collectible card game
A collectible card game (CCG), also called a trading card game (TCG) among other names, is a type of card game that mixes strategy game, strategic deck building elements with features of trading cards. The genre was introduced with ''Magic: The G ...
in
Bandai
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational toy manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Taitō, Taitō, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectables America and Bandai UK, are respectively headquartered ...
's ''
Data Carddass
is a series of Japanese arcade game machines created by Bandai, which largely focus around the Digital collectible card game, digital use of collectible card game, collectible trading cards. It is an expansion of Bandai's ''Carddass'' collectible ...
'' line of machines, which launched in October 2012. The game revolves around using collectible cards featuring various clothes to help aspiring idols pass auditions. An
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
television adaptation by
Sunrise
Sunrise (or sunup) is the moment when the upper rim of the Sun appears on the horizon in the morning, at the start of the Sun path. The term can also refer to the entire process of the solar disk crossing the horizon.
Terminology
Although the S ...
began airing on
TV Tokyo
JOTX-DTV (channel 7), branded as is a Japanese television station that serves as the flagship of the TX Network. In 2015, production switched from Sunrise to the studio's subsidiary
Bandai Namco Pictures
also known as BN Pictures and BNP, is a Japanese animation studio. It is a spinoff of Sunrise, a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Filmworks which is owned by Bandai Namco Holdings. The company was formed as a part of the medium-term management pla ...
. Four films were released in December 2014, August 2015, August 2016, and January 2023 respectively. Three
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
adaptations have been published by
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of comics, magazines, light novels, dictionaries, literature, non-fiction, home media, and other media in Japan.
Shogakukan founded Shueisha, which also founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but ...
, along with four
Nintendo 3DS
The is a foldable dual-screen handheld game console produced by Nintendo. Announced in March 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS, the console was released originally on February 26, 2011 and went through various revisions in its lifetime, ...
games published by
Bandai Namco Games
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game video game publisher, publisher, and the video game branch of the wider Bandai Namco Holdings group. Founded in 2006 as it is the successor to Namco's home and arcade video game ...
.
Plot
The series takes place at , a prestigious school with both middle and high branches, where girls train to become idols and take part in various auditions such as live shows, fashion shows, and dramas. To participate in these auditions, players use Aikatsu cards, special cards that contain digitized dresses and accessories from various manufacturers that are used in their auditions. How well they succeed is often dependent on choosing the right combination of cards. The video games cast players in the role of a new student, who must train to become an idol and reach the top.
The anime series follows a girl named Ichigo Hoshimiya, who becomes inspired by a performance by top idol Mizuki Kanzaki and enrolls in Starlight Academy alongside her best friend, Aoi Kiriya. Along with their classmate, Ran Shibuki, Ichigo and Aoi spend each day training for auditions and aiming to become top idols.
The second season starts with Ichigo returning from America to Starlight Academy, as she now befriends and competes with the students from a new idol school, Dream Academy, which has Seira Otoshiro and her fellow idols.
The third season focuses on a new generation, featuring Akari Ōzora, a young girl chosen by Ichigo to join Starlight Academy, and her friends. They do their best in both the Partner's Cup & the Great Starlight School Festival.
The fourth season centers around Akari's new unit with Sumire Hikami and Hinaki Shinjo, Luminas, going on a nationwide tour and meeting with idols from all over Japan. These meetings prepare them for the big event - The Starlight Queen Cup.
Terminology
;
:Aikatsu Cards are cards that contain digitised clothes which are worn by idols during performances and auditions. They are divided into four categories: Tops, Bottoms, Shoes, and Accessories, with some cards, such as one piece dresses, eliminating the need for others. The clothes come from various types of brands and have varying degrees of rarity. Although most clothes come in specific coordinations, players are also able to mix and match different cards to find a good combination.
;
:A student ID that represents a student of Starlight Academy, Dream Academy, Himezakura Private Girls' Academy or Étoile Academy and is required to access the Aikatsu System. In the arcade game, these are IC Cards used to store a player's history and create original characters.
