Glass no Kamen (2005)

Two Girls. One Dream. And the entire world for a stage.

At 13 years old, Maya Kitajima seems destined to spend the rest of her life toiling in a crowded restaurant alongside her bitter and unstable mother. But when her incredible acting talent is discovered by the legendary diva Chigusa Tsukikage, Maya finds a new future filled with both golden opportunities and terrifying risks.

For Ayumi Himekawa, success has always been assured, yet she longs to be recognized for her own talents and skills, not her famous parents' connections.

For both, the ultimate prize is the role of The Crimson Goddess in the play of the same name, a part created by Chigusa. To achieve this goal, both Maya and Ayumi must seek out and conquer every acting challenge, pushing the limits of their talent and endurance to the utmost, until they are worthy of the part…

But for one to win, the other must fail!

(Source: Sentai Filmworks)

Kitajima, Maya Main

Kobayashi, Sanae Japanese

Hayami, Masumi Main

Morikawa, Toshiyuki Japanese

Himekawa, Ayumi Main

Yajima, Akiko Japanese

Tsukikage, Chigusa Supporting

Fujita, Toshiko Japanese

Sakurakouji, Yuu Supporting

Fukuyama, Jun Japanese

Mizuki, Saeko Supporting

Sakuma, Rei Japanese

Himekawa, Utako Supporting

Katsuki, Masako Japanese

Onodera, Hajime Supporting

Oobayashi, Ryuusuke Japanese

Hijiri, Karato Supporting

Sasaki, Nozomu Japanese

Himekawa, Mitsugu Supporting

Nakao, Ryusei Japanese

Hamatsu, Mamoru Director, Episode Director, Storyboard

Kosaka, Harume Episode Director, Storyboard

Nogami, Kazuo Episode Director

Harada, Nana Episode Director

Reviews

Sep 27, 2025

thedrmgrlscrpbok

Recommended

I really liked this series, I haven't felt this way about an anime for years! It has the same vibes as skip beat and daddy long legs and was surprisingly entertaining. I enjoyed watching most of the plays in the anime as well and I felt that most of the characters had actual personalities. I have to say the ending (only the last two episodes to be precise) was not as good as the rest of the series and also the romance plotline really toed the line with the age gap, which is why I didn't give it a 10/10. I wish I could find ... an anime with the same exact vibes as this but with a satisfying ending.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Oct 7, 2023

RudolfTostarrica

Recommended

This anime can be enjoyed by anyone, as it does have similar patterns to most anime. However, it is true that the central theme and the various climaxes it presents are something so specific that the "general" anime audience, especially those who prefer shonen genre, may find it boring and not get past half an episode. I don't blame them, if they're looking for a shonen, they won't find it here, even though it has all the elements of self-improvement and character evolution.

The main characters, the ones we see in the poster image, have a development and depth that is more than notable. Even the ... secondary characters are more than just fulfilling their roles. They all have clear motives that drive and evolve the plot very effectively. It is true that there are moments of "coincidences," even the same one repeated 3 or 4 times, but they are quite common coincidences in the world of real acting (the typical situation where the protagonist wasn't going to perform but at the last moment, they are left without an actress and only she is there to fill the role). However, most of the obstacles and triumphs come from something meaningful and lead to something meaningful.

The series consists of various arcs, almost like micro-arcs, one for each theater play that is going to be performed. Although there are changes in the central part that diverge significantly from what was seen before. The formula repeats itself, with certain variations, but it doesn't get boring as each play is quite different from the others.

The astonishing quality of the art, animation, and voice acting is worth mentioning, as they manage to convey the characters' emotions to the viewer in such a way that you can see when a character is acting well and when they are not, when they subtly change their movements or expressions to portray a certain posture according to what they have to interpret. The soundtrack is also noteworthy, with 4 or 5 pieces that are very fitting for the situations they cover.

The art style maintains, to some extent, the original style of the manga, making it appear somewhat older. However, they have managed to adapt that style to the time of its production, reminiscent of the early 2000s.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Sep 22, 2025

Aobaaaaaa

Not Recommended

Alright, time to be honest. Glass Mask 2005 is basically a 51-episode headache about a girl who thinks crying louder = good acting. Yeah, Maya is supposed to be this “genius actress,” but half the time she looks like a possessed puppet on stage. She’s naïve, emotional, and has the personality of a wet sponge outside of acting. How am I supposed to root for a character who spends most of her life confused, crying, or getting manipulated? Girl, touch some grass.

And then there’s Ayumi , the spoiled rival. At first, she’s kind of fun because she’s petty and competitive, but later on? She ... turns into a broken record of “I’ll beat Maya!” over and over again. Like sis, get a hobby. Your entire existence shouldn’t revolve around stalking one girl’s career.

Chigusa Tsukikage (the acting mentor) is another mess. She acts like a wise teacher but really? She’s just using Maya like a lab rat for her Crimson Goddess obsession. Instead of caring about her students’ actual lives, she’s obsessed with molding them into her personal stage dolls. Toxic, manipulative, and exhausting to watch.

Now, the only reason this show doesn’t deserve to be erased from anime history is Masumi Hayami. The man, the myth, the walking definition of “toxic CEO with a heart.” He’s cold and ruthless in business, but secretly the only one who truly believes in Maya’s talent. And yet, the writers punish him by turning him into a glorified flower delivery service. Imagine having the best character in the show, and you reduce him to the “Purple Rose Man” gimmick. Absolute clown move.

The romance? Non-existent. Hayami simps in the shadows, Maya stays clueless, and the anime ends with zero closure. 51 episodes for nothing. It’s like being promised a 5-star meal but getting instant noodles instead.

Story. (dragged out and unfinished)

Maya (queen of overacting and crying)

Ayumi (stuck in rival mode forever)

Tsukikage. (obsessed mentor with no chill)

Hayami (the only king in this dumpster fire)

Romance ( 3rd class romance story )

Ending: (waste of time, no closure)

Reviewer’s Rating: 1

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One Anime Per Season: CtFishBone's Candidates (Fall 2004 - Spring 2012)

by CtFishBone

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by GonXalo

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	Poll: Glass Mask (2005) Episode 51 Discussion jacobpaige - Mar 12, 2011	36 replies	by thedrmgrlscrpbok »» Sep 27, 10:49 PM
	Poll: Glass Mask (2005) Episode 49 Discussion jacobpaige - Mar 12, 2011	10 replies	by thedrmgrlscrpbok »» Sep 27, 10:08 PM
	Poll: Glass no Kamen (2005) Episode 47 Discussion greentutu - Jun 29, 2013	8 replies	by thedrmgrlscrpbok »» Sep 27, 9:25 PM
	Poll: Glass Mask (2005) Episode 46 Discussion jacobpaige - Mar 12, 2011	6 replies	by thedrmgrlscrpbok »» Sep 27, 8:59 PM
	Poll: Glass Mask (2005) Episode 45 Discussion senerikfred - Dec 13, 2009	12 replies	by thedrmgrlscrpbok »» Sep 27, 8:36 PM