The K-On! animated television series is based on the manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Kakifly. The episodes, produced by the animation studio Kyoto Animation,[1] are directed by Naoko Yamada, written by Reiko Yoshida, and features character design by Yukiko Horiguchi who based the designs on Kakifly's original concept. The story follows four Japanese high school girls who join their school's light music club to try to save it from being abolished. However, they are the only four members of the club, one of which has little experience with guitar playing.
Thirteen episodes were broadcast on TBS between April 3 and June 26, 2009.[2] The episodes began airing on subsequent networks at later dates which include BS-TBS, MBS, and CBC. The widescreen version aired on BS-TBS between April 25 and July 18, 2009.[2] Seven BD/DVD compilation volumes were released by Pony Canyon between July 29, 2009 and January 20, 2010. An additional original video animation episode was released with the final BD/DVD volume on January 20, 2010.[3] Both an English-subtitled and English-dubbed version by Red Angel Media began airing on March 16, 2010 on Animax Asia.[4] At their industry panel at Anime Expo 2010, anime distributor Bandai Entertainment announced that they have acquired the first season of K-On! for a BD/DVD release.[5] A second season titled K-On!! (with two exclamation marks) aired in Japan between April 7, 2010 and September 28, 2010 with 26 episodes.[6] The episodes aired in HD format in Japan. An OVA episode was included with the ninth BD/DVD volume of the second season released on March 16, 2011.[7] An English dubbed version of this season began airing on Animax Asia starting October 20, 2010.[8] The second season was licensed by Sentai Filmworks and released in two BD/DVD collections in North America between June and August 2012.[9] An animated film based on the series was released in Japanese theaters on December 3, 2011,[10] and was later released on BD and DVD on July 18, 2012. Sentai Filmworks released the film in North America on May 21, 2013.
Two pieces of theme music are used for the first season; one opening theme and one ending theme. The opening theme is "Cagayake! Girls" by the Sakura High School Light Music Club (Yui Hirasawa (Aki Toyosaki) with Mio Akiyama (Yōko Hikasa), Ritsu Tainaka (Satomi Satō) and Tsumuki Kotobuki (Minako Kotobuki), along with Azusa Nanako (Ayana Taketatsu) starting in episode nine). The ending theme is "Don't Say Lazy" by the Sakura High School Light Music Club (Akiyama (Hikasa) with Hirasawa (Toyosaki), Tainaka (Satō) and Kotobuki (Kotobuki)).[1] From episode nine, the opening video features Azusa, and also features some minor changes to the music, particularly an additional guitar part during certain segments (alongside the initial two). Four pieces of theme music are used for the second season; two opening themes and two ending themes. For the first 13 episodes, the opening theme is "Go! Go! Maniac" and the ending theme is "Listen!!". For episodes 14 onwards, the opening theme is "Utauyo!! Miracle" while the ending theme is "No, Thank You!". The songs from the second season are performed by After School Tea Time (Hirasawa (Toyosaki), Akiyama (Hikasa), Tainaka (Satō), Kotobuki (Kotobuki), and Nanako (Taketatsu)) with Hirasawa (Toyosaki) and Akiyama (Hikasa) singing lead vocals on the opening and ending themes, respectively. For the movie, the opening theme is "Ichiban Ippai" (いちばんいっぱい, A Lot of Number Ones), the main theme is "Unmei♪wa♪Endless!" (Destiny is Endless!) and the ending theme is "Singing!", all performed by After School Tea Time (Hirasawa (Toyosaki), Akiyama (Hikasa), Tainaka (Satō), Kotobuki (Kotobuki), and Nanako (Taketatsu)).
