Synopsis
Continues the story of Wake Up, Girls! The Movie
In "Wake Up, Girls!," Green Leaves Entertainment is barely scraping by due to a critical shortage of talent. To reverse their fortunes, President Junko Tange decides to break into the idol singer market and orders her subordinate Matsuda to form a girl group, no matter how much effort it takes. Since no ready-made groups are available, Matsuda takes on the tough job of scouting girls with promise who aren't already part of the Japanese music scene. Her recruits include a maid café worker, a lead vocalist who was kicked out of another band, and a young teenager barely thirteen years old. Although they start far from being established stars, the group hopes to rise through pure dedication and passion. With time and hard work, these girls aim to captivate all of Japan with their music.
In this installment
As the idol group Wake Up, Girls begins gaining popularity, they encounter a series of obstacles that challenge their determination. Members Mayu, Airi, Minami, Yoshino, Nanami, Kaya, and Miyu must deal with the uncertainty caused by their inexperienced manager, Matsuda, who leaves them vulnerable to shady individuals. The situation gets worse when Green Leaves' president disappears with most of the company's funds, and their new producer focuses on provocative swimwear instead of advancing their music career. With rumors about Mayu's past connection to a rival group spreading and internal conflicts threatening to tear the group apart, their success depends on their own ambition as well as the strength of their bonds and their shared passion for music.
Background
Wake Up, Girls! was announced by the production company Avex Entertainment, who helmed the series in collaboration with director Yutaka Yamamoto and voice talent agency 81 Produce. The anime was billed as the reunion as Yamamoto would once again work with scriptwriter/series composer Touko Machida and MONACA composer Satoru Kousaki. Avex and 81 Produce held open auditions for the voice actresses who would voice and sing as the Wake Up, Girls! idol group and over 2000 candidates auditioned. The anime served as the V.A. debut for the seven eventual winners. In addition, the winners all shared their given name with the character they voiced.
