UlasanAnime.com – The 10th anniversary of THE iDOLM@STER, titled “THE iDOLM@STER 10th Anniversary Live ~M@STER OF IDOL WORLD!! 2015~,” was a monumental event that celebrated a decade of the franchise’s existence. Instead of a lengthy retrospective, this report will focus on the key aspects of the concert, drawing from the experiences of other producers to provide a comprehensive overview.
The concert’s setlists, available through linked resources, offer a detailed look at the musical performances. This report aims to annotate and highlight the significance of the event, addressing its overarching themes and impact.
Overall Impression: The 10th-anniversary concert was a powerful statement about the franchise’s past, present, and future. It successfully conveyed the immense scale and dedication required to fill a dome for an anime and game IP, posing the question of whether other similar franchises, like Love Live!, could achieve the same level of audience engagement. However, filling a stadium is only one part of creating such a successful event.
The core objective of the IM@S 10th anniversary was to host the grandest celebration in its ten-year history. It aimed to bring dreams to reality and connect the narrative threads that have been woven since the franchise’s inception. Furthermore, like many anniversary events, it served to announce future endeavors while simultaneously bridging the gap between the future, the present, and the past.
The title “M@STER OF IDOL WORLD!!” itself encapsulates the event’s vision. The introduction of Cinderella Girls and Million Live after the franchise’s pivot was a strategic move to propel it forward, leveraging younger and more manageable talent with expansive casts. This has historically been a point of tension, raising questions about how the existing fanbase, with its various factions and loyalties, would embrace these new additions. The diversity within the fanbase, from those who strictly adhere to the original 765Pro to those who may not engage with certain aspects like DLC, presents a unique challenge that the 10th-anniversary concert sought to address.
Transformation: It’s undeniable that the IM@S franchise of today is a far cry from its humble beginnings in smoky arcades a decade ago. The player base has evolved significantly, though the core creative team, staff, voice actors, and characters have largely remained consistent, albeit with subtle changes over the years. The term “pivot” previously mentioned refers to a key shift the franchise underwent between its first and second visions. The IM@S 10th-anniversary concert served as an affirmation of these transformations, acknowledging that while change is constant, certain fundamental elements, like the presence of GamiP &co on stage, remain enduring.
New is Hot: Day 2 of the event featured AkabaneP and TakeuchiP on stage, discussing the game’s rules, rather than a Puchimas trailer. The appearance of the 17-year-old Producer-san, who was as charismatic in person as he is on screen, generated considerable excitement. This, along with the presence of all the Cinderella Girls and Million Live performers, is seen as a driving force for the franchise’s future growth. Conversations with fellow producers at an off-kai event on Day 1 highlighted the anticipation for seeing the younger and more visually appealing performers on stage, a sentiment that was more than fulfilled.
Describing the charm of the Million Live and Cinderella Girls performers—their cuteness and captivating presence—seems almost redundant, given their established appeal.
Dream Medley: The “Dream Medley” was a highlight that significantly elevated the concert’s energy. While the weather on Day 2 was warmer due to the absence of rain and the presence of the sun, the medley made the stage the hottest attraction. Witnessing performers like Harami, Mocho, and Ruru on carts singing “Tokimeki some Escalators” was an almost overwhelming experience. The performance by Mikku, with her signature “nyan,” further intensified the atmosphere. Moments like Aimi and Ruuri’s air guitar performance provided a brief return to a sense of normalcy amidst the exhilarating chaos, as it was fully anticipated.
The medley left the audience, including the author, physically and mentally drained, sustained only by copious amounts of sports drinks and a conscious effort to pace themselves.
Dreamy Setlist: Beyond the unique performer combinations on Day 2, the setlists for both days were essentially a compilation of the franchise’s greatest hits. While minor critiques are possible, the selection was overwhelmingly well-received. The inclusion of classic songs, nods to Ryuguu Komachi, and enduring tracks like “Overmaster” resonated deeply. The choice of Million Live songs on Day 2 was particularly astute, given the extensive catalog available, while Cinderella Girls’ setlist aligned with expectations due to its more focused song library.
Gifts & Flowers: A notable aspect of the event was the extensive display of fan and industry flowers. Fan-submitted flowers, stretching approximately 400 meters, were located at the edge of Lot C, accessible via the merchandise line. Industry flowers were positioned near the dome entrance, close to the gift drop-off area. Locating the gift drop-off required some effort, as it was housed in a tent where gifts needed to be specified for their intended recipients by staff to ensure proper delivery.
Photos and videos of these displays will be made available later, as the author was unable to capture extensive photographic documentation during the event.
Thanks, Bank of Moy: Day 2 saw the announcement of upcoming Million Live activities, including a seven-show tour across five locations and a new series of CDs. The CD releases appear to follow the current seasonal caravan schedule, featuring eight idols per set, suggesting a slight delay in the release schedule. The animation PV for the next team song single will be included with the single itself. A running joke humorously attributes the funding of the Million Live anime to “Moy,” referring to the significant in-game spending on gachas and events.
