History YMMV / TheIdolmaster

* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap:
** While Jupiter wasn't well received during their debut due to the series consisting of female idols up until that point (except for [[WholesomeCrossdresser Ryo]]), fans have somewhat warmed up to them in the anime version; while they're still high-and-mighty jackasses (especially Touma), they clearly [[EvenEvilHasStandards show disgust]] when they realize Kuroi has been skipping past the MoralEventHorizon behind their ears. Their non-business moments with the cast in the [=OVAs=] also helped. Eventually, they turn over a new leaf as idols under 315 in ''[=SideM=]'', and act [[TookALevelInKindness significantly nicer than they did]] in ''2''.
** Some may say all of ''Million Live'' is this. At first considered to be an unnecessary cash-grab of a mobile game when the older ''Cinderella Girls'' already exists. Once the characters began to show more depth, the music attributed to the game started to improve, and the event themes became more interesting, ''Million Live'' is starting to show a decent-sized (not to the extent of ''CG'') and loyal fanbase. Helps that it's the easier game to access for a western audience than its [[NoExportForYou spiritual older sibling]].

* SpotlightStealingCrossover: In ''One for All'', some fans are noticing that ''Million Live'' gets better representation than ''Cinderella Girls''. The choreography for the ML characters tend to be superior to those from CG and the ML characters have original skill names while CG characters have their song titles for skill names. ''Starlit Season'', which was meant to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the franchise completely left out [=SideM=] and Dearly Stars entirely, which caused the tag for [=SideM=] to trend on Japanese twitter. While having mixed gender units might not have been feasible, the fact that [=SideM=] did not get their own sort of spinoff game really stung for fans of the series, and it still doesn't excuse Dearly Stars, which didn't even get promotional art or songs like [=SideM=] did.

* TastesLikeDiabetes: It's a game about JPop, so quite a few of the songs. The spinoff manga "Puchimasu!" probably qualifies too.

* TheWoobie: Poor, poor Chihaya-chan. Not only her past is that [[DarkAndTroubledPast dark and troubled]] (for this kind of series' standards anyway), the last moments of anime episode 19 ''will'' make you want to hug her... [[spoiler:while cursing at Kuroi and scream for his death for [[MoralEventHorizon what he did to her]].]]

* FandomRivalry:
** It might not be reciprocated, but because Creator/KentaroMiura has been known to be a huge fan of this series, to the point of being erroneously being blamed for a ton of [[ScheduleSlip schedule slipping]], Manga/{{Berserk}} fans have been shown to dislike this series because of the competition; it isn't unusual to find comments in Idolmaster-related Website/YouTube videos or web-page articles commenting on ''Berserk'' potentially being delayed again and/or general reactions of "He put ''Berserk'' on hiatus for THIS?!". However, in modern times blaming Idolmaster for hiatus now is seen as beating a dead horse since it's generally understood that it was, at the time, a fandom in-joke taken way too seriously.
** Naturally, the franchise also has a rivalry with fellow idol franchises such as ''Franchise/LoveLive''. ''LL'' in particular draws snark from ''iM@S'' fans due to what they perceive as lower-quality CG animation, the smaller cast of characters (though one could argue that a [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters larger cast]] [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools doesn't always mean a better cast]]), and the comparatively loud fanbase. %%Some ''Love Live!'' fans also pointed out that the girls' relationship to the ''male'' Producer is not a good example to some Yuri fans.

* GrowingTheBeard: ''Million Live''. During its first year, it felt rather generic and only existed as a sort of Cinderella Girls clone. As time went on, the events became more extravagant, the card art got better, the music [=CDs=] associated with the game have greatly improved, and the new characters have gotten enough depth to match up with some of the original 13 765Pro idols, causing the sub-series to stand out in its own right.

** Yukiho's CatchPhrase ("I'll go bury myself!") soon become a meme about Yukiho's extraordinary ability to dig holes on every surface, as well as the ability to summon shovels from HammerSpace. Somehow [[AscendedMeme ascended]] in episode 15 of the anime, where she (as a [[SuperRobot super robot]]) has drills and an obsession to dig through stuff.

