Phantom of the Idol

Phantom of the Idol
Cover of the first tankōbon volume, featuring Asahi Mogami (left) and Yuya Niyodo (right)
神クズ☆アイドル
(Kami Kuzu Aidoru)
GenreComedy[1]
Manga
Written byHijiki Isoflavone
Published byIchijinsha
English publisher
MagazineMonthly Comic Zero Sum
DemographicJosei
Original runDecember 28, 2017 – present
Volumes7
Anime television series
Directed byDaisei Fukuoka
Written byYasuko Aoki
Music bymyu
StudioStudio Gokumi
Licensed bySentai Filmworks
  • SEA: Mighty Media
  • TW/HK: Mighty Media
Original networkTV Tokyo, BS11, AT-X
Original run July 2, 2022 – September 3, 2022
Episodes10

Phantom of the Idol (神クズ☆アイドル, Kami Kuzu Aidoru) is a Japanese comedy manga series by Hijiki Isoflavone. It has been serialized in Ichijinsha's josei manga magazine Monthly Comic Zero Sum since December 2017 and has been collected in seven tankōbon volumes as of July 2023. The manga is licensed in North America by Kodansha USA. An anime television series adaptation by Studio Gokumi aired from July to September 2022.

Plot

Yuya Niyodo is on the verge of being fired from his job as an idol in the two-man group ZINGS, due to his poor and lazy attitude, when he meets the ghost of Asahi Mogami, a popular idol who died a year ago in a traffic accident.[2] Niyodo gets her to possess him and do his job for him, causing him to gain a reputation as a strange idol.

Characters

Main

Yuya Niyodo (仁淀ユウヤ, Niyodo Yūya)
Voiced by: Fumiya Imai[3] (Japanese); Kiba Walker[4] (English)
Yuya is a member of idol unit ZINGS. However, since he debuted as an idol to earn easy money, he is unmotivated during performance and fan interactions. He lets Asahi possess his body during his idol activity so Asahi can stay in the living world as long as possible, and he can keep earning easy money.
Asahi Mogami (最上アサヒ, Mogami Asahi)
Voiced by: Nao Tōyama[3] (Japanese); Shanae'a Moore[4] (English)
A popular idol from the group I'm who lost her life in a car accident and became a ghost roughly a year before her encounter with Niyodo.
Kazuki Yoshino (吉野カズキ, Yoshino Kazuki)
Voiced by: Shun Horie[3] (Japanese); Ry McKeand[4] (English)
An idol and member of ZINGS who desperately keeps Yuya in the unit because he cannot perform alone.

Others

Hitomi Shinano (信濃ヒトミ, Shinano Hitomi)
Voiced by: Eri Kitamura[5] (Japanese); Shelley Calene-Black[4] (English)
The manager of ZINGS and owner of the company they belong to.
Kasenjiki (河川敷)
Voiced by: Hitomi Ueda[5] (Japanese); Christina Kelly[4] (English)
A dedicated Niyodo fan with green hair who often wears a headband with lightsticks attached to it.
Tsugiko (ツギコ)
Voiced by: Yō Taichi[5] (Japanese); Alyssa Marek[4] (English)
A Niyodo fan who works an office job.
Shigutaro (しぐたろ)
Voiced by: Manaka Iwami[5] (Japanese); Annie Wild[4] (English)
A Niyodo fan who is also a student.
Hikaru Setouchi (瀬戸内ヒカル, Setouchi Hikaru)
Voiced by: Takuma Terashima[6] (Japanese); Bobby Haworth[4] (English)
The leader of popular idol group Cgrass. Setouchi initially believes that Niyodo is copying Asahi Mogami, and creates a thorough website documenting every time Niyodo behaves strangely or poorly.
Chihiro Misaki (岬チヒロ, Misaki Chihiro)
Voiced by: Takuya Satō[6] (Japanese); Cole Feuchter[4] (English)
A member of popular idol group Cgrass.
Akira Uchihama (内濱アキラ, Uchihama Akira)
Voiced by: Tatsuyuki Kobayashi[6] (Japanese); Jack Stansbury[4] (English)
A member of popular idol group Cgrass.
Yukinari Nada (灘ユキナリ, Nada Yukinari)
Voiced by: Haruki Ishiya[6] (Japanese); Jeran Ugakwe[4] (English)
A member of popular idol group Cgrass.
Homare Hakata (伯方ホマレ, Hakata Homare)
Voiced by: Yōhei Azakami[6] (Japanese); Nathan Wilson[4] (English)
A member of popular idol group Cgrass.
Narrator (ナレーション, Narēshon)
Voiced by: Show Hayami[5] (Japanese); Jack Ivy[4] (English)

