Idolmaster: Xenoglossia
Encyclopedia
is an anime
television series by Sunrise
, based on the Bandai Namco
game series The Idolm@ster. It was first broadcast in Japan on April 4, 2007 on Kansai TV and various other UHF television stations. The series will also be broadcast over the internet on the Japanese website @nifty.
Many of the Sunrise staff working on Xenoglossia have also previously worked on My-HiME
and My-Otome
.
The word Xenoglossia in the title is a term taken from Greek
for using a language (talking, reading or writing) that is completely unknown to the user.
and reimagines the ten prospective idols as fighter pilots of those robots, eight of them also posing as students. The large robots in this case are called IDOLs and their pilots are called Idolmasters.
In the show, Haruka Amami, initially underconfident with herself, passes an audition to be a singing idol and she is sent to Tokyo to start a career in the entertainment. She does not know that the agency that recruited her is actually a front for a big task force which uses robots to save the Earth from falling fragmented pieces of the moon. Yukiho Hagiwara and Iori Minase, who also want to be idols, are also taken by the same task force.
: Yuka Iguchi
: Yui Horie
: Yukari Tamura
: Ami Koshimizu
: Eri Kitamura
: Mai Nakahara
: Tomo Sakurai
: Kaori Shimizu
: Kaori Nazuka
: Momoko Saitō
: Yukana: Mamiko Noto
: Daisuke Ono
: Mikako Takahashi
: Naomi Shindō: Ryōka Yuzuki
: Takuma Takewaka
: Akira Ishida
: Kazuhiro Nakata
Normally, Drops are dealt with using missiles; however, since Japan does not have a missile system because they cannot build a nuclear warhead under the Three Non-Nuclear Principles
, they were assigned and approved to use IDOLs in order to destroy Drops. IDOL pilots have to be girls, and they have to be chosen by the IDOL itself; those people are called Idolmasters.
The IDOLs are named after Lunar mare
.
The Shuko, mentioned only in passing by a side character was to become the main focus of the show, however a budget cut meant that a core element to the over-arching story arc was left out.
Prometheus–2 Nebula
Prometheus–4 Tempestas
Prometheus–5 Hiems
Epimetheus–1 "Epi-chan"
Lost Artemis
Kompeito
/Confeito
Drop
Idolmaster: Xenoglossia also broadcast over the internet on the Japanese website @nifty as of April 9, 2007 and will continue to be updated with new episodes every Monday at 17:00.
Light novel
Internet radio
Ending theme
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
television series by Sunrise
Sunrise (company)
is a Japanese animation studio and production enterprise. It is a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings. Its former name was Nippon Sunrise, and prior to that, Sunrise Studios...
, based on the Bandai Namco
Namco Bandai
, also known as the Bandai Namco Group, is a Japanese holding company formed from the merger of Namco and Bandai. It has interests in toys, video games and arcades, anime, and amusement parks. The new entity was founded on September 29, 2005...
game series The Idolm@ster. It was first broadcast in Japan on April 4, 2007 on Kansai TV and various other UHF television stations. The series will also be broadcast over the internet on the Japanese website @nifty.
Many of the Sunrise staff working on Xenoglossia have also previously worked on My-HiME
My-HiME
is an anime series, created by Sunrise. Directed by Masakazu Obara and written by Hiroyuki Yoshino, the series originally premiered in Japan on TV Tokyo from September 2004 to March 2005...
and My-Otome
My-Otome
is an anime series created by Sunrise. Directed by Masakazu Obara and written by Hiroyuki Yoshino, it is a spinoff of My-HiME anime series and as such My-Otome takes place in a new setting with new main characters....
.
The word Xenoglossia in the title is a term taken from Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
for using a language (talking, reading or writing) that is completely unknown to the user.
Story
The show centers around mechaMecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
and reimagines the ten prospective idols as fighter pilots of those robots, eight of them also posing as students. The large robots in this case are called IDOLs and their pilots are called Idolmasters.
