The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls

The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls

Promotional image of the anime featuring (from left to right): Rin Shibuya, Uzuki Shimamura and Mio Honda
アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ
(Aidorumasutā Shinderera Gāruzu)
Genre Comedy-drama
Game
Developer Cygames
Bandai Namco Entertainment
Publisher DeNA
Genre Simulation, Social network game
Platform Mobage (iOS, Android, Google Chrome)
Released
  • JP: November 28, 2011
Anime television series
Directed by Noriko Takao
Written by Noriko Takao
Tatsuya Takahashi
Music by Hidekazu Tanaka
Studio A-1 Pictures
Network BS11
Tokyo MX
Other independent stations
English network
Original run January 10, 2015 – April 11, 2015
Episodes 13
Anime television series
The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls: 2nd Season
Directed by Noriko Takao
Written by Noriko Takao
Tatsuya Takahashi
Music by Hidekazu Tanaka
Studio A-1 Pictures
Network BS11
Tokyo MX
Other independent stations
Original run July 17, 2015 – October 17, 2015
Episodes 12
Original video animation
Directed by Noriko Takao
Written by Noriko Takao
Tatsuya Takahashi
Music by Hidekazu Tanaka
Studio A-1 Pictures
Released February 25, 2016
Anime television series
Cinderella Girls Gekijō
Directed by Mankyū
Studio Gathering
Original run 2017 – scheduled
Video game

The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls (アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ Aidorumasutā Shinderera Gāruzu, officially stylized as THE iDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS) is a Japanese free-to-play simulation video game developed by Cygames and Bandai Namco Entertainment for the Mobage social network platform for mobile phones. It was first released on November 28, 2011 for feature phones, and compatibility was extended to iOS and Android devices on December 16, 2011. The game is based on The Idolmaster franchise, and features a cast of new idol characters. In September 2015, a music video game developed by Cygames titled The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Starlight Stage (アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ スターライトステージ) was released on Google Play Store[1] and Apple Store[2] in Japan.

The story in Cinderella Girls follows the career of a producer in charge of leading and training prospective pop idols to stardom. Its gameplay follows a collectible card game format in which each idol is represented as a card, which the player may use to form a unit of idols to train in lessons, take to jobs, and compete against opponents. Cinderella Girls has made transitions to other media. An anime television series adaptation produced by A-1 Pictures aired in Japan between January 10 and April 11, 2015 and was simulcast by Daisuki. The second season began airing from July 17, 2015. Eight manga series, three sets of manga anthologies, two Internet radio talk shows featuring the series' voice actresses, image song singles and albums, and live concerts have also been produced.

Premise

The game and series takes place at the 346 Pro talent agency, where a producer is raising a group of idols to stardom in what is known as "The Cinderella Project". The anime follows three such girls, Rin Shibuya, Uzuki Shimamura, and Mio Honda, along with their fellow idols, as they become part of the Cinderella Project.

Gameplay

An example of gameplay in Cinderella Girls depicting Uzuki Shimamura finishing up work.

Cinderella Girls is a free-to-play, simulation social network game based on The Idolmaster franchise. Like its forerunners The Idolmaster and The Idolmaster 2, the player assumes the role of a talent producer who is in charge of training prospective pop idols on their way to stardom. Idols are represented in the game as collectible cards divided into three categories: cute, cool, and passion. The player begins by choosing one of the three categories, and he or she will then receive an idol belonging to the category.[3] Each idol has several statistics points that influence gameplay: attack, defense, cost, and affection rate; each idol is also designated one of three rarities: normal, rare, or S rare, all of which also have a "plus" variant.

