Wake Up, Girls!

Wake Up, Girls! is an anime series produced by Ordet and Tatsunoko Production and directed by Yutaka Yamamoto.^[1] A film titled Wake Up, Girls! - Seven Idols (Wake Up, Girls! 七人のアイドル, Wake Up, Girls! Shichi-nin no Idol) opened in Japan on January 10, 2014, and the series premiered on television in Japan the following day.^{[2][note 1]} The film was streamed online in 108 countries upon its release. Both the series and film are being streamed with English subtitles by Crunchyroll.^[3]

Plot

Green Leaves Entertainment is a tiny production company on the verge of going out of business in Sendai, the biggest city in Japan's northeastern Tohoku region. The agency once managed the careers of magicians, photo idols, fortune-tellers, and other entertainers, but its last remaining client finally quit. In danger of having zero talent (literally), the president Tange hatches an idea of producing an idol group. On the brash president's orders, the dissatisfied manager Matsuda heads out to scout raw talent.

Characters

Mayu Shimada (島田 真夢, Shimada Mayu)

Voiced by: Mayu Yoshioka^[4]

A high school freshman who used to be center in the famous idol group I-1 club, but left before their big break. She's Airi's best friend, and supports her during her training to become an idol. Nicknamed "Mayushi" by both her peers and fans. Like the I-1 Club, Mayu is the center for Wake Up Girls.

Airi Hayashida (林田 藍里, Hayashida Airi)

Voiced by: Airi Eino^[4]

A 16 year old high school freshman and Mayu's best friend. She's a simple girl with no particular abilities, but with a lot of drive.

Minami Katayama (片山 実波, Katayama Minami)

Voiced by: Minami Tanaka

A senior in middle school, she's a local celebrity who has won several singing contests.

Yoshino Nanase (七瀬 佳乃, Nanase Yoshino)

Voiced by: Yoshino Aoyama

16 years old. Nicknamed "Yoppei" by her peers, she is well-known in Sendai as a former child actress and a model before joining the group. She and Kaya are among the most mature members, often questioning the antics of Kohei and Junko.

Nanami Hisami (久海 菜々美, Hisami Nanami)

Voiced by: Nanami Yamashita

At 13 years old, Nanami is the youngest member of the group. She is recruited after Junko saw her singing at a local home for senior citizens. She can play the piano and enjoys eating. Her cat-like phrases helps boost her popularity as well as her group.

Kaya Kikuma (菊間 夏夜, Kikuma Kaya)

Voiced by: Kaya Okuno

At 18 years old, she is the oldest member of the group. Prior to becoming a member of Wake Up Girls, she works at various jobs.

Miyu Okamoto (岡本 未夕, Okamoto Miyu)

Voiced by: Miyu Takagi

A girl with a bubbly personality. 17 years old. She has a job at a maid cafe in Sendai and is self described as 'twin tailed and incompetent'. She is willing to participate in almost anything and enjoys being the centre of attention whilst respecting others in the group. Mayu is the first person to be successfully recruited by Kohei as a member of the Wake Up Girls

Kōhei Matsuda (松田 耕平, Matsuda Kōhei)

Voiced by: Shintarō Asanuma

The group's manager. While having a good heart, his timid persona makes it difficult for him to effectively make decisions that help boost the group's career. This is evident in the first 2 episodes when he is fooled by a faux talent producer to have the group work as waitresses at a local health spa. He nevertheless cares for the girls and would take action if he sees the girls in an uncomfortable situation. In the movie, it is revealed that he used to play guitar.

Junko Tange (丹下 順子, Tange Junko)

Voiced by: Noriko Hidaka

President of Green Leaves Entertainment and Kohei's superior. At the start of the TV series, she left the group along with all the money they have earned, but returned upon hearing the girls' situation on working at a health spa. She and Kohei then work to help the girls boost their popularity among the public. A chain-smoker with a brash personality, she often harasses Kohei both physically and verbally on the job.

Media

Social game

An idol-training simulation social game titled Wake Up, Girls! Stage no Tenshi (Wake Up, Girls! ステージの天使) launched in January 2014. In the game, the player takes the role of manager and must train the girls on their way to stardom. The game features unique idols not present in the anime.

Anime

The opening theme of the first two episodes is Stand Up! (タチアガレ！), and from episode 3 onwards is 7 Girls' War, both credited by the cast of Wake Up, Girls!. The ending theme is Kotonoha Aoba (言の葉 青葉), also performed by Wake Up, Girls!.

Notes

References

External links

• Official anime website (Japanese)
• Wake Up, Girls! at TV Tokyo (Japanese)
• Official social game website (Japanese)
• Wake Up, Girls! (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia