Shopping Guide
“Animelo Summer Live” is the world’s largest anime song concert event held yearly at the Saitama Super Arena. This summer festival, which is being held for the ninth time this year, will spread across three days. A large variety of artists will be performing, from those who lead the anime song industry to newcomers who got their big breaks just this year. Let’s take a look at what talent is lined up for the first day of this monumental event.
● Minori Chihara
On the one hand, Minori Chihara is a popular seiyū (voice actor) who has played main characters in such popular works as The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi (2006) and Minami-ke. On the other hand, she is also energetically active as a singer. With her beautiful looks as well as her skill as a singer, she is in the top class among seiyū artists. She has garnered support from fans due to her earnest activities and live tours.
Representative anime songs:
“Paradise Lost” - Ga-Rei: Zero (2008) OP theme
“Yasashii Bōkyaku” - The Disappearance of Suzumiya Haruhi movie theme song
“Kono Sekai wa Bokutachi o Matteita” - Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet (2013) OP theme
● Shoko Nakagawa
The multi-talented Shoko Nakagawa is active in a variety of areas, including being a singer, seiyū, actress, and performer on a variety TV show. She made her debut into the world of entertainment in 2002 when she was crowned Miss Weekly Shonen Magazine. She has deep knowledge of games, anime songs, manga, and other aspects of otaku culture, and she is also a professional illustrator. Her high singing talent has been recognized due to her singing the OP theme to Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. In 2012, she held her first tour in Asia, and this summer, she held a one-man event in Hong Kong. Because of this, she is also highly popular overseas.
Representative anime songs:
“Sorairo Days” - Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (2007) OP theme
“Tsuzuku Sekai” - Gurren Lagann the Movie: Childhood's End (2008) theme song
“Tsuyogari” - Beelzebub (2011-2012) ED theme
● Earthmind
Earthmind is comprised of Erina Matsui (who is currently active as a talent and model) on vocals, Ommy on guitar, and Jun Takai on bass. Their debut song, “B-Bird,” was used as the OP theme of the OVA Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Episode 4 and they blew up from there. That same year, they performed for the first time in front of fans during the event “Lis Ani! Live 2011” held at the Budokan. Furthermore, their third single, “Energy,” was used earlier this year as the OP theme to Vividred Operation and was a big hit along with the anime. They also announced their first album, Power of Mind, this year. This is one group whose popularity is rocketing them into the stratosphere of anison stardom.
Representative anime songs:
“B-Bird” - OVA Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Episode 4: Jūroku no Ido no Soko de” (2011) theme song
“Energy” - Vividred Operation (2013) OP theme
● μ's (Muse)
Muse is a vocal unit comprised of popular seiyū who perform as the main characters in Love Live! School Idol Project. The nine members of the unit are Emi Nitta (Honoka Kōsaka), Yoshino Nanjō (Eri Ayase), Aya Uchida (Kotori Minami), Suzuko Mimori (Umi Sonoda), Riho Iida (Rin Hoshizora), Pile (Maki Nishikino), Aina Kusuda (Nozomi Tōjō), Yurika Kubo (Hanayo Koizumi), and Sora Tokui (Niko Yazawa). The first season of the anime, which was broadcast this year, was a big hit. The second season is planned for next year.
Representative anime song:
“Bokura wa Ima no Naka de” - Love Live! School Idol Project (2013) OP theme
● May’n
May’n was in charge of the vocal parts for the character Sheryl Nome in the 2008 anime Macross Frontier. She got her big break as a songstress with the song “Diamond Crevasse / Iteza Gogo Kuji Don't Be Late.” She has worked hard to hold tours in Japan as well as a world tour, and she has many fans even outside of Japan. In addition to being in charge of many anime theme songs, she was also in charge of the theme song to the movie The Incite Mill: 7-Day Death Game.
Representative anime songs:
“Diamond Crevasse” - Macross Frontier (2008) first ED theme
“Chase the World” - Accel World (2012) OP theme
“ViViD” - Blood Lad (2013) OP theme
● Flow
Flow is a five-piece band made up of two vocalists. They have been in charge of a great number of anime theme songs, including “Go!!!,” the OP theme to Naruto; “Days,” the OP theme to Eureka Seven; and other hit songs. Their cover single for "1/3 no Junjō na Kanjō" also became a hit when it was released in 2011, and it is now considered their representative song. This year, they were in charge of the theme song to the movie Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, “Cha-La Head-Cha-La.” They are a group that is well-known among anime fans.
