Anime Spotlight - STARMYU
by Anthony Foronda,

Key Staff
Story
Yuta Hoshitani enters Ayanagi Academy, a school renowned for music and showbiz, to follow a high school student he idolized. In the academy, there is a "musical department" that is the draw for the academy and the goal for all new students. The "Kaoukai" resided at the pinnacle of the academy, and consisted of the third-year students who were at the top of their class. To enter the musical department, the best shortcut was for a member of Kaoukai has to like you and grant you a special spot as a direct pupil, commonly called the "star spots"..... Though highly talented, each of their personal issues are putting the musical department candidate positions in jeopardy for Nayuki, Tsukigami, Tengenji, Kuga, as well as Hoshitani who is basically a novice. But these five are spotted by the Kaoukai's genius and strange member, Otori...? Curtain's up on an adolescent slapstick musical story!
About Kaoukai: A student council group consisting of the third year students with highest scores in the musical department for Ayanagi Academy. They have huge say within the academy that puts value in the individuality of students, and the academy guarantees the best support to back them up as musical actors once they graduate. The idol of all students. Before Hoshitani eentered the academy, there were only four, but Otori's admittance was decided so Kaoukai currently has five students residing as members.
Characters
![]() |
Yuta Hoshitani Height: 170cmVA:Natsuki Hanae Blood type: O Birthday: October 10 Association: Ayanagi Academy, high school 1st year "That's why I thought this was the only way. I want you to be friends with me!" Loved singing and dancing from a young age, and had vaguely been longing to become a star that can sing and dance. In the fall of his 2nd year in middle school, he was deeply touched by a certain high schooler's performance. Following that student who was wearing an Ayanagi Academy musical department uniform, he enters Ayanagi. In middle school he was in the ordinary department, and is basically an amateur concerning musicals and theater. However, his motivation and absorption of skills is top notch, and is a mood-maker who can be bright and optimistic no matter how hard the obstacle is. |
![]() |
Toru Nayuki Height: 160cmVA:Kensho Ono Blood type: A Birthday: January 23 Association: Ayanagi Academy, high school 1st year "I did wake you up, you know? I pulled on your cheeks, and banged on the frying pan and stuff, you know?" Kind to all and always smiling. Graduated from Ayanagi's middle school and has enough skills, but has a severe case of stage fright and can not show his full capabilities on the main stage. Perhaps due to lack of self-confidence, he tends to be negative and is often depressed. Each time, he is comforted by Hoshitani's optimism and brightness, and looks up to him. Has twin younger sisters, who often worry about him. |
![]() |
Kaito Tsukigami Height: 168cmVA:Arthur Lounsbery Blood type: B Birthday: November 4 Association: Ayanagi Academy, high school 1st year "I don't need a special seat... I want to be on the stage, not in the audience." His father is a famous producer, his mother is one of the most prolific theatrical actresses in Japan, and his older brother is a young musical star who graduated from Ayanagi Academy's musical department. He is a born elite. He respects his older brother, but dislikes the conditions where everything he does is compared to his sibling, and can sometimes lack the ability to stay calm. |
![]() |
Kakeru Tengenji Height: 175cmVA:Yoshimasa Hosoya Blood type: A Birthday: August 11 Association: Ayanagi Academy, high school 1st year "I thought I told you to not talk to me so easily, you boor." An heir to one of the families of kabuki. The prince of the kabuki world. Aware that he is an elite, and is confident of his skills and talents. He entered Ayanagi due to his family's policy, but he looks down on everyone else as people below him. That thought also applies to teachers and upperclassmen. Because he's lived in a world full of adults from a very young age, he is bad at communicating with peers, and does not fully understand the concept of friends. |
![]() |
Shu Kuga Height: 177cmVA:Tomoaki Maeno Blood type: AB Birthday: April 2 Association: Ayanagi Academy, high school 1st year "No wonder why strange guys are all gathered here." Has a scary face and is reticent so he may cause misconceptions, but he is just lacking in interest of things, and does not harm other people. When you are really in trouble, he is kind enough to be the first person to offer help. He attended schools for acting and dancing. Learned piano on his own. A poor student, his tuition is paid by scholarship, and he earns his living expenses through part-time jobs. |
