The Idolmaster Million Live!

The Idolmaster Million Live (Japanese: アイドルマスター ミリオンライブ！, Hepburn: Aidorumasutā Mirion Raibu!, officially stylized as THE iDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE!) is a Japanese multimedia spin-off series of The Idolmaster, starting with the game of the same name. The series follows a new group of idols working alongside the idols of 765 Productions with a producer at the 765 Theater Agency.

The Idolmaster Million Live!
CD cover art featuring idols from Million Live! from left to right: Shizuka, Mirai, and Tsubasa.
アイドルマスター ミリオンライブ！
(Aidorumasutā Mirion Raibu!)
GenreIdol[1]
Game
DeveloperBandai Namco Studios
PublisherBandai Namco Entertainment
GenreSimulation, Social network game
PlatformGREE (iOS, Android, PC)
Released
  • JP: February 27, 2013
Game
The Idolmaster Million Live! Theater Days
DeveloperBandai Namco Studios
PublisherBandai Namco Entertainment
GenreSimulation, Rhythm Game, Social network game
PlatformiOS, Android
Released
  • JP: June 29, 2017
Anime television series
Directed byShinya Watada
Produced byKoichiro Tomita
Yuka Takei
Written byYōichi Katō
Music byTorine
StudioShirogumi
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Original networkTV Tokyo
Original run October 8, 2023 – present
Episodes3

The original game is a Japanese idol raising simulation video game developed and managed by Bandai Namco Entertainment released on the GREE social network platform February 27, 2013[2] for Android and iOS platforms and for feature phones. A rhythm game titled Idolmaster Million Live! Theater Days was released on June 29, 2017. The original game ended service on March 18, 2018,[3] leaving Theater Days as the main game centered on Million Live. An anime television series adaptation by Shirogumi aired in October 2023.

Overview
See also: List of The Idolmaster characters § Million Live!

Million Live! introduces 37 idols, working alongside the 13 idols of 765 Production; Theater Days adds two more idols and a secretary.[4] Compared to other spin-offs in the Idolmaster series, the new idols work with and interact with the idols of 765. The general design and much of the visual elements are done by A-1 Pictures, the same animation studio responsible for animating several of the Idolmaster anime series.[2]

Gameplay

GREE game

The game was a free-to-play idol raising simulator in which the player, as the producer, trained idols and sent them to work in various locations while also making the idols 765 Production Theater bigger.[2] The idols were obtained through collecting cards ranked by rarity and divided into three categories, Vocal, Dance, and Visual, with a fourth category, Ex, reserved for special cards. Leveling up the cards made the idols stronger, with the higher rarities being able to reach higher levels.

The feature phone version was discontinued on February 2, 2016; a desktop client was released within the same month.[5] The GREE game was shut down on March 19, 2018.[3]

Theater Days

A second game titled Idolmaster Million Live! Theater Days was released June 29, 2017 for Android and iOS platforms. It is a rhythm game and simulation game, with 3D models, periodically released story missions, and multiple choice 'communication' events with the idols in the vein of the original Idolmaster games.[6]

Many of the cards from the original game are reused in Theater Days.

Media

Animations

Seven of the idols from Million Live are featured in the anime film The Idolmaster Movie: Beyond the Brilliant Future!.[7]

Special animation videos for Million Live have been created as anniversary celebrations. The first animation, a video featuring Mirai Kasuga, was created for the first anniversary and streamed in-game.[8] A 10-minute animation was created for its fourth anniversary.[9] Both were animated by A-1 Pictures.

TV Anime

An anime television series adaptation of Million Live! was announced during the Theater Days 3rd anniversary livestream.[10] It is animated by Shirogumi and directed by Shinya Watada, with series composition and script by Yōichi Katō, and character designs for animation by Tetsuya Ishii and Kaori Tsuta.[11] The series premiered on October 8, 2023, TV Tokyo and other networks.[12] Prior to its television airing, the series is being released theatrically in three parts. The first part was screened from August 18 to September 7; the second part from September 8 to 28; and the third part from September 29 to October 19.[13][14] Crunchyroll licensed the series.[15]

