Huh. I'm still really liking the new designs. I think it also highlights my biggest problem with many CGirl designs; they're too one-note, too focused on a "concept." In some cases it works, like with Ranko, where she is a chuunibyou who has trouble being honest even with herself. In some cases it doesn't, like with Anzu, who has annoyed me since day 1, or like with Miku or Nana. (Also, I really like Kirari, but that's more because tall girls are cute~) In some cases, it makes the girls with less focus look "generic" or seem like they have undefinable personalities, which is in part because there's only so much that can be shown, personality-wise, in two cards and ten-ish lines of dialogue. It can be done well and leave a well-rounded character- I think a good example is Rin, who was somewhat popular since day 1, but also Mika and Rika, who are sociable, but with hidden depths, and whose garu-culture-ness doesn't take over their entire being.
Here, they're trying to make characters they'd seriously infuse into the games, who would stand out in-universe as an idol, but not stand out out-of-universe where she would seem too fantastical in the surprisingly-grounded iMAS universe. (Even if ribbon-girl reminds me disturbingly of Mayu...) Granted, people still think Takane's from the moon, and Hibiki talks to and understands animals (in the anime only, last time I checked, and it was the only thing I didn't like), and Chihaya's dead brother speaks to producer but these stand out because the rest of the imas world is well-rooted in the mundane. (Plus, Takane's probably not from the moon and Hibiki's wildspeak is anime- and possibly episode-exclusive, practically speaking.)
Puchimas doesn't count, shut up
