Shopping Guide
On Aug. 24, 19 artists will perform during the second day of the world’s largest anime song festival, “Animelo Summer Live 2013 - Flag Nine-.”
● fripSide
FripSide was originally formed in 2002 by composer Satoshi Yaginuma (Sat). In 2009, Yoshino Nanjō joined as the unit’s vocalist. That same year, they created the first OP theme to the second season of A Certain Scientific Railgun, “Only My Railgun,” which became a huge hit. They followed this up earlier this year with the song “Sister’s Noise,” the first OP theme to A Certain Scientific Railgun S, which reached No. 1 on the Oricon weekly chart. Furthermore, “Eternal Reality,” the second OP theme to A Certain Scientific Railgun S and a song which they collaborated on with Tetsuya Komuro, is becoming huge as well.
Representative anime songs:
“Only My Railgun” - A Certain Scientific Railgun (2009) first OP theme
“Sister’s Noise” - A Certain Scientific Railgun S (2013) first OP theme
“Eternal Reality” - A Certain Scientific Railgun S (2013) second OP theme
● Granrodeo
Granrodeo is a two-piece unit comprised of vocalist Kishow aka voice star Kishō Taniyama and guitarist e-Zuka aka Masaaki Iizuka. While being based on hard rock, their music includes sounds from various genres, which they use to produce a sound original to them. They are popular with both men and women, with their fans being called Rodeo Boys and Rodeo Girls. It’s an established opinion that their performances are lively and energetic.
Representative anime songs:
“Rose Hip-Bullet” - Togainu no Chi (2010) OP theme
“CanDo” - The Basketball Which Kuroko Plays (2012) first OP theme
“Rimfire” - The Basketball Which Kuroko Plays (2012) second OP theme
● Oldcodex
Oldcodex is a band comprised of Ta_2 aka voice actor Tatsuhisa Suzuki and painter Yorke. They have gained a reputation for their live shows that include loud and emotional music along with painting performances. Their songs have been used in a variety of anime. “Rage On,” the OP to the anime Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club, was composed solely by Ta_2, a first for the band, and is gaining popularity along with the anime.
Representative anime songs:
“Rage On” - Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club (2013) OP theme
“The Misfit Go” - Arata the Legend first ED theme
“Catal Rhythm” - The Basketball Which Kuroko Plays (2012) second ED theme
● Eir Aoi
Eir Aoi made her major debut with the song “Memoria” which was used as the ED theme to the anime Fate/Zero. She picked up buzz for the song “Aurora,” the OP theme to the Third Generation arc of Mobile Suit Gundam AGE, due to a promotion in which half of her face was covered. The follow-up to this was the song “Innocence” which was used as the OP theme to Sword Art Online and propelled her into the realm of being a top artist. With an awe-inspiringly powerful voice, Eir Aoi is one of the next generation songstresses.
Representative anime songs:
“Memoria” - Fate/Zero (2011) first season ED theme
“Aurora” - Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (2011-2012) Third Generation arc OP theme
“Innocence” - Sword Art Online (2012) second OP theme
● Megumi Nakajima
Megumi Nakajima played the role of Ranka Lee in the 2007 anime Macross Frontier and made her debut as a singer with the song “Seikan Hikō” which was used in the anime. In 2009, she began being active under her own name and has since been in charge of the theme songs for many anime. She is also still active as a seiyū, having voiced many lead roles such as Yō Kasukabe in Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren’t They? and Yuzuki Eba in A Town Where You Live. Her vocal skill and the aura she radiates have even pushed her, if only slightly, into the realm of idols.
Representative anime songs:
“Seikan Hikō” - Macross Frontier (2008) featured song
“Marble” - Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne (2012) OP theme
“Sonna Koto Ura no Mata Urabanashi Desho?” - Kotoura-san (2013) OP theme
● Luna Haruna
Being a finalist in the Fourth All-Japan Anison Grand Prix held in 2010, Luna Haruna fully began her career as a singer in 2011. In 2012, she made her major debut with the song “Sora wa Takaku Kaze wa Utau” which was used as the ED theme to the second season of the anime Fate/Zero. Her follow-up song was “Overfly,” the ED theme to the Fairy Dance arc of Sword Art Online. Having also been in charge of the theme song to this year’s Monogatari Series Second Season, “Ai wo Utae,” Luna Haruna is one of the next generation songstresses. She is also active as a model in the magazine Kera.
