The appeal and evaluation of Ensemble Stars!! -Road to Show!!-: The journey to the best performance

The appeal and reviews of Ensemble Stars!! -Road to Show!!-

"Ensemble Stars!! -Road to Show!!-" is an animated film released on March 4, 2022, based on the popular game "Ensemble Stars!" by Happy Elements. This film preserves the worldview of the game while allowing you to enjoy the story and characters on the big screen with an even deeper feel. Below, we will introduce the appeal and reviews of this film, as well as related information.

The appeal of the story

The setting for "Ensemble Stars!! -Road to Show!!-" is Ensemble Square, a brand new building built in the middle of a city where countless people come and go. This building houses four offices like giant planets, where the unique idols who belong to each office live their lives singing and dancing day and night, crying, getting angry, and laughing.

The story begins when the Ensemble Square idols star in the films "Shangri-La," "Midnight Butlers," and "La Mort," which are nominated for the annual Idol Film Festival (IFF), an idol film festival held in New York. The idols selected as representatives head to New York to attend the awards ceremony, where they take part in the film festival and reception party, and then enjoy a brief moment of sightseeing before the ceremony. However, a thrilling development awaits as a suspicious shadow creeps up on them.

The story depicts the dreams, challenges, and friendships of the idols, while also featuring adventure and suspense set in the exotic setting of New York. In particular, the contrast between the tension of the special setting of the film festival and the relaxed atmosphere of the tourist scenes is beautifully depicted, drawing the audience in. The presence of a suspicious shadow adds a mysterious element to the story, making this more than just an idol movie; it is a work that combines drama and entertainment.

Character Appeal

The charm of "Ensemble Stars!! -Road to Show!!-" lies in its unique characters. Below, we will introduce the charms of the main characters.

Makoto Yuki (CV: Shoutarou Morikubo)

Makoto Yuuki has experience as a child model and excels in posing techniques. He has a cheerful and friendly personality, and his glasses are his charm point. He has a bright and charming singing voice, and his performances are detailed and flexible. He belongs to "Trickstar" of "STARMAKER PRODUCTION", and plays an active role as the mood maker of the team. His character is a presence that gives the audience a sense of security and a smile, and plays an essential role in the progression of the story.

Mao Isara (CV: Yuki Kaji)

Mao Isara is a friendly person who excels at communication. He is the student council president at Yumenosaki Academy and has a cheerful and sociable personality, but he also has a tendency to get into trouble easily. He has a bright and sweet singing voice, and his performances are flashy and energetic. He is a member of "Trickstar" from "STARMAKER PRODUCTION", and he leads the team while demonstrating his leadership. His character symbolizes the courage to face difficulties and the kindness to care for his teammates, which moves the audience.

Aira Shiratori (CV: Kohei Amasaki)

Shiratori Aira is an idol-loving otaku, with a mother who is half French and half Japanese. He is a sociable, cheerful and fearless individual, but also has common sense and tends to accept reality straightforwardly. He has a boyish and innocent singing voice, and his performances are full of cuteness. He is a member of "ALKALOID" from "STARMAKER PRODUCTION", and his character depicts his passion for idols and the bond with his friends.

Mayoi Ayase (voiced by Chiharu Shigematsu)

Mayoi Reise is a pervert who likes weak, childlike beings, and sometimes blurts out his innermost impulses. He is timid and servile, but he cannot ignore people in trouble. He does not seem to be good at being in front of people, but he captivates audiences with his deep, trembling singing voice and soft, expansive performance. He belongs to "ALKALOID" of "STARMAKER PRODUCTION", and his character depicts inner conflict and growth.

Ran Nagisa (CV: Junichi Suwabe)

Ran Nagisa has lived a life isolated from the world for a long time and is aloof from the everyday world. He also works with Nanakusa Ibara as "Adam", and although he has a calm and quiet personality, he is also thoughtful and considerate of his friends. He attracts audiences with his deep, conversational singing voice and captivating performances. He is a member of "Eden" of "COSMIC PRODUCTION" and serves as the leader, and his character depicts quiet leadership and deep humanity.

Hinata Aoi (CV: Souma Saito)

Aoi Hinata is the older of twin brothers, and is mischievous and quick to act. Although he has a bright and mischievous personality and tends to rush ahead, he cares deeply for his younger brother Yuuta. He entertains audiences with his warm and lively singing voice and unconventional and free-spirited performances. He is a member of "2wink" of "COSMIC PRODUCTION" and serves as the leader, and his character depicts brotherly love and free-spirited youth.

Kohaku Sakuragawa (CV: Tsubasa Kaito)

Sakuragawa Kohaku only gets information about the world from the internet and TV, so his knowledge is a little off. He comes from a branch of the Suou family, and is a hard worker and patient person, but he can be harsh with his family. He has a distinctive Kyoto way of speaking, and often speaks and acts maturely for his age. He captivates audiences with his sharp singing voice and detailed, crisp performances. While belonging to COSMIC PRODUCTION's Crazy:B, he also works as Double Face with Mishima Madara, and his character depicts a story of hard work and growth.

