Bandai Namco Entertainment has officially announced that voice actor Kōki Inō will take over the role of Kanon Himeno from Ayumu Murase in The Idolm@ster SideM franchise. The announcement follows the company’s August 18 statement that Murase would be “graduating” from the character.
Inō was selected through a formal audition process. Bandai Namco will share further details about the casting transition during a livestream on September 1.
Inō will assume full responsibilities for all newly announced content and merchandise released after August 28, including the live performance event “315 Production presents F＠NTASTIC BATTLE FES ～Wanna step in～.”
There are currently no plans to re-record previously completed audio, though the company noted that could change in the future. Murase will finish recording obligations for a handful of projects before his departure is complete.
About The Idolm@ster SideM
The Idolm@ster SideM is built around the franchise’s signature “idols you can produce” concept, focusing on the male idol roster of 315 Production (read as “Saikō Production” or “Ultimate Production”). The original smartphone game launched in 2014 and ended service in January 2023. A companion title, The Idolm@ster SideM Live on St@ge!, launched in 2017 and began winding down in January 2021.
A newer entry, The Idolm@ster SideM Growing Stars, launched in Japan in October 2021 and closed in July 2023. The game also inspired a stage play adaptation in June 2022.
Anime and Manga
An anime adaptation of the first game premiered in October 2017, preceded by a prologue special focusing on the Jupiter idol unit in September 2017. Crunchyroll streamed both titles simulcast.
On the manga side, Sumeragi launched The Idolm@ster SideM Wake Atte Mini! in 2016, concluding it in January 2018. A sequel, The Idolm@ster SideM Wake Atte Mini! Returns, ran in Dengeki Maoh from September 2018 to January 2019; its single compiled volume shipped in March 2019 and bundled an anime episode. The original manga also inspired a 12-episode short-form television anime that aired from October 2018, likewise streamed on Crunchyroll.
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