About

Ensemble Stars! is a multimedia project, originally released as a Japanese mobile idol training game in May 2015. As of September 2023, the game is split into two versions: Ensemble Stars!! Basic, the idol-training game, and Ensemble Stars!! Music, the rhythm game. Both versions of the game feature a number of characters to play, which are often used by fans as ironic memes and online discussions about their favorite idol.

History

Ensemble Stars! was developed by Cacalia Studio and published by Happy Elements K.K on Google Play on April 28th, 2015, and on the App Store on May 1st, 2015., 2015.^[1] One of the earliest gameplay showing the mobile idol-training game was posted on May 15th, 2015, by YouTube user @dengekionline^[2]. The video amassed over 164,000 views and 372 likes in 8 years.

On March 9th, 2020, the Ensemble Stars! original app was split into two games catering to different gameplay styles: Ensemble Stars!! Basic, the original game; and Ensemble Stars!! Music, a rhythm game. On May 13th, 2022, YouTube page @cabogame^[3] posted a gameplay of the rhythm game's new version (shown below), which amassed roughly 2,400 views and 42 likes in a year.

Manga And Anime adaptations

The success of the game led to several stage plays and manga adaptations. A manga^[5] adaptation (shown below) written and illustrated by Ichi Sayo was launched in Kodansha's Shōjo manga magazine Aria on August 28th, 2015 and ended its serialization on December 28th, 2016.

On July 7th, 2019, an anime^[4] television series by David Production aired for 24 episodes^[6] until December 22nd, 2019. On July 31st, 2019, YouTube^[7] channel posted a trailer of the anime (shown below), which amassed over 12,000 views and 172 likes in four years.

Online Presence

The game has amassed a stable online fanbase, usually creating gameplay and idol-related content on social media. For example, on September 9th, 2022, YouTube^[8] user posted a gameplay video (shown below, left), garnering roughly 4,300 views and nine likes in a year. On May 15th, 2022, YouTube^[9] user @KenYuGames posted a tutorial video (shown below, right), which received more than 1,000 views and 18 likes in a year.

Search Interest

External References