Trapezium: A Beautiful Yet Flawed Journey to Idol Stardom

Trapezium

We all have dreams and ambitions throughout our lives. Even though our dreams and ambitions evolve with age and environment, it remains crucial to have a daily goal to strive for, serving as a mental compass that guides our thoughts. Whether we admit it or not, most of our words, actions, and behaviors are influenced by those goals that have been imprinted within us, and they play a huge part in determining who we are as a person. Some stop at nothing, others may just give up, and the remainder may find an acceptable compromise, but being able to make the right decision each time is what will shape the future…

“Trapezium” is an anime movie that aired on the 10th of May 2024, which was produced by Aniplex and KAGAYA Studio and brought to life by Studio CloverWorks. The main staff behind it included Shinohara Masahiro as director, Aketagawa Jin as sound director, Kakuchi Takudai as episode director, and Yamada Masayuki also as episode director. It features the main theme of Female Idols and has a runtime of one hour and 34 minutes, earning a rating of PG-13 for teenagers 13 years or older. The movie is based on a single serial novel of the same title, which features the coming-of-age genre and is the work of author Kazumi Takayama and artist Tae. It was published by Kadokawa Shoten in the Da Vinci magazine from the 6th of April 2016 until the 6th of August 2018. The same author, Kina Kazuharu, also penned a manga, which Kadokawa Shoten published in KadoComi. The title is targeted at the seinen demographic, beginning its run on the 26th of February 2025 and still ongoing.

The story centers around protagonist Yuu Azuma, who is a young girl driven forward by her unwavering passion for becoming an idol someday. This highly ambitious first-year student studies at Joshu East High School, where she embarks on her challenging journey to form an idol group. For her long-sought dream to come to fruition, she enlists the help of one girl from each of their region's four high schools that are found to the north, east, south, and west, who would eventually become her fellow Idol group members. This is how the remainder of the major cast joins the fray, starting with Ranko Kashima, a highly sophisticated second-year student at Holy Teneritas Southern Girls' Academy, known for her distinctive curly hairstyle and deep-rooted admiration for Madame Butterfly. Next up is Kurumi Taiga from West Tech Vocational High School, who dons cute, oversized jackets with long sleeves and aspires to win the championship at a robotics competition. Last but not least is Mika Kamei, a student from Joshu North High School, who is a kind-hearted girl possessing a deep dedication to volunteer work. Backed with the aid of Yuu's "collaborator" and confidante, Shinji Kudou, these four girls embark on their long and arduous journey to eventual stardom. Their journey is not easy, filled with unexpected trials, rigorous demands, harsh setbacks, and suffocating pressures that threaten to unravel everything our protagonist has worked so hard for.

In the story department, expect a serious, dramatic take on idol life, with no sparkles, hearts, or rainbows. All the main characters have proper struggles and conflicts raging on in their lives, coupled with a number of touching moments that really make you want to see them succeed one way or another. But this story is not for everyone, as it is very realistic and sometimes even negative. The pacing vastly differs in the first and second halves; the first half follows a slow buildup mode, while the latter follows a brisk pace because they need to finish the story in a single film. While this didn’t bother me much, what did really bother me was the wasted potential by the end. They had everything they needed in place to tell a very intriguing story that invested its viewers from start to finish, but they lost all that superb momentum in the two final acts. I genuinely wanted to see where things would go after hitting maximum tension. We see the main characters finally achieve their dream but also expose the dark and grim reality of the idol industry at the same time. This trope has been used many times, but I commend the execution up until this point. Thereafter, everything just goes south, and then they allow one of the girls to just conveniently exposition her way into the resolution.

If you don’t want heavy spoilers, just skip this paragraph. Basically, one of the main characters, who did not really have much of a presence throughout the movie, suddenly forgoes any chances of character development and somehow manages to convince Azuma to continue chasing her dream. What follows is an overly convenient time skip that further ruins the story. What we are met with on the other side is a sudden “good ending” devoid of any context of the actual struggles that led up to it in the future. The movie expects the viewer to piece together what happened for themselves and just ends with the word "Trapezium." Honestly, even after watching the movie, I have no idea what to make of the title. After spending the majority of the film watching these girls struggle with their youth, dreams, and ambitions, are we just accepting that things somehow worked out in adulthood? Don’t get me wrong, they were trying to convey a beautiful and intriguing message, but it falls flat in the sense that everything flows in a weird and unnatural way.

There’s not much left to say in the character department. It is evident that none of these girls embody a carefree attitude, intent on fostering friendship and enjoyment. Instead, they all have their own unique motivations and flaws, which become more apparent as the movie progresses. I honestly found them to be quite realistic and fairly likable, even amidst all the drama that transpires around them. They drove this story and I felt like the ending was a disservice to them and their troubles.

The art and animation are mostly well done here. Apart from a few spotty CGI used here and there, everything exuded quality, and I could feel the effort poured in. Certain moments were particularly amazing to watch unfold and all the characters moved with fluid grace consistently. This is CloverWorks we are talking about, so nothing too surprising. I commend them for their mastery in blending 2D and 3D graphics, ensuring that the majority is a visual feast. The character designs and sceneries are simple yet beautiful, carving into your memory a number of stunning scenes that transcend the movie itself.

The best aspect of this movie is the sound and music department, though. All the songs were delightful to listen to, and it shouldn't come as a surprise if fans cherish the songs more than the movie itself. Whether you watch the movie or not, I highly recommend you check out the songs because they really deliver here. Even the OSTs are heart-touching and impactful, helping me recall moments solely because of these pieces. The opening theme is "Nanmanai" by MAISONdes feat. Suisei Hoshimachi, sakuma, and the ending theme is "Houi Jishin," performed by the VAs of Yuu Azuma (Asaki Yuikawa), Kurumi Taiga (Hina Youmiya), Ranko Katori (Reina Ueda), and Mika Kamei (Haruka Aikawa). Of course, the voice acting is equally impressive throughout!

Overall, Trapezium is a largely beautiful piece of art that falls flat solely at the ending, but that alone is not enough to bring the whole thing down. It felt very grounded and realistic, featuring characters with real struggles and personal flaws that needed to be overcome to move forward. This is the case with most real-life scenarios and there’s definitely something to learn here. Additionally, it's worth noting that the author is a real-life idol, making the portrayal in this movie more relatable than it may initially appear. Either way, I recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of or is interested in real-world idols, because this is a dark look at what really hides behind the curtains of stardom. But if you like the usual anime idols and their fun experiences, this isn't for you, as it may do more harm than good. Personally, I recommend this Movie but beware the harsh truths it portrays and the enigmatic ending.