Monday, May 16, 2016

Idol-type Mapping: Looks

All of the translations linked here are my own work. Please DO NOT re-post or screenshot my work without permission.



The Idol-type mappings illustrate where each of the 11 main idols stand in terms of Character, Looks, and Songs. Each map includes side notes which I've translated. You can find these maps on pages 150 and 151 of the 5th Anniversary Book.




Looks

Looking at outward appearance, although there are rather many “androgynous” idols, overall everyone is pretty scattered on the map, creating a good balance. Notice that the idols who have cool colors as well as calm personalities also share a “cool” appearance. The idols who all have “energetic” personalities are distributed along the “cute” end. Sure enough, there is a deep connection between personality and outward appearance, and so their colors are a strong reflection of their overall character.

Tip #2:  A variety of visuals appeals to many fans

You could say that simply having individual idols gather together has garnered support from a wide fanbase. By grouping the 11 idols by each personality, looks, and songs, the appeal is limitless! By working together and singing unit songs together, a chemistry forms and brings about a new charm that can’t be ignored!!




Translator’s Notes and Thoughts:

As I mentioned in the translation for personality, Ren and Ranmaru had different colors despite sharing the “calm” characteristic with cool-colored characters like Tokiya and Ai. The Looks category further explains that character colors are determined by their overall character, both inside and out. Ranmaru’s deep red color is most definitely connected with his extremely wild and cool appearance, as well as with his music.

I also wouldn’t place too much weight on the word “androgynous.” It’s obvious that these boys are all indeed boys, so I would perceive it as, “Who would make the most convincing girl when all dressed up?” Syo is the obvious #1 choice in that regard XD

While it seems like Masato and Tokiya could probably switch places, the way they speak could also be a factor. Tokiya uses a form of Japanese that is technically gender-neutral, but would probably be considered more feminine when spoken in a non-formal context, ex. he uses the pronoun ‘watashi’ (私) when referring to himself instead of the more masculine ‘boku’ (僕) or ‘ore’ (俺). Masato probably also has slightly more masculine mannerisms considering his traditional family upbringing and role as eldest son and heir.

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