The series takes place at Starlight Academy (スターライト学園 Sutāraito Gakuen?), a prestigious school with both middle and high branches, where girls train to become idols and take part in various auditions. such as modeling, singing, and dancing. To participate in these auditions, players use Aikatsu cards, special cards which contain digitized dresses and accessories from various manufacturers that are used in their auditions. How well they succeed is often dependent on choosing the right combination of cards. The video games cast players in the role of a new student, who must train to become an idol and reach the top.
The anime series follows a girl named Ichigo Hoshimiya, who becomes inspired by a performance by top idol Kanzaki Mizuki and enrolls in Starlight Academy alongside her best friend, Kiriya Aoi. Along with their classmate, Shibuki Ran, Hoshimiya Ichigo and Kiriya Aoi spend each day training for auditions and aiming to become top idols. At the end of the first season, Ichigo leaves Starlight Academy for a year to study in America. During this time, a rival idol school, Dream Academy (ドリームアカデミー Dorīmu Akademī?), is founded, raising its own breed of idols. The second season starts with Ichigo returning back to Starlight Academy, as she now befriends and competes with Dream Academy's Otoshiro Seira, and her fellow idols. The third season will focus on Akari Ōzora, a young girl chosen by Ichigo to join Starlight Academy, and her classmates Sumire Hikami and Hinaki Shinjō.
The anime series follows a girl named Ichigo Hoshimiya, who becomes inspired by a performance by top idol Kanzaki Mizuki and enrolls in Starlight Academy alongside her best friend, Kiriya Aoi. Along with their classmate, Shibuki Ran, Hoshimiya Ichigo and Kiriya Aoi spend each day training for auditions and aiming to become top idols. At the end of the first season, Ichigo leaves Starlight Academy for a year to study in America. During this time, a rival idol school, Dream Academy (ドリームアカデミー Dorīmu Akademī?), is founded, raising its own breed of idols. The second season starts with Ichigo returning back to Starlight Academy, as she now befriends and competes with Dream Academy's Otoshiro Seira, and her fellow idols. The third season will focus on Akari Ōzora, a young girl chosen by Ichigo to join Starlight Academy, and her classmates Sumire Hikami and Hinaki Shinjō.