Ensemble Stars!

Ensemble Stars! (あんさんぶるスターズ!) is a Japanese game franchise developed by Cacalia Studio and published by Happy Elements K.K., the Japanese division of the Chinese company Happy Elements. A spin-off of the 2012 game Ensemble Girls!, it was first released as a life simulation gacha game on Google Play on April 28, 2015, and on the App Store on May 1, 2015.

On March 9, 2020, Ensemble Stars! was rebranded and relaunched under the title Ensemble Stars!! (あんさんぶるスターズ!!), with the original app split into two games catering to different gameplay styles: ''Ensemble Stars!! Basic, the original game; and Ensemble Stars!! Music'', a rhythm game.

The success of the game led to several stage plays and manga adaptations. An anime television series by David Production aired from July 7 to December 22, 2019.[2] A theatrical anime premiered on March 4, 2022.

Characters

Ensemble Square

  • Anzu (あんず)
  • [3]
  • Anzu is the main protagonist or player of the franchise.

Starmaker Production

Trickstar

  • Hokuto Hidaka (氷鷹 北斗)
  • [3]
  • Subaru Akehoshi (明星 スバル)
  • [3]
  • Makoto Yūki (遊木 真)
  • [3]
  • Mao Isara (衣更 真緒)
  • [3]

Fine

  • Eichi Tenshouin (天祥院 英智)
  • [3]
  • Wataru Hibiki (日々樹 渉)
  • [3]
  • Tori Himemiya (姫宮 桃李)
  • [3]
  • Yuzuru Fushimi (伏見 弓弦)
  • [3][4]

Ryuseitai

  • Tetora Nagumo (南雲鉄虎)
  • [3]
  • Midori Takamine (高峯翠)
  • [3]
  • Shinobu Sengoku (仙石忍)
  • [3]
  • Chiaki Morisawa (守沢千秋)
  • [3]
  • Kanata Shinkai (深海奏汰)
  • [3]

Alkaloid

  • Hiiro Amagi (天城一彩)
  • Aira Shiratori (白鳥藍良)
  • Mayoi Ayase (礼瀬 マヨイ)
  • Tatsumi Kazehaya (風早巽)
  • The main characters from !! era.

Trickstar

  • Hokuto Hidaka (氷鷹 北斗)
  • [3]
  • Subaru Akehoshi (明星 スバル)
  • [3]
  • Makoto Yūki (遊木 真)
  • [3]
  • Mao Isara (衣更 真緒)
  • [3]

Fine

  • Eichi Tenshouin (天祥院 英智)
  • [3]
  • Wataru Hibiki (日々樹 渉)
  • [3]
  • Tori Himemiya (姫宮 桃李)
  • [3]
  • Yuzuru Fushimi (伏見 弓弦)
  • [3][4]

Ryuseitai

  • Tetora Nagumo (南雲鉄虎)
  • [3]
  • Midori Takamine (高峯翠)
  • [3]
  • Shinobu Sengoku (仙石忍)
  • [3]
  • Chiaki Morisawa (守沢千秋)
  • [3]
  • Kanata Shinkai (深海奏汰)
  • [3]

Alkaloid

  • Hiiro Amagi (天城一彩)
  • Aira Shiratori (白鳥藍良)
  • Mayoi Ayase (礼瀬 マヨイ)
  • Tatsumi Kazehaya (風早巽)
  • The main characters from !! era.

Cosmic Production

Eden

  • Nagisa Ran (乱凪砂)
  • Hiyori Tomoe (巴日和)
  • [3]
  • Ibara Saegusa (七種茨)
  • Jun Sazanami (漣 ジュン)
  • [3]

Valkyrie

  • Shu Itsuki (斎宮宗)
  • [3]
  • Mika Kagehira (影片みか)
  • [3]

2wink

  • Hinata Aoi (葵ひなた)
  • Yuta Aoi (葵ゆうた)
  • Both [3]

Crazy:B

  • Rinne Amagi (天城燐音)
  • Himeru (ひめる)
  • Kohaku Oukawa (桜河 こはく)
  • Niki Shiina (椎名 ニキ)