Representative anime songs:
“Go!!!” - Naruto (2002-2007) fourth OP theme
“Days” - Eureka Seven (2005) OP theme
“Cha-La Head-Cha-La” - Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013) theme song
● Akira Kushida
Akira Kushida is a vocalist who has participated on many works, having been in charge of theme songs to sentai works like Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan and Space Sheriff Gavan, as well as OP themes to anime such as Combat Mecha Xabungle and Kinnikuman. He made a comeback in 2011 with the OP theme “Guts, Guts!!” to the anime Toriko. This year, he is performing at Animelo for the first time. His powerful singing voice will surely electrify the crowd!
Representative anime songs:
“Guts, Guts!!!” - Toriko (2011 - present) OP theme
"Shippū Xabungle" - Combat Mecha Xabungle (1982) OP theme
“Kinnikuman Go Fight!” - Kinnikuman (1983) OP theme
● Ray
Ray received her major debut with the OP theme “Sign” to the 2012 anime Waiting in the Summer. Along with being an anime hit, the song was bathed in attention, breaking onto the Oricon chart at No. 11. She has since piled on favorable releases including the OP theme “Rakuen Project” to the anime To Love-Ru: Darkness and the ED theme “Recall” to the anime Amnesia. This year, she released her first album, titled Rayve. Her singles were produced by the Hokkaido sound team, I’ve.
Representative anime songs:
“Sign” - Waiting in the Summer (2012) OP theme
“Rakuen Project” - To Love-Ru: Darkness (2012) OP theme
“Recall” - Amnesia (2013) ED theme
● Ali Project
Ali Project is a unit comprised of singer/songwriter Arika Takarano and composer Mikiya Katakura that has grabbed the attention of fans with its dark, Gothic melodies and arrangements, literary-style lyrics, and creative visuals. The group has been in charge of many anime theme songs, such as the OP theme “Kinjirareta Asobi” to the 2004 anime Rozen Maiden. They are also highly reputed for their live performances, and Arika has gathered attention for her interesting emceeing during performances.
Representative anime songs:
“Kinjirareta Asobi” - Rozen Maiden (2004) OP theme
“Kitei no Tsurugi” - Linebarrels of Iron (2008) OP theme
“Yūkyō Seishunka” - Code Geass (2006) ED theme
● Momoiro Clover Z
Momoiro Clover Z started as a grassroots unit who performed simple street concerts and has since become a top idol group. They have performed countless theme songs to anime, including “Pinky Jones,” the ED theme to Yosuga no Sora, and “Fierce Space Symphony. 7th Movement «Infinite Love»,” the OP theme to Bodacious Space Pirates. Animelo is sure to be enlivened even more due to Momoiro Clover Z!
Representative anime songs:
“Pinky Jones” - Yosuga no Sora (2010) ED theme
“Fierce Space Symphony. 7th Movement «Infinite Love»” - Bodacious Space Pirates (2012) OP theme
“Mite Mite Kocchicchi” - Pokémon Best Wishes (2012) ED theme
● Konomi Suzuki
At just 16 years old, Konomi Suzuki is a fresh anison artist who won the Fifth All-Japan Anison Grand Prix in 2011. She made her major debut in 2012 with the OP theme to the anime Tasogare Otome x Amnesia, “Choir Jail.” Her second single, “Days of Dash,” was used as the first ED theme to the anime The Pet Girl of Sakurasou, and her third single, “Yume no Tsuzuki,” was used as the second OP theme to the same anime.
Representative anime songs:
“Choir Jail” - Tasogare Otome x Amnesia (2012) OP theme
“Days of Dash” - The Pet Girl of Sakurasou (2012-2013) first ED theme
“Yume no Tsuzuki” - The Pet Girl of Sakurasou (2012-2013) second ED theme
● Milky Holmes
Straight from the game and anime series Tantei Opera Milky Holmes comes this seiyū unit comprised of Suzuko Mimori (Sherlock Shellingford), Sora Tokui (Nero Yuzurizaki), Mikoi Sasaki (Hercule Barton), and Izumi Kitta (Cordelia Glauca). Due to the group’s synergy with the series, they exploded onto the scene. The third season of the anime, titled Futari wa Milky Holmes, is also currently broadcasting.
