The Final Bow of i☆Ris: A Seiyū Idol Era Concludes in 2027

We have seen many idol groups shine brightly and then fade into the archives of anime history. It is the natural cycle of the industry. The clock is ticking on a fifteen-year symphony. The voice actress idol unit i☆Ris has announced the end of its activities. This will happen at the close of 2027. We are not surprised, but we feel a contained nostalgia.

The Inevitable Curtain Call

We understand that all good things must reach their conclusion. The official website for the group shared the news recently. They will disband after marking their 15th anniversary next year. This was not a sudden decision. All members and their staff have been discussing the future of the group and each individual member since last year. They came to the conclusion that ending the group's activities next year is the best path forward. The group expressed gratitude to all the fans who have supported them until now.

A Decade and a Half of Melodies

We remember the early days of this musical venture. i☆Ris came together in July 2012. They were six winners of the AniSon Vocal Audition competition, organized by avex and 81 Produce. They released their debut single, "Color," in November of that year. The unit now consists of Saki Yamakita, Yū Serizawa, Himika Akaneya, Yūki Wakai, and Miyu Kubota. Former member Azuki Shibuya left the group on March 31, 2021.

They are not just singers. All members are also anime voice actresses. Their talent earned them the Singing Award in the 10th Annual Seiyū Awards in March 2016. That November, they performed their first concert at the famed Nippon Budōkan arena. We know that reaching that stage is a milestone few achieve.

Soundtracks of Our Screens

We have heard their voices in many series over the years. The group has performed theme songs for a wide variety of anime. These include Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live, Mushibugyō, and Fantasista Stella. They also contributed to Hantsu x Trash, Twin Star Exorcists, and Akiba's Trip: The Animation.

Their discography does not stop there. We can also hear their work in PriPara, Idol Time PriPara, Magical Girl Site, and Wise Man's Grandchild. More recently, they worked on Magical Sempai and the dodgeball anime Honō no Tōkyūjo: Dodge Danko. All original six members were also in the main cast of the 2014 PriPara television anime.

The Last Encore

We look at their recent history and see a team that celebrated hard. The anime film i☆Ris the Movie -Full Energy!!- premiered in Japan in May 2024. The documentary film Live & Documentary Movie ～i☆Ris on STAGE～ opened in Japan in September that same year. Both films were part of the unit's 10th anniversary celebration. They even inspired a webcomic tentatively titled Shūkan i☆Ris ("Weekly i☆Ris") in 2016.

Before the final goodbye, the group will hold its 14th anniversary live on November 3 at the Yokohama Arena. We suggest you keep an eye on their final projects. If you have followed their work since 2012, now is the time to revisit their discography and enjoy the remaining years of this unique blend of voice acting and idol performance.