![]() |
Itsuki Otori Height:186cmVA:Junichi Suwabe Blood type: O Birthday: December 24 Association: Ayanagi Academy, high school 3rd year "And now, boys, how about we start our lesson for today." Member of Kaoukai. An elite born into the branch family of Ayanagi Academy's chairman clan, but has no care for status or glory. With the reason of "they look interesting", he picks up Hoshitani and the other four during the musical department auditions. Adept at hiding his true feelings, so everyone around him think of him as a "strange senpai". His skills are top notch.. A genius and a nonconformist. |
![]() |
Tsubasa Hiragi Height: 184cmVA:Daisuke Hirakawa Blood type: A Birthday: December 24 Association: Ayanagi Academy, high school 3rd year "Interesting? I'm troubled to see the coveted star slots filled with such a reason." Member of Kaoukai. Heir to the Hiragi clan, who have been chairmen for Ayanagi Academy. As the top student in the musical department, he feels it is his job to extract the talented starts bearing the Ayanagi brand. So serious that he is not accommodating at all. Acknowledges Otori's talent more than anyone else, and feels that he has more talent than even himself, so he worked behind the scenes to have Otori enter Kaoukai. He is livid concerning Otori's unprecedented acts that can jeopardize the position including adding Hoshitani et al into the star slots. |
![]() |
Rui Tatsumi Height: 172cmVA:Nobuhiko Okamoto Blood type: AB Birthday: February 13 Association: Ayanagi Academy, 1st year "Interesting? "You guys shine bright... but no match for us, I think." Leader of team Hiragi. Just like Tsukigami and Nayuki, a graduate of Ayanagi's middle school. His talents for musicals are comparable to Tsukigami, and always fought Tsukigami for the top of the class back in middle school. Has a very gentle demeanor and gives a frail impression, but concerning showbiz is very stern to himself and to others. |
![]() |
Eigo Sawatari Height: 170cmVA:Yuma Uchida Blood type: B Birthday: November 28 Association: Ayanagi Academy, high school 1st year "Team Otori... the members are very individualistic. Very interesting." Holds team Hiragi's advisor-type position. The type that masters musicals from analysis more than feeling. Coming from Ayanagi's middle school like Tsukigami and Tatsumi, and had high scores. Tatsumi is a family friend, and often does things together with him. |
![]() |
Seishiro Inumine Height: 185cmVA:Kazuyuki Okitsu Blood type: O Birthday: May 5 Association: Ayanagi Academy, high school 1st year "The new singing and dancing star of Ayanagi Academy! I'm Seishiro Inumine!" The mood-maker of team Hiragi. Has innate talent for acting, singing, and dancing. Also blessed with a good physique, and has a bright, friendly personality. A natural born star, much like a pop idol. However, according to his teammates, he is "worthless outside of musicals". |
![]() |
Izumi Toraishi Height: 176cmVA:KENN Blood type: B Birthday: April 12 Association: Ayanagi Academy, high school 1st year "Shu, you're too hard-headed. Let's play with a lighter heart, okay?" The flimsy guy of team Hiragi. Loves girls, and is very popular. Has a huge array of women who are his type. Childhood friends with Kuga, and from the same middle school. Often uses Kuga's motorcycle for his dates, causing complaints on occasion. |
![]() |
Akira Ugawa Height: 160cmVA:Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Blood type: B Birthday: May 19 Association: Ayanagi Academy, high school 1st year "Team Otori is nothing but a team of dunces." The little demon of team Hiragi. Contrary to the cute looks, the comments are caustic. Hates losing, and is a bit selfish. However, very weak against Tatsumi who he looks up to. He and Tengenji hate each other? |
Cast
- Yuta Hoshitani
- Natsuki Hanae
- Toru Nayuki
- Kensho Ono
- Kaito Tsukigami
- Arthur Lounsbery
- Kakeru Tengenji
- Yoshimasa Hosoya
- Shu Kuga
- Tomoaki Maeno
- Rui Tatsumi
- Nobuhiko Okamoto
- Eigo Sawatari
- Yuma Uchida
- Seishiro Inumine
- Kazuyuki Okitsu
- Izumi Toraishi
- KENN
- Akira Ugawa
- Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
- Itsuki Otori
- Junichi Suwabe
- Tsubasa Hiragi
- Daisuke Hirakawa
- Kyoji Akatsuki
- Showtaro Morikubo
- Lion Christian Yuzuriha
- Kosuke Toriumi
- Sakura Sazanami
- Wataru Hatano
- Haruto Tsukigami
- Takehito Koyasu
Staff
- Planning/Original story
- Rin Hinata
- Director
- Shunsuke Tada
- Series Composition
- Sayaka Harada
- Character designs
- Asami Watanabe
- Animation production
- C-Station
(C)Ishio Yamagata/SHUEISHA,ProjectROKKA
discuss this in the forum (5 posts) |
back to Anime Spotlight Fall 2015 - The List
Anime Spotlight homepage / archives