Key the Metal Idol (1994): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1994, Key the Metal Idol is a drama, sci-fi & fantasy, animation and action & adventure series.

What it’s about. Tokiko Mima, nicknamed "Key," is a 17-year-old girl living in the Japanese countryside who, despite her human-like appearance, is a robot. When Key's grandfather Dr. Murao Mima passes away, he leaves her a dying message, telling her that she can become a real girl if she is able to make thirty thousand friends. Thus, Key moves from the quiet Mamio Valley to the busy streets of Tokyo, where she soon runs into her childhood friend Sakura Kuriyagawa. Key quickly becomes enamored with idol singer Miho Utsuse and wonders if becoming a singer will allow her to make the amount of friends needed for her to become human. But Miho carries a ominous secret: she is connected to Jinsaku Ajou, an old rival of Dr. Mima trying to make new a breakthrough in robotic weaponry. As Key works to become a real girl, Ajou sets a dangerous plan into action, and it turns out there's much more to Key than meets the eye.

Who’s in it. Key the Metal Idol stars Junko Iwao as Tokiko "Key" Mima (voice), Hiroshi Yanaka as Tomoyo Wakagi (voice), Jurota Kosugi as Sergei / "D" (voice) and Miki Nagasawa as Sakura Kuriyagawa (voice), among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.4/10, Key the Metal Idol has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Crunchyroll and Crunchyroll Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Key the Metal Idol page.

If you liked it. Fans of Key the Metal Idol tend to enjoy Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Attack on Titan.