History Main / IdolGenre

** ''[[Music/{{Argonavis}}''

** ''ARGONAVIS from [=BanG Dream!=]''

* ''Manga/FullMoonOSagashite'': Mitsuki is able to transform into IdolSinger Full Moon. However, the idol subplot is only secondary to the main story, which is more of a drama as it heavily focuses on Mitsuki and the Shinigami's relationships with life and death. On the other hand, the anime tries to make it an idol genre series with the amount of {{Filler}} (due to [[OvertookTheManga Overtaking the Manga]]) and even has Mitsuki's voice actress perform the opening theme songs. (However, Mitsuki's actress isn't credited as the character and the show was only used as a vehicle to promote her band.)

* ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'' is a mecha and space opera, but it also introduced IdolSinger characters Sheryl Nome and Ranka Lee, whose character songs were promoted and hyped as if they were real-life singers. The series also jump-started the careers of singer May'n and voice actress Creator/MegumiNakajima, both of whom would portray the characters in real life when performing in ''Anime/MacrossFrontier''-related concerts and television spots.

* ''Anime/ShoujoKagekiRevueStarlight'': While there are character songs attached to the series, it's a musical about actors in a Creator/TakarazukaRevue-esque setting rather than a {{Music Stor|ies}}y. Part of the confusion comes from real-life idols frequently collaborating with musical theater for projects.

* ''Anime/ShoujoKagekiRevueStarlight'': While there are character songs attached to the series, it's a musical about actors in a Theatre/TakarazukaRevue-esque setting rather than a {{Music Stor|ies}}y. Part of the confusion comes from real-life idols frequently collaborating with musical theater for projects.

Back then, it was common for actors or singers to release music as their characters from movies they starred in as a musical tie-in. Up-and-coming {{Idol Singer}}s often used anime or movies as a vehicle to promote their career, with ''Anime/MagicalAngelCreamyMami'' the first of its kind to do so. Voice actors of anime often released {{Image Song}}s on character [=CD=]s. But with the rapid growth in the number of IdolSinger groups debuting during the late 2000s and TheNewTens, known in Japan as the "Warring Period of Idols" (Aidoru Sengoku-jidai), the anime and video game industry naturally caught onto this phenomenon. They began creating multiple IdolSinger-related {{Cash Cow Franchise}}s, taking full advantage of the fact that most popular voice actors can already sing and that idol fans are the second biggest category of {{Otaku}} after anime.

Back then, it was common for actors or singers to release music as their characters from movies they starred in as a musical tie-in. Up-and-coming {{Idol Singer}}s often used anime or movies as a vehicle to promote their career, with ''Anime/CreamyMami'' the first of its kind to do so. Voice actors of anime often released {{Image Song}}s on character [=CD=]s. But with the rapid growth in the number of IdolSinger groups debuting during the late 2000s and TheNewTens, known in Japan as the "Warring Period of Idols" (Aidoru Sengoku-jidai), the anime and video game industry naturally caught onto this phenomenon. They began creating multiple IdolSinger-related {{Cash Cow Franchise}}s, taking full advantage of the fact that most popular voice actors can already sing and that idol fans are the second biggest category of {{Otaku}} after anime.

Back then, it was common for actors or singers to release music as their characters from movies they starred in as a musical tie-in. Voice actors of anime often released {{Image Song}}s on character [=CD=]s. But with the rapid growth in the number of IdolSinger groups debuting during the late 2000s and TheNewTens, known in Japan as the "Warring Period of Idols" (Aidoru Sengoku-jidai), the anime and video game industry naturally caught onto this phenomenon. They began creating multiple IdolSinger-related {{Cash Cow Franchise}}s, taking full advantage of the fact that most popular voice actors can already sing and that idol fans are the second biggest category of {{Otaku}} after anime.

* ''Manga/MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch'': The seven mermaids can transform into {{Idol Singer}}s, with the main three girls each releasing their own CDs in real life. Rhythm games have also been released,

* ''Manga/MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch'': The seven mermaids are able to transform into {{Idol Singer}}s, but they are not performers in their daily lives and only sing in battle. The series is more of a MagicalGirl series.

