List of idol anime and manga


Idol 'anime and manga' are a category of Japanese fictional media centered on idols, a type of entertainer in their teens and early 20s marketed to have a close relationship with their fans and commercialized through merchandise. Beginning in the 1980s, anime was used as a vehicle to promote an up-and-coming idol's singing career, but has since then created various anime media mix projects centering on fictional singers.

Themes

Idol-themed series use a media mix marketing strategy. Initially, idol-themed series were used to promote music activities for the singers starring in them. Due to the popularity of the characters, the marketing projects are centered on promoting the characters' music and merchandise in real life. Idol-themed series are linked to the Odagiri effect for featuring attractive people of the same gender interacting with each other, and they are also compared to sports series for using themes centered on team-building and competitiveness.

History

In Japan, the concept of an "idol" singer first came into prominence after the 1963 film Cherchez l'idole was released in the country, with Japanese audiences becoming fascinated with Sylvie Vartan and praising both her musical talent and youthful appearance. Her popularity led Japanese entertainment companies to address young singers who shared her aesthetic as "idols." During the 1980s, the economic bubble in Japan led to more anime being produced, as well as a rapid growth of idol singers debuting, which led the decade to become known as the "Golden Age of Idols." As television was influential for idols, anime became one of the mediums used to promote their careers. Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel was the first notable anime series to use a "media mix" marketing strategy to launch Takako Ōta's singing career, where she would provide the voice to the main character and portray her at music events. Idol singer Noriko Hidaka played the lead character, Minami Asakura, in Touch.
In the 1990s, public interest in idols declined, but slowly began regaining popularity near the early 2000s. In the 2000s, as more late-night anime was produced, voice actors such as Yukari Tamura, Nana Mizuki, Yui Horie, and Aya Hirano were promoted as idols by their record labels, leading them to be known as "idol voice actors." By this time, character songs performed by the actors were common, one example being Morning Musume member Koharu Kusumi providing the voice to lead character Kirari Tsukishima from Kirarin Revolution and releasing music under her name.
The growing number of idol groups active in the late 2000s and early 2010s led to an era that the media named the "Idol Warring Period." Due to the idol fan culture being connected to anime fan culture, around this time, media properties starring fictional idols also became popular, the earliest ones being The Idolmaster, Love Live!, and Uta no Prince-sama. Some may prefer fictional idols due to them never disbanding, leaving groups, or getting into scandals.

