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Description:
At the beginning of this slushy girls' series, a narrator informs the viewers that if the "Angel of Music" smiles on a performer, she will become a star. Despite occasional words about quality, the focus is on stardom, reflecting the Japanese phenomenon of "idol singers," whose careers are often short-lived as mayflies. Three heroines who dream of being singers get the chance to study with Kisaragi Akiba, the mentor of their idol, Reika: Akari, whose preacher father opposes her aspirations; tough street performer Yuki; and Nozomi, the flighty rich girl. The trio has to deal with vain rivals, jealous detractors, and a wildly improbable subplot involving foundlings separated as infants. Despite these complications, the show feels padded and slow. The drawing style has an angular, often harsh look, and the very limited animation relies on camera moves over still artwork. (Rated 12 and older: brief nudity, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon
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