UniteUp! -Uni:Birth-

Fresh off their rookie idol competition win, PROTOSTAR landed their CD debut, which should be the start of smooth sailing — except their own agency decides to pit them against two other in-house groups, LEGIT and JAXX/JAXX, in a release battle. So now Akira, Banri, and Chihiro aren't just competing with the wider idol industry, they're going head-to-head with people they see in the hallway every day. That's the setup for UniteUp! Uni:Birth, a 12-episode TV series from CloverWorks that picks up where the first season left off and leans into what happens when friendly rivalry gets real stakes attached to it. The vibe here is wholesome but grounded. Nobody's backstabbing anyone — these are guys who genuinely support each other while also wanting to win. It's less about drama and more about the personal growth that comes from being pushed by people you respect. The show does something interesting with its visuals too, blending traditional 2D animation with 3D performance sequences that give the concert scenes a different energy. Yuki Hayashi handles the soundtrack, so the music actually hits. If you liked IDOLiSH7 or B-Project: Kodou*Ambitious for their group dynamics and inter-unit tension, this scratches a similar itch but with a lighter, more easygoing tone. Fans of Uta no Prince-sama who want something with a bit more modern polish might also want to check it out. It's a quiet, feel-good watch that doesn't overstay its welcome.