Lovely Idol

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Lovedol ~Lovely Idol~

らぶドル～Lovely Idol～ (Lovedol ~Lovely Idol~)
Genre	Romance, Harem
Light novel
Authored by	Kohki Kanoh
Artist	Aoi Nishimata
Publisher	Enterbrain
Publish date	April 27, 2001 – February 27, 2004
No. of volumes
Game
Developer	PrincessSoft
Publisher	PrincessSoft
Genre	Bishōjo game, Dating sim
Platform	PS2
Released	April 28, 2005
Light novel: Lovedol -New Lyrics-
Authored by	Agobaria
Artist	Aoi Nishimata
Publisher	Enterbrain
Publish date	April 25, 2006 – ongoing
No. of volumes
TV anime
Directed by	Keitaro Motonaga
Studio	AIC, TNK
Network	AT-X, Chiba TV, Sun TV, TV Saitama
Original run	October 3, 2006 – December 19, 2006
No. of episodes	12
OVA
Directed by	Keitaro Motonaga
Studio	AIC, TNK
No. of episodes	1
Released	March 28, 2007
Runtime

Lovedol ～Lovely Idol～ (らぶドル, Rabudoru^?, lit. a Japanese portmanteau of Lovely Idol) is the title of a Japanese series which focuses on a group of young girls who are striving to become famous Japanese idols.

The entire series has a wide range of media, ranging from written prose to a video game and even an anime adaptation. Lovely Idol first began as a set of illustrated short stories serialized in Enterbrain's Magical Cute magazine. The franchise grew to include radio shows, drama CDs, a Japanese bishōjo game by PrincessSoft, and an anime TV series which begain airing in Japan on October 2, 2006.

1 Plot
2 Characters
3 Media
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Plot

The Lovely Idols are a group of young idol singers who have become very popular. Managed by Tomohiro Fujisawa, there have already been two "generations" of performers, with a third about to debut. However, right before the third generation is cued onstage at a concert, Tomohiro learns that their debut has been delayed by the company president. He isn't told why, but is left to figure out for himself what, exactly, the next generation is lacking. While considering what he should do to remedy the situation, he finds a young street musician singing and playing a guitar. Tomohiro may think he's found the answer to his problem, but recruiting her could turn out to be harder than expected.

[edit] Characters

The seiyū listed are from the anime adaptation.

[edit] Third generation idols

Mizuki Sakaki (榊瑞樹, Sakaki Mizuki)^?, (Seiyū - Sakura Nogawa): Mizuki is known as "The Princess of Songs" on the streets, as she often plays on the streets with her guitar. Many famous record companies have asked her to officially record some songs but she turned them all down. When Tomohiro first asked her to become an idol, she strongly refused and sayd that she only sings for revenge. However, this all changed once when she first on the stage with the other idols of the third generation, as seen in episode 3 of the anime. Ever since then, she became officially one of the idol's in training in the third batch.
Kotoha Kiryū (桐生琴葉, Kiryū Kotoha)^?, (Seiyū - Mai Nakahara)
Mai Nonomiya (野々宮舞, Nonomiya Mai)^?, (Seiyū - Haruko Momoi)
Miu Nekoya (猫谷海羽, Nekoya Miu)^?, (Seiyū - Yuko Goto)
Hina Hōjō (北条比奈, Hōjō Hina)^?, (Seiyū - Minori Chihara): Hina is the younger sister of the Chocorat Sisters from the first generation of idols. She often admires her older sisters with pride and joy.
Ruri Fujisawa (藤沢瑠璃, Fujisawa Ruri)^?, (Seiyū - Kanako Sakai): Ruri is Tomohiro's younger sister who personally asked the president of Sweetfish Productions to join the third batch of idols.

[edit] Sweetfish Productions staff

Tomohiro Fujisawa (藤沢智弘, Fujisawa Tomohiro)^?, (Seiyū - Hideki Ogihara): Tomohiro is a man who works as one of the managers in Sweetfish Productions. He is the first manager that all of the idols have had in the past and when the story begins is currently managing the third batch of idols.
President Mariko (, )^?, (Seiyū - Chinomi Takema): Mariko is the president of Sweetfish Productions, which is the company that all of the Lovely Idols are affiliated with. She was the sole reason why the third batch had a delay on their debut until Tomohiro could figure out what they were lacking. She tends to have a serious, businesslike personality who only wants the best from her employees.
Miki Fujisawa (藤沢美樹, Fujisawa Miki)^?, (Seiyū - Eriko Kawasaki)

[edit] First generation idols

Aya Hiwatari (日渡あや, Hiwatari Aya)^?, (Seiyū - Ayako Kawasumi)
China Hōjō (北条知奈, Hōjō China)^?, (Seiyū - Moyu Arishima) & Mina Hōjō (北条美奈, Hōjō Mina)^?, (Seiyū - Kumi Kawai) (Chocorat Sisters)
Yui Arisugawa (有栖川唯, Arisugawa Yui)^?, (Seiyū - Sakura Nogawa)
Ayumi Shindo (進藤あゆみ, Shindo Ayumi)^?, (Seiyū - Mayako Nigo)
Sayuki Katagiri (片桐沙有紀, Katagiri Sayuki)^?, (Seiyū - Yu Asakawa)