:In the actual arcade game, student cards are represented by Data Carddass (DCD) System's IC cards with Starlight Academy pattern. Players may use DCD IC cards to save gameplay and create avatar characters.
;
:The system in which Aikatsu Cards are utilised. When performing in an audition or performance, idols step through a dressing room, which requires them to insert their student pass and choice of Aikatsu Cards, where they put on their selected clothes. The stage they walk on is largely digitised, providing various holographic displays and special effects during the performance and allowing people to participate in the audience via online streaming. The system reads the emotions of spectators, along with the online spectators, to rate each idol's performance, which determines their success during auditions.
;
:A handheld phone issued to each student of Starlight Academy. As well as providing various smartphone functions, such as calls, maps and a social network service, the Aikatsu Phone allows students to schedule and apply for auditions, as well as store and utilise their Aikatsu Cards for various purposes, such as holographically trying out coords. There are also a set of lights that are lit up when a student achieves a symbol pertaining to a certain idol quality.
;
:A Special Appeal is a technique that is used during a performance, bring an illusion the stage. The types of appeal that can be performed vary depending on the types of clothes worn. Normally, idols are only able to perform a maximum of two or three Special Appeals during a performance, but Mizuki has been able to perform four, which considered to be Legends.
;
:Fashion companies, each managed by a top designer, who design clothes for idols and convert them into Aikatsu Cards that can be used by the Aikatsu System. There are nineteen known brands in the first series: Angely Sugar, Futuring Girl, Spicy Ageha, Happy Rainbow, LoLi GoThiC, Aurora Fantasy, Love Queen, Magical Toy, Swing ROCK, Bohemian Sky, Vivid Kiss, Love Moonrise, Dreamy Crown, Sangria Rosa, Sakurairo Kaden, Dance Fusion, Retro Clover, Dolly Devil and Mecha PaniQ.
;
:The brand new line of dresses made from the top designers who teamed up to come up with it. A Constellation Appeal is a technique that is used during a performance like a Special Appeal but is only performed when wearing Constellation dresses. This is performed when the performer has maxed out the audience's voltage meter before they can perform the appeal.
Media
Video games
The ''Aikatsu!'' arcade game from
Bandai
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational toy manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Taitō, Taitō, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectables America and Bandai UK, are respectively headquartered ...
began appearing in Japanese arcades from October 2012 as part of its ''Data Carddass'' line. The game revolves around using collectible cards to help idols pass their auditions. A handheld title, , was released for the
Nintendo 3DS
The is a foldable dual-screen handheld game console produced by Nintendo. Announced in March 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS, the console was released originally on February 26, 2011 and went through various revisions in its lifetime, ...
on November 15, 2012. A second 3DS game, titled , released on November 21, 2013. A third 3DS game, titled , released on December 4, 2014. A fourth 3DS game, titled , released on November 26, 2015.
Anime
An anime television series produced by
Sunrise
Sunrise (or sunup) is the moment when the upper rim of the Sun appears on the horizon in the morning, at the start of the Sun path. The term can also refer to the entire process of the solar disk crossing the horizon.
Terminology
Although the S ...
began airing on
TV Tokyo
JOTX-DTV (channel 7), branded as is a Japanese television station that serves as the flagship of the TX Network.Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal
, stylized as Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL, is a Japanese manga and anime series and the third spin-off of the ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' franchise, after the preceding ''Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's''. The manga began serialization in Shueisha's ''V Jump'' magazine from Decem ...
'' in its initial timeslot. A second season began airing from October 3, 2013, with a third to begin airing in October 2014.Daisuki began streaming the series from September 4, 2014. Sunrise's director, Masayuki Ozaki, has stated ''Aikatsu'' may be considered for a US release if fans are vocal enough about it.
Films
''Aikatsu! The Movie'', was released on December 13, 2014.
''Aikatsu! Music Awards - The Show Where Everyone Gets an Award!'', was released on August 22, 2015.
''Aikatsu! The Targeted Magical Aikatsu Card'', was released on August 13, 2016.
''Aikatsu! 10th Story: Starway to the Future'', was released on July 15, 2022.
''Aikatsu! Memorial Stage ~Shining Unit Cup~'', was released on June 20, 2025.
