Animelo Summer Live 2022 -Sparkle-" DAY1 recap report! Part 1

The annual summer event "Animelo Summer Live" (Anisama) is here again this year! The world's largest anime song live event "Animelo Summer Live 2022 -Sparkle-" (Anisama 2022) was held over three days on August 26 (Fri.), 27 (Sat.), and 28 (Sun.), 2022.

Akiba Research Institute will report on the three days of the event.

Animelo Summer Live 2022 -Sparkle-" DAY1 Part 1

The curtain finally rose for the 17th year of Anisama.

The opening movie with sparkling 80's art-style illustrations that made the audience feel like they were in the middle of summer was played, and the participating artists were introduced.

Although the pre-Corona days have not yet returned, "At least for Anisama, we want to bring back the everyday life where people can enjoy that entertainment to the fullest!　I think they were filled with the spirit of "We want to create the best festival because it's now.

And the audience agreed with them, creating a wonderful space.

The opening number for the first song of "Anisama 2022" was the theme song of "Ultra Galaxy Fight: Clash of Fates. The collaboration of Konomi Suzuki, Sayoshi Oishi, and Sogo Nakamura sparkled with Ultraman images in the background. Oishi and Nakamura's passionate, or rather, fiery vocals were accompanied by Konomi Suzuki's pleasantly elongated voice singing in the middle of the song.

The song was originally hers, but the addition of two people with deep ties to Ultraman gave it tremendous power and impact.

Next was the stage for the TV anime "IDOLY PRIDE.

First, the bright and sunny five members of "Sunny Peace" took the stage to sing "SUNNY PEACE HARMONY," a pop performance bursting with smiles, with live scenes from the TV anime in the background. After turning the venue orange and drawing claps, "Tsuki no Tempest" appeared on stage wearing blue costumes that looked like the night sky.

Again, the song was sung coolly against the backdrop of animated images. Again, the audience's clapping encouraged the girls.

Inheriting her sister's feelings, Kotono Nagase (CV. Mirai Tachibana) sang "song for you" with all her heart. Just as in the last episode of the anime, the venue was dyed in green, which was a moving sight.

The last song of the medley was "Sayonara kara hajimari monogatari", the last song in the TV anime, performed with Mr. Oishi Masayoshi, who wrote the song. Mr. Oishi participated on acoustic guitar. The powerful performance by the live band and the 10 members of Hoshimi Productions were superb.

I applaud the girls for showing the realistic world of the TV anime in such a short time.

Rinmai Kyoku (Rondo)" appeared on the special stage without a pause!

They hit the stage with the loud sound of "BLACK LOTUS," the ED theme of the TV anime "D_CIDE TRAUMEREI THE ANIMATION. Vocalist Tsubaki Aoyagi (CV. Rihona Kato) burst into passionate singing!　The technical guitar and guitar solo by Nagisa Tsukimiyama (CV. Sae Otsuka) was also super cool.

Then they covered "unravel" by TK from Rin to Shigure. Rinmai Kyoku is a unit born out of "D4DJ (D4DJ)," and they emphasized the importance of their own worldview in their MC, but considering the effort and experience they have accumulated to show such a realistic performance, I was in awe of their performance.

It was such a full-fledged performance, and I felt that they even knew how to bring the audience to their feet.

Next up was Akuri Onishi, who made her debut as a voice-over artist in 2021. She sang a cool song "Elder flower" with two dancers, which was a little different from her fresh and pure image.

After the cool performance without smiling, she went on to "Jellyfish na Kimi he", the OP theme of the TV anime "Kono healer, mendokunai". The introduction of this song included MC by the heroine Kara, whom she plays, and in the middle of the song, "Don't hijack the MC!" Onishi-san, who had changed his clothes quickly, appeared on stage while making the comment, "Don't hijack the MC!" It was typical of Anisama to have such an exchange between the characters and Onishi-san.

The catchy song echoed in the background with images of Kara in action.

Incidentally, this song was written and composed by Shunryu, a well-known creator of songs for Yui Ogura and Natsuori Ishihara, whom she admires. Shunryu's sound is a great one on a big stage. Onishi-san had said that it was his dream to perform at Anisama this year, and he fulfilled his dream as soon as possible, turning the venue pink as he left the stage.

Yuki Nakajima performed "Route BLUE," the ED theme of the TV anime "Shikimori-san, Not Just Cute," with the ED movie of the anime in the background. In a cute outfit that showed off her toned stomach, she showed off her superb dancing and singing voice.

It was a shame that it was only one song! It was such a refined stage performance that I wanted to watch it for a longer time.

Following "Rinmai Kyoku," "D4DJ" presented "Merm4id," an uplifting song that was perfect for the everlasting summer.

They appeared from the back of the stage on a trolley. After landing on the main stage, a surprise guest, m.c.A.T., appeared on stage!

