Selection Project (stylized as SELECTION PROJECT) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Doga Kobo. It is based on Kadokawa's Idol x Audition x Reality Show multimedia project, which began in December 2019. It aired from October to December 2021.
Plot
Selection Project is an idol show in which aspiring idols from all across Japan compete to win a debut contract. In its seventh season, nine girls manage to win their regional auditions to compete on the main show. Among them are Suzune Miyama, a girl from north Kanto who had recently recovered from being hospitalized, and Rena Hananoi, the younger sister of the first season's winner, Akari Amasawa, who died three years prior in a truck accident.
Characters
- Suzune Miyama (美山 鈴音)
- [1]
- Suzune is the 14-year-old representative candidate from Saitama Prefecture for the northern Kanto block. She is a bright and positive girl who grew up with a weak heart and spent most of her childhood in the hospital. However, she begins to idolize Akari Amasawa and strive to become a singer herself one day. She enters the Selection Project audition and originally lost due to her collapsing on stage, but later represents her block due to the withdrawal of her friend Seira.
- Rena Hananoi (花野井 玲那)
- [1]
- Rena is the 14-year-old representative candidate from Tokyo for the southern Kanto block. She strived to become an idol like her older sister, Akari Amasawa. However, her death caused Rena to develop a serious personality as she wants to be recognized not as Akari's sister but in her own right, going as far as adopting her maternal surname to distinguish from her late sister, as her real name is Rena Amasawa (天沢 玲那).
- Hiromi Hamaguri (濱栗 広海)
- [1]
- 16 years old. Originated from Osaka Prefecture. The representative candidate for the Kinki block. Influenced by her two older brothers, Hiromi acts like a tomboy and hates to lose. She is especially popular with junior high girls in her hometown.
- Nagisa Imau (今鵜 凪咲)
- [1]
- 15 years old. Originated from Kōchi Prefecture. The representative candidate for the Shikoku block.
- Nodoka Yagi (八木野 土香)
- [1]
- 14 years old. Originated from Hokkaido. The representative candidate for the Hokkaido block.
- Ao Yodogawa (淀川 逢生)
- [1]
- 13 years old. Originated from Hiroshima Prefecture. The representative candidate for the Chugoku block.
- Uta Koizumi (小泉 詩)
- [1]
- 11 years old. Originated from Miyagi Prefecture. The representative candidate for the Tohoku block. Even though she has been an actress since kindergarten, she also wanted to be an idol.
- Shiori Yamaga (山鹿 栞)
- [1]
- 14 years old. Originated from Aichi Prefecture. The representative candidate for the Chubu block. She comes from a rich family.
- Mako Toma (当麻 まこ)
- [1]
- 17 years old. Originated from Fukuoka Prefecture. The representative candidate for the Kyushu-Okinawa block.
- Seira Kurusu (来栖 セイラ)
- 15 years old. Originated from Gunma Prefecture. The representative candidate for the northern Kanto block. She is half American from her mother side. She is the original winner of the Northern Kanto representative, but later withdraws so that Suzune can compete.
- Sumipanda (スミパンダ)
- [2]
- The MC for Selection Project. He was previously a solo idol who became discouraged after his career stalled.
- Akari Amasawa (天沢 灯)
- [2]
- The legendary idol who won the first Selection Project. She lost her life in a truck accident three years prior to start of the story.
- Sunny (サニー)
- The dorm mother of the lodge the girls stay at for the duration of the contest.
Production
The project was named "Project Nyanco", which was a reference of Onyanko Club, when it was launched in 2018.[3]
Media
Manga
A manga adaptation by Kōji Azuma began serialization in Square Enix's online manga magazine Manga Up! on July 11, 2021.[4]
Anime
The series was announced by Kadokawa on December 4, 2020. The series was directed by Daisuke Hiramaki and written by Yūya Takahashi, with character designs by Kanna Hirayama, and music composed by Takurō Iga.[4] It aired from October 1 to December 24, 2021, on AT-X, Tokyo MX, KBS Kyoto, SUN, TVA, and BS11.[7] 9-tie (pronounced as "cutie"), a group composed of the series' nine main cast members, performed the opening theme song "Glorious Days," as well as the ending theme song "Only one yell."[8][9] Funimation licensed the series outside of Asia.[10] Muse Communication licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia.[11]
Episodes
Episodes
Live concert
- SELECTION PROJECT 1st LIVE 〜Cheer for you!〜 (January 30, 2022)
Similarities
Selection Project is an example of the twin films phenomena alongside Idoly Pride. Reviewers have compared both anime to each other and have described the two as sharing certain storylines and similar characters.[28][29][30] Both franchises were greenlit days apart in December 2019,[31][32] and aired within months of each other.