''Aikatsu! × PriPara: The Movie The Miracle of Our Encounter!'', was released on Fall 2025.
Drama CD
A Drama CD, ''Aikatsu! Great Starmiya Ichigo Festival: After-party Special!'', was released alongside ''Aikatsu! The Movie''.
Music
The series contains a variety of theme songs and insert songs. Many of the songs are composed and arranged by Monoca, and performed by members of the Japanese idol group Star Anis and Aikatsu Stars who provide the singing voices for the characters.
Printed media
A manga adaption, published by
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of comics, magazines, light novels, dictionaries, literature, non-fiction, home media, and other media in Japan.
Shogakukan founded Shueisha, which also founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but ...
and illustrated by Bambi Shirayuki, was serialized in ''
Ciao
( , ) is an informal salutation in the Italian language that is used for both " hello" and "goodbye".
Originally from the Venetian language, it has entered the vocabulary of English and of many other languages around the world. Its dual mea ...
''.
Legacy
The ''Aikatsu!'' franchise was succeeded three successive series including one spin-off series and one virtual idol project. The second series, ''
Aikatsu Stars!
is an arcade collectible card game in Bandai's Data Carddass line of machines, which was launched in May 2016. It is the successor to the '' Aikatsu!'' series of arcade games. The game revolves around using collectible cards featuring vario ...
'' launched in May 2016 with an anime airing between April 2016 and March 2018. The third series, ''
Aikatsu Friends!
is an arcade collectible card game in Bandai's Data Carddass line of machines, which launched on April 5, 2018. It is the successor to the '' Aikatsu!'' and '' Aikatsu Stars!'' series of arcade games. The game revolves around using colle ...
'' launched in April 2018 with an anime airing between April 2018 and September 2019. A first spin-off series, '' Aikatsu on Parade!'', which set at alternate reality features characters from alternate version of ''Aikatsu!'', ''Stars!'' and ''Friends!'' launched in October 2019, with an anime airing between October 2019 and March 2020. The fourth series, '' Aikatsu Planet!'' launched in December 2020, with a tokusatsu/anime hybrid series airing from January to June 2021. A
VTuber
A or is an online entertainer who uses a virtual Avatar (computing), avatar generated using computer graphics. Real-time motion capture software or technology are often—but not always—used to capture movement. The digital trend originated i ...
project titled ''Aikatsu Academy!'' launched on July 27, 2024 with three talents; Mieru Himeno, Mamiru Meh, and Wao Parin.
Reception
Rebecca Silverman from
Anime News Network
Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and ot ...
(ANN) commented that the anime series is "really a half-hour commercial for a card game aimed at elementary-aged girls, or at least it seems that way", but despite this she noted "there's something fun about this show and its toy-bright colors". Silverman said ''Aikatsu!'' is a show for someone "looking for some brainless fun with a toe-tapping yet saccharine soundtrack, you're a seven-year-old girl, or if you just really like the color pink". Theron Martin also from ANN described it as "essentially a complement to a like-named card game aimed at teen and preteen girls". ANN's Carlo Santos agreed that it's a commercial-like anime, but also criticized the animation, saying the "quality is barely enough to get by, and the character designs look oddly outdated." Carl Kimlinger's opinion was less negative as he said ''Aikatsu!'' "isn't terrible by any stretch, but it doesn't make even a desultory effort to differentiate itself from the dozens of other shows that use aspiring idols to sell games and figurines and god knows what else" and that "character designs also have a lovely '' shōjo'' flavor, and the whole series looks just as pink and pretty as can be." He finished telling it will be "a highly tolerable diversion" for those who like this kind of anime.
The film earned ¥172,727,250 at the Japanese box office on its first weekend. As of February 21, 2016, it had grossed in South Korea.
See also
*
* ''
Pretty Rhythm
is a Japanese multimedia franchise produced by Syn Sophia and Takara Tomy Arts aimed at girls in elementary school. The ''Pretty Rhythm'' franchise was first launched in July 2010 with the Rhythm game, rhythm and dress-up arcade game ''Pretty R ...