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Anime Spotlight - STARMYU

by Anthony Foronda,
Broadcast Begins October 2015 (JST)

Key Staff

Director: Shunsuke Tada
(Dragonar Academy, Kuroko's Basketball)
Character Designs: Asami Watanabe
(Agami ga KILL!)

Introduction

"I don't know how to give up on my dreams--"

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
VA:Natsuki Hanae
Height: 170cm
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
VA:Kenshō Ono
Height: 160cm
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
VA:Arthur Lounsbery
Height: 168cm
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
VA:Yoshimasa Hosoya
Height: 175cm
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
VA:Tomoaki Maeno
Height: 177cm
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
VA:Junichi Suwabe
Height:186cm
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
VA:Daisuke Hirakawa
Height: 184cm
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
VA:Nobuhiko Okamoto
Height: 172cm
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
VA:Yūma Uchida
Height: 170cm
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
VA:Kazuyuki Okitsu
Height: 185cm
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
VA:KENN
Height: 176cm
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
VA:Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
Height: 160cm
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
Kenshō Ono
Kaito Tsukigami
Arthur Lounsbery
Kakeru Tengenji
Yoshimasa Hosoya
Shu Kuga
Tomoaki Maeno
Rui Tatsumi
Nobuhiko Okamoto
Eigo Sawatari
Yūma 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
Kōsuke 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

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