TV-Series
Description
Kotaro Tatsumi, formerly Inui, attended high school with Sakura Minamoto in 2008. Sakura initially fails to recognize him due to his altered appearance and adopted alias upon entering the entertainment industry. His driving motivation is saving Saga Prefecture from an ancient curse prophesied to erase it entirely. To achieve this, he resurrects seven deceased girls from different historical eras as zombies, forming the idol group Franchouchou. He undertakes this project under the guidance of a bartender later implied to be the immortal Xu Fu, who instructs Kotaro to use the idols to unite Saga's populace against impending disaster. Recurring calamities manifest the curse, including a catastrophic storm and an enigmatic UFO arrival concluding the second season.
Kotaro typically wears dark sunglasses concealing his eyes, a white shirt with a dark blue bow, a red vest featuring dried squid tentacles from Kojima's food industry, and an unused navy-blue jacket draped over his shoulders. During high school, he wore a black gakuran military uniform. A distinct "depressed phase" follows Franchouchou's failed concert at Ekimae Fudōsan Stadium (EFS), during which he isolates himself, neglects grooming, grows his hair over 20 centimeters long, develops a beard, and dons sloppy attire like sandals and wrinkled shirts.
Personality-wise, Kotaro presents an eccentric, loud, and domineering facade as Franchouchou's producer. He frequently dismisses others' concerns with outrageous deflections and makes impulsive decisions prioritizing rapid fame over the girls' well-being, such as forcing Sakura to perform at a death metal venue against her objections. This behavior stems from intense pressure to thwart Saga's curse, resulting in setbacks like the EFS disaster where inadequate promotion and rushed planning lead to massive debt and plummeting popularity. Beneath this exterior, he harbors deep-seated insecurity, social anxiety during public events, and chronic stress-induced physical symptoms like stomach pain, often retreating into depressive episodes after failures. Despite these flaws, he demonstrates genuine mentorship: advising Junko Konno to embrace her own idol style rather than conforming to modern trends and composing a heartfelt song for Lily Hoshikawa to reconcile with her father. He also exhibits strategic insight, excluding Ai Mizuno from an Iron Frill support slot to foster independence among the other members.
His abilities encompass multifaceted talents essential for managing undead idols: exceptional cosmetology skills disguise decaying bodies as living humans; songwriting prowess enables crafting songs like "Atsuku Nare," inspired by hot tofu during a creative block; proficient beatboxing and rapping support musical performances; multilingual fluency in Japanese, English, and French facilitates negotiations; and instrumental proficiency includes guitar, bagpipes, and shamisen. He displays business acumen securing sponsorships and concert venues, though efforts are occasionally undermined by the girls' mishaps.
Character development across the series sees Kotaro evolve from a reckless figure into a more measured leader. Early episodes depict him as manipulative and volatile, exemplified by threats to shave Sakura's head if she damages her disguise or berating Saki Nikaido for jeopardizing the group with biker gang conflicts. A turning point occurs when he helps Junko overcome her isolation in Episode 7, gradually adopting a supportive role—assisting Lily's emotional closure with her father and discouraging Saki from violence. The EFS failure triggers a breakdown, but after confiding in Jofuku, he recommits to Franchouchou, salvaging their performance at Geils. By the conclusion of "Revenge," he exhibits greater accountability, kindness, and collaborative decision-making, repairing his relationship with Sakura, who expresses genuine gratitude for her idol rebirth. Manga expansions further explore his behind-the-scenes struggles, including networking with local businesses to secure collaborations and enduring stress-induced health issues while promoting the group.
Spin-offs and supplementary media reinforce his dedication: the manga "Fierce Training Edition" depicts him researching Saga's cultural history for inspiration, while crossovers like the "BanG Dream!" mobile game event reference his iconic squid-themed attire and motivational persona. His overarching narrative arc culminates in Franchouchou's defiant concert against Saga's storm disaster, symbolizing his transition from a solitary schemer to a unifying force for the prefecture.
Kotaro typically wears dark sunglasses concealing his eyes, a white shirt with a dark blue bow, a red vest featuring dried squid tentacles from Kojima's food industry, and an unused navy-blue jacket draped over his shoulders. During high school, he wore a black gakuran military uniform. A distinct "depressed phase" follows Franchouchou's failed concert at Ekimae Fudōsan Stadium (EFS), during which he isolates himself, neglects grooming, grows his hair over 20 centimeters long, develops a beard, and dons sloppy attire like sandals and wrinkled shirts.
Personality-wise, Kotaro presents an eccentric, loud, and domineering facade as Franchouchou's producer. He frequently dismisses others' concerns with outrageous deflections and makes impulsive decisions prioritizing rapid fame over the girls' well-being, such as forcing Sakura to perform at a death metal venue against her objections. This behavior stems from intense pressure to thwart Saga's curse, resulting in setbacks like the EFS disaster where inadequate promotion and rushed planning lead to massive debt and plummeting popularity. Beneath this exterior, he harbors deep-seated insecurity, social anxiety during public events, and chronic stress-induced physical symptoms like stomach pain, often retreating into depressive episodes after failures. Despite these flaws, he demonstrates genuine mentorship: advising Junko Konno to embrace her own idol style rather than conforming to modern trends and composing a heartfelt song for Lily Hoshikawa to reconcile with her father. He also exhibits strategic insight, excluding Ai Mizuno from an Iron Frill support slot to foster independence among the other members.
His abilities encompass multifaceted talents essential for managing undead idols: exceptional cosmetology skills disguise decaying bodies as living humans; songwriting prowess enables crafting songs like "Atsuku Nare," inspired by hot tofu during a creative block; proficient beatboxing and rapping support musical performances; multilingual fluency in Japanese, English, and French facilitates negotiations; and instrumental proficiency includes guitar, bagpipes, and shamisen. He displays business acumen securing sponsorships and concert venues, though efforts are occasionally undermined by the girls' mishaps.
Character development across the series sees Kotaro evolve from a reckless figure into a more measured leader. Early episodes depict him as manipulative and volatile, exemplified by threats to shave Sakura's head if she damages her disguise or berating Saki Nikaido for jeopardizing the group with biker gang conflicts. A turning point occurs when he helps Junko overcome her isolation in Episode 7, gradually adopting a supportive role—assisting Lily's emotional closure with her father and discouraging Saki from violence. The EFS failure triggers a breakdown, but after confiding in Jofuku, he recommits to Franchouchou, salvaging their performance at Geils. By the conclusion of "Revenge," he exhibits greater accountability, kindness, and collaborative decision-making, repairing his relationship with Sakura, who expresses genuine gratitude for her idol rebirth. Manga expansions further explore his behind-the-scenes struggles, including networking with local businesses to secure collaborations and enduring stress-induced health issues while promoting the group.
Spin-offs and supplementary media reinforce his dedication: the manga "Fierce Training Edition" depicts him researching Saga's cultural history for inspiration, while crossovers like the "BanG Dream!" mobile game event reference his iconic squid-themed attire and motivational persona. His overarching narrative arc culminates in Franchouchou's defiant concert against Saga's storm disaster, symbolizing his transition from a solitary schemer to a unifying force for the prefecture.