Lovedol ~Lovely Idol~ (TV)

[Cyz]

Originally Posted by Aoie_Emesai

Ahhh... the age of love (for anime). They(meaning the japanese creators) sure love using junior high students about to be high school students for anime, don't they? Then the seniors.

Because junior and senior high students have always different issues like love or family. It's easy to create a storyline from there

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by martino

OK, now that is just kinda scary...for a European like me. I think I still prefer X Japan more But are any of these groups any popular???

Morning Musume has had nine #1 singles and ten #1 CD albums, according to the voluminous article on English Wikipedia. They have released almost 40 singles since 1998, and do movies, concerts, musicals and TV shows.

But with a quick look I don't see any of these three groups in the top 100 CD albums or singles for 2005. Wikipedia Japan makes a distinction between bands and idol groups. X Japan is a band, and these are idol groups.

However, Berryz Koubou has released 12 singles (only one of which appears to have reached the top ten), 13 DVD videos (mainly of the singles), two CD albums, six concert DVDs and six photo books, and has appeared as regulars on four TV shows since they were formed in early 2004. Both groups come out of something called the Hello! Project, which is run by a producer called Tsunku.

Maybe someone else here lives or has lived in Japan and is more familiar with the idol group phenomenon.

[Cyz]

Spoiler:

Let's see on episode 2 we have Yuuki Touko. Episode 3 features the Chocorat sisters: China and Mina (are these two twins or just regular sisters?). And from the next episodes...we have the 2 seiyuus Yui and and Yukimi. is the anime trying to show the other batch girls one by one?

[whyrd]

YOu know Mina looks actually like Shia from shuffle...

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by Cyz

Spoiler:

Let's see on episode 2 we have Yuuki Touko. Episode 3 features the Chocorat sisters: China and Mina (are these two twins or just regular sisters?). And from the next episodes...we have the 2 seiyuus Yui and and Yukimi. is the anime trying to show the other batch girls one by one?

Spoiler:

I'd say that's a pretty safe bet. On the one hand that's probably fanservice to fans of the original story and the game, but on the other it does provide some force to move the third generation troupe forward too. So yeah, I think you're right.

Spoiler for More episode 3 thoughts:

I saw someone comment elsewhere that "now the show can actually get started" and I think that's true. Now that Mizuki is in the group, and it forms the "6" that Ruri was talking about in episode 1, that nicely wraps up the first "phase" of the plot (while obviously leaving some questions to address going forward). I guess what remains to be seen is where they go from here and, to be honest, I'm not too sure myself. I wonder how much they're going to explore the Tomohiro x Mizuki angle they hint at, or whether they're going to stay more focused on the idol story itself. If they merge the two, I think it has some potential to be interesting. My bottom line is, with the setup out of the way, let's see where they go from here.

[Skane]

I'm solely following this show because of the potential psycho-moe in Mizuki.

[martino]

After watching episode 2 I think that we finally got to see more of the characters, and hopefully it will get more interesting from now on...

Hehe...Kaede fans migrating onto this show

[Matrim]

Don't you love it when such superficial shows try to include some serious dialogue? I mean the conversation between the manager and the angsty girl in the end of episode two was seriously...laughable. The look on the guy's face when he was staring "thoughtfully" in the distance was just too much, he looked like some world leader talking about the brave new world. The conversation itself was not too bad, though angsty seemed to be convinced too easily but that was to be expected.

Oh, well, at least this series is not as bad as Otome wa Boku ni Koishiteru, meaning that it's actually bearable. Also I expected Mizuki to beat up the manager at some point because he kept on stalking her but someone else did - who said there were no surprises in the plot?

[Cyz]

I like that part where Toko and Tomohiro got on a little "date" of theirs. Hmm, I see a scoop if someone finds out . Anyway, the third batch girls are very thoughtful of helping him recruit Mizuki out. Too bad it didn't work the way they want it to be. Plus! they got busted for skipping practice. Oh! and that other manager is rough and scary. I wonder how she handles the other girls?

[Skane]

I just hope that Mizuki does not become lobotomised when she joins the group, although the OP&ED are not very encouraging. I look forward to the arc where it is revealed who she is directing her revenge against. Then maybe she can go wild there. Mmmm... cute girls smashing guitars on people's head.

Cheers.

[Kaoru Chujo]

If anyone is looking for killer lolis, I think they've come to the wrong place. However, after seeing episode 4, I am wondering if I, who am looking for a story and characters and some pleasant emotions, may have come to the wrong place, too. Lemon Angel Project was actually much better, despite the stellar seiyuu lineup here. This week it took 24 minutes for just about nothing to happen -- ast least nothing that ad any emotional force for me. I did her some good work from Sakai Kanako (REC) and Chihara Minori (SHnY), though.

