Gakuen Idolmaster

2024 video game

Aki Minamino
Hechima

Writer(s)

Tsukasa Fushimi
Yū Shimizu
Kazuki Amamiya

Composer(s)Takafumi SatōPlatform(s)

iOS
Android

Release

JP: May 16, 2024

Mode(s)Single-player

Gakuen Idolmaster (学園アイドルマスター, Gakuen Aidorumasutā, lit. 'Academy Idolmaster') is a Japanese multimedia spin-off series of The Idolmaster, starting with a free-to-play mobile game developed by QualiArts and Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game was released on May 16, 2024, for iOS and Android in Japan.

Premises and gameplay

The game takes place at the Hatsuboshi Gakuen, an idol training school. The player acts as a student in the Producer Department of the school, and produces one of the nine idols studying in the Idol Department, including Saki Hanami (花海咲季) voiced by Aoi Nagatsuki, Temari Tsukimura (月村手毬) voiced by Nao Ojika, Kotone Fujita (藤田ことね) voiced by Hikaru Iida, Rinami Himesaki (姫崎莉波) voiced by Yuri Usui, Sumika Shiun (紫雲清夏) voiced by Miya Minato, Hiro Shinosawa (篠澤広) voiced by Reina Kawamura, Lilja Katsuragi (葛城リーリヤ) voiced by Kana Hanaiwa, China Kuramoto (倉本千奈) voiced by Mao Itō, and Mao Arimura (有村麻央) voiced by Tsumugi Nanase.^[1]^[2]

Development

On July 25, 2023, it was announced The Idolmaster franchise would release a new brand starting with a mobile game, in the live stream web programme "18th Anniversary Colorful Party!!!!!" for the franchise's 18th anniversary. It was also revealed that Hidefumi Komino was the producer of the new brand, and the project had been started since almost five years ago.^[3]

The title of the game Gakuen Idolmaster and the first promotional video was revealed in a live stream on March 5, 2024. In the live stream, the staff and cast was revealed as well. The scenario is written by light novel writers Tsukasa Fushimi, Yū Shimizu and Kazuki Amamiya. The characters draft are created by Aki Minamino and Hechima. The game was set to be released in Q2 of the same year.^[4]

Cast

The audition for the cast of the nine idols was held in 2021.^[5] On March 5, 2024, three of the nine idols and their voice actresses were revealed.^[4]

Besides the idols, other cast includes Akio Ōtsuka as Kunio Jūō, the school headmaster, and Aoi Koga as Asari Neo, a teacher from the Producer Department.^[4]

Music

The music works are released under the label Asobinotes.^[4]

Graphics

According to Hidefumi Komino, the 3D model of a character consists of 60,000 polygons.^[6]

Release

Gakuen Idolmaster was released on May 16, 2024, for iOS and Android devices.^[1]

Music

Discography

Singles

Title	Release date	Singer(s)	Composer(s)	Lyricist(s)	Peak chart positions		Ref
Title	Release date	Singer(s)	Composer(s)	Lyricist(s)	JPN Dig.	JPN Hot	Ref
"Fighting My Way"	May 16, 2024	Saki Hanami	Giga	Hiromi
"Luna say maybe"		Temari Tsukimura	Minami	Minami
"Sekaiichi Kawaii Watashi" (世界一可愛い私)		Kotone Fujita	HoneyWorks	HoneyWorks
"clumsy trick"		Rinami Himesaki	Shō Watanabe	Shō Watanabe
"Tame-Lie-One-Step"		Sumika Shiun	Yūta Azuma	Yūta Azuma
"Kōkei" (光景)		Hiro Shinosawa	Hakushi Hasegawa	Hakushi Hasegawa
"Hakusen" (白線)		Lilja Katsuragi	NayutalieN	NayutalieN
"Wonder Scale"		China Kuramoto	Shōko Ōmori	Shōko Ōhmori
"Fluorite"		Mao Arimura	Moe Shop	Kana Yaginuma

Live event

The first live concert tour namely "Gakuen Idolmaster: Debut Live Hajime Tour" (学園アイドルマスター DEBUT LIVE 初 TOUR) will be held in August 2024.^[7]

Other media

A manga adaptation written by Smile Down the Runway's author Kotoba Inoya was announced on May 8, 2024. The manga series is set to begin its serialization in Weekly Shōnen Champion in the same year. The protagonist will be Kotone Fujita.^[8] The illustrator of the manga is not revealed yet.

A radio show titled Hatsuboshi Gakuen Ongaku-bu (初星学園音楽部, lit. 'Hatsuboshi Gakuen Music Department') premiered in Apple Music on May 18, 2024. The host is Akihiro Tomita.^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b Tai, Anita (May 9, 2024). "Gakuen Idolm@ster Game Reveals May 16 Launch, Opening Animation". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
^ 学園長挨拶. Gakuen Idolmaster Official Website (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Entertainment. July 25, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
^ 『アイマス』シリーズ新ブランドが発表。ゲームはスマホアプリとして展開。企画始動から5年弱でプロデューサーは小美野日出文氏が担当. Famitsu.com (in Japanese). Kodokawa Game Linkage. July 25, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Cayanan, Joanna (March 5, 2024). "Bandai Namco Unveils School-Based Gakuen Idolm@ster Game App Slated for Spring". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
^ 『学園アイドルマスター』主要キャストに長月あおい・小鹿なお・飯田ヒカルオーディション合格からの3年に誇り「ゼロから一緒に作り上げてきた」. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. March 5, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
^ 『学園アイドルマスター』小美野日出文P、描きたいのは「成長」圧倒的ポリゴン数の3Dライブ&革新的なシステムを導入. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. March 5, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
^ Bandai Namco Entertainment (May 2, 2024). 「学園アイドルマスター」花海咲季、月村手毬、藤田ことねの1stシングル8月7日発売決定！DEBUT LIVE 初(はじめ) ツアー情報解禁！MV毎日公開予定！. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
^ Pineda, Rafael (May 10, 2024). "Smile Down the Runway Manga Creator Writes Gakuen Idolm@ster Game's Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
^ 「学園アイドルマスター」の音楽にフォーカスしたオリジナルラジオ番組「初星学園音楽部」が5月18日より配信決定！初回は長月あおいさん、小鹿なおさんが登場. Gamer (in Japanese). Ixll. May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.

External links

Official website (in Japanese)

The Idolmaster

List of media

Console games

Mobile games

Cinderella Girls
- Starlight Stage
- Viewing Revolution
Million Live!
- Theater Days
SideM
- Live on Stage
- Growing Stars
Shiny Colors
- Song for Prism
Gakuen Idolmaster

Anime

Xenoglossia
The Idolmaster episodes
Puchimas! Petit Idolmaster episodes
Beyond the Brilliant Future!
Cinderella Girls episodes
SideM
Cinderella Girls U149
Million Live!
Shiny Colors

Category

Shōnen Champion series

Weekly Shōnen Champion

Current	Saint Seiya: Next Dimension (2006) Yowamushi Pedal (2008) The Vampire Dies in No Time (2015) Atsumare! Fushigi Kenkyū-bu (2016) Beast Complex (2016) Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun (2017) Appare! Urayasu Tekkin Kazoku (2018) Baki Dou (2018) Harigane Service Ace (2018) Worst Gaiden: Guriko (2019) Shy (2019) Yankee JK Kuzuhana-chan (2020) Tougen Anki: Dark Demon of Paradise (2020) Sanda (2021) Lupin the Third: Neighbor World Princess (2021)
1960s–70s	The Abashiri Family (1969–1973) The Crater (1969–1970) Yuuyake Banchō (1969–1971) Alabaster (1970–1971) Babel II (1971–1973) Dokaben (1972–1981) Microid S (1973) Cutie Honey (1973–1974) Black Jack (1973–1983) 750 Rider (1975–1985) Eko Eko Azarak (1975–1979) Don Dracula (1979)
1980s	Rainbow Parakeet (1981–1983) Plawres Sanshiro (1982–1985) Mirai Keisatsu Urashiman (1982–1983) Duke Goblin (1985–1986)
1990s	Baki the Grappler (1991–1999) Super Radical Gag Family (1993–2002) Apocalypse Zero (1994–1996) Iron Wok Jan (1995–2000) Baki (1999–2005)
2000s	Nanaka 6/17 (2000–2003) Eiken (2001–2006) Dejiko's Champion Cup (2001–2002) s-CRY-ed (2001–2002) Seven of Seven (2001–2002) Hungry Heart: Wild Striker (2002–2005) Original! Super Radical Gag Family (2002–2010) Muteki Kanban Musume (2002–2006) Akumetsu (2002–2006) My-HiME (2004–2005) Train Man: Go, Poison Man! (2005–2006) Black Jack: the Dark Surgeon (2005–2006) My-Otome (2005–2006) Baki Hanma (2005–2012) Mitsudomoe (2006–2011) Muteki Kanban Musume N (2006–2007) Penguin Musume (2006–2007) Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas (2006–2011) Iron Wok Jan! R: The Summit Operations (2006–2010) Fuan no Tane (2007–2008) Clover (2007–2015) Squid Girl (2007–2016) Kaze ga Gotoku (2008–2010)
2010s	Sugarless (2010–2013) Always! Super Radical Gag Family (2010–2018) Shūjin Riku (2011–2018) Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – The Myth of Hades – Anecdotes (2011–2012) Yowamushi Pedal: Spare Bike (2012–2013) My Monster Secret (2013–2017) Shin Garōden (2013–2014) Baki-Dou (2014–2018) Harigane Service (2014–2018) AI no Idenshi (2015–2017) Rokudo's Bad Girls (2016–2021) Beastars (2016–2020) Magical Girl Site (2017–2019) The Dangers in My Heart (2018) Boss Renoma: Shūjin Riku Gaiden (2018–2019) Ippon Again! (2018–2023)
2020s	Meika-san wa Oshi Korosenai (2020–2022) Koe ga Dasenai Shōjo wa "Kanojo ga Yasashisugiru" to Omotte Iru (2020–2024) Hachigatsu no Cinderella Nine S (2021–2022)

Monthly Shōnen Champion

Current	Crows: Explode (2017) Crows Gaiden: Housenka - The Beginning of Housen (2017) Harigane Service Gaiden: Hydra Break (2021) Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles (2024)
Finished	His Name Is 101 (1977–1979) Crows (1990–1998) Worst (2001–2013) Hanaukyo Maid Team (2000–2006) No Bra (2002–2004) Samurai Harem: Asu no Yoichi (2006–2011) Creature! (2010–2017) Shonan Seven (2014–2019) Sengoku Gridman (2020–2021) Shinseiki Chūgakusei no Shitsuji Cafe (2020–2021)

Bessatsu Shōnen Champion

Current	Yowamushi Pedal: Spare Bike (2014) Worst Gaiden: Dokuro (2019) AI no Idenshi: Blue Age (2020) Baban Baban Ban Vampire (2021)
Finished	Magical Girl Apocalypse (2012–2017) Mitsudomoe (2012–2017) Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – The Myth of Hades – Anecdotes (2012–2016) Darwin's Game (2012–2023) Getter Robo Devolution (2015–2019) AI no Idenshi: Red Queen (2017–2019)