Eden

  • Nagisa Ran (乱凪砂)
  • Hiyori Tomoe (巴日和)
  • [3]
  • Ibara Saegusa (七種茨)
  • Jun Sazanami (漣 ジュン)
  • [3]

Valkyrie

  • Shu Itsuki (斎宮宗)
  • [3]
  • Mika Kagehira (影片みか)
  • [3]

2wink

  • Hinata Aoi (葵ひなた)
  • Yuta Aoi (葵ゆうた)
  • Both [3]

Crazy:B

  • Rinne Amagi (天城燐音)
  • Himeru (ひめる)
  • Kohaku Oukawa (桜河 こはく)
  • Niki Shiina (椎名 ニキ)

Undead

  • Rei Sakuma (朔間 零)
  • [3]
  • Kaoru Hakaze (羽風 薫)
  • [3]
  • Koga Ogami (大神晃牙)
  • [3]
  • Adonis Otogari (乙狩アドニス)
  • [3]

Ra*bits

  • Tomoya Mashiro (真白友也)
  • [3]
  • Nazuna Nito (仁兎なずな)
  • [3]
  • Mitsuru Tenma (天満光)
  • [3]
  • Hajime Shino (紫之創)
  • [3]

Akatsuki (紅月)

  • Keito Hasumi (蓮巳敬人)
  • [3]
  • Kuro Kiryu (鬼龍紅郎)
  • [3]
  • Souma Kanzaki (神崎颯馬)
  • [3]
  • Ibuki Taki (滝 維吹)

Ra*bits

  • Tomoya Mashiro (真白友也)
  • [3]
  • Nazuna Nito (仁兎なずな)
  • [3]
  • Mitsuru Tenma (天満光)
  • [3]
  • Hajime Shino (紫之創)
  • [3]

Akatsuki (紅月)

  • Keito Hasumi (蓮巳敬人)
  • [3]
  • Kuro Kiryu (鬼龍紅郎)
  • [3]
  • Souma Kanzaki (神崎颯馬)
  • [3]
  • Ibuki Taki (滝 維吹)

New Dimension

Knights

  • Tsukasa Suou (朱桜司)
  • [3]
  • Leo Tsukinaga (月永レオ)
  • [3]
  • Izumi Sena (瀬名泉)
  • [3]
  • Ritsu Sakuma (朔間凛月)
  • [3]
  • Arashi Narukami (鳴上嵐)
  • [3]

Switch

  • Natsume Sakasaki (逆先夏目)
  • [3]
  • Tsumugi Aoba (青葉つむぎ)
  • [3]
  • Sora Harukawa (春川宙)
  • [3]

MaM

  • Madara Mikejima (三毛縞斑)
  • [3]

Special For Princess (Esupuri)

  • Esu Sagiri (冴霧 笑主)
  • Kanna Natsu (名都 神無)
  • Fuyume Hanamura (花群 冬芽)
  • Raika Hojo (宝丈 萊香)

MELLOW DEAR US

Source:[7]

  • Mashu Kuon (久遠舞珠)
  • [8]
  • Juis Kojika (小鹿ジュイス)
  • [9]
  • Nozomi Madoka (円果望見)
  • [10]
  • Chitose Tsuzura (甘楽チトセ)

Knights

  • Tsukasa Suou (朱桜司)
  • [3]
  • Leo Tsukinaga (月永レオ)
  • [3]
  • Izumi Sena (瀬名泉)
  • [3]
  • Ritsu Sakuma (朔間凛月)
  • [3]
  • Arashi Narukami (鳴上嵐)
  • [3]

Switch

  • Natsume Sakasaki (逆先夏目)
  • [3]
  • Tsumugi Aoba (青葉つむぎ)
  • [3]
  • Sora Harukawa (春川宙)
  • [3]

MaM

  • Madara Mikejima (三毛縞斑)
  • [3]

Special For Princess (Esupuri)

  • Esu Sagiri (冴霧 笑主)
  • Kanna Natsu (名都 神無)
  • Fuyume Hanamura (花群 冬芽)
  • Raika Hojo (宝丈 萊香)