In the show, Haruka Amami, initially underconfident with herself, passes an audition to be a singing idol and she is sent to Tokyo to start a career in the entertainment. She does not know that the agency that recruited her is actually a front for a big task force which uses robots to save the Earth from falling fragmented pieces of the moon. Yukiho Hagiwara and Iori Minase, who also want to be idols, are also taken by the same task force.
Cast
Yuka Iguchi
is a Japanese voice actress from Tokyo, Japan. She is affiliated with Office Osawa.-Anime:*Bakemonogatari *Bokurano *Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai *C³ *Canvas 2...
: Yui Horie
Yui Horie
is a popular Japanese singer and voice actress. She is sometimes affectionately nicknamed by her Japanese fans.She hosts a radio show called and is the founding member of the singing group, Aice5. She is also a member of the band Kurobara Hozonkai, with the name YUIEL...
: Yukari Tamura
Yukari Tamura
, is a popular Japanese singer-songwriter and voice actress, affiliated with the talent agency I'm Enterprise. Affectionately called Yukarin by her fans, she is also known for her high-pitched voice and interest in Lolita fashion...
: Ami Koshimizu
Ami Koshimizu
is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Production Baobab management. She was born in the city of Kokubunji in Tokyo Prefecture. She is an award winning voice actress.-Career:*She graduated from Aomori Yamada High School...
: Eri Kitamura
Eri Kitamura
is a Japanese voice actress and singer, who was born on August 16, 1987 in Tokyo, Japan. She is primarily known for her role in Blood+ as Saya Otonashi and singing the third ending for the anime series Konjiki No Gash Bell . She is also known to be an amateur manga artist in Japan in her spare time...
: Mai Nakahara
Mai Nakahara
is a voice actress. She is employed by I'm Enterprise. Some of her hobbies include cooking and watching movies, and she is skilled at kendo. She worked with voice actor Ai Shimizu in eight anime where most of the characters they voiced in together had close connections: DearS, Kage Kara Mamoru!,...
: Tomo Sakurai
Tomo Sakurai
is a Japanese voice actress and a former idol singer. Sakurai is a member of I'm Enterprise.- Debut :At the age of 14, Sakurai debuted as a sub-member for "KISS Fairlies," a group that worked as campaign girls for KIJIMA Motorcycle Racing Team...
: Kaori Shimizu
Kaori Shimizu
Kaori Shimizu is the name of:*Kaori Shimizu , Japanese voice actress*Kaori Shimizu , '80s Japanese idol known for the video game Psycho Soldier...
: Kaori Nazuka
Kaori Nazuka
is a freelance voice actress and singer. She is a graduate of the Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music. She also announced that she got married in February 2011.-TV anime:1999:*Ojarumaru...
: Momoko Saitō
Momoko Saito
is a Japanese voice actress from Hyogo prefecture, Japan.-Voice roles:* SoltyRei - Solty Revant* Chocotto Sister - Choco* Binchō-tan - Aloe* Mamotte! Lollipop - Sun Sherald* Renkin 3-kyū Magical ? Pokān - Uma...
: Yukana: Mamiko Noto
Mamiko Noto
is a Japanese voice actress working under Office Osawa. She was born in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa, and graduated from Hokuriku Gakuen Senior High School.-Voice:...
: Daisuke Ono
Daisuke Ono
is a Japanese voice actor who works for Mausu Promotion. He was born in Kōchi Prefecture. He won the 4th Seiyū Awards for best voice actor for his role as Sebastian Michaelis in Kuroshitsuji.-Anime:2002*Full Metal Panic!...
: Mikako Takahashi
Mikako Takahashi
is a seiyū and J-pop singer born May 29, 1980 in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Under the alias Mikako Hyatt, she forms one half of the Excel Saga seiyū duo The Excel Girls . She is employed by I'm Enterprise...
