Aikatsu!

Characters participate in a summer festival event during the hot season.

Akari and Ichigo discuss Soleil's Aikatsu8 goals before the eight chosen idols are announced.

As the Aikatsu8 Election results approach, Akari talks with Ichigo, who has just returned to Starlight Academy. Ichigo expresses her desire to get all of Soleil into Aikatsu8 this time, while noting that those not chosen still have a chance to shine independently. The following day, the eight selected idols are revealed to be Ichigo, Mizuki, Ran, Aoi, Sakura, Yurika, Sumire, and Akari. Subsequently, Soleil announces the Great Starlight School Festival, a special event designed for three-person units. This summary reflects the immediate narrative developments regarding the election outcomes and the upcoming festival structure without adding external context or speculation.

Hinaki Joins Akari and Sumire as Luminas After Inspiring Billboard Display

Following her defeat in the Aikatsu8 competition, Hinaki chooses to join Akari and Sumire in a three-person unit to regain her passion. She participates in model shoots for Kayoko, who requests a retake to showcase a new Fine Drum Coord designed specifically for Hinaki. The following day, the group discovers Hinaki’s photograph displayed on a large billboard. Her friends compliment her radiant appearance, which motivates Hinaki to officially name their new unit Luminas. This decision marks a significant step in her personal growth and her commitment to performing with renewed energy alongside her new teammates.

Shion Balances Movie and Concert for the Great Starlight School Festival

While PowaPowa Puririn prepares for the Great Starlight School Festival, Shion discovers a scheduling conflict between her movie role and the group concert. Determined to participate in both, she trains hard as a ninja in the mountains. Hinaki learns of Shion's efforts and visits the mountains to offer support. On the day of the festival's first round, Otome and Sakura wait for Shion, allowing the trio to perform as planned. During the act, Seira and other Dream Academy idols join via video performance, completing the stage show with their remote appearance.

The girls form a unit and seek a unifying design from Atsurou Muleta.

Madoka, Rin, and Juri decide to form a unit together but worry that their preferences and styles clash. To find unity, they meet Atsurou Muleta, a disciple of Encierro, who attempts to create unit dresses for them. Atsurou struggles to design something that brings them together. While eating different lunches, the girls realize their distinct personalities make their group special. This insight encourages Atsurou to remain calm and cool instead of forcing passion. He successfully creates a design that unifies the girls while highlighting their differences. The group then names their new unit Vanilla Chilli Pepper, embracing their unique combination of traits.

Luminas strive for perfection while Tristar reunites for the festival performance

Luminas members focus on self-improvement ahead of the festival. Kaede asks Yurika to join Tristar, which she initially rejects. However, time spent with Powa Powa Puririn changes her mind. Mizuki shares this sentiment and secures Orihime’s approval to reform the group. Before their first performance, Mizuki reminisces with Ichigo and meets Mikuru. The group prepares for their reunion concert. Luminas witnesses their performance and feels inspired. This experience strengthens Luminas’ resolve to perfect their unit appeal. They remain determined to deliver their best before their own upcoming concert. The narrative highlights the personal growth of both groups as they prepare for significant musical events during the festival season.

Soleil and Luminas compete in the final festival concert performances

Soleil and Luminas prepare for the festival's final day as Akari and her group struggle to perfect their unit appeal. Driven by Akari’s optimism, they train until the last minute to refine their performance. During the concerts, Luminas execute their appeal successfully, while Soleil delivers a stunning show. At the conclusion of the event, Vanilla Chilli Pepper ranks fifth, PowaPowa Puririn fourth, Tristar third, and Luminas second. Soleil is declared the overall winners. Although Akari feels frustrated about not winning personally, she considers the experience worthwhile and looks forward to the future.

Akari, Sumire, and Hinaki embark on a nationwide tour with Luminas to challenge themselves.

Seeking new challenges, Akari, Sumire, and Hinaki plan a nationwide tour for Luminas. They secure Orihime's approval and consult friends to choose encounters as the tour theme. With permission to use the academy's private wagon van, the group invites Vanilla Chilli Pepper to perform in a special concert, thanking her for her assistance. This event officially kicks off the journey. As Luminas travels across the country, the members remain focused on their ultimate goal of becoming the next Starlight Queen, supported by their friends and the momentum of their new adventure.

Luminas Visit Hokkaido Farmers and Witness a New Idol Dream

The idol group Luminas starts their nationwide tour in Hokkaido, where they meet potato farmers Nono Daichi and Risa Shirakaba. The group provides a behind-the-scenes look at their upcoming performance. The following day, Akari and the others encounter Nono and Risa again. They learn about the farmers' love of singing, which encourages the idols to strive to make people smile during their concert. Risa is awed by everything she has seen and declares her determination to become an idol herself.

