Admittedly, The IDOLM@STER is not my usual fare. Clearly otaku-bait, I normally would avoid a show like this like the plague. However, ANN’s Zac gave the first episode a surprisingly positive review in the summer preview guide, so I decided to take the plunge. After all, if I had stuck with my gut and continued avoiding Toradora based on its plot summary, I wouldn’t have experienced its familiar and yet surprisingly refreshing take on the romantic-comedy genre. Perhaps The IDOLM@STER could do the same.
The plot is simple: the new producer at 765 Productions is tasked with turning the company’s 13 talents into bona fide idol stars. Pretty much every character archetype is covered when you have 13 future idols available. Not to mention a female manager and office assistant. There is something for every otaku. Which also leads to the biggest flaw of the series: way too many characters. At best, a character gets two episodes to develop her personality. Usually, though, she only gets one, and this leads to some very flimsy characters.
Surprisingly though, that was really the most notable flaw. Several of the characters arcs were actually fairly interesting (albeit predictable), and found myself enjoying at least half of the episodes if not more at basic cheap entertainment level.
The IDOLM@STER really is a pretty generic show, but for me it became a guilty pleasure. The singing was frequently pretty mediocre (or cringe-worthy in a few cases), but the songs were catchy, and the dancing animation was rather fun to watch. Since it wasn’t heavy on fanservice, I find myself wondering how well it did with its targeted audience. I’m sure they made up with any lacking fanservice in the merchandising though.
In summary: a fluffy guilty pleasure show that’s hard to recommend, but also isn’t bad, so I wouldn’t suggest avoiding it entirely. After the first episode it is pretty much exactly what you’d think it would be, so if the plot summary sounds good, you’ll probably enjoy it. If it doesn’t interest you, then go ahead and skip it–you’re not missing out on a hidden gem.