: Naomi Shindō: Ryōka Yuzuki
Ryoka Yuzuki
Ryōka Yuzuki is a voice actress who was born in Anjo, Aichi, Japan. Her younger sister is an adult comic strip artist Sayumi Sakuragi ....
: Takuma Takewaka
Takuma Takewaka
is a Japanese voice actor .-Anime:*Masaomi Oogami in Onmyou Taisenki*Amon in Witch Hunter Robin*Ogawara Ryouhei in Jinki:EXTEND*Kirihito in Get Backers*Okita Souji in Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto...
: Akira Ishida
Akira Ishida
Akira Ishida is a prolific male seiyū born in Nisshin, Aichi, Japan.He was a part of Mausu Promotion from 1988 until March 2009...
: Kazuhiro Nakata
Kazuhiro Nakata
is a Japanese voice actor from Nagasaki Prefecture. He is currently affiliated with Ken Production. He is best known for his roles in Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato , Gear Senshi Dendō , .hack//Sign , Initial D Fourth Stage , Tsubasa Chronicle and Idolmaster: Xenoglossia is a Japanese voice...
IDOL
IDOLs are robots used to destroy "Drop"s, remnants of the destruction of the Moon 107 years previous during an event called the "Lost Artemis". Humans found a special silicon on Earth, probably from fallen Drops, and started research to turn that silicon into IDOL cores. There are a total of five cores.Normally, Drops are dealt with using missiles; however, since Japan does not have a missile system because they cannot build a nuclear warhead under the Three Non-Nuclear Principles
Three Non-Nuclear Principles
Japan's are a parliamentary resolution that have guided Japanese nuclear policy since their inception in the late 1960s, and reflect general public sentiment and national policy since the end of World War II. The tenets state that Japan shall neither possess nor manufacture nuclear weapons, nor...
, they were assigned and approved to use IDOLs in order to destroy Drops. IDOL pilots have to be girls, and they have to be chosen by the IDOL itself; those people are called Idolmasters.
The IDOLs are named after Lunar mare
Lunar mare
The lunar maria are large, dark, basaltic plains on Earth's Moon, formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. They were dubbed maria, Latin for "seas", by early astronomers who mistook them for actual seas. They are less reflective than the "highlands" as a result of their iron-rich compositions, and...
.
The Shuko, mentioned only in passing by a side character was to become the main focus of the show, however a budget cut meant that a core element to the over-arching story arc was left out.
Mondenkind
Prometheus–1 Imber- Master: Chihaya Kisaragi, Haruka Amami
- Colors: white and indigo blue (episodes 1–7), white and pink (episode 8 on)
- Name origin: Mare ImbriumMare ImbriumMare Imbrium, Latin for "Sea of Showers" or "Sea of Rains", is a vast lunar mare filling a basin on Earth's Moon and one of the larger craters in the Solar System. Mare Imbrium was created when lava flooded the giant crater formed when a very large object hit the Moon long ago...
Prometheus–2 Nebula
- Master: Azusa Miura (past) Makoto Kikuchi (episodes 1–13), Iori Minase (episode 14 on)
- Colors: yellow and orange
- Name origin: Palus Nebularum
Prometheus–4 Tempestas
- Master: Mami Futami
- Color: red
Turiavita
Prometheus–3 Nubilum- Master: Chihaya Kisaragi, Yukiho Hagiwara
- Colors: black and red
- Name origin: Mare NubiumMare NubiumMare Nubium is a lunar mare in the Nubium basin on the Moon's near side. The mare is located just to the southeast of Oceanus Procellarum. The actual basin is believed to be of Pre-Nectarian system, with the surrounding basin material being of the Lower Imbrian epoch. The mare material is of the...
Prometheus–5 Hiems
- Master: Makoto Kikuchi
- Colors: white and yellow
- Name origin: Mare Hiemis
Epimetheus–1 "Epi-chan"
- Master: RIFFA
- Color: blue
Terminology
Idolmaster- The female IDOL pilots are called "Idolmasters". Since only Japan must use IDOLs to destroy drops, all of the current IDOL pilots are Japanese. In order to find a new Idolmaster, the Japanese branch of Mondenkind holds auditions, which are actually a secret process in order to keep the truth about IDOL to themselves before the participants are actually qualified.
