Being an idol is not easy. There are, however, some people who are born with talent. Mana Nagase is one of those individuals. This is objectively speaking as the program uses both AI and data to rank the participants. Unfortunately, she dies in an accident just as the finals are about to be held. Years later, Kotono Nagase, Mana’s sister, follows in her footsteps as an idol. Kotono joins the prestigious VENUS Program, but it proves to be a rocky path, especially since one of the other aspirants has a voice similar to Mana. In order to become No. 1, Kotono has to compete with her and eight other aspirants.

Idoly Pride is basically like Selection Project’s sister. But instead of having Suzune as the main character, it has Rena as the protagonist. Both Rena and Kotono’s sisters meet a tragic end, which is also their primary motivation to become idols. Not only that, they also decide to join an esteemed national idol search program, wherein they have to live and compete with nine other participants. During the whole duration of the programs, viewers get to see them interact, learn, and improve not just as idols but also as people. That said, Idoly Pride is surely a must-watch if you’re enjoying Selection Project.

When Tsubasa is hired by Gandala Music, she isn’t expecting to immediately be assigned to a major project like B-Project. Now, she has to oversee the three idol groups making up the B-Project. Since this is Tsubasa’s first job, she makes a few mistakes every now and then trying to make things work. That is on top of having to handle this lot of young men, who obviously have different personalities. Of course, all this hard work eventually pays off as she watches the groups perform on stage.

Both B-PROJECT and Project Selection show that behind those stellar performances are difficulties and hardships. Each performance not only requires an insane amount of practice and talent, but it also requires a certain harmony among the members. Both anime also do a good job showcasing the different personalities composing each group. Even the way they are shown is similar. The different personalities often clash, but there will always be a compromise that will bring the group together. The best similarity between the two, however, is the fact that every conflict pays off with a dazzling performance. It isn’t just visually nice. The songs are also pretty great.

Because of his sanguine personality, Kanade Amamiya gets scouted by the legendary idol Haruto Mikami. Inspired by him, he decides to pursue being an idol as well. Joining D-4 Production, Kanade meets his new groupmates. Together, they form a group to perform at the company’s Dream Festival. They have to do their best and strive to rise to the top in order to achieve their dream of becoming idols.

While Dream Festival! isn’t an individual competition like Selection Project, it still has a similar premise. The main characters have to compete and impress the audience. Not only that, they must also collect Dorika the same way as the girls in Selection Project have to earn cheers. Ultimately, the goal of the main characters in both series is to debut as idols. In order to do that, the characters have to work together to give the audience the best performance they can. Of course, that also entails banger performances from them.

While the idol group Wake Up, Girls! cannot compare with the leading idol groups in the industry, they still manage to earn a small amount of money with their performance. Their situation takes a sudden nosedive when their manager runs off with their concert money. The group now faces a gloomy future and their company a foreboding closure. A mysterious benefactor and a shady business proposal gives the girls another chance at survival, a chance they have no other choice but to take.

Similar to Selection Project, Wake Up, Girls! obviously also focuses on the idol industry. While the former starts almost at the top, the latter has to start almost at the bottom. That, however, doesn’t change their goal—the top. Just like the girls in Selection Project, the characters of Wake Up, Girls! fights their internal struggles as they come to terms with their past and improve themselves as people and idols. Both anime also show the cutthroat competition within the industry and the amount of effort that it requires just to stay afloat. They show the harsh reality that not everyone, no matter how much they want it, can stay in business.

765 Production Studio manages 13 professional idols, and it’s not easy. They are barely known and don’t have many gigs. This starts to change when a new producer joins the team. While he doesn’t necessarily have any fancy tricks up his sleeve, he manages to at least guide the group towards the right direction. Through hard work, sweat, and tears, these girls strive to become national celebrities.

Despite the wide array of characters, both Selection Project and The iDOLM@STER manage to explore the individual characters very well. They’ve expounded on their personalities, while also showcasing their backgrounds, weaknesses, and motivations. By doing so, both series have done perfectly well in supplementing the cheerful theme with some gripping drama. Both anime also delve into the hardships of being idols. From identifying selling points to figuring out individuality, the characters of both anime prove that being an idol requires more than just a good voice and good sense of rhythm.

Miu Takigawa lives in the comforts of normalcy and anonymity. Being a reserved and timid girl, Miu has difficulty conversing with others. She even has difficulty interacting with her customers in her part-time job, so it’s a huge surprise when she ends up being a candidate for an entertainment company. Miu eventually decides to accept the invitation and goes to the meeting place. That’s where she first meets the other candidates. Escorted by a luxurious manager, the girls learn that they now have to follow the absolute commands of “The Wall.”

The characters in both anime start off as strangers. As they work with each other, they start to form bonds. In 22/7, the characters eventually become as close as family. In Selection Project, the girls become close friends. Both anime also give us character flashbacks, especially when they are having a tough time. With the help of the others, they then manage to overcome their setback and come up stronger than ever. The big difference between the two, however, is that girls in Selection Project are competing against each other, while the girls in 22/7 are striving to become idols together. Nonetheless, both anime feature hardworking girls striving to come out on top.