First Impression: The iDOLM@STER Shiny Colors

At 283 (pronounced “tsubasa”) Productions, several idols prepare to challenge W.I.N.G., a major competition for new idols. While many of the idols are in established units already, two girls, Hiori and Meguru, are still without a unit to call home. While trying to figure out what to do with them, the producer of these idols finds a girl singing in a park. After he introduces himself to her and invites her to see the world of idols, Mano joins 283 Pro and forms the unit “illumination STARS” with Hiori and Meguru.

Meanwhile, one of the other groups of 283 Pro, “L’Antica,” sets out to make a music video for one of their songs. Hiring the help of a major name in the film industry, their project is turning out quite well until a sudden storm derails their plans. Will they find a way to make the video they want to make?

Yes, of course they will. This isn’t Oshi no Ko. (Though Shiny Colors did actually collab with Oshi no Ko last year…)

Welcome to the latest anime adaptation of the iDOLM@STER franchise! This one I am admittedly nowhere near as familiar with, not having played the game it’s based on, and there are no established connections with any other iM@S branch, so I am effectively going into this blind. Overall, these two episodes felt like they were just introducing the characters and their various personalities, which is more or less how past iM@S anime have done things too. After a handful of “character highlight” episodes is when these shows pivot into deeper storylines exploring the main characters’ motivations and trials, so we might as well enjoy getting to know the greater cast in the meantime. Speaking of the cast, while Hiori and Meguru are clear analogues to Chihaya and Miki that every other iM@S branch has for a “main trio,” Mano is notably different from Haruka, being a shy, soft-spoken girl who got scouted into becoming an idol rather than auditioning for it, which I think helps this show’s main trio stand out a bit more. With respect to visuals, the show continues the franchise’s shift into 3DCG animation, which isn’t my preference but looks fine in general and in particular looks surprisingly good during L’Antica’s episode. As for the show’s music, the major highlight is L’Antica’s song, which is a heavy metal banger with an interesting subject about “a city that lost its words,” aptly titled “Babel City Grace.” Stylistic songs like this tend to be the iM@S franchise’s best output, and it really hits hard, especially with the accompanying music video. Overall, this is a solid if unremarkable start to a new iDOLM@STER anime, and will suit anyone looking for more idol goodness.

The iDOLM@STER Shiny Colors is streaming on Crunchyroll.

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