History Anime / WakeUpGirls

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/wake_up_girls_7077.jpg]]

* FaceOfTheBand: Among WUG, Mayu ''de jure'' plays this role, and indeed, this is initially invoked in the prequel film by Tange when she sends Matsuda out to recruit Mayu for that purpose. Also invoked by the IntrepidReporter in Episode 4, who suggests that WUG wouldn't have existed if it wasn't for Mayu. ''De facto'', however, this role is known to rotate between members based on what song they are currently performing.
** This role has changed hands twice in I-1 Club, first being filled by Mayu, then Shiho, and [[spoiler:Moka]], which each bearer assuming the role [[spoiler: [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness after the dismissal of her predecessor]]. Shiho herself becomes this to Next Storm in the ''Beyond the Bottom'' film]].

* CoverVersion: In Episode 2, Miyu performs a cover of ''LightNovel/NyarukoCrawlingWithLove'''s opening.

After six years in the business, Wake Up Girls! as an idol group disbanded in 2019. Run Girls, Run! continued as an independent unit from its debut season until March 2023, when cast member Coco Hayashi joined the [[Anime/LoveLiveNijigasakiHighSchoolIdolClub Nijigasaki High School Idol Club]].

A spin-off featuring the girls in SuperDeformed fashion, wearing animal costumes premièred on October 22, 2014 under the name of ''Wake Up Girls! Zoo''. A pair of movies, titled ''Seishun no Kage'' (''The Shadow of Youth'') and ''Beyond the Bottom'', aired in September and December 2015, respectively, and act as the conclusion to the second TV series. A third season titled ''Wake Up, Girls! Shin Shou'' aired in Fall 2017 and introduced a three girl rival unit to the Girls.

After six years in the business, Wake Up Girls! as an idol group disbanded in 2019. However, the spirit of the group lives on in the three person group ''Run Girls, Run!''.

An spin-off featuring the girls in SuperDeformed fashion, wearing animal costumes premièred in the Fall2014Anime season under the name of ''Wake Up Girls! Zoo''. A pair of movies, titled ''Seishun no Kage'' (''The Shadow of Youth'') and ''Beyond the Bottom'', aired in September and December 2015, respectively, and act as the conclusion to the second TV series. A third season titled ''Wake Up, Girls! Shin Shou'' aired in Fall 2017 and introduced a three girl rival unit to the Girls.

Depicting a more realistic side of the idol industry, ''Wake Up, Girls!'' aired during the Winter2014Anime season. A prequel film, called ''Shichinin no Idol'' (''The Seven Idols''), was released on January 10, 2014, the same day the anime opened. ''Wake Up, Girls!'' is directed by Yutaka Yamamoto, and produced by his studio, Ordet and Creator/TatsunokoProduction. ''Wake Up, Girls!'' had its own game called ''Stage no Tenshi'' (which is based on the Mobage platform), that featured unique idols but was discontinued shortly after the anime finished airing, and the series is available for streaming at [[http://www.crunchyroll.ca/wake-up-girls CrunchyRoll]].

* BerserkButton[=/=]MamaBear: Despite her irresponsible mannerisms, Junko cares deeply for the girls and will not hesitate to beat down anyone attempting to exploit them. In addition to delivering the aforementioned beat down to Sudo in Episode 2, she tries her best to cheer up Mayu at the end of Episode 4 after punching the reporter asking Mayu some questions about her past with the I-1 idol group.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience[=/=]RainbowMotif: Besides representation by a predator motif, each girl is associated with a unique colour, which is also present in each of the respective ribbons or ties in their concert uniforms.

* EarnYourHappyEnding[=/=]UnderdogsNeverLose: Initially subverted, as the girls encounter numerous challenges before reaching the idol concert in Episode 12, and even then, they face an extremely hostile group, almost all of whom are more shocked to see ex-I-1 idol member Mayu there. [[spoiler:They do end up winning over the crowd, and though they don't win the contest, a major record label is interested in signing them on after watching them perform at the contest, so they're still in a much better place than when they first started out]].