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byStoryboarded byOriginal air date
1"My Very Own Dream Just for Me"
(Japanese: たったひとつの自分らしい夢)		Daisuke ShioyaYōichi KatōShinya Watada
Yōhei Arai
Junichi Umezawa
Kaori Tsuta
Shuuta Hase		October 8, 2023 (2023-10-08)
Mirai Kasuga is a high school girl trying to find a dream to follow. After trying out various school clubs and sports teams, she decides to attend a concert hosted by 765 Productions. While there, she encounters Shizuka Mogami and they quickly bond over their mutual admiration for idols. Meanwhile, Tsubasa Ibuki arrives at the concert and meets one of 765 Pro's producers to watch the concert as well. All three girls are inspired by the performance the 765 Pro idols, and Mirai suggests she and Shizuka audition to 765 Pro together. However, Shizuka remains reluctant, due to her father's disapproval and her own low self confidence, but she is eventually won over by Mirai's enthusiasm. Later that night, Mirai, Shizuka, and Tsubasa all apply to audition to 765 Pro.
2"Auditions Are the Doorway to Dreams"
(Japanese: 夢のとびらはオーディション)		Sō YamamuraYōichi KatōYōhei Arai
Kaori Tsuta		October 15, 2023 (2023-10-15)
Mirai and Shizuka spend the next two weeks rigorously practicing in preparation for the final round of auditions. However, since Tsubasa was scouted by the Producer, she is allowed to bypass the auditions. The Producer meanwhile tries to decide what kind of unit to create for all of the newly recruited idols, and both the President and Chief Producer advise him that he needs to find a vision for what he wants his unit to achieve. Once the final round of auditions begin, Mirai and Shizuka arrive and meet the 765 Pro staff and idols. Since the third member of their group failed to appear, the Producer has Tsubasa fill in, and Shizuka is shocked at how naturally talented she is. During the audition performance, Shizuka begins to falter when she suffers a bout a stage fright, but she is able to pull through thanks to encouragement from both Mirai and Tsubasa. Their performance ends up entrancing the judges and the audience and gives the Producer the inspiration he needs. Mirai and Shizuka pass the audition and officially become idols for 765 Pro while the Producer decides to name his new unit "Million Stars".
3"Sparkling World! Our Theater!"
(Japanese: きらめく世界！私たちのシアター！)		Kazufumi TenjōYōichi KatōMasanori Takahashi
Kaori Tsuta		October 22, 2023 (2023-10-22)
The President reveals that the Million Stars will debut at 765 Pro's newest venue, the 765PRO Live Theater, and designates the Producer as the lead manager of Million Stars. While touring the site, Mirai, Shizuka, and Tsubasa meet several fellow idols, and the Producer explains that Million Stars consists of 37 idols so that rotating performances can be scheduled while the ALLSTARS are on a national tour. The Producer is then called away on a sudden matter, so he assigns Yuriko Nano to help mentor the trio. However, Yuriko notices that she can barely keep up with the newer idols. Meanwhile, the Producer asks the Chief Producer how he can better help his idols prepare for their debut in two months, and the Chief Producers advises him to work together with his idols to move forward. The idols then tour the still under construction theater and Yuriko takes them to the roof to show them the nighttime view, talking about her passion to become an idol. Returning home, Mirai reflects on how all of the idols she met were so eager to debut, and she comes up with the idea that Million Stars can debut right away on the empty field next to the theater.

Comics

Aside from comics available alongside the games themselves, Million Live! has several published manga.

A manga adaptation titled Idolm@ster Million Live! was published in Monthly Shōnen Sunday from August 2014 to October 2016, created by author Yuki Monji and Bandai Namco Entertainment.[16] The collected volume editions came with original CDs.

Another manga series titled The IDOLM@STER Million Live! Blooming Clover was published in Dengeki Maoh from February 2017 to October 2023, crated by Kakuya Inayama.[17][18]

Music

Million Live has image songs published by Lantis[19] (later a label for Bandai Namco's Bandai Namco Arts).

The music was integrated into the gameplay of Theater Days.[6]

Sales of the CDs and concert Blu-rays had surpassed a combined one million units by 2017;[1] the CD The@ter Generation 01 Brand New Theater! received a Gold certification from the RIAJ.[19]

References
  1. Komatsu, Mikikazu (June 2, 2017). ""The Idolm@ster Million Live!" Franchise Has Shipped One Million CDs/Blu-rays". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  2. Saeki, Kenji (February 27, 2013). "GREE「アイドルマスター ミリオンライブ！」サービス開始！". GAME Watch (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  3. Mr. Qoo (January 15, 2018). "[Qoo News] THE iDOLM@STER Million Live! Comes to an End on 19th March!". QooApp. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  4. Liong, Jessica (June 2, 2017). "New Idols Debut in Idolm@ster Million Live! Theater Days". ComicsVerse. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  5. "バンダイナムコ、フィーチャーフォン版『アイドルマスター ミリオンライブ！』のサービスを16年2月に終了 PC版を16年初旬にリリースする予定". Social Game Info (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  6. Romano, Sal (April 30, 2017). "The Idolmaster: Million Live Theater Days first details, second trailer". Gematsu. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  7. Nelkin, Sarah (November 2, 2013). "Million Live Idols Appear in The IDOLM@STER Movie Promo". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  8. Loo, Egan (March 9, 2014). "The Idolm@ster Million Live's Animated Anniversary Video Posted". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  9. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 12, 2017). "Idolm@ster Million Live! Celebrates 4th Anniversary in New Anime Video, Game". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  10. "『アイドルマスター ミリオンライブ！』テレビアニメプロジェクトが始動！". Famitsu. July 4, 2020. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  11. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 4, 2020). "The IDOLM@STER Million Live! Game Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  12. Loo, Egan (March 9, 2022). "The IDOLM@STER Million Live! TV Anime Planned for 2023". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  13. Loo, Egan (January 14, 2023). "The IDOLM@STER Million Live! TV Anime's New Teaser Unveils August Debut in Theaters, More Staff". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  14. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 8, 2023). "The IDOLM@STER Million Live! Anime's Visual Reveals October 8 TV Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  15. Cayanan, Joanna (October 10, 2023). "Crunchyroll Adds The IDOLM@STER Million Live! Anime to Fall 2023 Season Lineup". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  16. "アイドルマスター ミリオンライブ！". ゲッサンWEB (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  17. Ressler, Karen (January 27, 2017). "The Idolm@ster Million Live! App Gets New Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  18. Cayanan, Joanna (September 1, 2023). "The IDOLM@STER Million Live! Blooming Clover Manga Ends in 2 Chapters". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  19. Komatsu, Mikikazu (August 14, 2017). ""The Idolm@ster Million The@ter Generation 01" Certificated as "Gold Disc" in Japan". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
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