First Impression – The Idolm@ster: Cinderella Girls S2

Is it midnight already?

Well this season looks like it should be just as cute as the last one was. Plus this one has an episode about a yandere stalker, so what could go wrong?

If you’re being stalked by cute girls, is it really a crime? (…Don’t answer that) 

Well the first episode of the season had a lot of how the girls watch out for P-kun and in turn, the second was about how P-kun looks out for the girls. It’s a nice relationship and if anything, the previous season was good build up for how all of the characters got into this kind of relationship in the first place. …Which makes the new drama about how they might not become idols after all seem a little too heavy. I guess the industry is always changing and it needs to be that way to keep people interested in idols, but was there really no other drama that comes with the job that they could have included instead? The possibility that the idols might just lose their jobs for not being instantly popular just seems like a little much when they pretty much all just got started.

They’re including more characters now though, it seems. Mika was really involved in the last season, but this season is giving more cameos to the other voiced idols from the game. Kaede’s inclusion was nice (if only she was in the main cast because the world needs more Hayami Saori). They also kind of paid homage to some of the idol groups that exist in the game, like Natsuki and Riina, or Rin, Karen and Nao by introducing interactions between those characters. Adding in new characters now seems a kind of sudden since they just spent 13 episodes trying to get you attached to the characters they already introduced, but I guess this allows for new interactions. Plus now we get to see how everyone is equally depressed about the announcement.

…Of course, none of the characters will probably stop being idols because this anime isn’t that pessimistic, but the anime is definitely going to milk this situation for as much manufactured drama as possible. Plus now we get to learn about important idol lessons through the characters all defying Mishiro’s new plans for their careers. Like Kaede’s lesson that pretty much said “fans are important so I’m not too good to perform at small events with small pay off”. To be fair, Mishiro has a point with wanting to push the popular idols further, but at the same time dropping everyone who doesn’t make the cut seems overly harsh. Especially since some characters like Nao and Karen haven’t even had a CD release because of this. But we’ll most likely be seeing Mishiro make a change in her philosophy over the course of the season, so I guess it’s time to sit back and enjoy (?) watching everyone struggle and overcome career obstacles for now.

Bonus Units

Show ▼

I’m torn. On one hand, I want to see the characters in new situations and maturing as idols so the new situation is a positive thing if it brings that. On the other hand, stopping Love Laika’s idol career for any reason is a terrible, terrible crime. If that even happens, of course. I do like how they’re introducing more characters that aren’t part of P-kun’s group (or Mika) though. As long as they keep the focus on P-kun’s group and don’t suddenly start ignoring them in favour of the newer characters, their inclusion shouldn’t take away from the original group too much. These first two episodes had an okay balance at least. …Though it often feels like Kanako and Chieri rarely have any screentime. Or maybe it’s just that they don’t really stand out.

About Karakuri

University student and the one at Metanorn who's known for wearing glasses. Likes blood, insanity and plot twists, but also plays otome games and adores cute romance anime. It balances out... somehow.