* CryCute: The girls do this from time to time:
** Airi and Yoshino have a pretty epic one in Episode 7 [[spoiler:after the latter tells the former she's not as bad as she thinks is despite what Hayasaka said about her being untalented.]]

* PantyShot: The girls twirl their skirts throughout their debut to reveal their panties while they perform. This causes problems when they do the job Sudo gets for them in Episode 2.

* LighterAndSofter:''Zoo'' and ''Shin Shou'' serve as the less dramatic portions of the franchise. ''Zoo'' is for obvious reasons, being a spinoff, and ''Shin Shou'' is more episodic in nature, with less focus on the harshness of the idol industry.

** The I-1 Idol group rehearsal seems to be based on this. Their general manager, Shiraki, not only just refers to the girls [[YouAreNumberSix by their numbers]], but accepts no failures and will kick out anyone he seems mess up even once, as seen in Episode 5.

* CoverVersion: In Episode 2, Miyu performs a cover of ''LightNovel/HaiyoreNyarkoSan'''s opening.

* ConspicuousCG: During the I-1 Club practice scenes, those who stand in the first row are hand-drawn, and everyone else are CG-animated.

After 6 years in the business, Wake Up Girls! as an idol group disbanded in 2019. However, the spirit of the group lives on in the six person group ''Run Girls, Run!''.

* ACupAngst: In episode nine, Minami asks Kaya if eating saury is the reason why her breasts are so big. Several of the other girls immediately start eating the fish much faster after hearing it.
* AffectionateNickname: Several of the girls are referred to by their nicknames. For instance, Yoshino is called "Yoppi", and Mayu was nicknamed Mayushi back during her time with I-1 (current fans still call her thus). All of the girls in I-1 girls appear to have a nickname, and Wake Up, Girls itself is affectionately dubbed "WUG-chan" by fans in episode five.

** The reporter from Tokyo interviewing the girls in episode four. Though it starts out innocently enough, when he gets to Mayu, he immediately begins asking some rather harsh questions about her time in the I-1 idol group. Tange ends up kicking and punching him for belittling the other girls and for bringing up Mayu's past harshly like that.
* BerserkButton[=/=]MamaBear: Despite her irresponsible mannerisms, Junko cares deeply for the girls and will not hesitate to beat down anyone attempting to exploit them. In addition to delivering the aforementioned beat down to Sudo in episode two, she tries her best to cheer up Mayu at the end of episode four after punching the reporter asking Mayu some questions about her past with the I-1 idol group.
* BigDamnHeroes: Tange showing back up in episode two, and beating up Sudo, who put the girls up in a health spa gig which forced them to sing and dance in front of a group of DirtyOldMan. And in episode four, she hits the reporter asking Mayu some fairly harsh questions about her past in the I-1 idol group a few years back.

* BrutalHonesty: Tasuku Hayasaka, who asks Airi why she wants to be an idol after watching her repeatedly goof up in episode six. He also chides the girls after hearing they're only practising about twenty hours a week, which he says is half the time the I-1 girls put in.

* ButtMonkey: Matsuda is a low key example towards Tange. In the prequel film, the room they're renting to audition the girls has a no smoking policy. Shortly after Tange lights one up, an employee of the building yells at them. She immediately shifts the blame onto Matsuda, apologizing and telling the employee she'll scold him accordingly. She will also often threaten to cut his pay or makes him pay for company expenses out of his own pocket, such as his bus fare for the trip in episode nine.

* CliffHanger: Episode six ends on one, when Hayasaka, who was currently training and managing them, tells the girls they can cut one of the weaker members from the group, or else he would fire all of them on the spot.