Lost Artemis
- The destruction of the moon 107 years previous to the story. This event caused numerous fragments to fall onto the face of the Earth, which killed about one quarter of the Earth's total population.
Kompeito
Kompeito
Kompeito, also spelled as konpeito is a Japanese candy.-History:The word "konpeito" comes from the Portuguese word confeito, which means a sugar candy. This technique for producing candy was introduced to Japan in the early 16th century by Portuguese traders. The infrastructure and refining...
/Confeito
- The remaining fragments of the moon, left over from the destruction of the moon, orbiting around Earth.
Drop
- A meteoroid created by the destruction of the moon that falls onto Earth. If the "drop" is big, resulting in a moderate threat to the Earth, then it will be call Mint Drop or Lemon Drop according to sizes. Mondenkind's job is to handle any Drop that is bigger than Lemon–class; while the other countries of the world have missiles to handle Drops, Japan is currently the only country who uses IDOLs to destroy Drops.
Broadcast stations
| Broadcast network | Broadcast term | Broadcast day and timings (in JST Japan Standard Time Japan Standard Time or JST is the standard timezone of Japan, and is 9 hours ahead of UTC. For example, when it is midnight in UTC, it is 09:00 in Japan Standard Time. There is no daylight saving time, though its introduction has been debated several times. Japan Standard Time is the same as... ) |
|---|---|---|
| TV Hokkaido TV Hokkaido is a TV station headquartered in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan, and is affiliated with TXN.- Offices :*Headquarters - 6-12-4, Odori-higashi, Chūō-ku, Sapporo*Tokyo office - Hashizen Building, Shinbashi, Minato, Tokyo... |
April 2, 2007~ (original run) | Mondays 26:30~27:00 |
| Kansai Telecasting Corporation Kansai Telecasting Corporation , often called or , is a TV station affiliated with Fuji News Network and Fuji Network System in Osaka, serving the Kansai region of Japan... |
April 3, 2007~ (original run) | Tuesdays 26:30~27:00 |
| Chiba TV Chiba TV , doing business as , is a Japanese commercial terrestrial television broadcasting company headquartered at 11-25 Miyako-chō 1-chōme, Chūō-ku, Chiba serving Chiba Prefecture but spill-over is received in the neibouring prefectures. It is a member of the Japanese Association of Independent... |
April 4, 2007~ (original run) | Wednesdays 25:30~26:00 |
| TV Saitama Television Saitama abbreviated TVS, doing business as is a Japanese fee-free terrestrial commercial television broadcasting company headquartered in Urawa-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Its intended coverage is Saitama Prefecture but with some spill-overs in surrounding prefectures... |
Wednesdays 26:00~26:30 | |
| TV Kanagawa | April 7, 2007~ (original run) | Saturdays 25:00～25:30 |
| TVQ Kyūshū | Saturdays 27:40~28:10 | |
| Chūkyō Television Broadcasting | May 21, 2007~ (original run) | Mondays 27:09~27:39 |
| AT-X AT-X (company) is a Japanese anime television network owned by . AT-X, Inc. was founded on June 26, 2000 as a subsidiary of TV Tokyo Medianet, which, in turn, is a subsidiary of TV Tokyo. Its headquarters are in Minato, Tokyo. AT-X network broadcasts anime via satellite and cable since December 24, 1997.AT-X is... |
Mondays 10:30~11:00 | |
Idolmaster: Xenoglossia also broadcast over the internet on the Japanese website @nifty as of April 9, 2007 and will continue to be updated with new episodes every Monday at 17:00.