[edit] Second generation idols

Tōko Yuki (結城瞳子, Yuki Tōko)^?, (Seiyū - Natsuko Kuwatani)
Hibiki Asami (浅見ひびき, Asami Hibiki)^?, (Seiyū - Akiko Kobayashi) & Shizuku Oji (大路しずく, Oji Shizuku)^?, (Seiyū - Rie Kugimiya) (Piccolo Sisters)
Yukimi Naruse (成瀬雪見, Naruse Yukimi)^?, (Seiyū - Hisayo Mochizuki)
Makoto Fujita (藤田真琴, Fujita Makoto)^?, (Seiyū - Ryoko Shintani)
Rei Nagasawa (長澤玲, Nagasawa Rei)^?, (Seiyū - Yumi Kakazu)

[edit] Media

Lovely Idol was first created as a series of illustrated short stories, and later adapated into radio shows, drama CDs, a video game, and finally a televised anime series.

[edit] Illustrated short stories

Lovely Idol was first serialized in Enterbrain's Magical Cute Premium magazine, beginning with the inaugural spring 2001 issue (released April 27, 2001), featuring the story by Kohki Kanoh and character designs/illustrations by Aoi Nishimata. It followed the transition from the quarterly Premium to the monthly Magical Cute magazine on February 27, 2004, where it ran until the 13th volume. Serialization resumed in the 26th issue (released April 25, 2006) with the New Lyrics subtitle, and introduced the "third generation" cast of characters. Story writing is now credited to Agobaria, and copyright is now shared by Enterbrain and Omegavision (parent company of Navel).

[edit] Radio shows

A 16-episode Lovely Idol radio show first premiered on Animate TV's Net Radio in 2003. In 2004, Lovely Idol became part of a Magicue show on Radio Kansai that was transitioned to Lantis Net Radio in 2005. A new radio show based on the anime cast began airing on Animate TV's Net Radio in 2006.

[edit] Drama CDs

Lantis published four Lovely Idol Drama CDs, beginning in 2003, featuring the first two generations of idols, and an additional CD will be published in 2007 featuring cast and characters from the anime's third generation.

[edit] Video game

The Lovely Idol visual novel video game was first released on April 28, 2005 on the Playstation 2 console, and was developed by video game company PrincessSoft.

The player takes the role of Tomohiro, managing the girls' schedules and helping them improve their skills. The player must also talk to the girls about their troubles and go on dates with them. The game could be considered a part of the "raising sim" sub-genre of bishōjo games due to its focus on training the Lovedols.

[edit] Anime

The anime adaptation of the series first aired in Japan on October 3, 2006. The TV broadcast consists of 12 episodes, with the 12th episode scheduled to air on 19 December 2006. The 13th and final episode will available as a DVD-exclusive OVA, and is scheduled to be released in Japan on 28 March 2007.

[edit] Episodes

Title	Original air date	#

"Are You a Lovedol?" "Rabudoru desu ka?" (らぶドルですか？)	October 2, 2006	01
The third generation of idols are about to make their debut, but at the last minute the president of Sweet Fish Productions decides to postpone their debut until their manager can figure out what they are lacking.

"Is it NG?" "NG desu ka?" (ＮＧですか？)	October 9, 2006	02
The girls from the third group of idols attempt to pursuade Mizuki to join them, but are unsuccessful. Tomohiro tries once more with talking with her later, however.

"Is it an Opening Performance?" "Zenza desu ka?" (前座ですか？)	October 16, 2006	03
The Chocorat Sisters are going to put on a private concert and Tomohiro wants to third group of LoveDols to be there as well. Meanwhile, Mizuki is still contemplating Tomohiro's offer to join the third group.

"Is it a Retirement?" "Intai desu ka?" (引退ですか？)	October 23, 2006	04
Tomohiro comes down with a cold so Ruri must step in for him as the third group's manager. Today, they go to a voice acting recording where Yukimi Naruse of the second group is playing the lead role in a new anime so that the third group can get some idea of what else is expected of an idol.

"Is it a Barter?" "Bātā desu ka?" (バーターですか？)	October 30, 2006	05


"Are you Set?" "Setto desu ka?" (セットですか？)	November 6, 2006	06


"Is it a Rapid Development?" "Kyuutenkai, desu ka?" (急展開、ですか？)	November 13, 2006	07


"Is it a Solo?" "Soro desu ka?" (ソロですか？)	November 20, 2006	08


"Is it a Breakup?" "Kaisan desu ka?" (解散ですか？)	November 27, 2006	09


"Can you Reach it?" "Todokimasu ka?" (届きますか？)	December 4, 2006	10


"The Song, Do you Remember it?" "Uta, Oboete imasu ka?" (歌・おぼえていますか？)	December 11, 2006	11


"Is it the Debut?" "Hajimari (Debuu) desu ka?" (はじまり（デビュー）ですか？)	December 18, 2006	12