If there's any Kamen Rider  series you're going to hear long and conflicting opinions about, it's more than likely going to be Kamen Rider Hibiki . Based on an early concept by original Kamen Rider creator Shotaro Ishinomori , this troubled series had its producer and writers replaced 29 episodes in - leading to a very significant change in tone and direction. Toei have never issued an official statement as to why the changes were made, but many fans have chalked it down to the main reason being low toy sales (which as we know, is the lifeblood of any Rider  series these days). As such, the sixth Heisei era Rider series (fifteenth overall) is the point of much discussion and I thought it was time for me to find out why.

Idols feel very much an Asian concept. Sure the West has pop stars and the like, but Japan's huge idol culture takes things to a whole different level.  The Idolm@ster is a 25 (plus one recently released OVA) episode series based on the Namco game series of the same name, which sees you raise prospective idols to the height of fame. It's not the first Idolm@ster anime to be produced, but one that's far more faithful to the games (the first series, Idolmaster: Xenoglossia , was about mecha pilots...something I may need to investigate in the future!) and includes their original voice cast. It was made by A-1 pictures (responsible for the likes of Black Butler , Fairy Tail and AnoHana ) and aired between July and December 2011. The Idolm@ster main cast The Idolm@ster follows the day to day life of production company 765 Pro and their twelve wannabe idols. With a brand new Producer in tow and the help of former-idol-turned producer Ritsuko, office clerk Kotori and ...