O-heso-sama: During an MC segment on Day 2, performers discussed their uniforms. The 765 girls wore two outfits: one based on the promotional image and a black variant with a similar theme. The Cinderella Girls and Million Live outfits also drew from the promotional images, but the Million Live costumes exhibited greater variation among performers compared to the Cinderella Girls’ attire. Machico’s outfit notably revealed her midriff, including her belly button, which became a point of focus. Mingos, at one point, led the other performers and the audience in expressing their gratitude.
The outfit change occurred during the intermission. On Day 1, performers began in white outfits and switched to black, while on Day 2, they started in black and transitioned to white.
Nunu water: A standout moment on Day 1 was Nu’s performance of “Pon De Beach” using a headset. This performance was notable not only for being potentially the first of its kind in IM@S history but also for its extended duration. During the bridge, Nu ran around the center stage area, playfully using water cannons to douse the crowd. She was accompanied by backup dancers, resulting in approximately seven water guns being deployed.
OG for both days: Some producers expressed dissatisfaction that the 10th-anniversary celebration included Cinderella Girls and Million Live, given their relatively recent introduction to the franchise. Day 1, dedicated to 765Pro, aimed to address this by focusing on the original cast, and it was observed that some attendees exclusively attended Day 1. A truly “OG” moment occurred on Day 2 with the performance of “My Song” by the 10-year veteran members, followed by an MC segment that evoked strong emotional responses.
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Autographed balls: On Day 1, some Cinderella Girls and Million Live members threw autographed balls into the audience, with varying degrees of success due to their loose loading. On Day 2, BaneP and TakeP engaged in a similar activity on the side stages during a break.
ML New Song: “Dreaming!” marked the third group song for Million Live and was performed live for the first time at the dome on Day 2. While the details are somewhat hazy, the song represented a departure from previous tracks like “Thank You” and “Welcome,” with further exploration expected in the future.
The announcement of the upcoming Million Live tour, comprising 7 shows across 5 stops, was met with anticipation and a touch of overwhelming excitement.
You Ou My Shin: It was considered too early for a towel song. The author experienced significant sweating on both days, particularly on Day 2 due to the warmer indoor temperature.
Distractions on carts: Carts played a significant role in the 10th-anniversary concerts, with performers riding them along the aisles between sections B and A. This offered audience members seated in proximity a close-up view of the performers as they passed. The carts originated from the bleacher areas on either side of the stage, meeting in the middle or, on Day 1, starting in the middle and moving outwards. On Day 2, the carts also served as a fourth “stage” during the medley.
A photograph of Mikku on a cart on Day 2, taken from the upper stands looking down towards the field, is available.
During Day 1, while the 765 girls performed songs on the main stage, Million Live and Cinderella Girls members utilized the carts, with Cinderella Girls on the first base side and Million Live on the third base side. Due to the author’s seats being close to the field, seeing the girls on the carts up close was limited, except for occasional glimpses of their legs and bloomers. Many performers faced the crowd in section B, limiting their rear views. This setup, while engaging for the upper sections, created a distracting visual experience for those looking between the field and the carts.
At one point, the 765 girls also used carts, performing one song on one side and then switching to the other. This arrangement, while functional, was not perceived as optimally executed. Nevertheless, the carts effectively enhanced audience engagement through various activities such as dancing, blowing bubbles, cheering, waving, and blowing kisses.
Saihyou: The performance of “Saihyou” was exceptionally impressive, surpassing even Makoto’s MA3 song in its presentation. The central stage’s drop displays transformed into pillars of roses during Hirorin’s performance, and then into the visual representation of “Saihyou” during its respective segment.
The Seibu Wave: The audience participated in wave formations multiple times during MC segments on Day 1, possibly in preparation for the rapid wave during “Destiny.” While the wave in “Destiny” was attempted with some success, the dome’s wider upper section compared to its lower part led to some lag and synchronization issues.
Seat Bias: The author’s seats on both days were on the third base side, near the stage. This provided excellent views of most performers on Day 1, with the exception of Million Live members up close. Approximately two-thirds of the Cinderella Girls and Million Live performers were visible for a significant portion of the show, as they remained in a concentrated area. Notable performers frequently seen included Kido, Moyochi, Ruuri, and Meshiya. Nansu, Yton, and Stef passed by on carts on Day 2, as did Pon, Jurikichi, Haramii, and Eriko. The 765 members, however, were more mobile.
The view of the main stage was somewhat obstructed, requiring reliance on the jumbotron for a full perspective. The author anticipated re-watching key moments on the Blu-ray later, thus focusing more intently on performers in their immediate vicinity. This perspective difference means that comparing reports from other attendees might reveal contrasting experiences of the same songs.
Despite these limitations, the author considered the seats to be quite good, offering opportunities to see most performers, including many of the 765 members up close at some point. This experience is expected to enhance the enjoyment of the Blu-ray release.
owaridayo…?
PS. Following an auto-backup, Google provided this content, which is now being shared.
PPS. Additional coverage:
- A Japanese producer’s photo collection.
- A news roundup.
