Shopping Guide
We’ve covered anime bands so let’s switch over to a different form of 2D music media! From upbeat theme songs to cute visuals, there's no doubt that anime and idols often go hand-in-hand. In fact, the term oshi originated from idol culture, but now applies to someone’s favorite characters in anime and games.
The original concept of a virtual idol is often credited to the Macross franchise where every series features idol culture in some form. But the idol anime genre as we know it today started to take form thanks to their ties to video games beginning in the mid-2000s.
The Idolmaster (stylized as The iDOLM@STER) began as an arcade game in 2005 and later released on various consoles before a mobile version came out in 2011. The concept is simple: the player takes on the role of a producer at an agency responsible for training idols. Since its launch, a number of Idolmaster anime have also aired, each with its own unique story and set of characters. With hundreds of male and female idols in various groups and nearly 2000 songs in the Idolmaster discography, it’s easy to find a favorite within the franchise.
Anyone who knows idol anime has heard of Love Live. Whether it’s through the viral AiScReam meme (“Ruby-chan~!”) or the rhythm game, the Love Live series is arguably one of the most well-known names in the 2D idol genre. In fact, it’s so well known that the 15th Anniversary Tribute album contains covers from other popular anime and Vocaloid personalities! The anime adaptation spans several seasons following different groups of high school idols, and hundreds of songs have been released throughout the years.
Ensemble Stars, often referred to as Ensta, began as a spin-off game in 2015 taking place in the same world as the visual novel Ensemble Girls. Set in a school that specializes in training idols, Ensemble Stars follows the characters as they navigate challenges to chase their dreams. With 24 episodes in the anime and one feature film, Ensemble Stars is a quick watch you can enjoy before jumping into the game!
2015 also saw the release of another 2D idol project. Idolish7 focuses on four groups comprised of 16 male idols who try to break into the entertainment world while working together or competing against each other. Even though there aren’t as many characters in this series compared to other titles we’ve covered, the Idolish7 franchise still has hundreds of songs and several anime seasons for fans to enjoy.
But not all idol anime are full of cheerful or uplifting stories. Some use the genre to explore darker themes, like the hit series Oshi no Ko. Anime viewers get to enjoy tons of great songs alongside all the mystery and drama. Artists like YOASOBI, Queen Bee, and Chanmina have done some of the theme songs, and the show’s fictional idol group B-Komachi performs throughout the seasons.
Idol anime have also crossed back into the sci-fi genre with shows like Zombieland Saga. But did you know one of Japan’s real life idol groups also made their own sci-fi series? AKB48 took part in the production of AKB0048 with its members auditioning as voice actors. Like Macross, AKB0048 blends idols and mecha into one anime. Plus AKB fans will recognize some of the group’s iconic songs used within episodes.
This was just a small sample of the wide world of 2D idols. With hundreds of characters and thousands of songs out there to discover, it’s easy to find a new oshi to cheer on or some new tunes to put on repeat! Be sure to share your favorite idol shows and songs with us on socials!