** [[spoiler: Haruka becomes this in episode 23, since all of her friends are busy and have no time for her, a show that was suppose to happen gets canceled, and Miki starts viewing Haruka as a rival. [[BreakTheCutie The ending makes it worse.]]]]

* ArchivePanic: As of 2020, with a lot of Games, lots of Soundtracks and some television adaptations and [[UpToEleven counting]], we'll have to a Master to hurry so we GottaCatchThemAll.

* FanPreferredCouple: [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl Miki/Makoto]] seems to be for a major part of the ([[EvenTheGirlsWantHer mostly female]]) fanbase (or at least based on what you see on Comiket and other [[{{Doujinshi}} amateur publication]] events)

* SpotlightStealingCrossover: In ''One for All'', some fans are noticing that ''Million Live'' gets better representation than ''Cinderella Girls''. The choreography for the ML characters tend to be superior to those from CG and the ML characters have original skill names while CG characters have their song titles for skill names. ''Starlight Season'', which was meant to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the franchise completely left out [=]SideM[=] and Dearly Stars entirely, which caused the tag for [=SideM=] to trend on Japanese twitter. While having mixed gender units might not have been feasible, the fact that [=SideM=] did not get their own sort of spinoff game really stung for fans of the series, and it still doesn't excuse Dearly Stars, which didn't even get promotional art or songs like [=SideM=] did.

* SpotlightStealingCrossover: In ''One for All'', some fans are noticing that ''Million Live'' gets better representation than ''Cinderella Girls''. The choreography for the ML characters tend to be superior to those from CG and the ML characters have original skill names while CG characters have their song titles for skill names. ''Starlight Season'', which was meant to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the franchise completely left out [=]SideM[=] and Dearly Stars entirely, which caused the tag for [=]SideM[=] to trend on Japanese twitter. While having mixed gender units might not have been feasible, the fact that [=]SideM[=] did not get their own sort of spinoff game really stung for fans of the series, and it still doesn't excuse Dearly Stars, which didn't even get promotional art or songs like [=]SideM[=] did.

* SpotlightStealingCrossover: In ''One for All'', some fans are noticing that ''Million Live'' gets better representation than ''Cinderella Girls''. The choreography for the ML characters tend to be superior to those from CG and the ML characters have original skill names while CG characters have their song titles for skill names. ''Starlight Season'', which was meant to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the franchise completely left out SideM and Dearly Stars entirely, which caused the tag for SideM to trend on Japanese twitter. While having mixed gender units might not have been feasible, the fact that SideM did not get their own sort of spinoff game really stung for fans of the series.

* SpotlightStealingCrossover: In ''One for All'', some fans are noticing that ''Million Live'' gets better representation than ''Cinderella Girls''. The choreography for the ML characters tend to be superior to those from CG and the ML characters have original skill names while CG characters have their song titles for skill names.

%%* InternetBackdraft: The lack of [[VideoGame/TheIdolmasterSideM 315 Production]] characters in ''Starlit Season''. While some did make mention of the fact that the [=SideM=] characters would feel out of place in a game that mostly features girl idols, the 315 boys are also being left out of a franchise-wide anniversary title, which they felt was rather unfair for the series.

** When news of Idolm@ster DS first emerged, Ryo was generally considered the least interesting character. Cue the reveal of one [[UnsettlingGenderReveal minor]] detail, and Ryo near-singlehandedly doubles the game's preorders.

* WinBackTheCrowd: Stella Stage was meant to be this after the disaster that was ''Platinum Stars''. The dreaded P drop system was removed, the simulation gameplay returned (albeit rather watered-down like ''One For All''), DLC from ''Platinum Stars'' carries over so you don't have to buy it again (the first time this has ever happened in the series), and the game features the largest list of standard songs to date, whopping in at about 40 songs, and this is all without [=DLC=]. The costumes are all still identical no matter who wears it, though... Seems like no big deal, but when a good chunk of the costumes are PaletteSwaps, the lack of individuality really stands out compared to previous games, making the wardrobe options seem very limited.

