Wake Up, Girls!

About Wake Up, Girls!

Here is what Wake Up, Girls! is about, retold in plain terms: a drama, music and slice of life anime by Ordet and Tatsunoko Production (2014). The setup: The gateway to Idol stardom might have opened for the newly formed singing group Wake Up, Girls, but the path to fame is full of perils and pitfalls. And for Mayu, Airi, Minami, Yoshino, Nanami, Kaya and Miyu, it's going to be especially difficult knowing who to trust, as their manager Matsuda's lack of experience could give other, less scrupulous.

As things develop, that's a situation that quickly comes to a head when Green Leaves' president all at once disappears with most of the money. As malicious gossip kicks off to surface regarding Mayu's past membership in a rival group, and internal tensions begin to tear the team apart, they'll need more than just ambition to survive. Singing may be a business, but friendship and a love of music is what will keep everything together.

With drama at the core, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. Airi Hayashida (Airi Eino) and Nanami Hisami (Nanami Yamashita) are two of the characters you will meet early. This one is best suited to viewers who prefer story and feelings over flashy action. At 12 episodes in total, it is easy to plan a viewing schedule.

Production & Appeal

Animation is handled by Ordet and Tatsunoko Production, so the studio's house style defines how Wake Up, Girls! looks and moves on screen. The drama focus matters here: character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. With a 6.7/10 score, it is more of a niche pick than a universal crowd-pleaser. On the casting side, Airi Eino voicing Airi Hayashida gives the lead role a recognizable voice. It aired in 2014, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.