MELLOW DEAR US

Source:[7]

  • Mashu Kuon (久遠舞珠)
  • [8]
  • Juis Kojika (小鹿ジュイス)
  • [9]
  • Nozomi Madoka (円果望見)
  • [10]
  • Chitose Tsuzura (甘楽チトセ)

Supporting characters

  • Jin Sagami (佐賀美陣)
  • [3]
  • Akiomi Kunugi (椚章臣)
  • [4]
  • Seiya Hidaka (氷鷹誠矢)
  • Gatekeeper (ゲートキーパー)
  • Nice Arneb Thunder (ナイス・アルネブ・サンダー)

Media

Game

Ensemble Stars! was released for the Android on April 28, 2015, and iOS on May 1, 2015. Shortly after the game's release, in 2015, Sousuke Sōma, who provided the voice for Arashi Narukami, was replaced by Ryo Kitamura, with all voice clips replaced on July 18, 2015;[11] Kitamura would later go on to portray the character in the stage play adaptations. In April 2017, Yoshimasa Hosoya left the franchise due to a medical hiatus, and Happy Elements announced that he would be replaced by Tomoaki Maeno in the role of Hokuto Hidaka, with all his voice clips replaced beginning on May 31, 2017.[12]

On November 9, 2019, Happy Elements announced at the Animate Girls Festival that they would be adding two new groups, Alkaloid and Crazy B.[13] On March 15, 2020, Ensemble Stars! was relaunched and was split into two separate games: Basic, the original game; and Music, a brand new rhythm game; both games offered different gameplay but contained the same events, storylines, and items.[14]

In March 2016, Ensemble Stars! was planned to launch in China in Q2 2016 through Tencent.[15] In January 2018, Ensemble Stars! was launched in South Korea through Kakao Games.[16] On December 24, 2021, an English version of ''Ensemble Stars!! Music'' opened pre-registrations for users in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.[17] It was then officially launched on June 16, 2022.

Manga

A manga adaptation written and illustrated by Ichi Sayo was launched in Kodansha's Shōjo manga magazine Aria on August 28, 2015[18] and ended on December 28, 2016.[19]

Ensembukubu Stars!, a 4-panel gag parody, drawn by Bkub Okawa, is serialized on Ensemble Stars! official Twitter account and Dengeki Online since 2017.[20]

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced in December 2015.[21] It was planned to premiere in 2017, but the staff announced they had postponed it in February 2017.[22] The series was produced by David Production, with Marza Animation Planet producing the 3DCG live scenes, aired from July 7 to December 22, 2019, on Tokyo MX, SUN, KBS, TVA, and BS11.[23] Masakazu Hishida was the director under the pseudonym Junpaku Yagurashita.[24] Yasufumi Soejima was the series director, with Shinichi Inotsume as chief writer, and Haruko Iizuka, Tomoyuki Shitaya, and Eri Nagata as character designers.[25] Akira was the scriptwriter, and Tatsuya Kato composed the series' music.[26] Funimation has acquired the series for streaming in North America; the simuldub premiered on August 4, 2019.[27] The anime uses the Cacani 2D animation & in-between software tool.

On September 10, 2022, a new anime project titled Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection (Element) (あんさんぶるスターズ!!追憶セレクション「エレメント」) was announced. The anime project aired from April 6 to April 11, 2023, on Ensemble Stars' official YouTube channel.[28] The episodes are also available on the project's website.[29]

On April 25, 2023, a new anime project titled Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection (Crossroads) (あんさんぶるスターズ!!追憶セレション『クロスロード』) was announced.[30] It aired on November 3, 2023, via the Ensemble Stars' official YouTube channel.[31]

Ensemble Stars! episode list

Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection: Element episode list

'''Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection: Crossroad (Episode List)''' '''Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection: Checkmate (Episode List)'''

Ensemble Stars! episode list

Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection: Element episode list

'''Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection: Crossroad (Episode List)''' '''Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection: Checkmate (Episode List)'''