** Makoto Kikuchi is this of the main characters.

* SelfFanservice: Takane sometimes is drawn with an even wide booty.

** Naturally, the franchise also has a rivalry with fellow idol franchises such as ''Franchise/LoveLive''. ''LL'' in particular draws snark from ''iM@S'' fans due to what they perceive as lower-quality CG animation, the smaller cast of characters (though one could argue that a [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters larger cast]] [[TropesAreTools doesn't always mean a better cast]]), and the comparatively loud fanbase. %%Some ''Love Live!'' fans also pointed out that the girls' relationship to the ''male'' Producer is not a good example to some Yuri fans.

* EarWorm: So, ''so'' many of the songs. Especially if you know the dances that go with them.
** GO MY WAY!! is particularly notable...
*** ...and adding Music/{{DMX}} to it doesn't help at all. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPntjTPWgKE Listen to it here.]]
** As are some of the BGM tunes during the interaction scenes.
** Special mention to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke1W4P5Y9Ck Loadingu, Loadingu...]]

* AmericansHateTingle: While the franchise is popular in Japan, the franchise received a mixed reaction to several fans outside Japan due to the self-insert nature of the game.

* BaseBreakingCharacter: The Anime's producer (aka [=AkabaneP=]): Is he a caring person who looks after the idols, or he's secretly a pedophile who wants to get close to the girls? Then again, Miki calling him "Honey" in the game only adds more fuel to the fire for the latter.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: In the series, Azusa becomes an idol just to get more attention to find her destined man. But in real life, a female idol who looks for a man as her love life only causes more ruckus to the fanbase, especially the [[YuriFan Yuri fandom]].

** And due to the FandomRivalry, Chihaya is also occasionally viewed as [[Anime/LoveLive Umi's]] "inferior clone".

* SnarkBait: Again, [=AkabaneP=] is an occasional victim to a number of anti-self-insert fans.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: In the series, Azusa becomes an idol just to get more attention to find her destined man. But in real life, A female idol who looks for a man as her love life [[YokoOhNo only causes more ruckus to the fanbase]], especially the '''[[YuriFan Yuri fandom]]'''.

** Ryou getting new card sets in both ''[=SideM=]'' in his F-LAGS persona and ''Cinderella Girls'' in his Dearly Stars persona on the same week (Valentine's 2017) led to some fans jokingly accusing him of [[LivingADoubleLife working two idol careers at once.]]

* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: While Jupiter wasn't well received during their debut due to the series consisting of female idols up until that point (except for [[WholesomeCrossdresser Ryo]]), fans have somewhat warmed up to them in the anime version; while they're still high-and-mighty jackasses (especially Touma), they clearly [[EvenEvilHasStandards show disgust]] when they realize Kuroi has been skipping past the MoralEventHorizon behind their ears. Their non-business moments with the cast in the [=OVAs=] also helped. Eventually, they turn over a new leaf as idols in the [=SideM=] game, and act [[TookALevelInKindness significantly nicer than they were in 2]].

** Naturally, the franchise also has a rivalry with fellow idol franchises such as ''Franchise/LoveLive''. ''LL'' in particular draws snark from ''iM@S'' fans due to what they perceive as lower-quality CG animation, the smaller cast of characters (though one could argue that a [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters larger cast]] [[TropesAreTools doesn't always mean a better cast]]), and the comparatively loud fanbase.

* BaseBreakingCharacter: The Anime's producer (aka [=AkabaneP=]): Is he a caring person who looks after the idols, or he's secretly a pedophile who wants to get close to the girls?

* {{Moe}}: The foundation on which the game is built.

** In a very minor extent, and due to the FandomRivalry, Chihaya is also occasionally viewed as [[Anime/LoveLive Umi's]] "inferior clone".

** In terms of costumes, My Dear Vampire and Wired Marionette are insanely popular for cosplay. There's also Gothic Princess, which is merely a Cute & Girly recolor, only has simple solid colors, and has low stats, but became rather popular among players for the ElegantGotchicLolita vibe it gives off, and is featured very prominently in merch.

** In terms of costumes, My Dear Vampire and Wired Marionette are insanely popular for cosplay.