Series overview edit
Episodes edit
K-On! (2009) edit
| No. | Title | Directed by [a] | Storyboarded by [a] | Original air date [11][12] | English air date [12] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Disband the Club!" Transliteration: "Haibu!" (Japanese: 廃部!) | Naoko Yamada | Reiko Yoshida | April 3, 2009 | March 16, 2010 |
| 02 | "Instruments!" Transliteration: "Gakki!" (Japanese: 楽器!) | Noriyuki Kitanohara | Reiko Yoshida | April 10, 2009 | March 16, 2010 |
| 03 | "Cram Session!" Transliteration: "Tokkun!" (Japanese: 特訓!) | Mitsuyoshi Yoneda | Katsuhiko Muramoto | April 17, 2009 | March 23, 2010 |
| 04 | "Training Camp!" Transliteration: "Gasshuku!" (Japanese: 合宿!) | Taichi Ishidate | Jukki Hanada | April 24, 2009 | March 23, 2010 |
| 05 | "Supervisor!" Transliteration: "Komon!" (Japanese: 顧問!) | Noriko Takao | Jukki Hanada | May 1, 2009 | March 30, 2010 |
| 06 | "School Festival!" Transliteration: "Gakuensai!" (Japanese: 学園祭!) | Tatsuya Ishihara | Katsuhiko Muramoto | May 8, 2009 | March 30, 2010 |
| 07 | "Christmas!" Transliteration: "Kurisumasu!" (Japanese: クリスマス!) | Noriyuki Kitanohara | Reiko Yoshida | May 15, 2009 | April 6, 2010 |
| 08 | "Freshman Reception!" Transliteration: "Shinkan!" (Japanese: 新歓!) | Mitsuyoshi Yoneda | Jukki Hanada | May 22, 2009 | April 6, 2010 |
| 09 | "New Club Member!" Transliteration: "Shinnyū Buin!" (Japanese: 新入部員!) | Taichi Ishidate | Reiko Yoshida | May 29, 2009 | April 13, 2010 |
| 10 | "Another Training Camp!" Transliteration: "Mata Gasshuku!" (Japanese: また合宿!) | Kazuya Sakamoto | Katsuhiko Muramoto | June 5, 2009 | April 13, 2010 |
| 11 | "Crisis!" Transliteration: "Pinchi!" (Japanese: ピンチ!) | Noriko Takao | Reiko Yoshida | June 12, 2009 | April 20, 2010 |
| 12 | "Light Music!" Transliteration: "Keion!" (Japanese: 軽音!) | Tatsuya Ishihara | Jukki Hanada | June 19, 2009 | April 20, 2010 |
| 13 (extra) | "Winter Days!" Transliteration: "Fuyu no Hi!" (Japanese: 冬の日!) | Noriyuki Kitanohara | Reiko Yoshida | June 26, 2009 | April 27, 2010 |
| OVA | "Live House!" Transliteration: "Raibu Hausu!" (Japanese: ライブハウス!) | Taichi Ishidate | Reiko Yoshida | January 20, 2010 | April 27, 2010 |
| No. | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | "Live!" Transliteration: "Raibu!" (Japanese: ライブ!) | July 25, 2009 |
| Ura–1 | "Yui's Curiosity Series" Transliteration: "Yui no Ki ni Naru Shirīzu" (Japanese: 唯の気になるシリーズ) | July 29, 2009 |
| Ura–2 | "Ricchan's Sudden Shots Series" Transliteration: "Ritchan no Totchau zo Shirīzu" (Japanese: りっちゃんのとっちゃうぞシリーズ) | August 19, 2009 |
| Ura–3 | "Mio's Panties" Transliteration: "Mio no O-pantsu" (Japanese: みおのおパンツ) | September 16, 2009 |
| Ura–4 | "Little Yui-chan" Transliteration: "Chibi Yui-chan" (Japanese: ちびゆいちゃん) | October 21, 2009 |
| Ura–5 | "Light Music Club's Uninhabited Island Series" Transliteration: "Keionbu no Mujintō Shirīzu" (Japanese: けいおんぶの無人島シリーズ) | November 18, 2009 |
| Ura–6 | "Animal Series" Transliteration: "Dōbutsu Shirīzu" (Japanese: どうぶつシリーズ) | December 16, 2009 |
| Ura–7 | "Winter Chapter" Transliteration: "Fuyu...no Maki" (Japanese: 冬…の巻) | January 20, 2010 |
K-On!! (2010) edit
| No. | Title | Directed by [a] | Storyboarded by [a] | Original air date [13] | English air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | "Seniors!" Transliteration: "Kō San!" (Japanese: 高3!) | Naoko Yamada | Reiko Yoshida | April 7, 2010 | October 20, 2010[14] |
