I-Chu

Alternate Titles

アイ★チュウ
I-Chu: Halfway Through the Idol

Synopsis

Etoile Vio School is an academy created by the famous talent agency Ailedore to train budding male idols. Follow the guys of eight idol groups as they strive to make their dreams a reality!

Background

I-Chu began as an original "love rhythm adventure" mobile game by Liden Entertainment that was released for iOS and Android on July 3 and June 26, 2015, respectively. Service for the original game ended in July 2020 but was followed up by the updated game I-Chu Étoile Stage in April 2020. In addition to the game, the game has been adapted into a series of stage plays.

The anime adaptation was announced in April 2019 and is being directed by Hitoshi Nanba at Lay-duce with Yoshimi Narita handling series composition, Mina Osawa handling character designs, and Yoshiaki Dewa composing the music. The anime premiered on Jan. 6, 2021 on Tokyo MX.

Characters

F∞F

Kanata Minato (Voiced by: Yuichi Iguchi)
Kanata is the mascot of F∞F who brings smiles and healing to everyone who sees his cuteness. He is sometimes shy around others but becomes cheerful and friendly once he’s gotten used to them. He has a kind heart and can sense people’s feelings. He always carries around his stuffed animal Rabirabi, which has been his companion since he started working as a child actor.

Seiya Aido (Voiced by: KENN)
Seiya is the bright and passionate leader of F∞F. He was born in the US and moved to Japan when he was in elementary school. He loves Japanese culture such as samurai and kabuki and was inspired to become an idol after seeing Tsubaki Rindo in concert. He has a positive personality and enjoys being challenged. He has a habit of giving hugs and having excessive skinship.

Akira Mitsurugi (Voiced by: Toshiyuki Toyonaga)
Akira is a good-looking former model. He is kind to everyone and doesn’t talk much about himself, which gives him a mysterious aura. He cares for those he trusts and enjoys lending a helping hand.

Twinkle Bell

Mitsuki Kururugi (Voiced by: Takashi Kondo)
Mitsuki is the younger brother of the twin unit Twinkle Bell. He likes to play pranks on others. He is honest to himself and acts according to his emotions. He is an extreme brocon and loves his older brother, whom he spends all of his time with.

Satsuki Kururugi (Voiced by: Showtaro Morikubo)
Satsuki is the older brother of the twin unit Twinkle Bell. He is the opposite of his energetic younger brother and is laid-back and easy-going. He loves to sleep and often falls asleep when he’s talking to someone. He has a free-spirited personality and enjoys taking part in Mitsuki’s pranks as long as they don’t go too far.

I♥B

Lucas (Voiced by: Yuichiro Umehara)
Lucas is the bass player and composer of I♥B. Born in France, he is quiet, unsociable, stoic, and dislikes the public perception that “French people are soft.” He also dislikes frivolity and is sometimes annoyed by Leon’s flirtatious attitude, which leads to fights.

Leon (Voiced by: Toshiki Masuda)
Leon is the bright and mischievous guitarist of I♥B whose trademark is his orange hair. Born in England, he is straightforward, simple, good-natured, and can get along with anyone. He has a flirtatious streak and is a bit of a playboy.

Noah (Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae)
Noah is the leader of I♥B who sings, plays guitar, and writes the lyrics. He grew up in a wealthy family and behaves in an elegant, refined manner. He has a gentle, prince-like appearance but is often bold and fearless in his attitude and statements. Even when he is angry, he keeps a smile on his face, which tends to scare the other members. He was childhood friends with Seiya when they lived in the US.

Li Chaoyang (Voiced by: Junya Enoki)
Li is the shy and kind-hearted keyboardist of I♥B. Born in China, he likes cats and other animals and is well-liked by them. Though a bit timid, he has a strong will, especially when it comes to music, and is not easily swayed by others’ opinions.

Rabi (Voiced by: Naoya Nakanishi)
Rabi is the drummer and leader of I♥B who hails from Russia. He is the big brother of the group and often mediates fights between Leon and Lucas. Though a former delinquent, he is now very dependable and puts the needs of the unit above all else.

ArS

Shiki Amabe (Voiced by: Katsufumi Yachi)
Shiki is the moodmaker of ArS who is friendly to everyone and popular among the ladies. He has a calm personality but is also quick-witted and to the point. He is soft-hearted and has many friends.

Akio Tobikura (Voiced by: Atsushi Tamaru)
Akio is a member of ArS who is a glass artist specializing in small pieces. He likes things that sparkle and is attracted to Hikaru’s ice sculptures. He has a negative mindset and is often depressed. He also has a phobia of women due to growing up with violent sisters, and he sometimes hides in the shadows during live performances and events.

Kyosuke Momoi (Voiced by: Hiroyuki Kagura)
Kyosuke is a bit of an otaku who loves anime and games. He also likes special effects and is fascinated by heroes. He posts his artwork on social media and is also active as an essay manga artist. He writes manga about the daily lives of the ArS members, which he keeps a secret from them.

Torahiko Kusakabe (Voiced by: Kenji Roa)
Torahiko is the free-spirited leader of ArS. He is an artist at heart and enjoys drawing original artwork. Before he became famous as an artist he was also famous as a children’s book author. Lucas from I♥B is a fan of his.

Hikaru Orihara (Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka)
Hikaru is bright and cheerful and respects beauty above all else. He is an artist specializing in ice sculptures and enjoys creating beautiful, sparkling works. Though a positive moodmaker who acts gentlemanly, he is a narcissist who speaks in a theatrical manner. He is childhood friends with Raku.

Raku Wakaoji (Voiced by: Daisuke Hirakawa)
Raku is a talented calligrapher who has won several awards. A free spirit who doesn’t do anything unless he wants to, he often takes naps at school or skips class, but he still completes all of his work. He is aloof and likes to tease people. Due to his grandfather’s influence, he speaks in an elderly tone.