There are several activities which the player may take his or her idols to participate in, such as work, live battles, and lessons. Work are jobs that the producer and idols can take in different regions of Japan. During a job, the player earns in-game money and fans, receives new idols or costumes,[3] and may also increase an idol's affection rate. As work progresses, the player also earns experience points and increases his or her producer level. The amount of progress the player may make at a given time is limited by the amount of stamina he or she has, which depletes during work. To continue working after the stamina has been completely depleted, the player must either wait for the stamina gauge to replenish over time or use in-game items. The amount of stamina the player has is determined by his or her producer level, but it can also be increased by allocating earned bonus points. After completing a number of jobs in an area, the player and idols are occasionally challenged by a computer-controlled rival idol. To finish working in the area, the player must compete against this opponent with the idol he or she has chosen as the leader.[3] By defeating the rival idol, the player receives the idol's corresponding card or in-game items.

Live battle is an asynchronous multplayer gameplay mode in which the player can compete against other players on the Mobage platform. To initiate live battles against other players, the player must first assemble an idol unit for attacking. The player can add a maximum of five idols to his or her unit, but only the first idols whose costs are cumulatively equal to or lower than the player's attacking cost limit are played during battle. Like stamina, the player's cost allowance is determined by his or her producer level, but it can also be increased by allocating additional points. If the player has cost remaining in the unit, then additional idols whose cost can fit the gap are played as back members. In order to win the live battle, the player must obtain a higher score—determined by the idol units' total attack, defense, and skills—than his or her opponent. By defeating his or her opponent, the player earns additional fans and money, and receives a costume from the opponent.[3] Similarly, the player may assemble a unit for defense, which is limited by the player's total defending cost. For either units, the player may add the same idol character to the unit more than once, but the same idol card is only permitted once.

To raise the attack and defense competency of an idol, the player can have her participate in lessons. To participate in a lesson, the player must first choose up to ten other idols as lesson partners, who will then be removed from the player's roster in exchange for raising the level, attack, and defense of the idol who partakes in the lesson.[3] The player can also increase an idol's attack and defense by raising her affection rate to the maximum. Lastly, the player can choose to participate in training,[3] and combine two identical idols to obtain her "plus" variant.

Development and release

The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls was developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment and Cygames for DeNA's Mobage social network platform for mobile phones. It was first announced on October 14, 2011 under the tentative title "Idolmaster Social Game",[4] and pre-registration for the game was opened to the public on November 16, 2011.[5] It was first released on November 28, 2011 for Japanese feature phones,[6] and compatibility was extended to Android and iOS devices as a web application on December 16, 2011.[7] To commemorate the game's third anniversary, native applications for Android and iOS were respectively released on November 17 and November 25, 2014.[8][9][10] A Google Chrome App version for the Google Chrome browser was also released on October 28, 2015.[11] The game was later released in South Korea for the Daum Mobage platform as an application for Android devices on December 2, 2014,[12] and it featured a new idol character exclusive to the version.[13] The Korean language version of the game shut down on March 14, 2016.[14]

In May 2012, the Consumer Affairs Agency determined that the "complete gacha" (コンプガチャ konpu gacha) gameplay mechanic's usage in social network games violated Japanese law,[note 1] and announced it would issue a request to DeNA and other social game platforms for its removal.[16] Cinderella Girls was cited as an example of a game that employed the tactic.[16][17] The mechanism was later removed from the game, following separate announcements by DeNA and Bandai Namco that the companies would cease its usage in their social games.[15][18]

Manga

Cinderella Girls has received several manga adaptations since its service commenced. The first manga series adaptation, titled The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls New Generations (アイドルマスターシンデレラガールズ ニュージェネレーションズ), was illustrated by Namo, and focuses on the characters Uzuki Shimamura, Rin Shibuya, and Mio Honda.[19] It was serialized in Square Enix's shōnen manga magazine Gangan Joker between its October 2012 and November 2013 issues. The chapters were later collected into two tankōbon volumes released on April 25 and November 25, 2013.[20][21] A second manga series, titled The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Rockin' Girl (アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ ロッキングガール), was illustrated by Hamachon, and centers on the characters Riina Tada, Kanako Mimura, and Rika Jōgasaki.[22] The manga began serialization in Square Enix's seinen manga magazine Monthly Big Gangan in its eleventh volume of 2012, and the first tankōbon volume was released on April 25, 2013.[23]

