Review of "Ongaku Shoujo": moving melodies and youthful harmonies

"Ongaku Shoujo" - A moving story about the dreams and reality of idols

"Ongaku Shoujo" is a TV anime series that aired from July 6 to September 21, 2018. It is an original anime work created by Studio Deen and King Records. It has 12 episodes, each 30 minutes long, and was broadcast on AT-X and TOKYO MX. It was directed by Nishimoto Yukio, with series composition and scriptwriting by Akao Deko, character design by Komatsu Momoka, and music production by King Records. It is produced by the Ongaku Shoujo Production Committee.

story

The story of "Ongaku Shoujo" depicts the struggles of the 11-member idol group "Ongaku Shoujo" belonging to PINE RECORDS (commonly known as Pyreco). The members are Chitose Haru, Kumagai Eri, Ryuou Sarasa, Mukae Kiri, Mukae Haori, Mikuri Sasame, Nishio Miku, Yukino Hiyo, Gushiken Shupu, Kintoki Kotoko, and Morooka Roro. However, "Ongaku Shoujo" are C-class idols with no sales at all, and have been struggling to make a name for themselves. In an attempt to do something about the group that was only generating losses, producer Ikehashi Daiki felt the need for new members and spent all his time holding auditions. In the midst of all this, the protagonist Hanako and "Ongaku Shoujo" meet, and the story begins.

character

The charm of "Ongaku Shoujo" lies in its unique characters. The main character, Hanako, is a staff member at Pine Records, and while she has almost all the specs required to be an idol, she is hopelessly tone-deaf when it comes to singing. However, she is serious about singing and loves to sing. Hanako's ideas and planning skills often help the idols get out of trouble, and she loves and respects the profession of idol.

Mitsukuri Sasame is a curious girl who wears fake glasses and enjoys trouble even when it occurs. She is curious about the trouble that seems to occur around Hanako, and they often hang out together. She is also Hanako's best understanding friend.

Nishio Miku, nicknamed "Oniku-chan," is a chubby marshmallow girl with a soothing appearance. She is a sharp dancer, and started dancing because she wanted to lose weight, but dancing made her hungry, so she repeatedly ate a lot of food. She is fascinated by the food made by Mukai Haori, and calls Haori "Chef-chan."

Yukino Hiyo is a genius girl with an IQ of over 200, and is called gifted. She stopped going to regular elementary school because she found the classes boring, and now she attends a school for gifted children. Because she can understand everything at once, she has no interest in memorizing, and lives a life where she doesn't intentionally do the work of memorizing.

Gushiken Shupu is a girl from Okinawa who has a very plain face without makeup, but when she puts on makeup, she looks like a completely different person. She has a big heart, but also a rough side. Her mother is a makeup artist, so she was deeply moved when she saw a girl with a plain face like her performing as a sparkling idol on TV, and she decided to become an idol herself.

Morooka Roro is a girl whose age and appearance do not match at all. Although she is 18, she looks about 10 years old. Because she was raised by her grandmother, her likes and the information she knows are outdated. When she catches a cold, she practices old-fashioned health methods such as wrapping green onions around her throat and putting pickled plum skin on her forehead.

Kintoki Kotoko is the leader of the music girls, and has been a model since she was 0 years old, and has a long career in show business. She has an incredible figure, is the most sensible member of the group, and is like an older sister to her. Because she has been in show business since she was a baby, she is also a secretly complicated girl who doesn't know who she really is.

Mukai Haori is the younger sister of Mukai Kiri and is the ultimate idol girl. She is a serious girl who wants to succeed in the entertainment industry, and she spares no effort every day to be the undisputed center of the music girls. She is a skilled cook and has the ability to perfectly respond to Mirai's maniac cooking requests.

