edyth44 - 2015-02-18 22:12:12

Note: This anime I'm going to review is from the 90's. If you're bothered by that somehow then... I don't know what to tell you. Why are you even reading this if that is the case? I probably won't change your mind or anything...

For everyone else though, let's take a look at the four episode OVA known as Idol Project

Story: Mimu Emilton is a cute fourteen-year-old who has come to the annual Starland Festival to become an idol, just like her role model, Yuri. It is the most celebrated event on a united Earth, and Yuri, now the President of Earth, has encouraged people to join the ranks of Excellent Idols. Unfortunately for Mimu, she can never seem to make it to her audition on time, as misadventure after misadventure lands her in situations (usually involving undergarment exposure, I might add) that she escapes with the help of the current Excellent Idols, whom she befriends.

Just as she makes her place on the stage and begins her audition, though, an unknown group of aliens kidnaps her and the Excellent Idols (don't worry, they don't mean any harm, they just want the idols to compete in events on their planets in order to raise the sun). It is only the beginning of a wild interdimensional goose-chase that places Mimu in the position to save the world, if only she can believe in herself.
(Source: AnimeNfo)

So... yeah, if you couldn't already guess by that, this is a pretty weird show. No, not pretty weird, REALLY weird. For a show apparently about idols, this anime's got rock stars, giant stages and pianos, fighting mecha, over the top events like skiing and quizzes, and another plot point near the end of the anime which involves the sun! I know its a lot to handle but they surprisingly handle these very well, as the pacing is good and it keeps you on your toes... though it might get some used to as they kind of come out of nowhere. Sometimes the pacing goes a bit too fast, sometimes it goes too slow, but its not super distracting and it doesn't happen too often... the fan service on the other hand is a different story. There ain't much but they can still go a bit overboard with the variety of girls in bikinis, etc. Thankfully its not Eiken levels of eck but its still really hard to not notice and get used to...

Also keep this in mind, that even with that plot point near the end, the show does not take itself seriously in the slightest, and with the other stuff mentioned above, I don't think anyone could take it seriously since everything is so over the top and crazy in this show and there's almost no moments in this where crazy stuff happens like with the characters and the way they act and interact with the environment around them(not that its a bad thing, in fact for a show like this its pretty welcome so kudos. Actually to be honest if it was done poorly then it would be more annoying than endearing.)

However, this anime doesn't have much to offer in terms of complexity. Its a bit hard to explain but aside from its craziness, there's not much when it comes to the story, it just focuses on the competition while Mimu watches on the sidelines and just hopes to become an idol like her hero (more on that later though), not much happens (unless you count the more and more crazy that the show has) aside from that until the last episode and this goes on for about an hour and a half (I know there's only four episodes of this though but still, they're all pretty long). If you have two hours to waste basically and want to watch a mindless entertaining anime, then chances are, you'll love this.

Also, they're isn't much in the idol department, they only sing about once in the whole show (aside from the OP and ED) and its very short. Basically despite this being about idols there isn't much of the idols doing what they do best so you'll be disappointed in that aspect if you came here for that.

Animation: At its time it got released, the animation was pretty good. Character designs for the most part look cute and appealing, and the movements looked pretty fluid at the time, as well as some background designs looking pretty decent (some choppy moments here and there however and the constant background characters being in still and also having the same expression...?). Now it looks pretty dated and bland. Characters (except for a few side characters) still look cute, but the animation is pretty dated and [sort of] choppy-ish, background is still ok but nothing special.

Sound: Like I said, there isn't much music in this despite this show being about idols, there is only one song sung in the whole anime and its pretty short but it sound pretty nice (wish it was longer, but at least its relevant to the story). The OP is pretty dull and forgettable, I don't even remember what kind of music it was (pop? rock? both?). The ending songs are a little better mainly cause of how different they all sound (the first song is probably the one I remember the most mainly cause of how weird it was and they kind of play it twice? I'm not sure).

Characters: All the main characters have one defining trait that separates them from the rest of the characters in the show. They're not original and have much, but they're all very likeable. Some of my favorites are:

Layla is an outgoing, gritty, 16-year-old rockstar who has an intimate relationship with her guitar. Although she appears extremely tough, she has unusual soft spots, especially for her guitar (which she cannot sleep without) and Mimu, whom she believes to have extraordinary talent. Her advice for aspiring idols is Guts!

Extra is a superfluous pianist who believes strongly in class. Because a lady never reveals her age, Extra's age is unknown (though she is probably 16 like her rival, Layla). Her philosophy for stardom is Dignity.

Palpu Ranrang (Palpurin for short) is an energetic 13-year-old martial arts expert with her own superhero show. She considers her whirlwind kicks and high-speed punches as signs of endearment - and her fans love being mauled by her. Her idol motto is Relax.

There's also this other girl who is a shrine maiden-type girl but I sadly forgot her name...

And let's not forget about Mimu. Mimu, the main character, is a 14-year-old girl with large aspirations of becoming the best idol in the universe. Although very ambitious, she often loses confidence quickly and becomes easily discouraged. But something always comes up to motivate her, and she works tirelessly for her dream, no matter what gets thrown at her. I won't give away what her advice is, but it really fits in with her character and what the show was building up to at that point.

Even the side characters are pretty cool, especially Yuri (sometimes they can be a bit annoying though), but obviously the main characters, especially Mimu, are the main focus for this.

Enjoyment: The enjoyment for this will depend on whether on not you like mindless anime with nothing but crazy fun... with not much on idols and music. If you like them, and don't mind watching an anime from the 90's, then this is right up your alley. Otherwise, you'll probably not like this. I know I enjoyed this a lot. Too bad there isn't more but, what else is there to add in this?

Overall: This isn't the best I've seen about idols, but its definitely one of the most enjoyable I've ever seen. Sure its dated and over the top, but I didn't mind it. Sometimes you just need something silly to watch in your line up after watching something serious. Got two hours to spare? Want to watch something enjoyable? Watch this, you will not be disappointed c:

Pros: Super fun to watch, likeable characters, cute designs, story.

Cons: Animation is dated, not much/forgettable music, story.

Also recommended: Love Live, Idolmaster, (for actual idol shows) Robot Girls Z, Amuri In Star Ocean(for more mindless fun, the latter can be watched with friends for a better experience :P)

Thanks for reading my 72nd review~