Representative anime songs:
“Sora wa Takaku Kaze wa Utau” - Fate/Zero (2012) second season ED theme
“Overfly” - Sword Art Online (2012) Fairy Dance arc ED theme
“Ai wo Utae” - Monogatari Series Second Season (2013) ED theme
● LiSA
LiSA began her career as a singer by singing the vocal parts for the character Yui of the fictional band Girls Dead Monster in the 2010 anime Angel Beats, for which she gained a following. After that, she debuted as LiSA and fired out the smash hits “Oath Sign,” used as the OP theme to Fate/Zero, and “Crossing Field,” used as the OP theme to Sword Art Online. She is now a representative anime song singer due not just to her live performances in which she gets the entire audience involved, but also her friendly and sweet personality.
Representative anime songs:
“Oath Sign” - Fate/Zero OP theme
“Crossing Field” - Sword Art Online OP theme
“Traumerei” - Day Break Illusion OP theme
● Zwei
Zwei is a band that formed in 2003 by vocalist Ayumu and bassist Megu. In 2010, they transferred to 5pb and began creating music for anime and games. Their sound is a hybrid that combines rock, new wave, and techno, and they are known for Ayumu’s piercing and carefree vocals. In 2012, they were in charge of the OP theme to Robotics;Notes which became a hit along with the anime. Their live shows have also received praise due to their forte for performing.
Representative anime songs:
“Junjō Spectra” - Robotics;Notes (2012) first OP theme
“Kakuchō Place” - Robotics;Notes (2012) OP theme
“Ano Natsu no Hi no Omoide” - Steins;Gate: Phenogram of Linear Restraint ED theme
● Minami Kuribayashi
Minami Kuribayashi is a singer/songwriter whose work includes songs for many PC games such as Kimi ga Nozomu Enei and Muv-Luv, as well as OP themes for anime including IS
Representative anime songs:
“Straight Jet” - IS
“Kimi no Naka no Eiyū” - Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (2011) Fleet arc OP theme
“Zero!!!” - The Devil is a Part-Timer! (2013) OP theme
● Angela
Angela is a musical unit comprised of vocalist Atsuko and guitarist Katsu. The group debuted in 2003 with the song “Ashita e no Brilliant Road,” the OP theme to the anime Stellvia. Since then, Angela has produced the theme songs to many anime, including Fafner in the Azure, Heroic Age, Corpse Princess, Asura Cryin’, and Valvrave the Liberator. This year marks the 10th year since they debuted.
Representative anime songs:
“Alternative” - Asura Cryin’ 2 OP theme
“Boku Janai” - Valvrave the Liberator ED theme
“Shangri-La” - Fafner in the Azure OP theme
● Nanamori-chu Goraku-bu
Nanamori-chu Goraku-bu is a unit comprised of the young seiyū who make up the main cast of the anime YuruYuri: Shiori Mikami, Yuka Ōtsubo, Minami Tsuda, and Rumi Ōkubo. Their song "YuriYurarararaYuruYuri Daijiken!!" used as the OP theme to the anime became a big hit along with the anime. “Yes! YuYuYu YuruYuri,” a follow-up OP theme used in the second season of the anime, was also a hit. Though the third season of the anime is yet to be realized, its announcement is hotly anticipated, and these four seiyū are energetically continuing their activities as Nanamori-chu Goraku-bu.