Mukaegi is Haori's older sister and a girl with a disposition to misfortune. She is physically weak and sometimes her words are raspy and difficult to hear, but she is also intoxicated by her own frailty. Her family is a well-established kimono shop owner and is wealthy.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of "Ongaku Shoujo" are as follows:

• Episode 1: One in 10 Billion Idols
• Episode 2: Don't underestimate idols
• Episode 3: Idol Heart Resonance
• Episode 4: The Naked Idol
• Episode 5: Recipe for an Idol
• Episode 6: Meat and Idol
• Episode 7: An idol's tears are put on a paper airplane...
• Episode 8: Can't Stop IDOL
• Episode 9: It's tough being an idol
• Episode 10: Songs, Girls, and Idols
• Episode 11: The Greatest Idol
• Episode 12: A Piece of an Idol

Theme songs and music

The opening theme of Ongaku Shoujo is "Eternal Boy", which was used from episode 1 to 12. The lyrics are by Isogai Yoshie, the music is by Ono Takamitsu, the arrangement is by Tamaki Chihiro, and the song is by Ogura Yui. The ending theme is "Shining Peace", which was used from episodes 1, 2, 4 to 12. The lyrics are by Isogai Yoshie, the music is by Ono Takamitsu, the arrangement is by Tamaki Chihiro, and the song is by Ongaku Shoujo.

Evaluation and Impressions

"Ongaku Shoujo" is a moving story about the dreams and reality of idols. The drama, woven by a cast of unique characters, has the power to draw viewers in. In particular, there are many moving scenes in the growth of the main character Hanako and the deepening of her bonds with the idols, and there are even episodes that are impossible to watch without crying. In addition, the backstories and individual worries of each character are carefully depicted, making it easy for viewers to empathize with their feelings.

Musically, "Ongaku Shoujo" is also an excellent work. The opening theme "Eternal Boy" and the ending theme "Shining Peace" not only add to the atmosphere of the story, but also have melodies and lyrics that stay in the viewers' minds. In particular, the ending theme is sung by all the members of Ongaku Shoujo, which makes you feel their unity.

The animation quality is also high, with beautiful character designs and background art. The concert scenes in particular are powerful, making the idols' performances feel real. Each character's facial expressions and movements are also drawn in detail, allowing you to visually enjoy the changes in their emotions.

Recommended points

The reasons why I recommend "Ongaku Shoujo" are as follows:

• Characters with Unique Personalities : Each character has their own unique backstory and personality, making it easy for viewers to empathize with their growth and struggles.
• A moving story : The story depicts the dreams and reality of idols, and there are many scenes that will touch the hearts of viewers, with some episodes that will be impossible to watch without crying.
• Music quality : The melodies and lyrics of the opening and ending themes are memorable, and the ending theme sung by all the members of Ongaku Shojo gives a sense of unity.
• Beautiful animation : The character designs and background art are beautiful, and the live performance scenes are powerful.

Related information

The following information is related to "Ongaku Shoujo":

• Cast : Yamadaki Hanako will be played by Fukagawa Seriha, Mikuni Sasame will be played by Takahashi Karin, Nishio Mirai will be played by Okazaki Miho, Yukino Hiyo will be played by Ohno Yuuko, Gushiken Shupu will be played by Shimabukuro Miyuri, Morooka Roro will be played by Eguchi Nako, Kintoki Kotoko will be played by Lynn, Mukae Haori will be played by Ogura Yui, Mukae Kiri will be played by Uesaka Sumire, Chitose Haru will be played by Numakura Manami, Kumagai Eri will be played by Seto Masami, Ryuo Sarasa will be played by Fuchigami Mai, Ikehashi Daiki will be played by Hirakawa Daisuke, Yamadaki Taka will be played by Matsuda Kenichiro and Yamadaki Sachi will be played by Yuzuki Ryoko.
• Main staff : The original work is by Studio Deen and King Records, the director is Yukio Nishimoto, the series composition and script are by Deko Akao, the original character design is by Santa Mari, the character design is by Momoka Komatsu, music production is by King Records, animation production is by Studio Deen, and production is by Ongaku Shojo Production Committee.

Conclusion

"Ongaku Shoujo" is a touching story about the dreams and reality of idols, and you can enjoy the growth and deepening bonds of the unique characters. The quality of the music and animation is also high, making it a work that leaves a strong impression on viewers. This is a work that I would highly recommend to anyone who likes idol anime or is looking for a touching story.