A four-panel comic strip manga adaptation, titled The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Ensemble! (アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ あんさんぶる!) and illustrated by Sadoru Chiba and written by Haruki Kashiba for seinen manga magazine Young Gangan,[24] began serialization in the magazine's 22nd issue for 2012. Its first volume was published by Square Enix on November 25, 2013.[25] This was followed by two four-panel comic strip manga adaptations by Saya Kiyoshi for Big Gangan, titled The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls: Idol of the Day (アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ 本日のアイドルさん Aidorumasutā Shinderera Gāruzu: Honjitsu no Aidoru-san) and Honjitsu no Dereradi-san (本日のデレラジさん Honjitsu no Dereraji-san); the latter series follows the characters featured in the Internet radio show of the same name.[26] The two series were serialized in Big Gangan between the twelfth volume of 2012 and the eighth volume of 2013, and were collected into a tankōbon volume released on November 25, 2013.[27] Another four-panel comic strip series, titled The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Dereradisan, was illustrated by Ajiichi for the manga website Gangan Online. The series also follows the Internet radio show's characters, and began serialization on the website on September 12, 2013.

Cinderella Girls has also inspired several sets of manga anthologies illustrated by a multitude of different artists. The first manga anthology, titled The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Shuffle!!, was regularly serialized on Gangan Online between August 2 and November 8, 2012,[28] and was serialized irregularly thereafter. Its first volume was released on April 25, 2013.[29] A six-volume anthology series, titled The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Comic Anthology, was published by Ichijinsha between October 25, 2012 and October 31, 2013. The series devoted two volumes to each image category in the game: Cute, Cool and Passion, and each category's second anthology was also bundled with a drama CD written by Tatsuya Takahashi.[30]

Anime

The first anime adaptation of Cinderella Girls was the music video for the song "Onegai! Cinderella". The music video was produced to commemorate the game's second anniversary, and it was streamed within the game on November 28, 2013.[31][32] The music video was later included in the Blu-ray and DVD The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls: Animation First Set, released on November 5, 2014.[33]

An anime television series adaptation was first announced at the concert "The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls 1st Live Wonderful Magic!!" on April 5, 2014.[34][35] The anime is produced by the animation studio A-1 Pictures and directed by Noriko Takao. Takao and writer Tatsuya Takahashi share supervision duty for the series screenplay, and Yūsuke Matsuo based the character designs on designs provided by illustrator Annin Dōfu;[34] the music was composed by Hidekazu Tanaka of Monaca. The series aired in Japan on BS11 via satellite, and Tokyo MX and nine other local independent terrestrial stations between January 10 and April 11, 2015 and was simulcast on Daisuki.[36] The series aired in split seasons, with the second season having aired between July 17 and October 17, 2015.[37] An original video animation episode will be shipped with the ninth DVD and Blu-ray compilation volume on February 25, 2016.[38] The opening theme is "Star!!" by Cinderella Project, a group composed of Uzuki Shimamura (Ayaka Ōhashi), Rin Shibuya (Ayaka Fukuhara), Mio Honda (Sayuri Hara), Miria Akagi (Tomoyo Kurosawa), Anastasia (Sumire Uesaka), Chieri Ogata (Naomi Ōzora), Ranko Kanzaki (Maaya Uchida), Rika Jōgasaki (Nozomi Yamamoto), Riina Tada (Ruriko Aoki), Minami Nitta (Aya Suzaki), Anzu Futaba (Hiromi Igarashi), Miku Maekawa (Natsumi Takamori), Kanako Mimura (Yuka Ōtsubo) and Kirari Moroboshi (Rei Matsuzaki).

An anime adaptation of Kuma-Jet's Cinderella Girls Gekijō spin-off manga is being produced by Gathering and directed by Mankyū, which is scheduled to air in 2017.[39]

Reception

In September 2012, the Nikkei Shimbun reported that Cinderella Girls earns over 1 billion yen in monthly revenue.[40] The game currently has a playerbase of at least 4.6 million players.

