The official website for I★CHU: Halfway Through The Idol, the television anime of Liber Entertainment Inc.‘s I★CHU smartphone game, revealed on Friday the second promotional video, additional staff, and the January 6 premiere date. The anime will debut on Tokyo MX on January 6 at 11:00 p.m., and it will then air on BS11 on January 10. The video previews scenes featuring the idol groups Pop’N Star, RE:BERSERK, and Lancelot.
Ryо̄suke Obokata is credited as art director, and Gō Sadamatsu (Macross Frontier) is credited as editor. Yomogiko Murano (Kono Oto Tomare!: Sounds of Life) is the director of photography. Masanori Tsuchiya (New Game!) is the sound director.
The cast members, all returning from the game, include:
(left to right in images below, with costumed character images above regular cast images)
Pop’N Star
RE:BERSERK
Lancelot
Tenjō Tenge
F∞F
Twinkle Bell
I
ArS
Other cast members include Akio Ohtsuka as Principal Bear and Megumi Toyoguchi as the producer Yuzuki Asahina.
Liber Entertainment Inc. released the original “love rhythm adventure” game for iOS and Android in summer 2015. The game features 42 voice actors in the main story, performing original songs. In the game’s story, a famous talent agency called Ailedore has created an academy called Etoile Vio School to train budding idols. Players play as both a teacher and producer for the students.
The original game ended its online service on July 6. However, Liber Entertainment updated the game on the same day to work offline. This offline version will be available until December 13, although players cannot purchase in-game Discs or obtain Scouts in it.
A new app titled I★CHU Étoile Stage launched on April 30, after a delay from fall 2019.
Sources: I★CHU: Halfway Through The Idol anime’s website, Twin Engine‘s YouTube channel, Comic Natalie, Mainichi Shimbun’s Mantan Web