Representative anime songs:
“YuriYurarararaYuruYuri Daijiken!!" - YuruYuri OP theme
“Yes! YuYuYu YuruYuri” - YuruYuri second season OP theme
● Sumire Uesaka
Since her debut as a seiyū in 2011, Sumire Uesaka has continually voiced main characters in talked-about works, including Sora Takanashi in Listen to Me, Girls. I Am Your Father! and Sanae Dekomori in Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. This year, while continuing her seiyū work, she has also released “Nanatsu no Umi Yori Kimi no Umi,” the OP theme to Muromi-san, and “Genshi, Jōshi wa, Taiyō Datta,” the OP theme to Genshiken: Second Season. She is gaining huge attention among young seiyū for her unique, multifaceted talents that include being proficient in Russian.
Representative anime songs:
“Nanatsu no Umi Yori Kimi no Umi” - Muromi-san OP theme
“Genshi, Jōshi wa, Taiyō Datta” - Genshiken: Second Season OP theme
● Psychic Lover
Psychic Lover is a rock band comprised of vocalist Yoffy and guitarist Imajo that creates songs for anime and special effects superhero shows. They made their debut with the song “Transformer -Dream Again-,” the OP theme to Transformers: Armada. They have introduced to the world many fiery songs and OP themes to such works as Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger and Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. They have also created many songs for a variety of different artists. Expect a full-throttle performance from this group at this year’s “Animelo Summer Live”!
Representative anime songs:
“Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger” - Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger OP theme
“Samurai Sentai Shinkenger” - Samurai Sentai Shinkenger OP theme
“Vanguard Fight” - Cardfight!! Vanguard: Link Joker OP theme
● Aiu Rabu
This three-person unit comes from the anime Aiura and consists of Yui Nakajima (Kanaka Amaya), Yuko Iida (Saki Iwasawa), and Nao Tamura (Ayuko Uehara). The striking lyrics and composition of the OP theme “Kani Do-Luck!” have created a buzz for the group. Can fans expect the chant “Kani Kani Kani Kani” to ring out at “Animelo Summer Live” when these three take the stage?!
Representative anime song:
“Kani Do-Luck!” - Aiura OP theme
● The Idolm@ster Million Stars
Introducing the 765 MillionStars idols from The Idolm@ster! Performing this time will be Eriko Nakamura (Haruka Amami), Asami Imai (Chihaya Kisaragi), Naomi Wakabayashi (Ritsuko Akizuki), Manami Numakura (Hibiki Ganaha), Haruka Yamazaki (Mirai Kasuga), and Azusa Tadokoro (Shizuka Mogami)! Fans can look forward to which songs these talented girls will sing!
Representative anime songs:
“Ready!!” - The Idolm@ster OP theme
“Change!!!!” - The Idolm@ster OP theme
● Masayuki Yamamoto
Masayuki Yamamoto made his anime song debut with the theme song to Time Bokan in 1975. He is a singer/songwriter who has created the theme songs to many influential anime, including Time Bokan and Braiger. Look forward to what kind of performance he will put on at this year’s “Animelo Summer Live.”
Representative anime song:
“Time Bokan no Uta” - Time Bokan OP theme
● Afilia Saga
Afilia Saga is an 11-member female vocal group associated with a chain of cafes and restaurants throughout Japan called Afilia Group. The group is jointly produced by Chiyomaru Shikura and Haruko Momoi. This year, they were in charge of the ED theme to the anime Hyperdimension Neptunia, “Neptune Sagashite.” They have also been responsible for many theme songs for games under the 5pb label.
Representative anime song:
“Neptune Sagashite” - Hyperdimension Neptunia ED theme
● Gero
Gero started as an indie band who gained a following from the songs they posted to video submission sites. The band debuted just this year with the song “Beloved x Survival,” the OP theme to the anime Brothers Conflict. While being based in rock, their melodies and fresh and catchy, making their performance highly anticipated.
Representative anime song:
“Beloved x Survival” - Brothers Conflict OP theme
● T-Pistonz+KMC
This four-person group is comprised of vocalist Ton-Nino, rapper KMC, dance leader In-Chiquita, and side vocalist Hiroshi Dot. Their singles include OP themes to the anime and game series Inazuma Eleven.
Representative anime song:
“Gachi de Katouze!” - Inazuma Eleven Go Galaxy OP theme
