Review | Phantom of the Idol (Episode 1)

The premiere of Phantom of the Idol is quirky and hilarious. However, on the animation side it is not as good with wobbly concert scenes.

The Anime Summer season has started. And the first series we are reviewing is Phantom of the Idol. We are going from one Idol anime to another. So, is this new one worth watching as well?

STORY

Phantom of the Idol is based on the manga series by Hijiki Isoflavone. It is about the Idol group ZINGS. This group is made of Kazuki Yoshino and Niyodo Yuya. Yoshino is the enthusiastic member of group. He cares about his fans and does his best on the stage. However, Niyodo is not like that at all. Indeed, he became an Idol because he thought he just had to be cute to do it and it would bring a lot of money. Except, it takes more than being cute to be an Idol. In fact, it requires dance and singing training, plus caring about your fans. And that represents a lot of dedication. Which Niyodo doesn’t have.

Right from the start, this group dynamic is extremely funny. I laughed out loud several times. Niyodo is so lazy and nonchalant. With that, add their manager who has clear anger issues and you have a great recipe for comedy!

This does not end here. Indeed, as the title indicates, this series does not rely only on realistic elements. Actually, Niyodo encounters the ghost of Asahi, a famous Idol. Since, he is too lazy to be an Idol, he makes a deal with Asahi. She controls his body during the concerts so he can be a successful Idol. So that allows him to be famous and earn easy money. Obviously, when she is him, this is a completely different Niyodo. He is so energetic and happy. As you can expect, it is a great source of comedy.

VISUALS

Moreover, Phantom of the Idol has simple but nice visuals. Though, during the concert scenes, the series uses a cheaper animation and it does not look that good. I suppose it is due to lack of budget. But, you can clearly tell the difference between the concert scenes and the other scenes. When you make a series about Idols and you do not have the budget for animating concert scenes, it is problematic. Even though, it is a disappointment, it does not ruin the story.

OPENING AND END CREDITS

The opening and end credits both feature songs by ZINGS. These are good and appealing songs. Both credits embody what the series is about while featuring all the different characters.