Other media
MangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
- The mangaMangaManga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
version of the anime has been serialized in Kadokawa ShotenKadokawa Shotenis a well-known Japanese publishing company based in Tokyo, Japan. Kadokawa has published both manga novels and magazines, such as Newtype magazine...
's Comp AceComp Aceis a Japanese computer game and manga magazine published by Kadokawa Shoten. Comp Ace began as a special edition version of another one of Kadokawa Shoten's magazines, Comptiq. The first issue was released on March 26, 2005, and was published quarterly for the first three volumes which had cover...
as of February 26, 2007 starting from volume 12. It will not be a direct adaptation from the anime and will feature a different story line.
Light novel
Light novel
A is a style of Japanese novel primarily targeting junior high and high school students . The term "light novel" is a wasei-eigo, or a Japanese term formed from words in the English language. Light novels are often called or for short...
- Idolmaster: Xenoglossia is also written as a light novel published in a monthly magazine. There are currently 2 adaptations.
- is published in Gekkan Dragon MagazineGekkan Dragon Magazine, frequently abbreviated as "Doramaga" or "DM", is a bimonthly Japanese seinen light novel magazine, first published in 1988. Many popular light novels which were later animated were originally serialized in it. The magazine also features one or two manga series at a time...
since the July issue. - is published in Charano!Charano!, is a monthly Japanese light novel magazine, first published on September 2006. The magazine is aimed at young adult males. It was first titled Novel Japan, but on June 30, 2007 its title was changed to Charano!.-Serialized works:*Alexion Saga...
(Hobby JapanHobby JapanHobbyJAPAN CO. is a Japanese hobby magazine and publishing company, specializing in roleplaying, war, and tabletop games, as well as action figures, toys, and artbooks for successful anime, manga and light novel franchises.- Role-playing games :...
) since the August issue.
- is published in Gekkan Dragon Magazine
Internet radio
Internet radio
Internet radio is an audio service transmitted via the Internet...
- The radio adaptation of the series is called . It is currently broadcasting on LantisLantisLantis may refer to:* Lantis, a character in Magic Knight Rayearth* Mazda Lantis, a car made by Mazda* Lantis , a Japanese recording company...
Radio, BEAT☆Net Radio! and niftyNIFTY Corporation, also known as , is one of the leading internet service providers in Japan, and a subsidiary of Fujitsu. The company was the largest online service provider, Nifty Serve, in Japan. With the spread of the Internet, it started internet service in 1996. In 1999, it absorbed Fujitsu's ISP, InfoWeb. In...
as of March 9, 2007.
Staff
- Original Concept: Bandai Namco Games (The Idolm@ster)
- Planning: Sunrise
- Original Work: Hajime YatateHajime Yatateis a pseudonym for the collective contributions of the Sunrise animation staff.-Name:"Hajime Yatate" is considered named after a quote of Matsuo Bashō's Oku no Hosomichi:-Credited series:...
- Director: Tatsuyuki NagaiTatsuyuki Nagaiis an anime director and member of the noted anime studio Sunrise. He made his full directorial debut with 2006's Honey and Clover II, after which he had directed 2007's Idolmaster: Xenoglossia and 2008's Toradora!...
- Series Composition: Jukki HanadaJukki Hanada' is a Japanese screenwriter.-Series composition:*Hanaukyo Maid Team La Verite*Idolmaster: Xenoglossia*Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl*Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful*Petite Princess Yucie*Popotan*Rozen Maiden...
- Character Design: Hiroshi Takeuchi (Studio Live)
- Mechanical Design (IDOL): Junichi Akutsu (Bee Craft)
- Guest Mechanical Design: Hiroyuki Ōkawa
- Set Design: Tomoyuki Aoki
- Art Director: Toshiyuki Tokuda (Studio Easter)
- Colour Design: Sayoko Yokoyama
- Photography Director: Hidekatsu Ōishi (Anime Film)
- Editing: Kazuhiko Seki (Seki Editing)
- Music: Tsuneyoshi SaitōTsuneyoshi Saitois a Japanese composer and arranger. He composed the original music in Tenchi Forever! The Movie, composed music for xxxHolic: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Kamen Rider Kiva: King of the Castle in the Demon World and Idolmaster: Xenoglossia, co-composed music for Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva...