Representative anime songs:
“Ameagari no Mirai” - Tantei Opera Milky Holmes (2010) OP theme
“Nazo! Nazo? Happiness!!” - Tantei Opera Milky Holmes Season 2 (2012) OP theme
"Glory Glowing Days" - Futari wa Milky Holmes (2013) OP theme
● ChouCho
ChouCho, a singer from Osaka, made her major debut in 2011 with the song “Kawaru Mirai,” the OP theme to the anime Heaven’s Memo Pad. She has gone on to produce theme songs to many talked-about works including Mashiroiro Symphony, Hyōka, Girls und Panzer, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, and Fate/kaleid liner.
Representative anime songs:
“Kawaru Mirai” - Heaven’s Memo Pad (2011) OP theme
“Yasashisa no Riyū” - Hyōka (2012* OP theme
“Sora to Kimi no Message” - Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet (2013) ED theme
● nano.RIPE
Nano.RIPE is a rock band comprised of members Kimiko (vocals & guitar), Jun Sasaki (guitar), Nobuyuki Abe (bass), and Yūki Aoyama (drums). They had their major debut with an image song used in a promotional video for Hanasaku Iroha. The band attracted attention for their refined sound and Kimiko’s impressive vocals.
Representative anime songs:
“Omokage Warp” - Hanasaku Iroha (2011) OP theme
“Real World” - Humanity Has Declined (2012) OP theme
“Gekka” - The Devil is a Part-Timer! (2013) ED theme
● The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls
This group is comprised of 10 seiyū from the game The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls: Ruriko Aoki (Riina Tada), Hiromi Igarashi (Anzu Futaba), Takatomo Kurosawa (Miria Akagi), Natsumi Takamori (Miku Maekawa), Sayuri Hara (Mio Honda), Ayaka Fukuhara (Rin Shibuya), Rei Matsuzaki (Kirari Moroboshi), Marie Miyake (Nana Abe), Nozomi Yamamoto (Rika Jougasaki), and Haruka Yoshimura (Mika Jougasaki).
Representative anime songs:
“Onegai! Cinderella”
“Kagayaku Sekai no Mahō”
● Zaq
Zaq is a singer/songwriter who got her major debut with the song “Sparkling Daydream” which was used as the OP theme to the anime Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. She creates a unique world in her music with her peculiar melodies and chord progressions. She has worked on theme songs for hit anime one after the other, including Sasami-san@Ganbaranai, Straight Title Robot Anime, High School DxD New, and others. Not limited to just herself, she also writes songs for other artists as well.
Representative anime songs:
“Sparkling Daydream” - Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions (2012) OP theme
“Alteration” - Sasami-san@Ganbaranai (2013) OP theme
“Gekijōron” - High School DxD New (2013) OP theme
● Maiko Fujita
Maiko Fujita is a singer/songwriter who has worked on the theme songs for many hit games and anime. She had her major debut in 2006 with the OP theme to the game Hiiro no Kakera, “Koi ni Ochite.” After that, she gained popularity due to the many songs she produced for the series. Her romantic songs have garnered support from female fans. She also creates songs for other artists.
Representative anime songs:
“Koi ni Ochite” - Hiiro no Kakera (2009) OP theme
“Takanaru” - Hiiro no Kakera: Chapter 2 (2012) OP theme
“Nee” - Hiiro no Kakera (2012) OP theme
● Sachika Misawa
Sachika Misawa made her major debut in 2012 with the ED theme “Unite” to the anime Accel World while voicing the character Kuroyukihime in the same anime. She is becoming widely talked about this year for her role as the character Alisa Meigo in the movie A Certain Magical Index: Miracle of Endymion and for the announcement of a compilation album of her songs used in the movie titled Polaris. She also created the ED theme to the anime A Certain Scientific Railgun S, “Links.” She is definitely one seiyū fans should keep their eyes on.
Representative anime songs:
“Unite” - Accel World (2012) ED theme
“Links” - A Certain Scientific Railgun S (2013) ED theme