* CoverVersion: In episode two, Miyu performs a cover of ''LightNovel/HaiyoreNyarkoSan'''s opening.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Tange considers the Demons of Oga to be this in episode ten, describing their focus on comedy as being the X-Factor that would catch the attention of judges, and make them stand out from the singing and dance oriented mentality of most idol groups.
* CruelToBeKind: Hayasaka does this in episodes six and seven, [[spoiler:when talking to the girls about cutting Airi due to her apparent lack of talent. But it turns out he just wanted to test their resolve.]]

** Airi and Yoshino have a pretty epic one in episode seven [[spoiler:after the latter tells the former she's not as bad as she thinks is despite what Hayasaka said about her being untalented.]]

** Mayu's history with I-1 is alluded to in several points, but by episode nine, Mayu finally opens up and shares her story. It turns out that she had joined I-1 Club as a first-generation member. When a close friend and fellow member of the first generation was [[spoiler: dismissed for having a relationship, which the I-1 prohibits, she appealed to the producer to let it slide. In return, he gave her the ultimatum to sell more singles with her as the center as opposed to a different one featuring Shiho, or be fired for going against him. Mayu lost and was forced to resign, leading to her parents having a rather messy divorce]].

** Another happens in episode seven, after being told by Hayasaka to cut their weakest member [[spoiler:Airi]], or else he would fire all of the girls. They get into an argument about it at first, [[spoiler:but in the end pull through and work together to ensure they all can take part in the Wake Up Girls idol group.]]
* ADayInTheLimelight: Every girl gets at least one episode where the focus is mainly on them, such as Minami in episode three, Airi in episode seven.

* DoingItForTheArt: In-universe example. Tasuku Hayasaka in episode six says he's more interested in passion projects than simply making money. Considering he's one of the reasons the I-1 idol group is so popular, it's hard to question him. He offers to train the Wake Up Girls group for free, comparing the girls to "rough ingredients" that he as a "chef" would then make worthy of a three star restaurant. He watched the girls dismal concert performance back in episode five, but also saw the potential they had, hence why he wants to make them successful.
* DrillSergeantNasty: Hayasaka, the music producer who was also responsible for the success of the I-1 idol group, does this for the Wake Up Girls group in episode six. He trains them hard, and has them perform a lot of concerts to help them gain experience and get better.
* EarnYourHappyEnding[=/=]UnderdogsNeverLose: Initially subverted, as the girls encounter numerous challenges before reaching the idol concert in episode twelve, and even then, they face an extremely hostile group, almost all of whom are more shocked to see ex-I-1 idol member Mayu there. [[spoiler:They do end up winning over the crowd, and though they don't win the contest, a major record label is interested in signing them on after watching them perform at the contest, so they're still in a much better place than when they first started out]].

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: In episode one, Sudo-san arrives late to the talent agency. He is also seen eating pizza from the delivery man standing outside after Matsuda assumed was sent there by accident. Finally, the first thing he does it put a bikini on the table, and tells all of the girls to try it on.

** In episode two, Sudo makes the girls perform in bikinis at a hot spring, claiming it was similar to gravure work. However, the girls are extremely uncomfortable with this, and Tange later calls Sudo out on trying to exploit them in this manner.

** In episode three, while Miyu is dangling over a tank full of hot water, Kaya slaps her on the rear for amusement, causing her to fall in.
** In episode three of the ''Wake Up Girls! Zoo'' spinoff, despite Yoshino being visibly unnerved at the disappearances of the other girls, Kaya blows out the candle to spook her.
* GameBreakingInjury: A non-combat related example in episode twelve. [[spoiler:Yoshino trips on a cable in the previous episode, and later finds out her ankle is sprained. The girls worry about what to do next. Mayu suggests withdrawing, as they don't want to perform without her, but Shiho from the I-1 group brings two medics in to brace her ankle long enough to do their song and dance.]]

