10 Best Anime Idol Groups

Idols appear in many different anime, such as Misa in Death Note and the titular character of Miss Monochrome. These characters are often peppy and bright, bringing fun to the show, although some idols have hidden motivations, such as Yumemi in Kakegurui who uses her fame and influence to advance her social position. Many idol anime feature a large cast of strong female protagonists, although some differ from this format in favor of male idols.

Some idol groups are played for laughs and parodied, such as Backstreet Girls Gokudols which sees three mafia guys being made into idols to appease their yakuza boss. However, some idol groups are simply iconic, such as the Idolm@ster franchise that spans many different projects.

10 22/7 – 22/7

Based on the real idol group of the same name, 22/7 brings together eight very different girls. These girls are invited to form an idol group, taking orders from The Wall, a literal wall that issues orders for the girls to follow. Due to their differences and backgrounds, the girls find it difficult to get along and agree on things, but their bond gets closer together as the show continues.

What could have been a generic idol anime is elevated by the girls’ personalities and the mystery behind The Wall. The number in the group name, 22/7, represents a number that goes on for infinity, indicating that there are endless possibilities for the group to pursue. In addition to featuring catchy songs, 22/7 is a great anime that features strong female protagonists who rely on each other for strength and support.

9 μ’s – Love Live: School Idol Project

Pronounced “Muse,” this idol group from Love Live! immediately became a hit in the anime community and sparked a new wave of idol anime. Each Love Live! anime focuses on a new group, but the very first anime adaptation, Love Live! School Idol Project, featured μ’s, a brilliant group that contains lots of bright and cheerful personalities.

The format of the popular idol anime is evident in this show: a school that needs saving, rejection from the student council, opposition from teachers, and an initially reluctant group that eventually forms a bond to make their idol dreams come true.

8 The Rockies – Sekko Boys

With an absolutely iconic earworm of an opening theme song, and featuring cameo appearances from famous voice actors such as Attack on Titan’s Takehito Koyasu, Sekko Boys is a very unique idol show. The idols in this anime are literally idols: a stone sculpture that used to be worshipped as it represents an ancient god or popular figure.

St. Giorgio, Medici, Hermes, and Mars make up the band, but due to them having no arms or legs, their reluctant manager Miki has to ferry them around. The show doesn’t take itself too seriously, so the humor in this anime is off the charts, such as Miki somehow getting drunk with the stone idols.

7 AKB0048 – AKB0048

In a fun twist on the idol genre, AKB0048 is set after an interplanetary war that led to humans fleeing their homeworld. The legendary idol group AKB48 is resurrected to combat a totalitarian government regime where music and idol groups are banned, and new idols are auditioned to replace those that leave. The main character Nagisa starts out with little confidence, and her father disagrees with her choice to become an idol, but she perseveres and aims to become Center Nova.

The futuristic setting and the large cast of interesting characters make AKB0048 a fun watch, especially as there is so much lore behind each place and person involved in the show. The idols are far from conventional, being set in space and having combat skills as part of their idol training.

6 Liella – Love Live: Superstar

A cute and hilarious anime that is somehow also very touching, Love Live! Superstar features five very different girls who team up to form the idol group Liella. The center, Kanon, initially has stage fright, but gets over it with the help of her friends Keke, who is overly enthusiastic about idols and especially the upcoming Love Live competition; Chisato, a dance major; Sumire, a former child actress; and Ren, the student council president who was against the school idol idea from the start.

Love Live! Superstar is surprisingly heartfelt, with each of the girls deciding to join the group on their own merits rather than having an audition to see who can sing the best. The group has a strong bond, even though Keke and Sumire often bicker, and they help each other out when times are rough.

5 IDOLiSH7 – IDOLiSH7

The seven members of IDOLiSH7 each have a number in their name, for example, Nanase is named for the number 7 and acts as the group’s center. Their manager Tsumugi has difficulty at first getting the group to see eye-to-eye since each member of the group is very different from the others, but in the end, they all work together to pursue their common goal and support each other.

Unlike many other anime, the idols in this show face a lot of hardships that are difficult to get over, bringing the showdown to earth and developing the characters properly, allowing them to express their emotions and solve problems together.

4 Girls Dead Monster – Angel Beats

A slice-of-life anime that will definitely make anyone cry, Angel Beats! follows a group of students that are trapped in a school in the afterlife, having died in the real world after experiencing some kind of trauma or hardship. The Afterlife Battlefront (SSS) rebels against the student council president, Angel, who has supernatural powers and is presumed to be the person trapping the students in limbo. Girls Dead Monster features as a school band, often distracting Angel while the SSS try to free themselves.

Girls Dead Monster are very similar to other anime rock bands such as After School Tea Time from K-ON!, but their position as ambassadors for their school, the way they inspire those around them, and the way they help out the protagonists in various episodes, is very reminiscent of school idols.

3 SoLaMi Smile – PriPara

Laala is the main character of PriPara (Prism Paradise), which is part of the Pretty Rhythm idol franchise. Laala wants to become an idol despite her school banning them and looks up to the legendary idol group Saints, made up of characters from the previous Pretty Rhythm installments.

The lore of this franchise is surprisingly expansive, spanning multiple idol competitions that somehow also include robotic vocal dolls and special jewels that can upgrade microphones. However, the show is such an explosion of color and weirdness that it is easy to get lost in the fun and enjoy the songs that accompany the strange idol performances.

2 Franchouchou – Zombie Land Saga

One of the best anime about zombies, and possibly the most upbeat, Zombie Land Saga is a hilariously off-the-wall anime about seven girls that are resurrected from the dead and made to become famous idols. Each girl comes from a different time period, such as Yugiri the legendary courtesan from the 19th century. Each of the girls has an outlandish personality, but their manager Kotaro is one of the strangest anime characters to date.

The girls’ special circumstances impede their ability to get along at first, with some rejecting the idea of being resurrected at all. However, their center Sakura is able to get them on board, and by the end of season 2, every girl has had their moment to shine, and it is only natural that they stay together considering the adventures they have gone through.

1 Happy Around! – D4DJ First Mix

Happy Around! stands out among idol groups for being a mixture of DJ-ing and idol singing. Based on a real DJ idol group, each member has their own station on stage: Rinku is the lead vocalist and creates dances, Maho composes the music and performs as DJ, Muni creates visuals and videos for the performances, and Rei performs live keyboard music and provides backup vocals.

3D animation is used in many idol shows for the performances, but D4DJ First Mix uses 3D animation in every scene, so it isn’t as jarring when the anime shifts from a dialogue scene into a performance. The characters are bright and lively, and of course, the songs are absolute bangers.

About The Author

Leah Clarke
(76 Articles Published)

Leah Clarke is a List Writer for Screen Rant. She loves to talk about movies, anime, and TV shows. She is always writing action, fantasy, and comedy screenplays. She takes Japanese lessons and is studying for a master’s degree in scriptwriting.

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