Staff from the game app Gakuen Idolm@ster (Academy Idolm@ster) revealed during a livestream on Wednesday that Smile Down the Runway manga creator Kotoba Inoya will write and compile the game's manga adaptation. play, will launch in Weekly Shōnen Champion Magazine's Akita Shoten issue this year. Although Inoya is only credited as creator and composer, he drew a special illustration for the manga featuring the manga's main character Kotone Fujita (see below).
この度!漫画版『学園アイドルマスター』脚本・構成として連載することになりました!
場所は週刊少年チャンピオン!主役は藤田ことねさん!
楽しく熱いアイドルストーリーを描いていきます!
よろしくお願いします!!!!!!#学マス #学マス5月16日リリース https://t.co/IuVGIQ96Hq pic.twitter.com/5aeOa72CfF—猪ノ谷言葉 (@inoya5108) May 8, 2024
Game Day will launch in Japan on May 16. In the game, players will take on the role of a producer who cultivates and trains idol talent from the Hsuboshi Gakuen idol training school. The game features nine idols that players can create, including Kotone Fujita (voiced by Hikaru Iida in the game), an idol who is confident in her appearance and works hard to earn money, although has low singing and dancing scores, and a low self-esteem.
Inoya launched Smile Down the Runway (Runway de Waratte) as the first serialized manga in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine in May 2017. The manga ended with its 22nd compiled book volume in August 2021. The manga has inspired a 12-episode anime television adaptation that debuted in January 2020. Funimation streamed the series as it aired.
Source: YouTube of the IDOLM@STER franchise channel (announced at timestamp 54:00 in the video), account by Kotoba Inoya, Weekly Shōnen Champion issue 23