The IDOLM@STER Million Live! franchise has unveiled an exciting new original video anime (OVA) episode, titled “Itsuka, Mannaka de” (Someday, In the Center). The promotional video for this upcoming release was streamed on Saturday, offering fans a sneak peek into what’s to come. Pre-orders for the OVA are now available from October 11 through January 22, 2026, with the Blu-ray Disc release scheduled for March 27, 2026.
The OVA will be directed by Shinya Watada, who previously helmed the television anime series, and will be produced at Shirogumi Inc. Yoichi Kato, known for his work on the series scripts, will also return for this project. The Blu-ray Disc will include the new OVA, promotional videos, six “special new videos,” two booklets, and a code for an item in the The IDOLM@STER Million Live! Theater Days game.
The IDOLM@STER Million Live! anime first premiered on Japanese television in October 2023. Before its TV debut, the anime had a theatrical run with three three-week screening periods from August to September 2023. The series follows the journey of Mirai Kasuga and other idols as they grow and develop within the theater.
Shinya Watada, renowned for his work on projects like Aikatsu Stars!, Gundam Build Divers, and Gundam Build Divers Re:RISE, directed the television anime at Shirogumi Inc. Yoichi Kato, who has contributed to series like Aikatsu! and Yลkai Watch, oversaw the scripts. The music for the anime was produced by Lantis, while Bandai Namco Studio collaborated on the production. Bandai Namco Entertainment planned and produced the anime, also credited as the original creator.
The original The IDOLM@STER Million Live! game, released in 2013, was a spinoff of the main The IDOLM@STER game series. It featured characters from the 765 Pro and introduced 37 new characters, allowing players to manage their own idol production company and enhance their idols’ skills. The game concluded its service in March 2018.
Following the success of the original game, Bandai Namco Entertainment launched The IDOLM@STER Million Live! Theater Days for iOS and Android devices in June 2017. This new game is set in a 765 Pro live theater and includes various rooms like the office, waiting room, and greenroom. Players can interact more intimately with certain idols by touching them on the screen, and the game features rhythm games for solo and unit concerts.
News Source: Animenewsnetwork.com