Pop'N Star

Momosuke Oikawa (Voiced by: Kazutomi Yamamoto)
Momosuke is a “male girl” who exudes a soft and soothing aura. She is invited by Kokoro to join the group, but still can’t get used to wearing women’s clothing and gets angry when he mistakenly talks in a male tone. She carries around a stuffed squirrel named Ricky, which was given to her by Kokoro in order to give her more character. Her hobby is gardening and she has a flower bed in the school that she tends.

Kokoro Hanabusa (Voiced by: Ayumu Murase)
Kokoro is the leader of Pop'N Star and a “male girl” who thinks that there is no idol cuter than her. She has been dressing up as a girl since she was young and is shy when dressing as a man. She has won over the hearts of fans with her confident performances. She is childhood friends with Runa and Momosuke.

Runa Kagurasaka (Voiced by: Kōhei Amasaki)
Runa is a “male girl” and the son of a politician and sergeant. She is well-versed in both the arts and sciences and has studied a variety of subjects including violin, piano, horseback riding, and tea ceremony. Though she grew up in a strict family, she is polite, calm, and serious. She thinks for herself and acts freely without being bound by prejudice or convention. Her parents don’t know that she wants to become an idol.

Lancelot

Futami Akabane (Voiced by: Yuma Uchida)
Futami is a member of Lancelot who plays the trumpet and drums. He is always lazy and tries to do as little as possible, but when it comes to work he takes it seriously. His is good at flower arrangements, a skill he picked up from his family. After leaving his parents’ home, he became a NEET until meeting high school classmates Issei and Takamichi and entering the entertainment industry.

Issei Todoroki (Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno)
Issei is the leader of Lancelot who plays saxophone and guitar. Though quick to fight when he feels uncomfortable, at heart he is clumsy and caring. He has been friends with Futami and Takamichi since high school. He is also good at cooking.

Takamichi Sanzenin (Voiced by: Yusuke Shirai)
Takamichi is a member of Lancelot who plays the trombone and piano. He has a high sense of pride and often acts haughty or cold. He is often teased by Issei and Futami. He comes from a wealthy family and has a one-sided rivalry with Ban, who also came from a wealthy family.

RE:BERSERK

Ban Jumonji (Voiced by: Yoshiyuki Shimozuma)
Ban is the submissive servant of Eva who calls himself “Guilty Clown.” He is bright, cheerful, and honest. He is also always hungry and loves to eat. He met Eva and Mio at his parents’ orphanage when he was a kid, and they have been like family ever since.

Eva Armstrong (Voiced by: Hiro Shimono)
Eva is the leader of RE:BERSERK whose stage persona is “Bloody Master,” the emperor of the demon world. Although he claims to be 427 years old, he is actually 29, making him the oldest member of I-Chu. He has an owl named Sammy that is always with him.

Mio Yamanobe (Voiced by: Tetsuya Kakihara)
Mio is a loyal servant to Eva and calls himself “Death and Time Guardian (Death Chronos).” Despite his cute appearance, he is a hard worker who never misses an opportunity to practice singing and dancing.

Tenjo Tenge

Aoi Kakitsubata (Voiced by: Ryohei Kimura)
Aoi has a graceful demeanor and exudes and refreshing, relaxed air, though he is serious about his work. He is a hard worker who never compromises on his practice and always tries to do any job perfectly and efficiently. He is one of the best actors in the world and has appeared in countless dramas. Though a gentleman who is kind to women, he is often strict with men, including his unit mates, and often fights with Tatsumi.

Toya Honoki (Voiced by: Kei Minegishi)
Toya has a soft and calm demeanor and was pushed into becoming an idol by Tsubaki. He enjoys going onstage to make everyone smile. Due to his calm nature, he has a nurturing, parental air and often acts as the mediator when Tatsumi and Aoi fight.

Tsubaki Rindo (Voiced by: Yuki Ono)
Tsubaki is the charismatic leader of Tenjo Tenge who has made the group popular. He has a masculine and bossy personality and is a bit of a sadist who enjoys tormenting his juniors.

Tatsumi Madarao (Voiced by: Soma Saito)
Tatsumi is the youngest member of Tenjo Tenge who has a strong competitive spirit and is motivated to make the group more famous. He is honest and clearly expresses himself. He is usually cheerful and positive, but when he gets depressed he tends to wallow in it. He often fights with Aoi.

Other Characters

Principal Bear (Voiced by: Akio Otsuka)
Principal Bear is the president of the Eldoor Office and also the principal of the Etoile Vio School, which he also founded. He is a self-proclaimed French bear who used to be a famous idol.

Yuzuki Asahina (Voiced by: Megumi Toyoguchi)
Yuzuki is a producer who works hard every day to turn the I-Chu into full-fledged idols.

Music

• Opening Theme Song: "Rainbow☆Harmony" by I-Chu Leaders
• Ending Theme Song: "Singing! Swinging!" by I-Chu Leaders

International Streaming

TBD

• Official Site (Japanese)
• Official Twitter (Japanese)
• Official Instagram (Japanese)

• Original Work: Liber Entertainment Inc.
• Director: Hitoshi Nanba
• Series Composition: Yoshimi Narita
• Character Design: Mina Osawa
• Art Director: Ryosuke Obokata
• Color Design: Reiko Iwasawa
• Director of Photography: Yomogiko Murano
• Editing: Tsuyoshi Sadamatsu
• Sound Director: Masanori Tsuchiya
• Sound Production: HALF H·P STUDIO
• Music: Yoshiaki Dewa
• Production: Twin Engine
• Animation Production: Lay-duce