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ↑ In a game that uses the complete gacha mechanic, the player is granted an otherwise unobtainable in-game item by collecting a set of other items, which must be individually obtained in gacha drawings.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "【新作】『アイドルマスターシンデレラガールズ　スターライトステージ』Android版配信 ※画像追加 [ファミ通app]" (in Japanese). Famitsu. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  2. ↑ "【新作】『アイドルマスターシンデレラガールズ　スターライトステージ』iOS版いよいよ配信！ [ファミ通app]" (in Japanese). Famitsu. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 『アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ』をこれから始める人は要チェック！ ゲームの遊び方を改めて紹介 [Must Read for Those Who Will Start Playing The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls! Reintroduction of the Game's Gameplay] (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. April 18, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  4. ↑ "『テイルズ オブ』＆『アイマス』のソーシャルゲームが11月よりMobageに登場！" [Tales and Idolmaster Social Game to Debut on Mobage Starting November!] (in Japanese). Famitsu. October 14, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ "バンダイナムコゲームス、「Mobage」で『アイドルマスターシンデレラガールズ』の事前登録の受付開始" [Bandai Namco Games Begins Accepting Pre-registration for The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls on Mobage] (in Japanese). Social Game Info. November 16, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  6. ↑ "バンダイナムコゲームス、「Mobage」で『アイドルマスターシンデレラガールズ』の提供開始" [Bandai Namco Games Begins Service for The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls on Mobage] (in Japanese). Social Game Info. November 28, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  7. ↑ "バンダイナムコゲームス、Mobage『アイドルマスターシンデレラガールズ』のスマホ対応開始" [Bandai Namco Games, Mobage Begins Smartphone Compatibility for The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls] (in Japanese). Social Game Info. December 16, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  8. ↑ "アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ３周年記念月間特報第４弾　Android™端末で遊べるアプリ版を配信！" [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Third Anniversary Monthly Announcements No. 4: App for Android Devices Released!] (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Games. November 17, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  9. ↑ "アプリ版「アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ」，Google Playで配信開始。アプリ版リリース記念で「Sレア十時愛梨」が手に入るキャンペーンも明日から開催" [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls App Version Released on Google Play. Campaign For Obtaining "S Rare Airi Totoki" To Begin Tomorrow To Commemorate Apps Release]. 4Gamer. November 17, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  10. ↑ "【続報！】アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ３周年記念月間特報第４弾　アプリ版がiOSでも配信スタート！" [[Continuation!] The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Third Anniversary Monthly Announcements No. 4: App Also Released on iOS!] (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Games. November 25, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  11. ↑ "『アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ』Chrome Apps版が配信開始" [The Idolmater Cinderella Girls Chrome Apps Version Released] (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. October 28, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  12. ↑ 韓国で「モバマス」アプリ配信開始　韓国の新アイドル、かわいいんですけどおお！？ [Mobamas Released in South Korea; New Korean Idol Is Cute?!] (in Japanese). ITMedia. December 4, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  13. ↑ Stimson, Eric (December 4, 2014). "New Idol Unveiled for Korean Edition of iDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  14. ↑ "[취재] 잊지 않을게요, 프로듀서! '아이돌마스터 신데렐라 걸즈' 한국 서비스 종료" (in Korean). Inven. January 12, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  15. 1 2 Feit, Daniel (May 9, 2012). "Japan's Social Game Publishers Nix Controversial Gacha Sales". Wired. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  16. 1 2 "'Kompu gacha' online games may be illegal". Yomiuri Group. May 6, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
  17. ↑ ［ソーシャルゲーム］　消費者庁がコンプガチャの中止を要請。 [[Social Game] Consumer Affairs Agency Issues Request for Removal of Complete Gacha] (in Japanese). Nihon Securities Journal. May 7, 2012. Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  18. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (May 10, 2012). "Konami and Namco Bandai Also Ending Complete Gacha Products". Andriasang. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  19. ↑ "アイドルマスターシンデレラガールズ ニュージェネレーションズ - 連載作品 - ガンガンJOKER -SQUARE ENIX-" [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls New Generations - Serialized titles - Gangan Joker - Square Enix] (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  20. ↑ "アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ ニュージェネレーションズ(1) (ガンガンコミックスJOKER)" [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls New Generation (1) (Gangan Comics JOKER)] (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ISBN 4757539037. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  21. ↑ "アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ ニュージェネレーションズ(2)(完)(ガンガンコミックスJOKER)" [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls New Generation (2) (End) (Gangan Comics JOKER)] (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ISBN 4757541457. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  22. ↑ "アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ ロッキングガール | ビッグガンガン | SQUARE ENIX" [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Rockin' Girl | Big Gangan | Square Enix] (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  23. ↑ アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ ロッキングガール(1) (ビッグガンガンコミックス) [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Rockin' Girl] (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ISBN 4757539274. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  24. ↑ "アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ あんさんぶる！ | 作品紹介 | ヤングガンガン YOUNG GANGAN OFFICIALSITE" [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Ensemble! | Titles introduction | Young Gangan Official Site] (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  25. ↑ アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ あんさんぶる! (1) (ヤングガンガンコミックス) [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Ensemble! (1) (Young Gangan Comics)] (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ISBN 4757541449. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  26. ↑ "アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ 本日のアイドルさん | ビッグガンガン | SQUARE ENIX" [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls: Idol of the Day | Big Gangan | Square Enix] (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  27. ↑ アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ 本日のアイドルさん (ビッグガンガンコミックス) [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls: Idol of the Day (Big Gangan Comics)] (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ISBN 4757541465. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  28. ↑ "アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ×スクウェア・エニックス - 漫画 - ガンガンONLINE | SQUARE ENIX" [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls×Square Enix - Manga - Gangan Online | Square Enix] (in Japanese). Square Enix. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  29. ↑ アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ シャッフル!! コミックアンソロジー (ガンガンコミックスアンソロジー) [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Shuffle!! Comic Anthology (Gangan Comics Anthology)] (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ISBN 4757539029. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  30. ↑ "一迅社WEB | アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ コミックアンソロジー 3か月連続刊行決定！" [Ichijinsha WEB | The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Comic Anthology To Be Published In Three Consecutive Months!] (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  31. ↑ "The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls Theme's Animated Music Video Streamed". Anime News Network. November 28, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  32. ↑ 【アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ】[祝]２周年記念キャンペーン続々開催！！ [[Idolmaster Cinderella Girls] [Celebration] 2nd Anniversary Campaign Continues!!] (in Japanese). Namco Bandai Games. November 28, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  33. ↑ "The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls TV Anime's 1st Animated Promo Unveiled". Anime News Network. September 22, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  34. 1 2 "The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls Mobile Game Gets TV Anime in 2015". Anime News Network. April 5, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  35. ↑ "【シンデレラガールズ】TVアニメ化決定！& 400万人突破！" [[Cinderella Girls] TV Anime Adaptation Decided! & 4 Million Users Surpassed!] (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Games. April 5, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  36. ↑ "アイドルマスター シンデレラガールズ３周年記念月間特報 第2弾　TVアニメシンデレラガールズ、放送局名および放送開始日時が決定!!" [The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Third Anniversary Monthly Announcement No. 2: TV Anime Cinderella Girls' Stations and Airing Times Decided!!] (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Games. November 5, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls to Air in Split Seasons". Anime News Network. March 14, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  38. ↑ "The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls Unaired Episode Previewed in Video". Anime News Network. December 29, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  39. ↑ "The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls Gekijō 5-Panel Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. October 16, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Idolmaster Mobile Game Earns 1 Billion Yen a Month". Anime News Network. September 27, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
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