Kirarin Revolution, episode 8

(きらりん☆レボリューション) 2006

Kirari (voiced by Koharu Kusumi of Morning Musume!) is a middle schooler who LOVES her food. So much so that it's scary! While girls her age swoon over idols, Kirari swoons over her dad's cooking, and couldn't care less about the life of a celebrity. But when she saves the pet turtle of Seiji of pop group SHIPS and falls in love, she decides to become an idol herself so that they can be together (or so she hopes).

Kirari is to appear on Music Studio, following the so-far success of her new single. The pressure is on to do a good job, as getting on this show is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Kirari is so nervous the night before that she has trouble getting to sleep. Had she known that Erina had found out about her CD debut and was now determined to ruin her performance, she probably would've been more nervous.



When Kirari leaves the makeup room at the studio, a giant treat walks by the open door, luring Naa-san away. It's a trap, courtesy of Erina. Naa-san is kidnapped! When Kirari returns she finds a ransom note (if she wants her pet back, she can't go on the show), and doesn't know what to do. After a hasty "sorry" to SHIPS and a crew member, she runs off in a panic to find him. Meanwhile, Naa-san breaks out of the box he was packed in, and tries to find his way back. Hiroto is angry with Kirari for being cowardly about her responsiblity, but once they find out the situation, SHIPS offers to help.

Moments before the show starts, they are finally reunited. But because Music Studio thought Kirari was a no-show, Erina was opted as a replacement. However, Kirari manages to make a rather dramatic entrance, and sings her new song while SHIPS watches on. Success!



I think this is the first idol-shoujo anime I've seen that actually shows you all of the things an idol does day to day - maybe not terribly realistically, but you know what I mean. It's not about transforming into a "mature" version of themself with a magical item (and thus gaining almost-instant fame), or simply singing on stage in a puffy dress. It's saying, "if you became an idol, this might be what you have to do" (only with the quirky anime twists). In that, at least, it's a fresh idea.