| Data Carddass Aikatsu! | |
| Developer: | h.a.n.d.[2] |
| Publisher: | Bandai |
| Genre: | Collectible card game |
| Platforms: | Arcade |
| Released: | October 2012 |
| Type: | tv series |
| Director: | Ryūichi Kimura |
| Producer: | Yōsuke Imai Hatsuo Nara Ryuta Wakanabe Nobuyuki Hosoya Takanori Itō |
| Music: | monaca |
| Studio: | Sunrise (#1-126) Telecom Animation Film (#1-52) BN Pictures (#127-178) |
| Network: | TXN (TV Tokyo), BS TV Tokyo, AT-X |
| First: | October 8, 2012 |
| Last: | March 31, 2016 |
| Episodes: | 178 |
| Episode List: | List of Aikatsu! episodes |
| Type: | manga |
| Author: | Banbi Shirayuki |
| Publisher: | Shogakukan |
| Magazine: | Ciao |
| Demographic: | Shōjo |
| First: | December 2012 |
| Volumes: | 2 |
| Type: | manga |
| Author: | Shiori Kanaki |
| Illustrator: | Akane |
| Publisher: | Shogakukan |
| Magazine: | Pucchigumi |
| Demographic: | Kodomo, shōjo |
| First: | January 2013 |
| Type: | light novel |
| Author: | Sunrise, Bandai, Yōichi Katō |
| Illustrator: | Kyō Nagiri |
| Publisher: | Shogakukan |
| Imprint: | Ciao Novels |
| Demographic: | Female |
| Published: | August 8, 2013 |
| Type: | film |
| Aikatsu! The Movie | |
| Music: | monaca |
| Studio: | Sunrise |
| Released: | December 13, 2014 |
| Runtime: | 89 minutes[3] |
| Type: | film |
| Aikatsu! Music Awards - The Show Where Everyone Gets an Award! | |
| Director: | Shinya Watada |
| Music: | monaca |
| Studio: | BN Pictures |
| Released: | August 22, 2015 |
| Runtime: | 56 minutes |
| Type: | film |
| Aikatsu! The Targeted Magical Aikatsu Card | |
| Director: | Ryūichi Kimura |
| Music: | monaca |
| Studio: | BN Pictures |
| Released: | August 13, 2016 |
| Runtime: | 27 minutes |
| Type: | film |
| Aikatsu! 10th Story ~Starway to the Future~ | |
| Director: | Ryūichi Kimura |
| Music: | monaca |
| Studio: | BN Pictures |
| Released: | July 15, 2022 (short film) January 20, 2023 (feature film) |
| Runtime: | 25 minutes (short film) 72 minutes (feature film) |
| Video games | |
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| Other series | |
| Content: |
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| Portal: | yes |
is a multimedia franchise spawned from an arcade collectible card game in Bandai's Data Carddass line of machines, which launched in October 2012.[4] The game revolves around using collectible cards featuring various clothes to help aspiring idols pass auditions. An anime television adaptation by Sunrise began airing on TV Tokyo from October 8, 2012 to March 31, 2016.[5] [6] In 2015, production switched from Sunrise to the studio's subsidiary Bandai Namco Pictures. Four films were released in December 2014, August 2015, August 2016, and January 2023 respectively. Three manga adaptations have been published by Shogakukan, along with four Nintendo 3DS games published by Bandai Namco Games. The franchise was succeeded by several follow-up series; Aikatsu Stars!, Aikatsu Friends!, Aikatsu on Parade! and Aikatsu Planet!. The main character is Ichigo Hoshimiya The story of how these girls became top idol .A social phenomenon among many girls!
The series takes place at, a prestigious school with both middle and high branches, where girls train to become idols and take part in various auditions such as live shows, fashion shows, and dramas. To participate in these auditions, players use Aikatsu cards, special cards which contain digitized dresses and accessories from various manufacturers that are used in their auditions. How well they succeed is often dependent on choosing the right combination of cards. The video games cast players in the role of a new student, who must train to become an idol and reach the top.
The anime series follows a girl named Ichigo Hoshimiya, who becomes inspired by a performance by top idol Mizuki Kanzaki and enrolls in Starlight Academy alongside her best friend, Aoi Kiriya. Along with their classmate, Ran Shibuki, Ichigo and Aoi spend each day training for auditions and aiming to become top idols.
