Bandai Namco spent the second night of The Idolm@ster SideM 11th Stage ~Ever Ever@fter~ handing 315 Production fans two things they have been asking for since the TV anime wrapped in 2017: a theatrical film with an actual date attached, and the franchise's first console game.
Quick answer
Gekijo-ban Idolm@ster SideM F@ntastic Battle Fes ~Who goes first~ opens in Japan on November 20, 2026. Takanori Urui (*ManaMoA*) directs, hotarubi/SIKAKU handles animation, Lantis produces the music, and Shochiku distributes — including "cheering screenings" where the audience brings lightsticks. Separately, D3 Publisher and Bandai Namco are shipping SideM's first console game, an adventure title for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 covering all 16 units and 49 idols in an original story. The entry point is still the 2017 A-1 Pictures TV series, which SenpaiRanks tracks at a 6.91 adjusted score on its dual-axis board.
What got announced
Two separate projects, one concert stage. The film is a full theatrical release, not an event-screening compilation of old episodes — Bandai Namco Entertainment is credited with planning and presenting, on top of being the original creator.
The staff sheet is deep for a franchise film: Zenta Yamazaki on CG direction, Asuka Fujimoto handling compositing and edit, Takatoshi Hamano on sound. Per Animation News Network's report from the stage, the "cheering screening" format is baked in from launch rather than added later, which is how Bandai Namco has been treating idol-franchise films since the Cinderella Girls run.
The game side
The Switch title is the more interesting number. Sixteen units and 49 idols is the entire 315 Pro roster — SideM has never had a console game, so everything the franchise has done in the interactive space until now lived on mobile. D3 Publisher building it as a straight adventure/production sim rather than a rhythm game says the pitch is story and scheduling, not tapping notes.
Where to start
If you have never touched SideM, the 2017 TV series is the on-ramp — 13 episodes, A-1 Pictures, and it front-loads the "why did these men quit their jobs to become idols" hook that makes the cast readable. Streaming rights shift by region, so check the platform row on the show's SenpaiRanks page before you commit.
For a wider map of the genre, our best idol anime ranked hub puts SideM in context against Love Live!, Aikatsu! and Zombie Land Saga. If you are building a fall slate instead, what to watch this fall and the best fall 2026 anime board are the two lists to work from, with October premiere dates for the calendar.
The read
A November film plus a first console game is franchise-maintenance done properly: neither is a sequel season, but both give an eight-year-old anime a reason to re-enter the conversation. SideM's 6.91 on SenpaiRanks is honest — respectable, not top-tier — and that gap is exactly why we publish two axes instead of one number. If you have watched it, rate it on the show page; the board moves on anime-native votes, not a general-audience average.
Theatrical numbers are worth tracking too — see how 2026's releases are stacking up in our biggest anime movies of 2026 box office ranking.
Frequently asked questions
Q: When does the Idolm@ster SideM film release?
A: November 20, 2026 in Japanese theaters. No international date has been announced.
Q: What is the SideM film called?
A: Gekijo-ban Idolm@ster SideM F@ntastic Battle Fes ~Who goes first~.
Q: Who is directing the SideM movie?
A: Takanori Urui, known for ManaMoA, with animation production at hotarubi/SIKAKU.
Q: What platforms is the SideM console game on?
A: Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, published by D3 Publisher with Bandai Namco. It is the franchise's first console release.
Q: How many idols are in the SideM game?
A: 49 idols across 16 units from 315 Production, in a brand-new story.
Q: Is The iDOLM@STER SideM anime good?
A: SenpaiRanks scores it 6.91 adjusted — solid within the idol genre, below the genre's top tier. Rate it yourself on the show page to see where your taste lands against the crowd.