External links
References
- Alex Mateo. 'Selection Project' Idol Reality Show Anime Reveals Main Cast Anime News Network, March 9, 2021, retrieved March 9, 2021^
- Crystalyn Hodgkins. Selection Project 'Idol x Audition x Reality Show' Anime Reveals New Promo Video, More Cast Anime News Network, March 28, 2021, retrieved March 28, 2021^
- 仲上佳克. https://webnewtype.com/report/article/1062453/ WebNewtype, Newtype, December 10, 2021, retrieved December 11, 2021^
- TVアニメ『SELECTION PROJECT』第2弾PV公開・2021年10月放送決定! 新キャラクター「来栖セイラ」役・大西沙織さんのコメント到着 秋アニメ『Selection Project』来栖セイラ役は大西沙織が担当 | アニメイトタイムズ, Animate Times, July 8, 2021, retrieved September 9, 2021^
- https://magazine.jp.square-enix.com/top/comics/detail/9784757574854/ Square Enix, retrieved September 9, 2021^
- https://magazine.jp.square-enix.com/top/comics/detail/9784757577961/ Square Enix, retrieved May 13, 2022^
- Alex Mateo. 'Selection Project' Idol Reality Show Project Gets TV Anime in 2021 Anime News Network, December 4, 2020, retrieved December 5, 2020^
- Egan Loo. Selection Project Idol Anime's 3rd Video Unveils Opening Song, October 1 Debut Anime News Network, September 9, 2021, retrieved September 9, 2021^
- アニメ『SELECTION PROJECT』suzu☆renaが歌う3話挿入歌MVが公開 Dengeki, October 18, 2021, retrieved October 24, 2021^
- Nicholas Friedman. Pursue Your Dreams! Selection Project Joins the Funimation Fall 2021 Lineup Funimation, August 30, 2021, retrieved August 30, 2021^
- Rafael Antonio Pineda. Muse Asia Licenses Selection Project Idol Anime Anime News Network, September 14, 2021, retrieved March 3, 2024^
- Sutōrī|"Serekushon Purojekuto" Kōshiki Saito pjselection.com, retrieved September 28, 2021^
- Selection Project Funimation, retrieved October 8, 2021^
- On'ea|"Serekushon Purojekuto" Kōshiki Saito pjselection.com, retrieved September 9, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/09/27~2021/10/03) AT-X, retrieved September 11, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/10/04~2021/10/10) AT-X, retrieved September 30, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/10/11~2021/10/17) AT-X, retrieved October 1, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/10/18~2021/10/24) AT-X, retrieved September 27, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/10/25~2021/10/31) AT-X, retrieved September 27, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/11/01~2021/11/07) AT-X, retrieved October 21, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/11/08~2021/11/14) AT-X, retrieved October 28, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/11/15~2021/11/21) AT-X, retrieved October 28, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/11/22~2021/11/28) AT-X, retrieved October 28, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/11/29~2021/12/05) AT-X, retrieved November 17, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/12/06~2021/12/12) AT-X, retrieved November 24, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/12/13~2021/12/19) AT-X, retrieved November 24, 2021^
- Shūkan Bangumihyō (2021/12/20~2021/12/26) AT-X, retrieved November 24, 2021^
- SweetMonia. Selection Project VS Idoly Pride Comparison:- Two similar, yet quite different Sweet Monia, 12 February 2024, retrieved February 20, 2025^
- Christian Markle. Selection Project Review - The Perfect Anime Playlist Honey's Anime, January 22, 2022, retrieved February 20, 2025^
- alfredopasta. Two Idol Fans Have an In-Depth Chat About Selection Project, Part 1 (w/ Leap250) omunibasu, January 17, 2022, retrieved February 20, 2025^
- 「 戦え、夢を叶えるために. 」アイドル✕オーディション✕リアリティショーをテーマにした新たなオリジナルアイドルプロジェクト「PROJECT SELECTION」始動‼︎ December 6, 2019, retrieved February 20, 2025^
- Jennifer Sherman. Idoly Pride Multimedia Project Gets TV Anime Anime News Network, December 9, 2019, retrieved February 20, 2025^