For a while now, video game publisher Nippon Ichi Software America has been involved in publishing a number of anime works. Most of these have gone straight to their premium edition releases, but their latest announcement may take a while to reach store shelves and hasn’t even been released in Japan yet.
The company today announced their acquisition of Love Live! School Idol Project, a brand new anime series set to begin airing in Japan next month. Love Live! features fictional animated characters and living, breathing group members side by side. The series is set to be streamed via Crunchyroll from the 8th January 2013 at 8am PST, with a physical package release planned to be announced/released in the future.
The animation studio SUNRISE Inc. (Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere) is behind this series with Takahiko Kyogoku (UN-GO) serving as director. Series composition will be handled by Juuki Hanada (Steins;Gate), Character Design / Anime Direction by Asako Nishida (Fate/Zero) and music by Lantis (Lucky Star).
Otonokizaka High School stands on the border of three cities: Akihabara–a pop culture mecca that’s evolving by the minute; Kanda–a conservative, cultured city where history and tradition reign supreme; and Jinbo–a quiet area reserved for a more mature, sophisticated population. Amidst this culture clash, the school now faces closure due to the enrollment of fewer and fewer
students.With the school planning to close within three years, nine female students come together with one thing in mind—form a pop idol group to revive the school’s popularity and keep it from hutting down. “In order to protect our beloved school, there’s only one thing we can do…become pop stars!”
Their goal is simple: Become an overnight sensation and use their nationwide media exposure to promote their school and bring in a wave of new students to the ailing area. A simple but solid plan, they figure. Naturally, they’re nervous and wonder if this plan can really succeed, but for better or worse their new journey has begun…
“All we can ask for is just a tiny bit of support from you. We truly believe that with your help, we can change the world around us. We will make our dreams come true!”
Voice Cast
Emi Nitta as Honoka Kosaka (Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere)
Yoshino Nanjo as Eri Ayase (Joshiraku, ROBOTICS;NOTES)
Aya Uchida as Kotori Minami (Kiddy Girl-and, Strike Witches)
SuzukoMimori as Umi Sonoda (Milky Holmes, BTOOOM!)
Riho Iida as Rin Hoshizora (first appearance in an animated series)
Pile as Maki Nishikino (first appearance in an animated series)
Aina Kusuda as Nozomi Tojo (Yamato 2199)
Yurika Kubo as Hanayo Koizumi (Total Eclipse)
Sora Tokui as Niko Yazawa (Milky Holmes, ROBOTICS;NOTES)