Rei Sakuma (CV: Toshiki Masuda)

Sakuma Rei is a self-proclaimed vampire who has a lot of knowledge, but is weak in the mornings. He is philosophical and thoughtful, and has a strong sense of camaraderie with his family. He dotes on his younger brother, Sakuma Ritsu. He attracts audiences with his captivating, lustrous singing voice and gentle yet powerful performances. He is a member of ``UNDEAD'' in ``Rhythm Link'' and serves as its leader, and his character depicts deep love and leadership.

Izumi Sena (voiced by Masami Ito)

Izumi Sena is an idol who works as a model in Europe. He has a stoic and nervous personality, but can be a caring person for those he trusts. He captivates audiences with his strong singing voice and beautiful, free-flowing performances. He is a member of the Knights of NEW DIMENSION, and his character depicts stoic hard work and kindness.

Sakuma Ritsu (CV: Yamashita Daiki)

Sakuma Ritsu has a hard time starting his engine during the day, so he often takes naps here and there. He is laid-back and goes at his own pace, but he thinks quickly and can be harsh at times. He captivates the audience with his whispering, sweet singing voice and relaxed, flowing performances. He is a member of the "Knights" of "NEW DIMENSION," and his character depicts a laid-back personality and deep thoughts.

The appeal of production

Many talented staff members are involved in the production of "Ensemble Stars!! -Road to Show!!-". The director is Masakazu Hishida, and the animation is handled by david production. The original story is by Happy Elements, and the script is by Seitaro Kino. The original character designs are by Happy Elements, and the animation character designs and general animation director are Haruko Iizuka.

On the music side, music producer Kiyoshi Kuwahara, music composer Tatsuya Kato, and sound director Takatoshi Hamano participated, and the theme songs "TM1" and "Life is so Dramatic!!" were sung by SCREEN10. These songs not only liven up the story, but also play an important role in deeply expressing the characters' feelings.

Art direction is by Mio Miyamoto, color design is by Eri Suzuki, cinematography is by Tomoya Kamijo, and editing is by Mai Hasegawa, and the beauty of the images and sense of color enhance the appeal of the work. In addition, the mini character illustrations are created by Rina Kamiya, and the detailed visuals will capture the hearts of the audience.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Ensemble Stars!! -Road to Show!!-" is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the original game, but to all people who love anime and idol movies. The story development, the charm of the characters, and the production quality have been highly praised, with the following points being particularly noted:

Story Development

The adventures and suspense of the idols, set in the exotic setting of New York, have the power to draw the audience in. The contrast between the tension of the special setting of the film festival and the relaxed atmosphere of the tourist scenes is beautifully depicted, enhancing the appeal of the story. The presence of a suspicious shadow also adds a mysterious element to the story, making it more than just an idol movie; it is a work that combines drama and entertainment.

Character Appeal

Characters with rich personalities color the story and bring emotion and smiles to the audience. In particular, the charms of each character, such as Yuuki Makoto's cheerfulness, Kinusara Mao's leadership, Shiratori Aira's passion for idols, Ayase Mayoi's inner conflict, Ran Nagisa's quiet leadership, Aoi Hinata's brotherly love, Sakuragawa Kohaku's hard work, Sakuma Rei's deep love, Sena Izumi's stoicism, and Sakuma Ritsu's easy-going personality, deepen the story.

Production quality

The production, which brought together the talents of director Masakazu Hishida and other staff members, enhances the appeal of the work with its beautiful images, sense of color, music and sound, and visuals with attention to detail. In particular, the theme songs "TM1" and "Life is so Dramatic!!" not only liven up the story, but also play an important role in deeply expressing the characters' feelings.

Related works and information

"Ensemble Stars!! -Road to Show!!-" has deep ties to related works, including the original game "Ensemble Stars!" Below, we will introduce the related works and their information.

Ensemble Stars!

"Ensemble Stars!" is a smartphone game developed by Happy Elements and released in 2015. This is an idol training simulation game in which the player acts as a producer and trains idols and has them participate in live shows and events. In the game, a variety of unique characters play an active role, and their growth and friendships are depicted through stories and events.

Ensemble Stars! Picture Drama

"Ensemble Stars! Picture Drama" is a short animated work that unfolds within the game. This picture drama complements the game's story and depicts the characters' daily lives and backstories. In particular, there are many episodes that delve deeply into the characters' feelings and relationships, making it essential content for fans.

Bukusta The WORLD

"Bukusta The World" is the official fan book of "Ensemble Stars!", and contains character profiles, settings, story details, fan art, interviews, and more. This fan book is a vital resource for gaining a deeper understanding of the world of the game and anime, making it a must-have item for fans.

Conclusion

"Ensemble Stars!! -Road to Show!!-" is a work that allows you to enjoy the charm of the characters and story that has been further developed while keeping the worldview of the original game intact on the big screen. It has been highly praised for the adventures and suspense of the idols that unfold in the exotic setting of New York, the growth and friendship of the unique characters, and the quality of the production by the talented staff. It is a work that can be recommended not only to fans of the original game, but also to all people who love anime and idol movies, and I hope you will experience its charm at the theater.