THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls

It all started with three girls – one who trains hard, one who is enthusiastic, and one who is somehow hesitant – and we all ended up having fourteen of them that are in six units.

In the first season, we see the start of the Cinderella Project and the challenge of how the Producer has to get everyone in it. We are introduced to the setting of the story, its main characters, how they are grouped into units (six of them, actually) up to the moment they get to their first concert.

What we saw on the lead idols that compose New Generations is that at first, Uzuki (voiced by Ayaka Ohashi) really wants to be an idol and tries her best (hence the usual response), Mio (voiced by Sayuri Hara) is enthusiastic about being a talent (that is as far as I understand her – I don’t actually have a clear viewpoint of what she really wants), and Rin (voiced by Ayaka Fukuhara) being scouted by Producer through any possible means.

The best episodes in this first half, based on how I enjoyed it much, was Candy Island’s. This is where Anzu (voiced by Hiromi Igarashi) antes up the cuteness and shows that she’s pretty much an information maniac in a way.

The second season sets more drama in action, as they are not just having a friendly competition with other units outside of the project, but with an impending change that has shaken 346 Productions as a whole. In this other half, we see Uzuki feeling the pressure of stepping up the ladder so much that it made her go back to square one – and that was a depressing sight to see, mind you.

We also see Mio and Rin change – Mio goes forward to become a solo artist and Rin participates in another unit, all while being part of New Generations. Unlike the first half, I see many things in the second season that is worth a ponder, such as:

• What is rock, really?
• How important is an idol’s identity? Or, how idols can be depressed as well?
• What if the image that you’re dreaming of  can’t be realized easily?
• Is there a conflict of interest when you are into two idol groups born out of different reasons?
• How long could we maintain the smile that we have preserved for so long?
• Can we defy change and be ourselves?

THE IDOLM@STER series has been notable for drama execution, and this rubs off on Cinderella Girls as well. The story conforms to reality, and even if it tends to be sad, it’s not depressing. The series’ message is simple: Where do we get our strength to do our best? I believe that’s what the series wants to tell to its viewers, which makes it worthy of your attention.