THE iDOLM@STER Season 1, Episode 8: The Indirect Route to Happiness

1

The Girls Start Here

Shown from a perspective of a cameraman shooting a documentary, this films and introduces the girls of 765 Production studios and their everyday activities as idols. Along with interviews with the staff of 765 Production, the idols themselves are also interviewed over why they became idols and what their goals are.

25 min

2

The Girls Prepare Themselves

After seeing the girls' current profile pictures, the Producer thinks that they need new ones and orders a re-shoot so the girls can make better impressions in their auditions.

25 min

3

Everything Stems from the Courage to Take the First Step

The Producer and the girls head to the town of Furusato to perform a small concert at the local Summer Festival, but it doesn't turn out as they all expected. Yukiho and the Producer both have to face their fears.

25 min

4

Changing Oneself

Haruka, paired with Chihaya, and Takane, paired with Hibiki, appear on a cable-TV cooking show battle hosted by a frog hand puppet.

25 min

5

Vacation with Everyone

It's summer, but the studio's air conditioner is broken. So the Producer agrees to bring the girls to the beach for a vacation while the air conditioner is repaired. Ritsuko gets a go on the new idol unit she created.

25 min

6

The Decision to Move Forward

Ritsuko's idol unit, Ryuuguu Komachi, with Azusa, Iori and Ami as its members, becomes popular after their debut and gets booked in many gigs, including singing on a music television program. Worried over the other idols' popularity, the Producer decides to have the idols audition for several gigs.

25 min

7

Things I Love, Things That Are Important to Me

Iori humiliates herself on live television when she forces an interviewer at the Minase estate to focus on her rather than ask about her father and older brothers. The Producer reprimands her actions, but Iori ignores his advice. Yayoi invites Iori and Hibiki to her home to have dinner with her five younger siblings where Iori learns about the life of a 'commoner' and gets to know Yayoi's brother and the eldest boy, Chousuke, who wants to help his sister.

25 min

8

The Indirect Route to Happiness

Azusa, Makoto and Miki go modeling as a bride, groom and bridesmaid, respectively, for a wedding magazine at a chapel.

25 min

9

Things We Can Do Because We're Together

After finishing filming a TV mystery mini-drama, Ryuuguu Komachi and Ritsuko return to 765 Production studios for a break with Mami and the Producer returning as well. Iori decides to treat everyone to some special puddings she bought earlier, but finds out the puddings are gone from the refrigerator. Suspecting the other idols as the culprits, Ami and Mami decide to solve the mystery by playing detectives.

25 min

10

Inching Forward with Everyone

The girls attend 'The Big Talent Agency Sports Competition' where idols groups from various agencies compete in games.

25 min

11

Hope, Anxiety, and Omen

The Producer informs the girls that their big break has come as they will be performing live at a 765 Production thank-you concert. Despite its main event being Ryuuguu Komachi, the girls are excited since they will be performing a new song and dance routine. However, the girls have to go through tough dance and vocal lessons, which some of the girls are having problems doing correctly, especially since their exams are coming out.

25 min

12

Last Stop on a One-Way Road

As the day of the concert gets closer, the Producer and the idols are worrying about Miki, who hasn't come for practice sessions for the past few days, which Ritsuko explains as being caused by a misunderstanding over Ryuuguu Komachi.

25 min

13

And So, the Girls Head to the Sparkling Stage

It's the day of the 765 Production thank-you concert, but complications arise for Ritsuko and Ryuuguu Komachi when a typhoon hits the city. All transit trains are stopped, forcing Ritsuko and the others to drive to the concert, only to get into a traffic jam. With the audience already having arrived at the concert, the Producer issues a change of plans to the backstage crew and the idols to have them perform first to buy enough time for Ryuuguu Komachi to arrive.

25 min

14

Their World Begins to Change!

Ever since the concert and an article by Yoshizawa, a famous reporter who is a friend of President Takagi, the idols have become very popular to the point of having to wear disguises in public.

25 min

15

We All Have a Live Broadcast. A Live One!

The 765 Production idols star in a comedy/variety show called Are We Live? Sunday, hosted by Haruka, Chihaya and Miki.

25 min

16

The Feeling of Being Alone

As Chihaya has nightmares about her past, Hibiki has an argument with her dog, Inumi, as both of them are hosting an animal documentary show. Meanwhile, Kuroi plots to sabotage Hibiki's role as the presenter of the show.

25 min

17

Makoto, A True Prince

Makoto is a hit with female fans due to her handsome and Prince-like looks. Although Makoto appreciates the fame, she wishes fans admire her as a girl and not a boy.

25 min

18

Lots of Everything

Ritsuko forces a hard dancing routine on Ryuuguu Komachi to prepare them for an upcoming secret concert, much to the group's displeasure. When Azusa is unable to perform, help comes from an unexpected source.

25 min

19

Like the Moon, That Disappears Behind Clouds

Kuroi hires paparazzi to follow and take pictures of Takane to find secrets about her since her background is a complete mystery, even to everyone at 765 Production studios.

25 min

20

Promise

Chihaya's tragic past is revealed in a magazine thanks to Kuroi. The magazine slanders her, suggesting Chihaya is heartless and Chihaya decides to leave 765 Production studios.

25 min

21

Like the Flowers Bloom

Thanks to a magazine interview by Yoshizawa with Chihaya over her past, the rumors about her have ended as she and the other idols prepare for the Idol Jam concert with Jupiter performing as well.

25 min

22

On the Holy Night

It is the Christmas season and Haruka wants to celebrate a Christmas Eve party with everyone at 765 Production, just like last year. But with the idols' new fame, all of the girls are busy attending and performing at TV shows, variety shows, holiday or Christmas specials on Christmas Eve. Most of them might not make it in time...

25 min

23

Me

Haruka is looking forward to a dance rehearsal with everyone for their New Year's concert. However, the girls of 765 Production are too busy due to their schedules to do the rehearsal, slowly making Haruka lonely and depressed as she is unable to practice with her friends.

25 min

24

Dream

The Producer manages to survive his accident but remains hospitalized for a while. As a result, Haruka returns to musical rehearsals to channel her grief into her role and wins the lead from Miki. Desperate to get the idols together, Haruka asks Ritsuko to reschedule or cancel her current gigs so she can practice for the New Year's concert.

25 min

25

Everyone, Together!

Kotori visits the Producer at the hospital. The Producer expresses his wish to see the idols at the New Year's concert.

25 min