Wonder Festival 2017 [Summer] "Agape not 16 years old" echoed in the hall! Report on the presentation of the new cast and new characters of "Wake Up, Girls!

On July 31, 2017, at the "WONDERFUL HOBBY LIFE FOR YOU26" stage in the world's largest garage kit event "Wonder Festival 2017 [Summer]" held at Makuhari Messe, the presentation of new cast and new characters of "Wake Up, Girls! was held on the "WONDERFUL HOBBY LIFE FOR YOU26" stage.

Wake Up, Girls!" (WUG!) is an ensemble coming-of-age drama depicting the struggles of seven girls who aim to become idols in Sendai, and its TV anime and theater production started simultaneously in January 2014; a spin-off work "Uwake Up, Girls! sequel theater version" will be released in September/December 2015. A voice actor unit of the same name consisting of the main cast is also actively working as artists, and many collaborative projects related to the holy city of Sendai are also being developed.

A sequel, "New Chapter," is scheduled to begin airing in October 2017.

⇒Anime "Wake Up, Girls!" will produce a new TV series in 2017!　Auditions for new characters were also held.

Amidst the tension, the first unveiling of the new idols following WUG!

First to take the stage was Kiyono Anno, who in past series played the role of Tina Kobayakawa, a front member of "I-1 club," the rival of the main idol group "Wake Up, Girls! The stage was opened with her warm and friendly hosting of the event.

Next to appear on stage at Yasuno's invitation were the film's director, Shin Itagaki, and music producers, Satoru Kamizaki, Hidekazu Tanaka, and Keiichi Hirokawa of MONACA. Mr. Itagaki, in particular, could not hide his nervousness, as this was his first appearance at such an event.

Now, one thing to recall here is that the first unveiling of the senior idol group "Wake Up, Girls!" was at the "WONDERFUL HOBBY LIFE FOR YOU18" stage in the "Wonder Festival 2013 [Summer]" held in 2013. Continuing the tradition of their predecessors, the cast and characters playing the junior idols have now been announced.

The three girls who took the stage were Koko Hayashi, who plays the role of "Ayumi Hayashi," a calm but light-hearted girl with a strong core; Yuka Morishima, who plays the role of "Otome Morishima," an energetic and dynamic WAGNER (a nickname for WUG! fans); and Yuka Morishima, who plays the seemingly cool but actually natural character "OTOME MORISHIMA," a girl who plays the role of a young girl who is a bit of a "wagner" (a nickname for WUG! fans). The Cinderella Girls were chosen from among 2,000 applicants in an audition and appeared on stage for the first time, nervous.

The audience greeted the new heroines with warm cheers.

Ms. Hayashi, standing in the center of the stage, was only 15 years old and still in her third year of junior high school!　She excited the audience by commenting that she and Hayashi, who plays the role of a junior high school student, are not only the same age, but also like each other in that they "hate math.

It was announced that the three would form the idol unit "Run Girls, Run!" in the new chapter of "Wake Up, Girls! Director Itagaki, who also participated in the audition, said that he named the unit after the image of them running around here and there as the younger sister of WUG! Incidentally, the scenario calls them by the abbreviation "RANGER," so everyone is encouraged to call them "RANGER!

The sound team also gave the three members of RANGER a glowing review!

The members of the ranger group are currently living in the countryside, but after passing the audition, they have been gathering in Tokyo every week to practice. On stage, the three just starting out performed their first mini live stage.