The Idolm@ster: Cinderella Girls U149 Anime to Air in 2023, Receives Key Art, New Teaser Trailer

Soon begins the story about the growth of little idols and their little producer

First starting as a simple rhythm game franchise in Japanese arcades with barely more than a dozen characters to its name in the early 2000s, Bandai Namco’s The Idolm@ster franchise now spans several hundred idols across multiple franchises. The one with the most characters, totalling 190, is The Idolm@ster: Cinderella Girls, which I have written about more than a few times on this site, with its rhythm game from CyGames easily one of my favourite mobile games. But with 190 characters, not all receive the attention they deserve in the mainline games, so spin-off media such as manga franchises gives these characters the attention they deserve. One of these, is The Idolm@ster: Cinderella Girls U149 from author Kyow No (廾之).

U149 is a manga focusing on the younger idols in the franchise, with its namesake focusing on characters who are 149cm in height or smaller – with essentially all the little idols being in elementary school or the lower grades of middle school. Owning and having read several volumes of the manga, it is a downright adorable and heartwarming series which gives each character ample chance to shine. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that The Idolm@ster: Cinderella Girls U149 would be receiving an anime adaptation, and today a 2023 release window has been confirmed for the project – complemented by a new teaser trailer, key artwork and website reveal.

New Key Artwork

The Idolm@ster: Cinderella Girls U149 Anime to Air in 2023, Receives Key Art, New Teaser Trailer 1

This key artwork features the original idol cast of the manga, although many more have been added as the chapters and volumes have progressed. The featured idols from top to bottom include Momoka Sakurai, Miria Akagi, Koharu Koga, Arisu Tachibana, Kaoru Ryuzaki, Risa Matoba, Chie Sasaki, Nina Ichihara and Haru Yuuki. Of note is Koharu Koga, who has not received a voice actor via any of the games, and will likely receive her vocal debut during the anime.

Other characters who may make their anime debut in The Idolm@ster: Cinderella Girls U149 include Kozue Yusa, Chika Yokoyama, Mai Fukuyama and Yukimi Sajo, having featured in the ongoing manga.

New Teaser Trailer

While I am not liking the chances of the manga ever being picked up by a western publisher (sadly), here’s hoping a company does license the show for international release.

Sam
Sam
Founder of The Otaku's Study. I have been exploring this labyrinth of fandom these last fifteen years, and still nowhere close to the exit yet. Probably searching for a long time to come.

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