Nono and Risa Audition at Starlight Academy Using Flashy Cards

During Luminas' Hokkaido tour, Nono and Risa strive to secure parental approval for Starlight Academy auditions. Upon arrival, Juri guides them through the campus before they stay overnight at the dorms. Luminas invites them to their room for tea, where the girls learn how much their mindset has shifted simply by deciding to audition. Inspired by this realization, Nono and Risa utilize Dolly Devil brand Aikatsu Cards that they previously considered too flashy. They apply these cards to their performance and successfully pass the audition with excellent results.

Nono and Risa join Starlight Academy while Luminas auditions for a jewellery commercial with Yuu's help.

Nono and Risa start their journey as students at Starlight Academy, where they meet their fellow idols. At the same time, Luminas prepares for an audition for a jewellery commercial, with Yuu assisting by showcasing jewellery she crafted herself. Encouraged by the situation, Nono and Risa also decide to participate in the audition. Ultimately, all three girls successfully pass the audition together, marking a significant step in their idol careers as they navigate their new roles and relationships within the academy.

Yuu guides Akari and friends through Kyoto while reflecting on her travel idol journey.

After oversleeping for a job in Kyoto, Yuu joins Akari and the others traveling to Okinawa, recalling their time as roommates. Yuu shows them recommended sights, explaining how exchange programs in Kyoto and Kobe inspired her career as a travel idol. Upon reaching Kyoto, she invites Akari, Kokone, and Miyabi to participate in a Halloween special. Following the broadcast, Yuu reveals to Akari that her friend motivated her to pursue numerous exchange programs, honoring a mutual promise to shine brightly.

Nono and Risa seek Dolly Devil dresses and meet designer Lucy Kisaragi

Nono and Risa receive an offer to perform for the Urban Girls Collection and decide to acquire Dolly Devil Premium Dresses. On the way to Dolly Devil's headquarters, Nono gets separated from Risa and encounters a peculiar woman. She accidentally stains the woman's dress and helps wash it. After reuniting with Risa, the pair explains their performance goals to the stranger. They subsequently discover that the woman is Lucy Kisaragi, Dolly Devil's top designer. Inspired by their encounter, Lucy creates special Premium Dresses for Nono and Risa to use in their upcoming concert.

Luminas Visit Okinawa and Rin Joins Minami at the Dance Festival

The group arrives in Okinawa and meets Minami Hateruma, a Churaumi Beat Academy student who admires Rin's dancing. Sumire notes that both she and Rin were invited to a local dance festival, but Rin faces a scheduling conflict with a commercial shoot. While Luminas trains with Minami at the academy, Rin explains to Orihime and Johnny how meeting Minami renewed her passion for dancing. She works to finish her shoot on time and successfully arrives at the festival. This allows her to reunite with Minami, and the two perform a dance together, fulfilling Minami's dream of seeing Rin perform live.

Starlight Academy idols battle Jerseyschwarz to save dresses and the galaxy

At Starlight Academy, idols train to spread music across the galaxy while the villainous Jerseyschwarz, led by Johnny, plots to replace all dresses with jerseys. Suspecting a spy, Orihime orders Akari to become a top idol and pilot the Oozorakkon mech to protect the school. Sumire discovers that Rin is the spy swapping garments, causing Rin to transform into a member of Jerseyschwarz. When confronted by Nao and Madoka, Rin admits she was sent by Johnny but now loves dresses, choosing to join the good side and help Akari. Akari fights the army, transforming enemies into cute girls, rescues Sumire, and defeats Johnny, who ultimately becomes a dance teacher at Galaxy Starlight.

Tsubaki Saionji stalks Akari while pursuing a Premium Dress from Tsubasa

Tsubaki Saionji follows Akari during her work, hoping to encounter Tsubasa to obtain a Premium Dress. Her efforts fail until Johnny advises her to calm down. Reflecting on her passion for Dream Crown dresses, Tsubaki joins Akari in training. After witnessing Akari’s performance, Tsubaki finally contacts Tsubasa. She decides to postpone her request for the Premium Dress until she can prove her worth as an idol. This sequence highlights Tsubaki’s shift from stalking to active participation in idol activities, driven by her desire to earn the dress through genuine effort and skill development rather than direct confrontation or persistence alone.

