Image song
Encyclopedia
An image song or character song is a song on a tie-in
single or album (often called an image album or character album) for an anime
, game
or dorama that is usually sung by the seiyū
or actor
of a character, in character. It is meant to give a sense of the personality of the character.
Image songs are considered an important part of an anime or doramas success, as they often provide insights to a character that may otherwise go unexplored on the program itself. The series creators may also include details about a particular character's design stages and evolution, and on occasion even design sketches so fans can see for themselves how a character changed. There may also be comments from the seiyūs or actors on how they feel about playing their characters. Sometimes image songs are incorporated into the anime itself, such as Kyōran Kazoku Nikki
, which has each of its main characters sing an image song as the ending theme, each with its own animation. Another example is Prince of Tennis, which has the openings and ending songs for the OVA episodes sung by characters in the anime.
Image songs are not restricted to anime protagonists. Antagonists such as Zechs Merquise, Master Asia, Sailor Galaxia, and some of the villains (such as Devimon and Dracule "Hawk Eye" Mihawk) also have their own image songs. In some cases, these are more interesting than those of the protagonists as they often provide the only glimpse into a villain's character.
In addition, fans are known to buy image song albums based solely on the seiyū or actor. An example of this is Megumi Hayashibara
, a well-known seiyū who has released many CDs and albums over her career, including image songs of her characters.
The first anime image song album to reach No. 1 in the Japanese Oricon
weekly charts is , performed by the characters from K-On!
in 2009, debuting at No. 1 with the sales of 67,000 copies in its first week. The K-On! characters later became the first anime image group to reach No. 1 in the Oricon singles chart in 2010, with the opening theme for the second season of the show, "Go! Go! Maniac!", which debuted at No. 1 with the sales of over 83,000 copies in its first week.
theme songs, redone by the seiyūs of Rei Ayanami
, Asuka Langley Soryu
, Shizuka Itō
and Misato Katsuragi
. They are usually identified by a version tag at the end of the name (e.g. "Cruel Angel's Thesis, Ayanami Version"). Another example of this are the character versions of "Hare Hare Yukai". The three main characters, Haruhi Suzumiya, Mikuru Asahina
, and Yuki Nagato
have their own versions of the ending theme, using the original music. However, the characters Kyon
, Itsuki Koizumi
, Tsuruya-san, Ryōko Asakura, Kyon's Sister, and Emiri Kimidori features remixed versions of the ending.
includes songs about Kouji Kabuto and his friends, they are not sung by their seiyū. Nevertheless, they still provide some insight into the character's persona.
Tie-in
A tie-in is an authorized product based on a media property a company is releasing, such as a movie or video/DVD, computer game, video game, television program/television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property...
single or album (often called an image album or character album) for an anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
, game
Game
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
or dorama that is usually sung by the seiyū
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
or actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
of a character, in character. It is meant to give a sense of the personality of the character.
Image songs are considered an important part of an anime or doramas success, as they often provide insights to a character that may otherwise go unexplored on the program itself. The series creators may also include details about a particular character's design stages and evolution, and on occasion even design sketches so fans can see for themselves how a character changed. There may also be comments from the seiyūs or actors on how they feel about playing their characters. Sometimes image songs are incorporated into the anime itself, such as Kyōran Kazoku Nikki
Kyoran Kazoku Nikki
is a light novel series by Akira, with illustrations by x6suke. A 26 part anime adaptation was broadcast in 2008.- Plot summary :...
, which has each of its main characters sing an image song as the ending theme, each with its own animation. Another example is Prince of Tennis, which has the openings and ending songs for the OVA episodes sung by characters in the anime.
Image songs are not restricted to anime protagonists. Antagonists such as Zechs Merquise, Master Asia, Sailor Galaxia, and some of the villains (such as Devimon and Dracule "Hawk Eye" Mihawk) also have their own image songs. In some cases, these are more interesting than those of the protagonists as they often provide the only glimpse into a villain's character.
In addition, fans are known to buy image song albums based solely on the seiyū or actor. An example of this is Megumi Hayashibara
Megumi Hayashibara
is a Japanese voice actress, singer, radio personality, and lyricist from Tokyo. She is currently affiliated with Aksent. Her nicknames include: Megu-san, Megu-nee, Bara-san, Kakka, and Daijin...
