9000, the onboard computer of the Discovery in 2001: A Space Odyssey....
, Yuko Goto
Yuko Goto
is a Japanese voice actress who works for Production Baobab. In direct contrast to her cute-and-vulnerable moé typecasting, Yūko in real life is a devotee of biker culture who dresses and acts as such when not working, right down to her motorcycle...
, Minori Chihara
Minori Chihara
is a Japanese voice actress who has had roles in several anime series, and a J-pop singer. As a seiyū, she works under the agency Avex Planning & Development, while in her musical career, she has been signed under King Records and is currently with Lantis...
& Kanako Sakai
Kanako Sakai
is a Japanese voice actress in Japan. She is represented by RAMS.-2006:*REC - Aka Onda*Jigoku Shōjo Futakomori - Kikuri*Magikano - Chiaki Yoshikawa*Lovedol ~Lovely Idol~ - Ruri Fujisawa*Binbō Shimai Monogatari - Shima Ōshiro-Game:...
)
Insert Songs
"Hateshi no Nai Sora" (果てしのない空) by Sakura NogawaSakura Nogawa
' is a voice actress born in Toyohashi, Aichi on March 1, 1978. Her height is 153 cm and her weight is 54 kg.-Notable voice roles:*Ryunmei Ranka in Arad Senki: Slap Up Party*Tsubasa in Angel Tales*Misha Arsellec Lune in Ar tonelico...
"HAPPY CLOVER" (sung by all of the 3rd generation girls)
"Shiawase Kakumei" (episode 1, during the concert)
"Kokoro no Yajirushi" (episode 1, during the concert)
"KIIPON! KIIPON!" by Yūko Gotō
Yuko Goto
is a Japanese voice actress who works for Production Baobab. In direct contrast to her cute-and-vulnerable moé typecasting, Yūko in real life is a devotee of biker culture who dresses and acts as such when not working, right down to her motorcycle...
"Candy (bitter & sweet)" by Minori Chihara
Minori Chihara
is a Japanese voice actress who has had roles in several anime series, and a J-pop singer. As a seiyū, she works under the agency Avex Planning & Development, while in her musical career, she has been signed under King Records and is currently with Lantis...