IDOLiSH7 is a treat: an idol show that makes all its idols distinct and likeable, with a manager that actually has a personality. The character design, animation, background work and music are all adequate at best, but it’s the character-building where the show shines. That’s a feat: I didn’t think I’d be able to tell the seven boys apart, but by the end of the double-sized first episode, I’d even picked my favorite. (It’s the gorgeous French one with the absurd accent, if you were wondering.) And isn’t picking a favorite what idol shows are all about?
IDOLiSH7 starts out fast, introducing us to our plucky POV character, Tsumugi Takanashi, the daughter of the Takanashi Production Company’s president. This is her first job, and even though she’s the president’s daughter, she’s a diligent young woman who takes it very seriously.
She meets the boys while they’re playing basketball and is immediately struck by their charm and rapport. But right after she meets the boys she’ll be managing, her father gives her a tough task: cut the seven boys down to three. Ouch!
Frustratingly, we don’t get to see the boys’ auditions. Instead, we see them hanging out for what feels like ages, wondering about whether or not they’re going to make the cut. If the boys weren’t all well-written enough to go one step past the idol tropes they’re based off, these cheaply-animated scenes of them lying around talking would be unbearable.
But Tsumugi refuses to choose, standing up for every single boy’s unique strength. ("This guy's stable!" "This guy tries real hard!") It turns out this was her father’s cunning test to see if she had the stuff to be a manager. By believing in her boys, she passes the test.
Next, we see Tsumugi take photos of the lads, build their website and hand out fliers for the group’s very first concert. It must be said that this is not riveting stuff; the pacing suffers here, and yet again, it’s the endearing boys and their cute interactions with each other that save the day. Tsumugi has a personality, but it’s very much in the “earnest and hard-working” mode that’s not too interesting. Unfortunately for Tsumugi, her hard work can’t balance her inexperience, and the much-ballyhooed first concert has a mere nine people show up to a 3000-capacity performance space.
But the boys take it in stride and hit the stage to delight their nine guests. There is an off-puttingly CGI’d dance number and an adequate earworm of a song. The end of the premiere features current #1 idol group TRIGGER conspicuously noting the talented new arrivals. Oh no, how will the IDOLiSH7 boys surpass the cranky, jaded superstars of TRIGGER? Keep watching to find out.
IDOLiSH7 is a sweet (if not well-paced) show that promises a pleasant viewing experience every week. We may have seen this dance before, but at least they’re dancing it well. Based on a mobile game (why don’t these mobile games ever make it overseas?!), IDOLiSH7 is simulcast on Crunchyroll every Thursday at 11 p.m. EST here.
