The Essentials
Name: Idolmaster Xenoglossia
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Comedy
Episodes: 26
Released: April 2, 2007 - September 24, 2007
Based On: Inspired by The Idolmaster Playstation game
Director: Tatsuyuki Nagai
Produced By: Sunrise, Bandai Visual
US Distribution By: N/A
Major Japanese Cast
Haruka Amami: Yuka Iguchi
Yukiho Hagiwara: Yui Horie
Iori Minase: Yukari Tamura
Yayoi Takatsuki: Ami Koshimizu
Makoto Kikuchi: Eri Kitamura
Ami Futami: Kaori Nazuka
Mami Futami: Momoko Saito
Azusa Miura: Tomo Sakurai
Chihaya Kisaragi: Kaori Shimizu
Ritsuko Akizuki: Mai Nakahara
R.I.F.F.A.: Yukana
Joseph Shingetsu: Kazuhiro Nakata
Hibiki Saku: Takuma Takewaka
Major English Cast
N/A
Scores
Animation: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Story: 8/10 (x 4 = 32 pts)
Music: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Coherence/Story Arc: 8/10 (x 2 = 16 pts)
English Dubs: N/A
Gut Score: 8/10 (x 5 = 40 pts)
Total: 160/190 (84.2%)
Review
Idolmaster Xenoglossia is about a girl - Haruka - who travels to Tokyo under the impression that she was selected to become an idol after attending an audition. However, upon arriving in Tokyo, a giant mecha breaks out of the ground and, through the help of gravitational control, plops Haruka down in it’s cockpit. After this event, Haruka learns that the company that recruited her is actually a multinational organization named Mondenkind, who is looking for girl to pilot giant mechas - called iDOLS - in order to help protect the earth from falling meteors. These meteors are left over from the mysterious destruction of the Moon 107 years prior - an event known as Lost Artemis. On top of this, the iDOL which Haruka encountered upon arriving in Tokyo - whose name is Imber - will only operate if Haruka is it’s pilot, and rejects anyone else who tries to pilot it.
Soon Haruka discovers that, beyond protecting the earth from falling meteors, they also must protect the earth from a secret organization named Turiavita which has an iDOL if it’s own and whose goal is to collect all 5 iDOLS (Mondenkind has 2, and 2 are M.I.A.) in order to trigger an event called Auryn, which is feared will bring about the end of the world. Haruka ultimately has to balance her friendship with a real entertainment idol, Yayoi, her relationship with Imber, her relationship with her new friend at Mondenkind, Yukiho, her battle with Chihaya, a member of Turiavita who despretly wants to be able to pilot Imber, as well as the internal struggles and battles within Mondenkind, including an ongoing fued between the two girls who rotate as pilots on Mondenkind’s other iDOL, Nebula.
One of the things I’ve found out about this series is that it is very difficult to exactly pin down my thoughts about it. There are several good things about Idolmaster. To start off, it is entertaining. There are aspects of the show that are, I think, rather unique, including the whole deal with Lost Artemis and Auryn. I also think there is ultimately quite a bit of depth, both for many of the characters and the in the backstory. I also think the shows is able to mix different genres together pretty successfully as well.
However, there are some aspects which I didn’t necessarily like. Some aspects of the show have already been beaten to death: mechas which only girls can pilot, and which also choose their own pilots, rejecting anyone else. The mecha battles get pretty old pretty fast. There seems to be only so much these mechas can do to battle, so they just do it over and over. The basis of Mondenkind - flying up into space and blowing up meteors - seems kind of lame. Not that it’s an important job, but at the start of the series, you’re sitting there like “so this is a show about blowing up rocks in space?” Also, the show seemed to give the animators an excuse to perhaps go a little overboard in the fan service category, though it wasn’t anything too terribly excessive.
I think, as a whole, the story works pretty well. I think it ultimately has more positive points than negative points, and the fact that I found it overall entertaining is a key. Flying through this series in 4 nights and not really becoming bored or tired of it seems to be a good sign that it can at least hold my interest pretty good.
As far as technical aspects. I think the animation, overall, was pretty good, which sharp character designs and good animation quality, though I think some things could be a little better. I also thought the music was pretty good as well.
Overall, I think this is a show that quite a people could enjoy, though it may be a little hit-or-miss.
First Watched: May - November 2007
Do I Own: No
Do I Recommend: Yes