Luminas perform in Osaka while Nina Doujima reflects on her idol journey

The idol group Luminas arrives in Osaka for their tour, where they witness a performance by the calculating comedy idol Nina Doujima. Following the show, Nina gathers with other girls and invites them to Naniwa Grand Academy, where she pursues an idol course and refines her comedic skills. After observing Luminas, Nina remembers the specific moment she realized the power of her smile and chose to become a comedy idol. She resolves to abandon her typical calculations for her upcoming performance, choosing instead to rely on her own instincts. This narrative highlights her personal growth and shift from strategic planning to intuitive expression in her artistic endeavors.

Orihime and Luminas struggle with diverse audiences before winning over a sharp kindergarten boy named Kentarou

Orihime organizes a collaboration between Luminas and Nina, who spend the day performing on a comedy tour. They encounter difficulties delivering their jokes to two distinct groups: elderly people and teenage girls, both of whom laugh for incorrect reasons. Their final performance takes place at a kindergarten, where they face Kentarou, a young boy who acts as a strict critic and accurately predicts the outcome of their jokes. Determined to succeed, Nina executes an unexpected joke that surprises Kentarou, finally eliciting a genuine laugh from him and resolving their comedic challenges.

Designing Happiness Toys with Aikatsu Dolls and Angely Bears

Popular toymaker Dandai asks the girls to design a new line of Happiness Toys. After consulting with children, project designer Nakaya chooses Aikatsu Dolls for dress-up play. Nakaya collaborates with top designers to create prototypes but struggles to reach Asuka for approval on Madoka’s doll. The delay occurs because Asuka is busy preparing several Angely Bears for Christmas. Once Madoka’s doll receives approval, Nakaya requests that Angely Bears be included in the commercial. Meanwhile, Tsubasa makes personal adjustments to Akari’s doll design. The group works to finalize the commercial ideas while balancing their individual contributions and the urgent holiday preparations for the Angely Bear line.

Nono and Risa navigate New Year's recording schedule and meet Nina and Ichigo

Nono and Risa manage a demanding schedule of pre-recorded New Year's programming, which includes talk shows and drama appearances. Following a variety show shoot with Luminas, they encounter Nina and Ichigo, taking time to observe their colleagues' New Year's work. The group then comes together for a joint talent show featuring all the idols. This episode highlights the behind-the-scenes efforts and collaborative spirit of the cast during the holiday season, showcasing their professional dedication and interpersonal connections as they balance multiple production commitments.

Luminas performs at Starlight Academy on Christmas Eve with fans delivering snow from Hokkaido

Luminas concludes their nationwide tour at Starlight Academy on Christmas Eve, where fans hope for a White Christmas despite low odds. After Ichigo, Nono, and Risa post online, fans nationwide collaborate to transport snow from Hokkaido, adding more from each region they pass. This effort fills the stadium with snow for the performance. Ichigo, Mizuki, and Juri join the group for the final song. The event concludes with a genuine snowfall, fulfilling the wish for a snowy Christmas celebration at the tour's end.

Sumire Finds Her Resolve and Receives a New Premium Dress for the Starlight Queen Cup

Starlight Academy hosts a Start Dash event featuring Sakura, Otome, and Mizuki as special guests to celebrate the upcoming Starlight Queen Cup. While Akari and her friends are eager to compete, Sumire hesitates to register because she is uncertain about the type of Queen she wishes to become. After discussing their motivations for becoming idols with Akari and Hinaki, Sumire discovers her own answer and decides to participate alongside the others. Following her registration, Maya calls Sumire forward and creates a new Premium Dress specifically for her to wear during the performance.

Akari cares for sick Tsubasa and finds his secret sketchbook of dress designs for the Starlight Queen Cup

As preparations for the Starlight Queen Cup continue, Akari notices that Tsubasa has caught a cold and decides to stay by his side to nurse him back to health. While Tsubasa rests and reflects on their journey since they first met, Akari stumbles upon a sketchbook containing numerous dress designs he has created specifically for her. This discovery reveals the depth of his dedication to her success. Following his recovery from the illness, Tsubasa resumes his work with renewed focus, preparing to create what he intends to be his finest dress yet for the upcoming competition.

Risa and Nono face off in the May Queen Cup potato contest

Risa worries about competing against Nono during the Starlight Queen Cup, but the idols instead enter the May Queen Cup potato competition. Leveraging their experience with potatoes, Risa and Nono reach the final round where Lucy offers a Premium Dress to the winner. Lucy notices Risa’s anxiety about being separated from Nono and encourages her to approach new challenges with confidence. Consequently, both girls enjoy the final match, which ends in a draw. Through this experience, Risa realizes that pursuing a different path does not mean being alone, resolving her initial concerns about the competition.