The second season starts with Ichigo returning from America to Starlight Academy, as she now befriends and competes with the students from a new idol school, Dream Academy, which has Seira Otoshiro and her fellow idols.
The third season focuses on a new generation, featuring Akari Ōzora, a young girl chosen by Ichigo to join Starlight Academy, and her friends. They do their best in both the Partner's Cup & the Great Starlight School Festival.
The fourth season centers around Akari's new unit with Sumire Hikami and Hinaki Shinjo, Luminas, going on a nationwide tour and meeting with idols from all over Japan. With these meetings, it prepares them for the big event - The Starlight Queen Cup.
The Aikatsu! arcade game from Bandai began appearing in Japanese arcades from October 2012 as part of its Data Carddass line. The game revolves around using collectible cards to help idols pass their auditions. A handheld title,, was released for the Nintendo 3DS on November 15, 2012.[7] A second 3DS game, titled, released on November 21, 2013.[8] A third 3DS game, titled, released on December 4, 2014. A fourth 3DS game, titled, released on November 26, 2015.
See also: List of Aikatsu! episodes. An anime television series produced by Sunrise began airing on TV Tokyo from October 8, 2012, replacing Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal in its initial timeslot.[9] [10] A second season began airing from October 3, 2013, with a third to begin airing in October 2014.[5] [11] Daisuki began streaming the series from September 4, 2014.[12] Sunrise's director, Masayuki Ozaki, has stated Aikatsu may be considered for a US release if fans are vocal enough about it.[13]
See main article: Aikatsu! The Movie. An animated film based on the series was released on December 13, 2014.[14]
A second film, Aikatsu! Music Awards - The Show Where Everyone Gets an Award!, was released on August 22, 2015.[15]
A Drama CD, Aikatsu! Great Starmiya Ichigo Festival: After-party Special!, was released alongside Aikatsu! The Movie.
See main article: List of Aikatsu! albums. The series contains a variety of theme songs and insert songs. Many of the songs are composed and arranged by Monoca, and performed by members of the Japanese idol group Star Anis and Aikatsu Stars who provide the singing voices for the characters.
A manga adaption, published by Shogakukan and illustrated by Bambi Shirayuki, was serialized in Ciao.[16]
The Aikatsu! franchise was succeeded by four successive series of arcade machines and anime series. Aikatsu Stars! launched in May 2016 with an anime airing between April 2016 and March 2018.[17] Aikatsu Friends! launched in April 2018 with an anime airing between April 2018 and September 2019.[18] Aikatsu Planet!, which features characters from Aikatsu!, Stars! and Friends! launched in October 2019, with an anime airing between October 2019 and March 2020. Aikatsu Planet! launched in December 2020, with a live-action/anime hybrid series airing from January to June 2021.[19] A VTuber project titled Aikatsu Academy! launched on July 27, 2024 with three talents; Mieru Himeno, Mamiru Meh, and Wao Parin.[20]
Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network (ANN) commented that the anime series is "really a half-hour commercial for a card game aimed at elementary-aged girls, or at least it seems that way", but despite this she noted "there's something fun about this show and its toy-bright colors". Silverman said Aikatsu! is a show for someone "looking for some brainless fun with a toe-tapping yet saccharine soundtrack, you're a seven-year-old girl, or if you just really like the color pink".[21] Theron Martin also from ANN described it as "essentially a complement to a like-named card game aimed at teen and preteen girls".[22] ANN's Carlo Santos agreed that it's a commercial-like anime, but also criticized the animation, saying the "quality is barely enough to get by, and the character designs look oddly outdated."[23] Carl Kimlinger's opinion was less negative as he said Aikatsu! "isn't terrible by any stretch, but it doesn't make even a desultory effort to differentiate itself from the dozens of other shows that use aspiring idols to sell games and figurines and god knows what else" and that "character designs also have a lovely shōjo flavor, and the whole series looks just as pink and pretty as can be." He finished telling it will be "a highly tolerable diversion" for those who like this kind of anime.[24]
The film earned ¥172,727,250 at the Japanese box office on its first weekend.[25] As of February 21, 2016, it had grossed in South Korea.[26]