Kirarin Revolution, episode 14

(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).

Here's something unexpected - there's an artist that now rivals SHIPS sales. Kirari! Takada Pianu announces on a TV show that he wants to see whose new single will sell better, and announce the "winner." SHIPS is singing the opening song for "Sonata of Love and Youth" and Kirari sings the ending, so the CDs will be released at the same time. Kuwada Higata, whom I believe is supposed to be the music producer for SHIPS, comes in to meet the person against them (I swear he's a long lost brother of that wolf guy from Master Mosquiton '99). Kirari's pink-donned music producer, Kabata, also comes in and they throw words at each other about who is better. Kirari looks upset at what's happening.



Being able to adequately sing isn't enough. Kabata believes she has to have something that SHIPS doesn't. Dancing! But it turns out that Kirari doesn't really have the skill to dance well (at least not yet) so he decides to help out. They work for a long while on moves, until it's nighttime and she's gotten a little better. After Kabata-san goes back to his studio to mix her song, she wanders the dark hallway, reflecting on how frustrating all of this is. She overhears SHIPS working on their own routine and decides to ask them to help. But before she can say anything, Miss Kumoi (her manager) touches her shoulder and says that SHIPS has been working since noon, tirelessly, to beat her. Kirari realizes that she can't bother them with her own problems, and to work hard by herself.

And work she does! SHIPS is finishing up several hours later and hear her, stumbling about in a half-asleep, dancing stupor. So tired, she passes out - luckily Naa-san got a cot of some sort to her side before she collapsed. SHIPS smiles. When she wakes up hours later she finds a letter of encouragement from them, most likely written by Seiji.



Both sides believe that victory is practically theirs. Even the businessmen they talk to at NATUMUSIC (the people who will promote it) get caught up in the war. During a press conference, the press provoke it by asking Kirari how she plans to defeat SHIPS. Finally, the torn Kirari has had it. She announces to everyone at her company's office that she refuses to compete with her friends. Thinking that they will agree, instead they get angry. Hiroto calls her despicable - she doesn't understand anything! Don't. be. an. idol.

Ouch :x Despicable is a bit much, Hiroto. She hasn't been on the idol scene for very long, she has to learn how things are really done/how she's supposed to behave. Give her a break! Anyway, it's an OK episode.