- Sound Director: Yōta Tsuruoka (Rakuonsha)
- Sound Production: Rakuonsha
- Sound Effects: Mitsuru Kageyama (Fizz Sound CreationFizz Sound Creationis a sound effects company working in the television, movie, radio, video, CD, cassette and game animation industry in Japan.-Company history:The company was founded in 1971 by as...
) - Music Producer: Shunji Inoue (LantisLantisLantis may refer to:* Lantis, a character in Magic Knight Rayearth* Mazda Lantis, a car made by Mazda* Lantis , a Japanese recording company...
) - Music Production: Lantis
- Music Coordination: Sunrise Music Publishing
- Producers: Naotake FurusatoNaotake Furusatois an anime producer. Furusato produced Crush Gear Turbo and Gear Fighter Dendoh.-External links:...
(Sunrise), Toyota Todoroki (Bandai Visual) - Production: Sunrise, Bandai VisualBandai Visual, is a Japanese anime, film production and distribution enterprise, established by Bandai Co., Ltd. and a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings, Inc., which is based in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Since the reorganisation of Namco Bandai Holdings in 2006, Bandai Visual now heads the group's Visual and...
- Producer: Naotake FurusatoNaotake Furusatois an anime producer. Furusato produced Crush Gear Turbo and Gear Fighter Dendoh.-External links:...
(Sunrise) - Music: Tsuneyoshi SaitoTsuneyoshi Saitois a Japanese composer and arranger. He composed the original music in Tenchi Forever! The Movie, composed music for xxxHolic: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Kamen Rider Kiva: King of the Castle in the Demon World and Idolmaster: Xenoglossia, co-composed music for Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva...
- Music production: LantisLantisLantis may refer to:* Lantis, a character in Magic Knight Rayearth* Mazda Lantis, a car made by Mazda* Lantis , a Japanese recording company...
- Production: Sunrise, Bandai VisualBandai Visual, is a Japanese anime, film production and distribution enterprise, established by Bandai Co., Ltd. and a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings, Inc., which is based in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Since the reorganisation of Namco Bandai Holdings in 2006, Bandai Visual now heads the group's Visual and...
- Copyright: (C)2007 SUNRISE INC.・Bandai Visual
Theme music
Opening themes-
- Vocal: Miyuki HashimotoMiyuki Hashimotois a Japanese female singer from Saitama Prefecture. She is signed to Lantis, a label which contribute songs to anime and video games.- Singles :* Koko ni Iru kara... # Koko ni Iru kara.....
- Lyrics: Aki HataAki Hatais a Japanese musician and lyricist. She is noted for having penned and composed songs for various anime and games, including popular titles like Zettai Shōnen, Azumanga Daioh, Haibane Renmei, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yūutsu, and Lucky Star, and for singers and seiyū. She has even composed game...
- Composition: Katsuhiko Kurosu
- Arrangement: Kaoru OkuboKaoru Okubois a male Japanese music arranger who is mostly known for his musical contributions to anime.-Music arranged:*Asatte no Houkou*Bincho-tan*Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san*D.C.S.S...
- Vocal: Miyuki Hashimoto
-
- Vocal: Aira YūkiAira Yukiis a female Japanese singer attached to record label Lantis and belongs to the Space Craft Group agency. She began her career in 2007 and since then has primarily sung songs that were used for theme music in anime. She has put out seven singles and released her debut album Reflection on July 2,...
- Lyrics: Aki Hata
- Composition and arrangement: Nijine
- Vocal: Aira Yūki
Ending theme
-
- Vocal: Snow*
- Lyrics: Saori Kodama
- Composition and arrangement: Hiroyuki Maezawa
External links
- Idolmaster: Xenoglossia at Sunrise