The Idolmaster Movie: Beyond the Brilliant Future!

The Idolmaster Movie: Beyond the Brilliant Future! (THE IDOLM@STER MOVIE 輝きの向こう側へ！) stylized as THE IDOLM@STER MOVIE: Beyond the Brilliant Future!, is a 2014 Japanese animated film based on The Idolmaster franchise and a sequel to The Idolmaster (2011). Produced by A-1 Pictures and distributed by Aniplex, the film is directed by Atsushi Nishigori from a script he wrote with Tatsuya Takahashi. The film follows Producer working with the idols of 765 Production for their first arena concert and inviting seven idols-in-training as their backup dancers.

Originally an original video animation film planned by Aniplex producer Hironori Toba by June 2012, the project was then changed into a feature film after Toba began working with Nishigori for the project by October. The production of the film was confirmed in February 2013, with the staff and cast of the anime series set to be returning. Additional cast were revealed in November 2013.

The Idolmaster Movie: Beyond the Brilliant Future! premiered in Japan on January 25, 2014. The film grossed over US$7million worldwide, and it received nominations at Newtype Anime Awards and Tokyo Anime Award Festival. A remastered version of the film's Blu-ray and DVD, subtitled VideoMaster Version, was released in Japan on September 19, 2014.

Plot

Due to their continuous popularity, the idols of 765 Production are busy with their work, such as promoting their film The Sleeping Be@uty Movie, along with the news of Miki Hoshii being cast for a Hollywood film and Chihaya Kisaragi being invited for a recording session in New York City. The idols return to their office, where Producer announces their upcoming arena concert and a training camp where they can prepare for the concert. He also invites seven idols-in-training as their backup dancers and chooses Haruka Amami as the idol's leader. At the Wakasa Inn, 765 Pro idols meet the dancers Minako Satake, Nao Yokoyama, Yuriko Nanao, Shiho Kitazawa, Serika Hakozaki, Anna Mochizuki, and Kana Yabuki. The idols-in-training then experience vigorous rehearsals along with the idols. Following a visit from media for interviews and the final rehearsal, Haruka learns from Kana that she has inspired her to become an idol and autographs her panda plushie. Later, Producer announces leaving 765 Production temporarily for Hollywood to attend a business training to improve himself as a producer. The idols become saddened, but Haruka encourages them to make the concert successful for Producer's sake. Following the training camp, Producer invites the dancers to join the idols' miniconcerts to gain stage experience.

Kana trips and falls while dancing during Haruka, Chihaya, and Azusa Miura's miniconcert, resulting in the incident being sensationalized in a magazine. The backup dancers inform 765 Production about their stagnant rehearsals, while Haruka questions Kana's absence. Producer decides to have a joint rehearsals between the idols and the dancers. During their practice session, Anna informs Haruka that Kana is going to quit as an idol. Shiho insists on continuing with the rehearsal despite losing a member, but Haruka wants to know Kana's reason for giving up. Haruka manages to get in touch with Kana over the phone and discerns that she is forcing herself to quit. She motivates everybody to help her in finding Kana, during which they discover that she has gained weight due to stress eating and learn that this is the reason for her missing the rehearsals. The idols bring the dancers to their concert's venue, where Haruka gives a heartfelt speech. This encourages Kana to continue pursuing being an idol. On the day of the concert, the idols and the dancers deliver a successful performance. Sometime after the concert, the idols bid Producer farewell as he boards a plane and continue their work elsewhere. In a post-credits scene, a still image shows 765 Pro idols reuniting with Producer.

Release

Theatrical

The Idolmaster Movie: Beyond the Brilliant Future! was released in Japan on January 25, 2014.[10] The film was previously scheduled to be released in March 2014.[24] During the stage greeting attended by Nakamura, Hara, Numakura, and Imai at Shinjuku Wald 9 in April 2014, an individual was reported to have seen the film 102 times. Japanese entertainment blog Hachima Kikō speculated the free The Idolmaster goods that came in every ticket purchase, which were being changed weekly throughout the film's theatrical run, were the reason behind the filmgoer's streak.[25]

VideoMaster Version

The Idolmaster Movie: Beyond the Brilliant Future! ended its theatrical run on May 30, 2014.[26] The upcoming home video release, which was first announced in the middle of that month,[27] was "newly mastered" for the film's rerelease. The new version, subtitled VideoMaster Version (VideoM@ster版), was released in 40 theaters in Japan from September 19 to October 10, 2014.[28]

VideoMaster Version

Home media

The Idolmaster Movie: Beyond the Brilliant Future! was released on Blu-ray and DVD in Japan on October 8, 2014. Their limited editions are bundled with a drama CD titled Perfect Idol: The Movie, which features the encore part of the arena concert that is not seen in the film, and a mook titled The Idolmaster Movie Fan Book: Memorial Master & Ogi Star Memoris 2. The "Shiny Festa Anime Blu-ray Bundle Edition" is included with the three animated episodes in The Idolmaster Shiny Festa video game, the drama CD, and the mook.[27]

The film was aired on Wowow on March 7 and April 6, 2015.[29] The Idolmaster official YouTube channel streamed the film from August 19 to September 1, 2020.[30]

director	Atsushi Nishigori
screenplay	Atsushi Nishigori Tatsuya Takahashi
based on	The Idolmaster by Namco Bandai Games
producer	Yozo Sakagami Hironori Toba Yasuhiro Yamaguchi Tomohiro Kashiwaya
starring	Eriko Nakamura Akiko Hasegawa Asami Imai Mayako Nigo Azumi Asakura Hiromi Hirata Asami Shimoda Rie Kugimiya Chiaki Takahashi Yumi Hara Manami Numakura Naomi Wakabayashi Juri Takita Kenji Akabane Hōchū Ōtsuka
cinematography	Hitoshi Tamura Shinya Katō
editing	Akinori Mishima
music	Ryuuichi Takada
studio	A-1 Pictures
distributor	Aniplex
runtime	121 minutes‡R1R‡
country	Japan
language	Japanese
gross	US$7.48million

The Idolmaster Movie: Beyond the Brilliant Future!

Plot

Voice cast

Production

Music

Marketing

Release

Theatrical

VideoMaster Version

VideoMaster Version

Home media

Reception

Box office

Critical response

Accolades

Future

Potential second The Idolmaster film

Continuation

External links

References