As Merm4id feat. m.c.A.T, they performed "Floor Killer x Bomb A Head! Anisama Remix" and showed the "best & highest" stage. After everyone did Bomb A Head, Rinmai Kyoku descended on the main stage. They performed "FAKE OFF" as "Merm4id x Rinmauikyoku. The band showed us the joys of remixing and DJing, where band sounds and club sounds, completely different personalities, are fused together.

Next up was Sogo Nakamura.

He instantly created his own world view as an artist in the venue, and performed "Ryuten," a song he wrote and composed himself, with a thick sound.

Although Mr. Nakamura had also appeared as the opening act, it was impressive that he spoke to the audience in a very frank manner during the MC. Now she sang "JUMP" (ED of "Skating Reading Stars") with a blue sky projected on the stage and fists pumping in the air in the chorus, looking very happy. Recently, more and more artists have been working as voice actors and also showing their talent as singer-songwriters, and he is one of them. I was impressed by his ability to create his own world.

Another voice actor with a wealth of talent as a songwriter is Nao Higashiyama.

She is about to release her third album "Welcome to MY WONDERLAND" and started her performance with "Gunsei Infinity," a song she wrote and composed herself.

I can go further! She showed off her clear and penetrating singing voice, sharp dance moves, and expressive power. The audience was overwhelmed by her multiple talents on stage.

She also turned 30 years old, and she was happy to say "I am Nao Higashiyama, 17 years old (Hey, hey, hey!)," like Kikuko Inoue, who is in charge of shadow narration for this Anisama, because she is "qualified.

She had been recovering from a new type of coronavirus she contracted a short while ago, but she made a successful comeback just before Anisama!　She showed the same powerful performance she had been showing since her debut.

She ended her performance by singing the pop song "Growing" (the ED theme of "Yusha, Quit") while circling the venue on a trolley.

Next on the main stage was Akatsu Saito. Wearing a cute red one-piece dress, she sang "888" (OP of "Watashi wo suki na na wa you dake?"). The stage was colorful and lively with the powerful performance of Anisama band and horn section "FIRE HORNS" and dancers using umbrellas and other props.

Her expression and sense of rhythm using her whole body were very attractive in the live performance of the unit "Aqours," but I think her solo performance also showed off her charm to the fullest.

Next up was super idol Airi Suzuki, whose recent activities in the anime world are dizzying!　During the MC, she mentioned that she was in elementary school at the time.

She also sang "Heart is an Oteake" ("Kaguya-sama ga Kesshirasai - Ultra Romantic -" ED), her debut ani-song since becoming a solo artist. This song was another gory idol song, and Ms. Suzuki sang it so prettily that one could almost say, "Oh my God, not this again! Her pink dress, different from the one in the music video, was dazzling.

Then, Ms. Suzuki instantly changed into a black costume and formed a dreamy girls' band with guitarist Aimi and bassist Yuki Nakajima in the center, and the three of them sang "My Boy" in a cool way. This song is also by "Buono!", an idol group to which Ms. Suzuki used to belong, and is also the ending theme of "Shugo Chara! It is also the ending theme song for "Shugo Chara!

Since both Aimi and Nakajima-san were dressed in white with white instruments and white outfits, the contrast between black and white with Suzuki-san, who was all in black, was outstanding.

The last band of the first half was RAISE A SUILEN from "BanG Dream! Natsume (played by Masking) burst into a drum solo at the center of the main stage!　There, vocalist Raychell (played by Layer) raised his voice while playing the bass guitar. When the five members were clearly visible on stage, they raised their fists in the air and sang "WOW WOW.

Fireworks were displayed on the stage, and the audience sang "DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE! (OP of "Watashi wo suki na wa you dake na na?") with the passionate words "Anisama, come on! This song was packed with powerful vocals by Raychell, light rap by Lisa Boki (Tutu), technical guitar by Riko Obara (Rock), catchy keyboard by Reiho Kurachi (Paleo), and the charm of ......RAS with a smile. The song was packed with the charm of RAS. The digital rock song "Repaint" (commercial song for the smartphone game app "New Japan Pro-Wrestling STRONG SPIRITS") continued to raise the tension of the audience.

The girls simply gave an overwhelming stage performance, but they ended with "UNSTOPPABLE" ("Cardfight!!!"). Vanguard: Sequel to High School Arc" ED theme). The last song was "UNSTOPPABLE" (the ED theme of "Card Fight!!! Vanguard: High School Arc"), which featured a surprise guest from "BanG Dream! (BanG Dream!)" band "Morfonica", Amane Shindo (playing Mashiro Kurata) and Ayasa Yashio (playing Rui Yashio) joined the band as surprise guests for this song. The gorgeous sound with vocals and strings shook the venue.

Although RAISE A SUILEN is a band born out of content, I was surprised by the quality of their entertainment and the underlying strength they have gained through their sincere musical activities!

I thought their performance was as good as any other band's, and once again I was reminded of the greatness of the "BanG Dream!

(Reporting and writing by Junichi Tsukagoshi)