* HandsGoDown: In episode three, when Tange asks who is interested in participating in the gourmet food tasting, all the girls raise their hands. When she asks who wishes to sit in scalding water on the other hand, all the girls predictably respond with this.
* HardWorkHardlyWorks: The girls second concert in episode five. Unfortunately it's on the same day as the I-1 idol group's concert in Sendai. The huge difference in talent between the two group's are further driven by the huge sold-out crowd at the I-1 concert, contrasted with the Wake Up Girls! concert which has only a few audience members. The I-1 group also sings and dances in fairly perfect unison, while the WUG group continually screws up during their performance, such as dropping their mic or bumping into another member accidentally during the dancing portion. Unsurprisingly, they're not feeling too good after the concert ends.

* AHouseDivided: Hayasaka does this in episode seven, telling the girls to cut their weakest member [[spoiler:Airi]], or else he as the acting manager, would fire all of them on the spot. They start lashing out at each other as they're unable to come to an agreement.

* IntrepidReporter: One shows up in episode four. It seems innocent enough at first, as he tells Tange that he wants to do a report on a small, regional idol group. However, it turns out he's only interested in interviewing Mayu because of her past scandal in the I-1 idol group. He slams her with some really personal questions such as asking her about the official reason she quit due to losing a center battle, and the rumors behind the scenes reasons that she was in a lot of conflicts within the group, and perhaps even took bribes. Tange gets angry enough that she ends up punching the reporter, and doesn't even care when he says he'll sue for assault.
* {{Irony}}: In episode three, the girls take part in a local news station to report the weather, along with a gourmet section. The gourmet girls expect to have it easy compared to the weather girls group. [[spoiler:However, the gourmet's first session ends up outside in pouring rain. The weather girls meanwhile, get to stay indoors, though they have to wear animal costumes.]]
* ItAmusedMe: Tasuku Hayasaka essentially says this in episode six when talking to Tange about working with the Wake Up Girls group and shaping them up to be nationwide idols on the level of the I-1 group after watching their terrible second concert performance. He sweetens the deal by offering to train them for free, because he claims it's more about the passion than the money.

* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Shiho essentially does this to the Wake Up Girls group in episode twelve, [[spoiler:after eavesdropping on them and finding out Yoshino sprained her ankle after tripping on a cable in the previous episode. Though Mayu suggests withdrawing because they don't want to perform without Yoshino, Shiho brings two medics in to put a brace on Yoshino's ankle to allow her to perform. She later tells Mayu she refuses to let them quit, and wants them to perform no matter what, mostly so she can then crush Mayu's hopes and dreams of being an idol once and for all.]]

* OpposingSportsTeam: Not a sports team, but I-1 club is essentially this, being Japan's top Idol Singer group, enduring a soulless training regimen where members can be fired for a single screwup (and in the backstory, Mayu was essentially [[spoiler: fired for standing up for her friend]]).

* PantyShot: The girls twirl their skirts throughout their debut to reveal their panties while they perform. This causes problems when they do the job Sudo gets for them in episode two.

* SecondFaceSmoke: In episode two, Tange puffs her cigarette smoke in Matsuda's face in response to his complaints about her running off with the agency's money.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Miyu decides to quit to being exploited in Sudo's job during episode two. The other girls just barely manage to hang on longer. [[spoiler:Fortunately, Tange just happened to be in the health spa, and beats the crap out of Sudo for exploiting the girls. Several of the girls, and especially the regulars at her previous job at a maid cafe, changes her mind about quitting the idol group.]]
* SecretTestOfCharacter: One occurs in episode seven. Hayasaka says the girls can cut [[spoiler:Airi]], who's underperforming, or else he'll fire them all. He later has some of them get three dolls out of a claw crane game, and watches with some amusement as they fail repeatedly but continue on supporting each other. Meanwhile, Mayu and Yoshino go talk [[spoiler:to Airi,]] and convince her not to quit.
* SequelHook: Tange receives a call from what she assumes is the real estate agent in episode twelve, and doesn't want to answer the phone. [[spoiler:However, it actually turns out to be a major record label called Bivex, and they want to sign the Wake Up Girls group to their label after watching them perform at the idol concert. The ending rolls right after this.]]

