Idol anime has solidified its place in the fandom over the past decade. With massive hits like Love Live! and Uta no Prince Sama, those interested in male and female idols have plenty of shows to turn to. However, now that so many exist, they can be formulaic. Most center on the music group itself, developing each character while pushing them through practices, fan events and concerts. This is great for those who enjoy the genre for what it is, but others can find the redundancy boring. Luckily, the spring 2022 anime season brings a new show that just may break this trend.

Heroines Run the Show is firmly set in the idol genre but goes about it differently from the norm. Protagonist Suzumi Hiyori is a country girl who moves to Tokyo in pursuit of her dream to become a track star. Her schedule becomes even more packed when, due to her family's financial situation, she needs to find a job to support herself.

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Heroines Run the Show Aizo Yujiro

Despite having no experience or even interest in the idol industry, Hiyori winds up becoming manager-in-training to the hit idol duo LipxLip. The boys, Shibasaki Aizo and Someya Yujiro, also happen be her classmates at school. With different perspectives and responsibilities in and out of school, Hiyori's story could explore the industry in a way idol-focused idol anime cannot.

First and foremost, Heroines Run the Show is poised to showcase just how much managers and other behind-the-scenes personnel do for the sake of their idols. In a lot of anime featuring celebrities, managers tend to have very little importance. They're often there to force the plot along by explaining the next event or keeping their charge under observation.

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The audience can understand that the manager is doing these things for the idol's career, but the intricacies involved in making these decisions have yet to be portrayed in detail. With Hiyori working under LipxLip's official manager, there are plenty of opportunities for her and viewers alike to learn just how much work goes into making performers popular.

Hiyori's position also allows her to help Aizo and Yujiro with their personal hangups. She learns very quickly that they are anything but perfect idols, especially when nobody is around to see their true selves. In reality, Aizo and Yujiro hate each other and take any opportunity to throw insults at one another. Through these spats, Hiyori is actually getting to know them and taking note of their individual issues. She learns that Aizo isn't comfortable around girls while Yujiro has a bad temper. Armed with this information and other tidbits, she'll learn as she gets to know them and could come up with ways to help them become better idols and people.

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Heroines Run the Show Hiyori Drinks

To do that though, Hiyori must first earn their trust and respect, and she's already shown trying in Heroines Run the Show's first two episodes. She starts with small things like noticing what they like to drink and giving them the same orders unprompted. Though it's done after a dance session where they wanted water and sports drinks instead of coffee, the thought she put into giving them the drinks still stands.

Because she has no interest in them as performers -- and therefore no bias -- Hiyori can look at the boys objectively for the sake of her job. This also lets her see them as people, and to her, they aren't celebrities at all. Yujiro is the boy she saw outside the police station and Aizo's the one who lies to every girl's face. The same idea applies to the boys; they don't see Hiyori as a fan or anyone else they have to impress, so they let her see their true selves.

Heroines Run the Show could very well portray how important the relationship between talent and management is in the entertainment industry. With the main trio occupying both of these roles, this connection has a real chance to shine and depict idol anime in a different light.