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While “idol anime” could be considered a genre unto itself, idol shows typically fall into a “slice of life” or “comedy” genre classification. Cue Idoly Pride – which, despite sharing the basic industry setting as many other idol anime – delivers an emotional story of soul-searching and self-discovery, as opposed to episodic bits of comedy or daily life in showbiz.

While most of the idols of Hoshimi Production (the main agency in Idoly Pride) get their introduction and basic characterization in the first half of the show, Idoly Pride breaks from the common “girl of the week” format often found in idol shows with large ... ensemble casts. A heavy undercurrent looms in the background and takes full stage in the latter half, as the story sharpens its focus on the central characters, their relationships with each other, and their rivals.

The prototypical idol anime protagonist is a genki girl, someone with a sunny disposition and abundance of energy who never gives up. Examples include Kousaka Honoka and Takami Chika from the Love Live! universe, Amami Haruka and Shimamura Uzuki from the Idolmaster series, and Hoshimiya Ichigo from Aikatsu. Genki girls are well suited as leads for optimistic and frequently humorous stories about the path to stardom in the entertainment world. But Idoly Pride’s protagonist, Nagase Kotono, is no genki girl. Aloof and sullen, she is a lone wolf singularly driven to become an idol after being scarred by a past trauma. Kawasaki Sakura, her foil, is warm and spontaneous, and while being cut from the more typical genki girl cloth, she has a unique history of her own. Evolving circumstances and relationships challenge the two girls, and the people around them, to grow and discover new motivations for living and continuing as idols. In this regard, Idoly Pride bears similarity to dramas like Your Lie in April and Anthem of the Heart, in which soul-searching, redemption, and overcoming grief/trauma are prominent themes. There is also a strong supernatural element, carrying echoes of Angel Beats and AnoHana. All told, Idoly Pride occupies a unique place as one of the few “serious” idol shows, and is a worthy addition to the genre. Despite some predictable plot beats, it succeeds as a story with heart wrenching and sincere moments.

On the technical front, Studio Lerche puts forth a solid effort, flexing their muscles for brief, but brilliant flashes of dance sakuga. While 2D animation purists might be disappointed by the show’s use of 3D models in ensemble performances that first look a bit choppy, these scenes have otherwise solid direction, modeling, and choreography. The 3D animation also gets much smoother later – a sign of the teams’ growing familiarity and experience with the medium. As a multimedia project with immense financial backing, Idoly Pride brings aboard well-known composers and performers from the anisong world such as kz-livetune, PA-NON, Sphere, and Trysail. Throughout its run, Idoly Pride features a large catalog of pop music, frequently switching up its ending songs to exhibit music from different idol groups within the show’s universe.

Regardless of my fondness for the show, I cannot unconditionally recommend Idoly Pride. Among genre fans, viewers expecting a happy, feel-good experience will find the atmosphere too somber or melodramatic. Interestingly, this gives the show potential crossover appeal for drama fans and others who do not typically watch idol anime, as they may appreciate the more serious, character-driven narrative – especially if they are a fan of tearjerkers. This positions Idoly Pride as a decent entry point for idol anime newcomers – provided they are willing to keep an open mind about a show in an already niche and saturated field.

“Kimi no Na wa.” (Your Name) opens with a radiant comet traversing over the night sky, splitting apart into various meteors that illuminate and streak the heavens. Stars and celestial imagery often feature in Makoto Shinkai’s films, and the brilliance of the opening set piece could be dismissed as eye-candy. However, its significance is not fully understood until much later.

To speak of names, one does not invoke Makoto Shinkai in conjunction with the phrase “happy ending.” To say that he has made his fame off producing romance anime is only half the story, as his work’s exploration of themes such as distance and unrequited love ... often impart a wistful and bittersweet aftertaste. “Byousoku 5 Centimeter” (5 Centimeters per Second), his most famous title to date, is both loved and reviled for its directorial willingness to defy the sort of resolution that viewers have come to expect out of the romance genre.

While “Kimi no Na wa.” continues to incorporate motifs and concepts familiar to past Shinkai works, it reflects a maturation of his artistic vision to tell a tale of love and determination that transcends time, distance, and even apocalyptic odds.

The film centers on two characters, Mitsuha Miyamizu – a schoolgirl in rural Japan who dreams of going to the city, and Taki Tachibana, an aspiring architectural student in Tokyo. With the passing of a rare comet, the two start imagining out of body experiences in which their consciousness swaps with each other while they sleep and dream. This leads to no shortage of comedic moments, as the two characters take turns exploring and manipulating their alternate lives – and bodies. As the nature of their dreamlike, out of body experiences is revealed, the two resolve to meet each other. But in their attempt to do so, a dark truth of their relationship emerges, accelerating the story and replacing the comedic elements with a suspenseful quest to find each other and ultimately, race against time. “Kimi no Na wa.” weaves a complex, multilayered narrative that explores the struggle of human emotions against fate. You can feel Mitsuha and Taki’s determination, confusion, and desperation as they toil against temporal reality, a journey that leaves viewers equal parts thrilled and emotionally exhausted.

Makoto Shinkai reaffirms his place at the forefront of animation, as the film’s stunning backgrounds and fluid motion easily make this one of the most visually ambitious anime of the past year. Superb art direction and character designs with the assistance of Masayoshi Tanaka (AnoHana, Toradora, KokoSake) give the film a modern, colorful aesthetic.

Though some might be repelled or jaded by segments that feel like emotional manipulation – especially when considering Shinkai’s past filmography – “Kimi no Na wa.” succeeds in delivering an engrossing experience, complete with magnificent set pieces, laughs, and heart-wrenching, gripping drama. This film — the culmination of Shinkai’s skill in exploring the melancholy aspects of love and distance, is just as much a lesson on the value of finding happiness through unshakeable resolve, initiative, and overcoming doubt and hesitation.