AnimeNews
HomeNews FeedThis SeasonDatabase
ANIMEPRIME

Your premium anime news source.

Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceDatabase

© 2026 ANIMENEWS

All data provided by Jikan API, AniList, and ANN.

Banner
Key the Metal Idol

Score

6.7 / 10

Status

Finished Airing

Episodes

15

Studio

Studio Pierrot

Official Streams

CrunchyrollAmazon Prime VideoRetroCrush

Key the Metal Idol

Also known as KEY THE METAL IDOL

OVAWinter 1994Source OriginalR+ - Mild Nudity
ActionDramaMechaMusicSci-FiAward Winning

6.7/10

Community score

#5180

Rank

30.9K

Members

189

Favorites

Synopsis

Her classmates at school called her Key, as in the "key" to a strange mystery. Key's "grandfather" was a kindly old scientist wanting to use his skill in robotics to create peace and love in the world. But when that kindly old scientist passed away, poor Key was left behind, lacking even the ability to smile.
There still is hope, however a message left behind for Key suggests a fantastic possibility. Could it really be possible for Key to become a real, live human, if she can only win the love of 30,000 people? A dark, haunting tale of cybernetic sci-fi dreams, spiritual visions, and the turbulent world of Japanese pop music.

(Source: Discotek Media)

Note: The two last episodes have a duration of ~98 minutes

Production Notes

Key the Metal Idol won the Packaged Work Award at the 1996 Animation Kobe Awards.

Cast Highlights

Kuriyagawa, Sakura

Kuriyagawa, Sakura

Main

Voice: Nagasawa, Miki (Japanese)

Mima, Murao

Mima, Murao

Main

Voice: Kitamura, Kouichi (Japanese)

Mima, Tokiko

Mima, Tokiko

Main

Voice: Iwao, Junko (Japanese)

Ajou, Jinsaku

Ajou, Jinsaku

Supporting

Voice: Hayami, Show (Japanese)

Komoda, Aoi

Komoda, Aoi

Supporting

Voice: Ootsuka, Akio (Japanese)

Mima, Toyoko

Mima, Toyoko

Supporting

Voice: Inoue, Kikuko (Japanese)

Sergei

Sergei

Supporting

Voice: Kosugi, Juurouta (Japanese)

Tamari, Senichi

Tamari, Senichi

Supporting

Voice: Klassen, Terry (English)

Core Staff

Sato, Hiroaki

Sato, Hiroaki

Director, Episode Director, Storyboard, Original Creator, Screenplay

Fujiyama, Fusanobu

Fujiyama, Fusanobu

Sound Director

Abe, Masashi

Abe, Masashi

Episode Director

Kamiya, Jun

Kamiya, Jun

Episode Director, Storyboard, Assistant Director

Mano, Akira

Mano, Akira

Episode Director

Mizuno, Kazunori

Mizuno, Kazunori

Episode Director, Storyboard

Theme Songs

Openings

"In the Night" by Sario Kijima

Endings

1: "Watashi ga Soba ni Iru" by Sario Kijima (eps 1-13)

2: "Passenger" by Tamiya Terashima (eps 14)

3: "Galaxy in my Hands" by Junko Iwao (eps 15)

If You Liked This

Serial Experiments Lain
8

Serial Experiments Lain

TBA eps
More Info
Perfect Blue
8.5

Perfect Blue

TBA eps
More Info
Ghost in the Shell
8

Ghost in the Shell

TBA eps
More Info
3x3 Eyes
6.2

3x3 Eyes

TBA eps
More Info
Vivy -Fluorite Eye's Song-
8.2

Vivy -Fluorite Eye's Song-

TBA eps
More Info
The Legend of Black Heaven
6.6

The Legend of Black Heaven

TBA eps
More Info

Recent Episodes

Episode 1

Startup

4.03/5

Episode 2

Cursor (1)

4/5

Episode 3

Cursor (2)

4.1/5

Episode 4

Access

4.18/5

Episode 5

Scroll (1)

4.08/5

Episode 6

Scroll (2)

4.31/5

Episode 7

Run

4.33/5

Episode 8

Go To

4.14/5
Full episode listing

Quick Facts

FormatOVA
Episodes15
Duration34 min per ep
SourceOriginal
RatingR+ - Mild Nudity
SeasonWinter 1994
AiredDec 16, 1994 to Jun 18, 1997
StatusFinished Airing
Recommended
Monetizing Content

Ranking And Reach

Popularity#4630
Scored by7K
BroadcastUnknown
ApprovedYes

Title Variants

English title

Key the Metal Idol

Romaji title

KEY THE METAL IDOL

Japanese title

KEY THE METAL IDOL

Synonyms

Key la Ídolo Metálica, Key the Mental Idol

Production Team

Main studio

Studio Pierrot

Producers

Pony Canyon, Fuji TV, Fuji Creative

Licensors

VIZ Media, Discotek Media

Japanese title

KEY THE METAL IDOL

Themes And Audience

MechaMusicPsychological