** ''TheIdolmasterShinyColors''

** ''The [=iDOLM@STER=]: Shiny Colors''

* ''Music/HypnosisMic'': The concept focuses more on rap battles and not JapanesePopMusic, but the marketing format is the same: attractive people competing against rivals on who is the best performer in music. Aniplex has also referred to this series as a "rap idol series."Games are announced for this project, too.

[[folder:Music]]

[[/folder]]

* ''Music/HypnosisMic'': The concept focuses more on rap battles and not JapanesePopMusic, but the marketing format is the same: attractive people competing against rivals on who is the best performer in music. Games are announced for this project, too.

* ''Music/HypnosisMic'': The concept focuses more on rap battles and not JapanesePopMusic, but the marketing format is the same: attractive people competing against rivals on who is the best performer in music. However, the series is mainly about turf wars (the rap battles are how they ''settle them'' and entertain their oppressors) rather than idol activities.

* ''Music/NanabunNoNijyuuni'': [=22/7=] (pronounced "nanabun no nijyuuni") is a multimedia project in collaboration with Yasushi Akimoto, Aniplex, and Sony Music Records featuring newcomer voice actresses who sing and perform as a fictional idol group of the same name. While the group has already released a couple of singles and videos, an anime series featuring their characters has been announced in 2017, though nothing else has been said about it.

* ''Franchise/LoveLive'': ''Love Live'' is an example that is one of the genre codifiers and made idols popular in mainstream anime media, centered on a school idol group named u's, who compete with other schools to save their school.
** ''Anime/LoveLiveSunshine''

* ''Anime/BangDream'': Even though the franchise's focus is on bands, the girls are commonly mistaken for band-themed idols. There is exactly ''one'' band with an idol gimmick (Pastel＊Palettes), but they are only one of many bands in the series.

* ''VideoGame/ShowByRock'' and its [[Anime/ShowByRock anime]] are often put in the idol bracket because of the group focus and featured bands like Plasmagica. Like ''[=BanG Dream!=]'' mentioned above, it's just a band series.
[[/folder]]

* The plot usually follows conventional MusicStories. Becoming the best in the industry is often the main characters' goal, and the story at most follows their journey to the top, much like how real-life idols are marketed (i.e. through a TournamentArc).

* ''Anime/BangDream'': Even though the franchise's focus is on bands, the girls are commonly mistaken for band-themed idols. There is exactly ''one'' band with an idol gimmick (Pastel＊Palettes), but they are only one of many bands in the series.

* ''Anime/ShoujoKagekiRevueStarlight'': While there are character songs attached to the series, it's a musical about actors in a Theatre/TakarazukaRevue-esque setting rather than a {{Music Stor|ies}}y. Part of the confusion comes from real-life idols frequently collaborating with musical theater for projects.

* ''Music/HypnosisMic'': The concept focuses more on rap battles and not JapanesePopMusic, but the marketing format is the same: attractive people competing against rivals on who is the best performer in music. However, the series is mainly about turf wars (the rap battles are how they ''settle them'' and entertain their oppressors) rather than idol activities.

* ''VideoGame/ShowByRock'' and its [[Anime/ShowByRock anime]] are often put in the idol bracket because of the group focus and featured bands like Plasmagica. Like ''[=BanG Dream!=]'' mentioned above, it's just a band series.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Subtopes associated with the Idol genre]]

* ''Anime/ZombieLandSaga''

* ''Franchise/UtaNoPrincesama'': Featuring idol groups [=STARISH=], Quartet Night, and [=HEAVENS=], the franchise started out as a DatingSim, but the popularity of the series has caused Broccoli to focus on the idol performance aspect of it more. The series was one of the first idol-related franchises to really get popular and helped define the Idol Genre, and their music consistently tops the music charts with every release.

* ''Anime/HighSchoolStarMusical'': It's a musical about aspiring actors, but their princely school uniforms do resemble the stereotypical male idol costume.