The top 10 was a pain to rank, I took the ratings much more seriously in the top 10 (probably too much so) and particularly in the top 5. I’m still not completely satisfied but continuing on where we left off in the previous post, here are the top 10 idols in anime.
10. Nagi (Kannagi)
- visual: B
- music: A
- personality: A+
- story: D
- special: C (best idol related OP in anime)
The opening to Kannagi is epic and I loved the music. Her personality is also completely off the charts awesome. I down rated her due to the fact that she is not a true idol compared to everyone else. If she was I could have her near number one.
9. Haruka Amami (Idolmaster)
- visual: A
- music: B
- personality: B
- story: B
- special: C (nice storylines in idolmaster)
She became a favorite of mine in Idolmaster later on in the series with her getting more focus in the story and she is the glue that holds the group together. I’m also totally a Haruka x Chihaya shipper. ^_^
8. Minami Takahasi the 5th (akb0048)
- visual: B
- music: B
- personality: A
- story: A
- special: C (most deadly)
New comer among my favorites. The one of two on the list in a show currently airing which could sway my ratings later on but for now this is where she stands. Since AKB0048 is still on going before it ends I will probably have others in the top 20 from that show but for now I have just her who is noteworthy as the most deadly idol of my top 20 list with her mecha piloting abilities and boomerang hair ribbon.
7. Azusa Miura (Idolmaster)
- visual: A
- music: B
- personality: A
- story: C
- special: B (idol Belldandy)
She became an instant favorite after her focused episode. She reminds me of an idol version of Belldandy (Ah My Goddess) or Alicia (Aira) which why I love her.
6. Miki Hoshii (Idolmaster)
- visual: A
- music: B
- personality: A+
- story: C
- special: B (energy and spirit)
The most popular of the Idolmasters and for good reason. I think she embodies the energetic spirit of an idol better than almost anyone outside of my number one idol.
5. Sheryl Nome (Macross Frontier)
- visual: A+
- music: A
- personality: C
- story: D
- special: B (Ranka’s friend and true love)
Time to get a little more detailed now that we are on the top five. Sheryl was hard to rank for me. She has a lot of qualities that could make her number one, singing is extremely important to her and she certainly was given the music and looks. However out of the top 5 her story as an idol and her character are probably the worst. She doesn’t have much of a story really unless you count non-canon manga pandering. Her character is certainly overrated and almost no one bothers discussing it since they all either hate it or love it. But she is one of Ranka’s best friends, a fellow wing with Ranka, singing amazing duets with Ranka and the person Ranka is destine to marry. (lol)
4. Minmay Lynn (Macross)
- visual: B
- music: A
- personality: C
- story: B
- special: A+++
Minmay is number four for two reasons. One, much of what Ranka is given is references from her and thus us Ranka fans owe much to her. Two, Macross fans in general owe much to her as she was the one that started it all (more or less) and is tied to a scene many Macross fans consider holy. Her visual and music while almost 30 years old still holds up well even today. Her personality is not the best which is why she is not higher and in the movies from what I hear her personality is more like Sheryl which is not exactly encouraging either. She has the good idol story, though, because it has the same rise to fame as story Ranka (probably more accurate to say she had the original but not the perfected) at least in the TV series. I still need to watch Do You Remember Love? so this could change.
3. Lacus Clyne (Gundam Seed)
- visual: A+
- music: B
- personality: A
- story: C
- special: A+ (The most popular idol in anime)
The most well-known and popular idol in anime (assuming you don’t count Hatsune Miku which I don’t because she is not in any anime officially). This probably seems a bit silly to consider and I don’t put this as a factor for anyone but her but the end goal is to be popular as in idol is it not? She is very cute, I can’t resist the pink hair and has some very nice outfits although not on par with Macross F outfits. Music is decent but not outstanding. Her personality is great as she shows some real character growth and she becomes a pretty awesome character by the second season. Her story as an idol is not that focused in the show but she has her moments.
2. Chihaya Kisaragi (Idolmaster)
- visual: B
- music: A
- personality: A
- story: A+
- special: A
She is a pure singer of an idol who just loves singing more than anything. While other idols have said singing is their life she showed it like few others have. I can’t even do her story justice just go watch Idolmaster by the end of episode 20 you should understand. Probably the best non-Ranka idol moment in anime even better than Minmay’s epic scene in Macross.
1. Ranka Lee (Macross Frontier)
- visual: S
- music: S
- personality: S
- story: S
- special: S
If you even have to ask you should just read anything I write on this blog at all. She is mai waifu and my queen of idols. Even if I was not being bias I think I could make an excellent case for her being number one. After all her story as an idol is wonderful even if it originated from Minmay she perfected it. She certainly has the best wardrobe among all the idols and I think she has the best songs. Her personality is amazing in the movies and in the TV series although flawed shows great growth by the end for those open-minded enough to see it. Although she may not be the most popular she is the total package. Kira~
I dare you to be able to say Ranka does not deserve it after watching that in full.
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Sheryl for number 1 woo wooo
yeah she is much better than takane or hibiki. wwwww
lol why don’t you just make your own list. Although if Ranka isn’t in the top 3 its not really a idol list is it? :p
My list would be different partly because I haven’t seen some of these series or different tastes. Sheryl would be much lower just because I don’t really enjoy her concert scenes. Specially the movie ones. Millhiore would get a much higher place as mentioned in other blog post comment I made.
I keep telling myself I should watch Idolmaster series but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
I really tried to be at least half impartial on this list. I think its really hard to be completely unbiased on such a list because its highly dependent on what you value the most. If I were to go on just what I liked the most I’d have sharon apple and basara off the top 20, Sheryl, Lacus and Minmay probably would not be in my top 10, elena and nagi up higher by a lot and at least 4 more idolmasters on the list if not a few from akb0048.
What really makes it hard is when you have these alternate universes with different characters particularly with Sheryl. I think her movie version was a much better idol and her TV version I’d probably not even put in the top 20. This was the struggle and I also think this is where some people show a lot of bias where they can just pick and choose the parts of Sheryl and Ranka from the two univeres to make their cases. But I think if you combine all the best qualities of the two from both shows Ranka still wins, its dependent on personal preferences though. I’m not even sure that is the right way to go about it, the movies were obviously made to pander to make people happy so does that factor in to it as well? It’s too complicated for me to feel right about evaluating in the end. I would not care as much if not that I just tried of people acting like Sheryl is the far superior idol.
But I will say Sheryl has all the qualities of a great real life star where the focus is more of the glamor and a good stage or public persona which is why she is so popular but to me to be a good anime idol I think you need in addition a lot of character growth and a good story.
Being impartial is very difficult thing to do. I would say impossible unless you are detached from the situation. However part of being a great idol is the desire to see them improve and watch them perform. A great idol is one you want to cheer on. If you are so detached from them they aren’t doing a good job as an idol.
I think that is why I don’t enjoy Sheryl. She doesn’t stand out to me as she is a better reflection on a real life idol. I prefer anime idols with a bit of magic to them.
yeah very true, I’d like to think I balanced the impartial part decently enough with the personal feelings here but the list is for fun so no big deal either way.
why isn’t there any pretty rhythm or aikatsu characters?
I like this list a lot
I think this list needs to have more akb0048 on it. I’m just now watching macros frontier and let me tell you, I am now an 100% ranka lee fan. she goes beyond amazing she’s a goddess. the only person in anime I like more than her is erza from fairy tail.
What about Inori from Guilty crown?
And Kanon from The World God Only Knows
AKB0048 I love it my favourite characters are Nagisa, Cheirie and Acchan