[Dirty-jin]

Did someone say loli??.....lol j/k

I've just started watching this anime... the OP is quite cute.... i dont quite like ED seems a bit dull......overall this anime isnt bad.....lol... hopely i dont get scold for saying this but "i like there music"...

[Cyz]

Spoiler:

Next episode features that model that look like Sia from Shuffle!. I wonder what are the third batch doing on that voice acting place on episode 4? Training their voice? Anyway, let's see what happens

[KenOhki'sRage]

Just started watching this, didn't realize it was by the creators of Shuffle! which ended terribly. Hopefully this one works better. Very cute very moe show which I adore.

What episode is out so far? I'm thinking 4 now? What day of the week and what time do episodes air in Japan?

[relentlessflame]

Originally Posted by KenOhki'sRage

Just started watching this, didn't realize it was by the creators of Shuffle! which ended terribly. Hopefully this one works better. Very cute very moe show which I adore.

What episode is out so far? I'm thinking 4 now? What day of the week and what time do episodes air in Japan?

The first channel to air it is on Tuesdays at 1:30am (Japanese time, of course), and episode 4 aired last week. It's not really by the creators of Shuffle per se (it premiered as a short story series in Magical Cute Magazine, and the game was by Princess-Soft), but Navel sort of took over the project now thanks to personnel (most notably the character designer).


In other news, here are some images of the Prologue DVD, which I received in the mail the other day. If nothing else, the character designs in the show are very nice.

Spoiler for Lovely Idol Prologue DVD Box Cover:

The DVD also came with a very nice 24-page full-colour booklet of character illustrations by Aoi Nishimata (the original character desginer).

Spoiler for Lovely Idol Prologue DVD Booklet Covers:

The DVD itself is narrated by Ruri's VA, and features an introduction to all the characters (the first two generations, as well as the new third generation), interviews with Aoi Nishimata, the main cast, the key staff members, and a preview of the first episode. It's sort of an alternate (and longer) version of the Promo DVD that was included in the most recent issue of Magical Cute magazine.

[Catnips]

The upcoming DVD release in Japan looks nice(got to preorder one soon....)

[KenOhki'sRage]

Princess Soft made Hourglass of Summer which I really enjoyed. Plus by the closing credits I'm 95% certain who the main girl will be. I think it'll be pretty cool. Thanks for the play time, how much is that prologue DVD and what's in it? It may be worth it for that character booklet . . .

[Cyz]

Watched episode 5...

Spoiler:

Well, it's not surprising there would be a beach episode...and I see that it features Sayuki of the first batch this time hm? Another nice episode IMO. Plenty of "service" and it's nice to see Mizuki on her red bikini . She's quite cute too when she's embarassed. Mm, that other manager with glasses, she keeps trashing Tomohiro to the ground whenever he got near to the other idols. He didn't even get to spend a quality time with Sayuki . From the looks of it, I think all of the girls from different batches loves/likes him more than just a manager. Oh well, I hope WinD continue subbing this anime till the end. Next episode features the Piccolo pairing.

[Nvis]

Originally Posted by Cyz

Watched episode 5...

Spoiler:

Well, it's not surprising there would be a beach episode...and I see that it features Sayuki of the first batch this time hm? Another nice episode IMO. Plenty of "service" and it's nice to see Mizuki on her red bikini . She's quite cute too when she's embarassed. Mm, that other manager with glasses, she keeps trashing Tomohiro to the ground whenever he got near to the other idols. He didn't even get to spend a quality time with Sayuki . From the looks of it, I think all of the girls from different batches loves/likes him more than just a manager. Oh well, I hope WinD continue subbing this anime till the end. Next episode features the Piccolo pairing.

About that,

Spoiler:

I think that female manager is his other sister or something? Didn't he mention in episode 2(with Mizuki?) that he became a manager because of his sister(I think she's also one), which could explain why she is harassing him all the time. I don't have the episode in front of me.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Yes, that other manager is his elder sister. And Ruri (long blonde twin-tails) is his little sister and wants to be a manager, too. I enjoyed the beach episode more than ep4. There is yet hope. Great VA cast, anyway, even if some of them may be mailing in their performances.

I just have to say that when someone mentions a VA without giving her name, it hurts me. And stimulates me to fill the gap, lol. Ruri's VA is Sakai Kanako, a comparative newcomer who was Aka in REC and now has appeared as a host on a seiyuu interview show in Japanese TV. Here are pics of all the main female VAs in this show.

And times/days for all current anime are in the "fall anime calendar" in my sig.