* SexSells: Sudo tries to exploit this in episode two. It doesn't go over well with the girls or Matsuda however, and especially not with Tange once she finds out.

* ShoutOut: The "Demons of Oga" group in episode 10 are a shout out to ''SukebanDeka'' (particularly the live-action series), appearing out of the shadows playing with a yo-yo, and being named Saki, Yoko and Yui (the leads in the TV series' three seasons).

* TemptingFate: In episode three, Miyu is attempting to hold herself up from falling into a tank of hot water. She tells them not to make her lose her balance. So naturally, [[TheGadfly Kaya]] smacks her butt, causing her to lose her balance and fall in.

** The I-1 Idol group rehearsal seems to be based on this. Their general manager, Shiraki, not only just refers to the girls [[YouAreNumberSix by their numbers]], but accepts no failures and will kick out anyone he seems mess up even once, as seen in episode five.

* WellDoneSonGuy: Mayu's mother is completely unsupportive of her when she attempts to become an idol with the Wake Up Girls group after she was fired from the I-1 idol group [[spoiler:which also led to a messy divorce for her parents. However, in episode eleven, after watching how happy Mayu was with the second idol group she joined, she changes her mind about it.]]

** In episode six, Tasuku Hayasaka takes over in training and managing the Wake Up Girls group. Unfortunately he's harsh in training them, and after watching their performances, suggests that one of them, [[spoiler:Airi, who keeps messing up during performances]] should get cut from the group. He tells them they can either cut her from the group, or they would all be fired.
** In episode ten, the Wake Up Girls participate in a regional idol battle against other idol groups. [[spoiler:They win with a song written by Hayasaka called "First Rate Smile". The next day, the I-1 group announces their new single, which has the same name as the ones the WUG group just sung and won the contest in. Which was also written by Hayasaka]].
** At the end of episode eleven, [[spoiler:Yoshino trips over a cable lying on the floor on the stage. She later pulls back her stocking to reveal she sprained her ankle. Worse, she's chosen as the center for this performance, meaning the attention will be on her.]]

** Tange disappearing with all of the agency's money in the prequel film. [[spoiler:She shows back up in episode two in a BigDamnHeroes moment, but Matsuda and the girls are still upset at her for screwing their debut up.]]
** Matsuda explodes at Hayasaka in episode seven after his ultimatum telling the girls to cut their weakest member, or he would fire them all. Unfortunately his and Tange's hands are tied, as they agreed to let Hayasaka do whatever he felt like doing in exchange for training the girls for free. Even when the girls complain to Tange, she says it's up to Hayasaka.
** Yoshino lashes out at Mayu in episode eight after the latter agrees with Hayasaka that they're not practicing enough compared to the I-1 group and are performing subpar at best. She gets mad that Mayu keeps comparing them to the I-1 group, and yet won't reveal her history with them.
* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Mayu and Yoshino do this in episode seven [[spoiler:to Airi]], who was seriously considering quitting after Hayasaka's BrutalHonesty about her being the weak link in their group. But both girls tell her how she held the group together. And in Mayu's case, convinced her to become an idol again after watching how much fun the girls were having during their rehearsals.

After 6 years in the business, Wake Up Girls! as an idol group is to disband in 2019. However, the spirit of the group lives on in the six person group ''Run Girls, Run!''.

After 6 years in the business, Wake Up Girls! as an idol group is to disband in 2019.

* CallBack: Mayu mentions that there are the three ways to make people happy in the prequel film, and reiterates this in the finale.

An spin-off featuring the girls in SuperDeformed fashion, wearing animal costumes premièred in the Fall2014Anime season under the name of ''Wake Up Girls! Zoo''. A pair of movies, titled ''Seishun no Kage'' (''The Shadow of Youth'') and ''Beyond the Bottom'', aired in September and December 2015, respectively, and act as the conclusion to the TV series.