Media

Manga

Phantom of the Idol is written and illustrated by Hijiki Isoflavone. The series began serialization in Ichijinsha's Monthly Comic Zero Sum magazine on December 28, 2017.[7] The manga is licensed in North America by Kodansha USA.[8]

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 June 25, 2018[9]978-4-7580-3360-2May 24, 2022[10]978-1-64-651465-6
2 April 25, 2019[11]978-4-7580-3424-1August 16, 2022[12]978-1-64-651585-1
3 June 25, 2020[13]978-4-7580-3524-8November 29, 2022[14]978-1-64-651586-8
4 April 24, 2021[15]978-4-7580-3601-6January 31, 2023[16]978-1-64-651587-5
5 January 25, 2022[17][18]978-4-7580-3696-2
978-4-7580-3697-9 (SE)		April 4, 2023[19]978-1-64-651588-2
6 July 25, 2022[20][21]978-4-7580-3764-8
978-4-7580-3765-5 (SE)		July 18, 2023[22]978-1-64-651747-3
7 July 25, 2023[23]978-4-7580-3889-8April 23, 2024[24]978-1-64-651936-1

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on November 26, 2021.[3] It was produced by Studio Gokumi and directed by Daisei Fukuoka, with scripts written by Yasuko Aoki, character designs handled by Saori Hosoda, and music composed by myu. It aired from July 2 to September 3, 2022, on TV Tokyo, BS11, and AT-X.[5][a] The opening theme song is "Let's Zing!", while the ending theme song is "Kimikira", both performed by the musical unit ZINGS, composed of Fumiya Imai and Shun Horie.[6] Sentai Filmworks has licensed the series.[25]

On November 16, 2023, Hidive announced the series would receive an English dub, which premiered on November 23.[4]

Reception

In 2019, Phantom of the Idol placed third in the 5th Next Manga Award in the print category.[26]

Notes

  1. ^ TV Tokyo listed the series premiere at 25:53 on July 1, 2022, which is effectively 1:53 a.m. JST on July 2.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Ghost Idol Comedy Manga Phantom of the Idol Listed With TV Anime". Anime News Network. November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  2. ^ Isoflavone, Hijiki (2022). Phantom of the Idol 1. Translated by Greenway, Max. Lettering by Michael Martin, Editing by Maggie Le. Kodansha USA. pp. 10, 15–18. ISBN 978-1-64651-465-6.
  3. ^ a b c d "Phantom of the Idol TV Anime Confirmed". Anime News Network. November 26, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "HIDIVE to Stream Phantom of the Idol Anime English Dub on November 23". Anime News Network. November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Phantom of the Idol Anime's Teaser Video Reveals More Cast, Summer Debut". Anime News Network. March 20, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Phantom of the Idol Anime Reveals Trailer, Additional Cast, Theme Songs, July 1 Premiere". Anime News Network. May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  7. ^ 神アイドルの幽霊とクズアイドルがタッグを組む新連載「神クズ☆アイドル」. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 28, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "Kodansha Comics Licenses The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse, Island in a Puddle, More Manga". Anime News Network. July 1, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  9. ^ "神クズ☆アイドル 1巻" (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  10. ^ "Phantom of the Idol 1". Penguin Random House. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  11. ^ "神クズ☆アイドル 2巻" (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  12. ^ "Phantom of the Idol 2". Penguin Random House. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  13. ^ "神クズ☆アイドル 3巻" (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  14. ^ "Phantom of the Idol 3". Penguin Random House. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "神クズ☆アイドル 4巻" (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  16. ^ "Phantom of the Idol 4". Penguin Random House. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  17. ^ "神クズ☆アイドル 5巻" (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  18. ^ "神クズ☆アイドル 5巻 特装版" (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  19. ^ "Phantom of the Idol 5". Penguin Random House. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  20. ^ "神クズ☆アイドル 6巻" (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  21. ^ "神クズ☆アイドル 6巻 特装版" (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  22. ^ "Phantom of the Idol 6". Penguin Random House. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  23. ^ "神クズ☆アイドル 7巻" (in Japanese). Ichijinsha. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  24. ^ "Phantom of the Idol 7". Penguin Random House. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  25. ^ "Paranormal Comedy Series "Phantom of the Idol" Joins Sentai's Summer 2022 Lineup". Sentai Filmworks. June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  26. ^ "SPY × FAMILY, Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Win Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Award 2019". Anime News Network. August 22, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2021.