List of idol anime and manga

YearTitleCreatorOriginal mediumAdaptationTie-in artist
201522/7Aniplex, Sony Music Entertainment Japan, & Yasushi AkimotoMusic groupAnime television series, manga, video game22/7
2012AKB0048SatelightAnime television seriesMangaAKB48
2010AKB49: Ren'ai Kinshi JōreiMangaAKB48
2015Ani Tore! EXRising ForceAnime television series-
2015B-ProjectMages & Love&ArtMusic groupAnime television series, manga, video gameKitaKore, MooNs, THRIVE, KiLLER KiNG
2007Bakumatsu RockMarvelous AQLVideo gameAnime television series
2019Bermuda Triangle: Colorful PastraleBushiroad, Michiko YokoteAnime television series
2001Chance Pop SessionMadhouseAnime television series
1983Creamy Mami, the Magic AngelPierrotAnime television seriesManga, original video animationTakako Ōta
2007Crash!MangaAudio drama, light novels, anime television series
2020D4DJBushiroadMusic groupAnime television series, manga, video gameVarious
2015Ensemble Stars!Happy ElementsVideo gameStage plays, anime television seriesVarious
2021Hikaru in the Light!Mai MatsudaManga
2024Himitsu No AipriTakara TomyArcade GameTelevision series, video gameVarious
2018Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap BattleKing RecordsMusic groupManga, anime television seriesVarious
2015I-ChuLiber EntertainmentVideo gameAnime television seriesVarious
2017Idol × Warrior Miracle Tunes!Takara Tomy & OLM, Inc.Live-action seriesManga, novels, video gameMiracle²
1989Idol Densetsu ErikoAshi ProductionsAnime television seriesMangaEriko Tamura
2013Idol DreamsManga
2017Idol Time PriParaTatsunoko Productions & Takara TomyArcade gameAnime television series, mangaIris
2015Idolish7Bandai Namco EntertainmentVideo gameLight novels, manga, anime television series, original video animationIDOLiSH7, MEZZO”, TRIGGER, Re:vale, ŹOOĻ
2005The IdolmasterBandai Namco EntertainmentVideo gameAnime television series, anime film, manga
2011The Idolmaster Cinderella GirlsBandai Namco EntertainmentVideo gameAnime television series, anime film, mangaCinderella Project
2013The Idolmaster Million Live!Bandai Namco EntertainmentVideo gameAnime television series
2014Bandai Namco EntertainmentVideo gameAnime television series, manga, radio showVarious
2018The Idolmaster Shiny ColorsBandai Namco EntertainmentVideo gameRadio show, Anime television series, anime film, mangaVarious
2019Idoly PrideCyberAgentAnime television series
2015If My Favorite Pop Idol Made It to the Budokan, I Would DieMangaAnime television series
2024Iris the Movie: Full Energy!!Studio GokumiMusic groupIris
2015King of Prism by Pretty RhythmTatsunoko Productions & Takara TomyAnime filmManga, stage play
2016King of Prism: Pride the HeroTatsunoko Productions & Takara TomyAnime filmStage play
2019King of Prism: Shiny Seven StarsTatsunoko Productions & Takara TomyAnime filmStage play
2004Kirarin RevolutionMangaAnime television series, video games, live-action shortsKoharu Kusumi, Kira Pika, MilkyWay, Ships
2018Kiratto Pri ChanTatsunoko Productions & Takara TomyArcade gameAnime television seriesIris, Run Girls, Run!
2020Lapis Re:LightsKLab Games & Kadokawa CorporationAnimeVideo game, music, light novel, mangaVarious
2006Lemon Angel ProjectAvexAnime
2014LocodolMangaAnime television series
2010Love Live! School Idol ProjectASCII Media Works, Lantis, & SunriseMagazine IssueManga, light novels, anime television series, video game, anime filmμ's
2017Love Kome: We Love RiceTochigi TVAnime television seriesStage plays
2001Lovely IdolLight novelVideo game, anime television series, original video animation
2025Maebashi WitchesSunriseTelevision series
2013Marginal#4Rejet & Idea FactoryMusic groupVideo game, anime television seriesMARGINAL#4, LAGRANGE POINT, Unicorn, Jr.
2013Million DollAiMangaAnime television series
2014Ochikobore Fruit TartMangaAnime television series
2020Oshi no KoAka Akasaka and Mengo YokoyariMangaAnime television series-
2019Paradox LiveAvex & GCRESTMusic groupAnime television seriesVarious
2010Pretty RhythmArcade gameManga
2014Pretty Rhythm: All Star SelectionTatsunoko Productions & Takara TomyArcade gameAnime television series, manga, anime film
2011Pretty Rhythm: Aurora DreamTatsunoko Productions & Takara TomyArcade gameAnime television series, mangaLisp, Prizmmy
2012Pretty Rhythm: Dear My FutureTatsunoko Productions & Takara TomyArcade gameAnime television series, mangaPrizmmy, Puretty
2013Pretty Rhythm: Rainbow LiveTatsunoko Productions & Takara TomyArcade gameAnime television series, mangaPrizmmy, Prism Box
2014PriParaTatsunoko Productions & Takara TomyArcade gameAnime television series, mangaIris
2016Sekkō BoysLiden FilmsAnime television series
2012Shōnen HollywoodNovelAnime television series
2015Star-MyuASCII Media WorksAnime television seriesManga, audio drama, stage plays, original video animation
2011SymphogearAnime OriginalAnime television series
2014Tokyo 7th SistersDonuts Co. Ltd. & Victor EntertainmentVideo gameAnime film777☆SISTERS
2012Tsukiuta: The AnimationMovicMusic projectAnime television series, stage play
2010Uta no Prince-samaBroccoliVideo gameAnime television series, stage plays, anime filmSTARISH, Quartet Night, HEAVENS
2015Venus Project: ClimaxGalatVideo gameAnime television series
2014Wake Up, Girls!OrdetAnime filmAnime television series, original video animationWake Up, Girls!, Run Girls, Run!
2015Love Live! Sunshine!!ASCII Media Works, Lantis, & SunriseMagazine IssueManga, light novels, anime television series, video game, anime filmAqours, Saint Snow
2017Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol ClubASCII Media Works, Lantis, Sunrise & BushiroadVideo GameManga, light novels, anime television series, anime filmVarious-
2020Love Live! Superstar!!ASCII Media Works, Lantis, & Bandai Namco FilmworksAnimeManga, video gamesLiella!, Sunny Passion-
2021UniteUp!Sony Music Entertainment Japan, CloverworksMusic GroupAnime television series, mangaPROTOSTAR, LEGIT, JAXX/JAXX, Anela-
2021Selection ProjectDoga KoboAnimeAnime television series, mangaHinaki Yano-
2022CUE!Yumeta Company GraphinicaVideo GameAnimeVarious-
2022Shine PostKonami Digital Entertainment
Straight Edge
Buriki		Light novel projectAnimeYasunori Nishiki-
2022Phantom of the IdolIchijinshaMangaAnimemyu-
2022League of Nations Air Force Aviation Magic Band Luminous WitchesSHAFTAnimeAnime, mangaVarious-
2022Idol Bu ShowORENDA and AmineworksMultimedia projectAnime, live actionVarious-
2023Link! Like! Love Live!ASCII Media Works, Lantis, Bandai Namco Filmworks, & ODD No.Video GameLive streamingVarious-