Film

The series received a compilation film titled ''Ensemble Stars!! Road to Show!!'', which premiered on March 4, 2022. It featured 10 idol characters already featured in the game (Mao Isara, Makoto Yuuki, Aira Shiratori, Mayoi Ayase, Nagisa Ran, Hinata Aoi, Kohaku Oukawa, Rei Sakuma, Izumi Sena, Ritsu Sakuma) as well as the player character Anzu. It also featured Mitsunari Samejima, a new character specific to the film.[32] Masakazu Hishida directed the film at David Production, with Asami Nakatani serving as chief director, Seitarō Kino writing the scripts, Haruko Iizuka designing the characters and serving as chief animation director, and Tatsuya Katō composing the film's music.[33] BukuSuta The World, a series of animated shorts based on Bkub Okawa's parody manga Ensembukubu Stars!, also were screened in theaters with Road to Show!![20]

Reception

By March 2016, over 1,500,000 users downloaded the game.[15]

By July 2023, over 16,000,000 users downloaded the game.[34]

References

  1. Nick Creamer, Paul Jensen, Rebecca Silverman, Theron Martin. The Summer 2019 Anime Preview Guide Anime News Network, Kadokawa Group, July 8, 2019^
  2. https://natalie.mu/music/news/341857 Natalie, Natasha, Inc., retrieved July 31, 2019^
  3. [Master Thread] Ensemble Stars (English dub) Funimation, retrieved August 7, 2019^
  4. Ensemble Stars Collection One Funimation, August 18, 2020^
  5. https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1429200967 Animate, April 23, 2015, retrieved May 9, 2020^
  6. https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1579078581 Animate, January 25, 2020, retrieved May 9, 2020^
  7. 【新ユニット登場!】『MELLOW DEAR US』 (メロウ・ディアース) Twitter, retrieved 22 October 2025^
  8. 史人 辻. 「あんさんぶるスターズ!!」にて、 『MELLOW DEAR US』(メロウ・ディアース)の「久遠舞珠」くんの声を担当させていただくことになりました! Twitter^
  9. 諒太 岩崎. この度‼️👀 『あんさんぶるスターズ!!』✨🎤😊🌟✨ Twitter^
  10. 文也 今井. 『あんさんぶるスターズ!!』 円果望見の声を担当いたします. よろしくお願いします. Twitter^
  11. https://news.prcm.jp/article/13615 GMO Internet, July 19, 2015, retrieved August 18, 2021^
  12. Crystalyn Hodgkins. Yoshimasa Hosoya Replaced in Ensemble Stars Franchise, Not Replaced in Starmyu, Strike the Blood Anime Anime News Network, Kadokawa Group, April 24, 2017, retrieved September 1, 2021^
  13. https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1576206718 Animate, December 13, 2020, retrieved September 26, 2021^
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  17. Ensemble Stars!!Music Begins the Pre-registration for English version CGMagazine, December 24, 2021, retrieved December 29, 2021^
  18. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/158347 Natalie, August 28, 2015, retrieved May 23, 2020^
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  23. Egan Loo. Ensemble Stars! TV Anime's 1st Promo Video Reveals July Premiere Anime News Network, Kadokawa Group, January 13, 2019, retrieved January 31, 2019^
  24. Rafael Antonio Pineda. King of Prism's Masakazu Hishida Revealed as Ensemble Stars! Anime's Director (Updated) Anime News Network, Kadokawa Group, June 18, 2019, retrieved June 18, 2019^
  25. Egan Loo. Ensemble Stars! TV Anime Unveils Directors, Designers, July 7 Premiere, Character Visuals Anime News Network, Kadokawa Group, April 7, 2019, retrieved April 7, 2019^
  26. Egan Loo. Ensemble Stars TV Anime Reveals Staff, 2019 Premiere Anime News Network, Kadokawa Group, May 5, 2018, retrieved February 16, 2019^
  27. Funimation Turns Up the Heat with Their Summer 2019 Lineup! Funimation, June 14, 2019, retrieved July 9, 2019^
  28. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5wEQ3YUNbnBHtrbn-gLh2YM95QM0Un6u YouTube, Google, Inc., retrieved April 26, 2023^
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