teofilusSW said:Please remember it before Episode 9 (it's confirmed it will be the starting of the peak of the story).
1. According to
http://anime.idolypride.jp (anime website of episode 1 synopsis), Kotono & Sakura was auditioned and decided to enter Hoshimi Production, 3 years after Mana's death. It just happened in episode 2;
2. Episode 1 starts from the plot goes backward to 5 years before the events of Kotono & Sakura's audition. That was also the time of Mana's first meeting & "kokuhaku" on Makino, also the time when Mana & Makino was accepted in Hoshimi Production by Saegusa-san;
3. Let's counting; from that timeline facts, I have a conclusion that Mana just had an idol career for 2 years, with the note that the time of her preparation for the debut was so rapid. But she was already on the top just only in the second year of the career.
4. In episode 1 too, we also have any backward plot from 2 years ago before the events of Kotono-Sakura's audition. It is said, Makino was often alone after he finished working at Hoshimi Production, whether he visited Nagase Mana's grave, or took a walk in the park or on the seashore of Hoshimi City. From that, we can get Makino has been "depressed" for Mana's tragedy for a year. One of his odd behaviors, as a result, was often going to his high school alone (also at that moment, he again met Mana in the form of a "ghost")
5. Let's back to the Hoshimi Pro. If you have watched episodes 7 & 8, you have gotten that "15th Next VENUS Grand Prix" has been held, "3 years later after 14th Next VENUS Grand Prix, especially on the final, had been canceled because Mana, one of the finalists, had been dead because of the accident.
6. What's the conclusion? Actually, all of the 10 idols in present-time Hoshimi Production have only just a short time for debut (either as Sunny Peace or as Tsuki no Tempest) just like Mana. And, also, Mana's case is also repeated on them (because you are already knowing that Tsuki no Tempest and Sunny Peace has been 'blessed' by Mana through Sakura in Sunny Peace, or Kotono and Hayasaka Mei in Tsuki no Tempest).
7. Mana's opponent in the 14th Next VENUS Grand Prix final which was supposed to be held 3 years ago before that Kotono-Sakura audition (also the main time setting of this anime), was LizNoir (episode 8). They told about that in one of VAN Production's press conference about 15th Next VENUS Grand Prix (episode 8).
8. Sakura's heart surgery (that bring her there) was also held 3 YEARS AGO from the main time setting of this anime! (episode 7) .
9. Finally, with the release of episode 9's trailer and key visuals, enjoy!
10. What about Kotono? She was in mourning for at least 3 years since her sister, Mana, was dead. And, she has had much-triggered responses when she has gotten involved in the conversations about Mana, VENUS Program & Next VENUS Grand Prix, signaling she was also depressed much from that tragedy (episodes 2, 3, and 4). But, that moment caused Kotono to want to become an idol to make amends for his sister Mana, and continue his legacy of Nagase Mana as an idol (armed with Nagase Mana's diary, his sister, which he found while packing Mana's things (episode 2), and then he used it as a reading for her in preparing to become an idol (this was recorded in episode 8)).
11. Unnessecary facts, but it's fun to be known!
a. Narumiya Suzu is Mana-sama's fan, hardcore fan. From that, we can conclude that she was also getting known about her favorite idol's tragedy and her death 3 years ago. But, she hasn't got depressed. Instead, he was actually inspired to become an idol because of that incident! (episodes 6 and 7).
b. Hyodo Shizuku is also an idol otaku. Probably she was also getting known about Mana's tragedy 3 years ago.
That's it! How dark is this idol anime!