, a well-known seiyū who has released many CDs and albums over her career, including image songs of her characters.
The first anime image song album to reach No. 1 in the Japanese Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
weekly charts is , performed by the characters from K-On!
K-On!
is a Japanese four-panel comic strip manga written and illustrated by Kakifly. The manga was serialized in Houbunsha's seinen manga magazine Manga Time Kirara between the May 2007 and October 2010 issues. It was also serialized in Houbunsha's magazine Manga Time Kirara Carat...
in 2009, debuting at No. 1 with the sales of 67,000 copies in its first week. The K-On! characters later became the first anime image group to reach No. 1 in the Oricon singles chart in 2010, with the opening theme for the second season of the show, "Go! Go! Maniac!", which debuted at No. 1 with the sales of over 83,000 copies in its first week.
Character version
A related sub-type is a character version, where a seiyū or actor sings a song from the series as the character. A famous example of this are the various versions of Neon Genesis EvangelionsNeon Genesis Evangelion franchise
The franchise is an umbrella of Japanese media properties generally owned by the anime studio Gainax. It has grossed over 150 billion yen since 1995. The central works of the franchise feature an apocalyptic mecha action story which revolves around the efforts by the paramilitary organization...
theme songs, redone by the seiyūs of Rei Ayanami
Rei Ayanami
is a fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, a Japanese anime from Gainax. She is the First Child and pilot of the Evangelion Unit 00....
, Asuka Langley Soryu
Asuka Langley Soryu
is a 14-year old fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. Within the series, she is designated as the Second Child and the pilot of the Evangelion Unit 02...
, Shizuka Itō
Shizuka Ito
is a Japanese voice actress and singer. She is currently represented by Ken Production. When voicing adult games, she is also known as , , , , or .Itō and fellow voice actress Hitomi Nabatame formed a voice acting unit called "Hitomi Nabatame and Shizuka Itō"...
and Misato Katsuragi
Misato Katsuragi
is a fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise created by Hideaki Anno. She is the operations director at Nerv, initially with the rank of captain; she is later promoted to major. In Rebuild of Evangelion Misato's rank is lieutenant colonel...
. They are usually identified by a version tag at the end of the name (e.g. "Cruel Angel's Thesis, Ayanami Version"). Another example of this are the character versions of "Hare Hare Yukai". The three main characters, Haruhi Suzumiya, Mikuru Asahina
Mikuru Asahina
is a fictional character from the Haruhi Suzumiya light novel series. She is the fourth member to make an appearance, and is also the only character other than Kyon to be brought into the SOS Brigade against her will. She is defined by Kyon to be extremely cute, and often finds herself in...
, and Yuki Nagato
Yuki Nagato
is a fictional character in the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise. She is initially portrayed as an introverted, taciturn bibliophile. She is actually an artificial human created by the Data Integration Thought Entity, and possesses supernatural powers as a result...
have their own versions of the ending theme, using the original music. However, the characters Kyon
Kyon
is a fictional character, protagonist and narrator of the Haruhi Suzumiya light novel series and the anime series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, voiced by Tomokazu Sugita in the original version of the anime, and Crispin Freeman in the English dubbed edition. The name Kyon is actually a...
, Itsuki Koizumi
Itsuki Koizumi
is a fictional character from the Haruhi Suzumiya light novel series; in the anime he is voiced by Daisuke Ono in the original version, and Johnny Yong Bosch in the English dubbed edition. Itsuki is the last member to have joined the SOS Brigade, having been recruited by Haruhi as a "mysterious...
, Tsuruya-san, Ryōko Asakura, Kyon's Sister, and Emiri Kimidori features remixed versions of the ending.
Character song
Similarly, a character song can also be a song about a character, but not necessarily sung by the character's portrayer. For example, while Mazinger ZMazinger Z
, known briefly as Tranzor Z in United States, is a Super Robot manga and anime series created by Go Nagai. The first manga version was serialized in Shueisha Weekly Shōnen Jump from October 1972 to August 1973, and it later continued in Kodansha TV Magazine from October 1973 to September 1974. In...
includes songs about Kouji Kabuto and his friends, they are not sung by their seiyū. Nevertheless, they still provide some insight into the character's persona.