is a Japanese

anime is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...

series by

Ashi Productions is a Japanese anime studio, located in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan, known for its four magical-girl anime, especially ''Magical Princess Minky Momo''. It was established by Toshihiko Sato and other artists on December 20, 1975, as ''Ashi Productions ...

. It ran in Japan from 1989 until 1990, spanning 51 episodes. The story has been adapted into a 3-

volume Volume is a measure of occupied three-dimensional space. It is often quantified numerically using SI derived units (such as the cubic metre and litre) or by various imperial or US customary units (such as the gallon, quart, cubic inch). Th ...

manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...

series by Ayumi Kawahara. The title character Eriko is based on real-life

Japanese idol An is a type of entertainer marketed for image, attractiveness, and personality in Japanese pop culture. Idols are primarily singers with training in acting, dancing, and modeling. Idols are commercialized through merchandise and endorsements b ...

Eriko Tamura , sometimes credited only as Eriko, is a Japanese actress and singer. Her anime series ''Idol Densetsu Eriko'' ''(Legendary Idol Eriko)'' has been syndicated worldwide, airing in such countries as France, Italy, India and Spain. In live action se ...

, who performs the opening theme song and the last episode's ending theme.

Plot

Eriko Tamura is the only daughter of Yuusuke Tamura - chairman of renowned music company Tamura Productions - and former idol singer Minako Tamura. Having had a talent for singing since birth, she has always loved her parents’ media world. Then one day tragedy strikes when her parents get into a horrible car accident, which kills her father and leaves her mother in a coma. Now Eriko must take the path of singing, a path her parents did not want her to pursue. Things get worse when her uncle sets out to destroy her career. But in spite of all the hardship, she becomes an idol and wins hearts all over Japan.

Characters

; :Voiced by

Akiko Yajima is a Japanese voice actress from Kashiwazaki, Niigata. Her best-known role is as the title character Shinnosuke Nohara in the long-running anime series '' Crayon Shin-chan''. She also voices Mipple in the original '' Futari wa Pretty Cure'', ...

:Songs by

; :Voiced by Takaya Hashi :Eriko's father. ; :Voiced by

Kumiko Takizawa was a Japanese voice actress from Tokyo, Japan. Filmography Anime *Makiko Shikishima in ''Tetsujin 28-go'' (1980) *Midori Kurenai in ''Hell Girl'' *Hazuki's Grandmother in ''Ojamajo Doremi'' *Sawako Sawanoguchi in ''Magic User's Club'' (TV) *Gr ...

:Eriko's mother. ; :Voiced by

Naoko Matsui is a Japanese voice actress and narrator from Hakodate, Hokkaido. Matsui was a member of Production Baobab for 20 years before becoming a freelancer. Matsui is most notable for the roles of Uru Chie in '' High School! Kimengumi'', Rem Ayanokō ...

:Songs by Maiko Hashimoto ; :Voiced by

Yasunori Matsumoto is a Japanese actor and voice actor affiliated with Sigma Seven. Some of Matsumoto's most notable roles are Wataru Akiyama in '' Initial D'', Jean Havoc in '' Fullmetal Alchemist'', Magnum Ace in Shippū! Iron Leaguer, Gourry Gabriev in '' Sl ...

:Songs by Masahiko Arimachi

Songs

;Eriko Tamura :Locomotion Dream - ED2 :Namida No Hanbun - OP :Suki Yo :Honki :Watashi Wa Soyokaze :May Be Dream ;Rei Asagiri :Ame No Highway :Gloria :My Song For You :Precious Days :Rolling Night - Duet Shogo & Rei :True Love :Unchained Heart ED1 ;Shogo Ohgi by Masahiko Arimachi :Rolling Night - Duet Shogo & Rei :Warrior :Midnight City :Sayonara No Natsu

External links

* 1989 anime television series debuts 1989 manga Fictional singers Japanese idols in anime and manga Kadokawa Shoten manga Music in anime and manga Ashi Productions Shōjo manga TV Tokyo original programming {{Anime-television-series-stub