I-Chu

I-Chu (Japanese: アイ★チュウ, Hepburn: Ai Chū) is a Japanese mobile game developed by Liber Entertainment. The original game was released on June 26, 2015 on Android and July 3, 2015 for the iOS. It was followed up with the release of an updated mobile game, I-Chu Étoile Stage, on April 30, 2020, while the original game was discontinued in July 2020.

I-Chu
アイ★チュウ
(Ai Chū)
Game
DeveloperLiber Entertainment
Genre
Platform
Released
  • JP: June 26, 2015 (Android)
    July 3, 2015 (iOS)
Game
I-Chu Étoile Stage
DeveloperLiber Entertainment
Genre
Platform
Released
  • JP: April 30, 2020
Anime television series
I-Chu: Halfway Through the Idol
Directed byHitoshi Nanba
Written byYoshimi Narita
StudioTwin Engine
Original networkTBA
Original run TBA – present

Along with the game, the franchise has released several CDs portrayed by the characters in the game, and The success of the game led to several adaptations for the franchise, including stage plays and an anime series.

Media

Game

I-Chu is developed by Liber Entertainment and scheduled for launch in June 2015 on the iOS and Android, with pre-registrations opening on May 18, 2015.[1] The game was later released on June 26, 2015 on Android and July 3, 2015 for the iOS.[2] The game included a cast of 42 voice actors and was described as a "love rhythm adventure" game.[1]

A second mobile game titled I-Chu Étoile Stage was originally scheduled to launch in Q3 2019,[3] but after several delays, it launched on April 30, 2020.[4] In June 2020, Liber Entertainment announced they would be discontinuing online services for the original mobile game on July 6, 2020, which would remain playable with all features unlocked until December 13, 2020.[4]

Stage plays

A stage play adaptation was announced during a fan meeting in 2017.[5] The first stage play, I-Chu the Stage: Stairway to Etoile, ran from August 25-27, 2017 in Osaka and September 6-10, 2017 in Tokyo.[6] The play had a second run from February 23 to March 1, 2018, in Tokyo, under the title I-Chu the Stage: Stairway to Etoile 2018.[7][8] The third stage play, I-Chu the Stage: Rose Ecarlate was announced at the stage play's first fan meeting and ran from April 21-29, 2019 in Tokyo and May 10-12, 2019 in Osaka, with Hiro Isenao directing and writing the script.[9][10][11] A fourth stage play, I-Chu the Stage: Rose Ecarlate Deux, ran from October 10-15, 2019 in Tokyo.[12]

In addition to the stage plays, the cast of the stage plays held concerts while performing in character. The first concert, Live!! I-Chu the Stage: Etincelle took place in Zepp Tokyo on November 25, 2017.[13] The second concert, Live!! I-Chu the Stage: Planete et Fleurs, took place on July 27, 2019 in Tokyo.[14]

Anime

A television anime adaptation titled I-Chu: Halfway Through the Idol was announced in April 2019.[3] The series is directed by Hitoshi Nanba and written by Yoshimi Narita, with Mina Ōsawa in charge of character designs and Twin Engine producing the animation.[15]

Reception

Over 10,000 users pre-registered for I-Chu before the game's release.[16] By 2017, 1 million users were playing the game.[5]

gollark: Or a basic tier installer.
gollark: Make speed upgrades then.
gollark: GTech™ "bee apiary" deployment.
gollark: I think I get about 30 seconds depending on how fast I type.
gollark: Anyway, I don't leave it *running*, it's suspended to RAM.

References
  1. "アイドルを育てる恋愛リズムアドベンチャー「アイ★チュウ」が6月中旬に配信". 4gamer (in Japanese). April 20, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  2. "アプリ『アイ★チュウ』1周年の軌跡をたどる！振り返ってみたら、アイチュウたちは天使だと確信した――". Animate (in Japanese). July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  3. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 14, 2019). "I★CHU Idol Smartphone Game Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  4. Mateo, Alex (June 2, 2020). "1st I★CHU Idol Smartphone Game Ends Online Service, Continues Offline on July 6". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  5. "『アイ★チュウ』舞台化や2ndアルバム情報もあったリアルイベントまとめ". Famitsu (in Japanese). January 30, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  6. "ゲーム「アイ★チュウ」舞台版に飯山裕太ら、総勢16人のビジュアルお披露目". Natalie (in Japanese). March 27, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  7. "「アイ★チュウ」新キャストの川井雅弘＆須永風汰らが池袋でパフォーマンス". Natalie (in Japanese). January 26, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  8. "「アイ★チュウ2018」優勝目指してパフォーマンス対決！結果は投票で決定". Natalie (in Japanese). February 23, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  9. "「アイ★チュウ」新作に吉岡佑らが登場、初のファンミーティングも開催決定". Natalie (in Japanese). September 27, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  10. "「アイ★チュウ」新作のキービジュアル公開、石渡真修ら日替わりゲストも". Natalie (in Japanese). December 30, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  11. "アイドルたちの競演「アイ★チュウ」第3弾開幕！観客の"ガチ投票"も". Natalie (in Japanese). April 21, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  12. "川井雅弘らがパワーアップしたステージを届ける「アイ★チュウ」スタート". Natalie (in Japanese). October 11, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  13. "「アイ★チュウ」2018年2月に新作上演決定、飯山裕太ら出演のライブ公演も". Natalie (in Japanese). September 11, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  14. "「アイ★チュウ」のライブイベント「Planete et Fleurs」開催決定". Natalie (in Japanese). May 12, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  15. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 9, 2019). "I★CHU Idol Anime Reveals Promo Video, Teaser Visual, Staff". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  16. "「アイ★チュウ」，事前登録者数1万人を達成。特典が増量". 4gamer (in Japanese). May 18, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
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