| 02 | "Clean-up!" Transliteration: "Seiton!" (Japanese: 整頓!) | Tatsuya Ishihara | Jukki Hanada | April 13, 2010 | October 27, 2010[15] |
| 03 | "Drummer!" Transliteration: "Doramā!" (Japanese: ドラマー!) | Noriyuki Kitanohara | Reiko Yoshida | April 20, 2010 | November 3, 2010[16] |
| 04 | "Field Trip!" Transliteration: "Shūgaku Ryokō!" (Japanese: 修学旅行!) | Yoshiji Kigami | Katsuhiko Muramoto | April 27, 2010 | November 10, 2010[17] |
| 05 | "Staying Behind!" Transliteration: "Orusuban!" (Japanese: お留守番!) | Taichi Ishidate | Jukki Hanada | May 4, 2010 | November 17, 2010 |
| 06 | "Rainy Season!" Transliteration: "Tsuyu!" (Japanese: 梅雨!) | Kazuya Sakamoto | Reiko Yoshida | May 11, 2010 | November 24, 2010 |
| 07 | "Tea Party!" Transliteration: "Ochakai!" (Japanese: お茶会!) | Hiroko Utsumi | Masahiro Yokotani | May 18, 2010 | December 1, 2010 |
| 08 | "Career!" Transliteration: "Shinro!" (Japanese: 進路!) | Mitsuyoshi Yoneda | Katsuhiko Muramoto | May 25, 2010 | December 8, 2010 |
| 09 | "Finals!" Transliteration: "Kimatsu Shiken!" (Japanese: 期末試験!) | Noriyuki Kitanohara | Reiko Yoshida | June 1, 2010 | December 15, 2010 |
| 10 | "Teacher!" Transliteration: "Sensei!" (Japanese: 先生!) | Noriko Takao | Jukki Hanada | June 8, 2010 | December 22, 2010 |
| 11 | "Hot!" Transliteration: "Atsui!" (Japanese: 暑い!) | Taichi Ishidate | Katsuhiko Muramoto | June 15, 2010 | December 29, 2010 |
| 12 | "Summer Festival!" Transliteration: "Natsu Fesu!" (Japanese: 夏フェス!) | Kazuya Sakamoto | Reiko Yoshida | June 22, 2010 | January 5, 2011 |
| 13 | "Late Summer Greeting Card!" Transliteration: "Zansho Mimai!" (Japanese: 残暑見舞い!) | Hiroko Utsumi | Masahiro Yokotani | June 29, 2010 | January 12, 2011 |
| 14 | "Summer Training!" Transliteration: "Kaki Kōshū!" (Japanese: 夏期講習!) | Mitsuyoshi Yoneda | Jukki Hanada | July 6, 2010 | January 19, 2011 |
| 15 | "Marathon Tournament!" Transliteration: "Marason Taikai!" (Japanese: マラソン大会!) | Noriyuki Kitanohara | Masahiro Yokotani | July 13, 2010 | January 26, 2011 |
| 16 | "Upperclassmen!" Transliteration: "Senpai!" (Japanese: 先輩!) | Noriko Takao | Katsuhiko Muramoto | July 20, 2010 | February 2, 2011 |
| 17 | "No Club Room!" Transliteration: "Bushitsu ga Nai!" (Japanese: 部室がない!) | Taichi Ishidate | Reiko Yoshida | July 27, 2010 | February 9, 2011 |
| 18 | "Leading Role!" Transliteration: "Shuyaku!" (Japanese: 主役!) | Kazuya Sakamoto | Jukki Hanada | August 3, 2010 | February 16, 2011 |
| 19 | "Romeo and Juliet!" Transliteration: "Romi Juri!" (Japanese: ロミジュリ!) | Hiroko Utsumi | Masahiro Yokotani | August 10, 2010 | February 23, 2011 |
| 20 | "Yet Another School Festival!" Transliteration: "Mata Mata Gakuensai!" (Japanese: またまた学園祭!) | Mitsuyoshi Yoneda | Katsuhiko Muramoto | August 17, 2010 | March 2, 2011 |
| 21 | "Graduation Yearbook!" Transliteration: "Sotsugyō Arubamu!" (Japanese: 卒業アルバム!) | Noriyuki Kitanohara | Reiko Yoshida | August 24, 2010 | March 9, 2011 |
| 22 | "Entrance Exams!" Transliteration: "Juken!" (Japanese: 受験!) | Noriko Takao | Jukki Hanada | August 31, 2010 | March 16, 2011 |
| 23 | "After School!" Transliteration: "Hōkago!" (Japanese: 放課後!) | Taichi Ishidate | Reiko Yoshida | September 7, 2010 | March 23, 2011 |
| 24 | "Graduation Ceremony!" Transliteration: "Sotsugyōshiki!" (Japanese: 卒業式!) | Naoko Yamada Kazuya Sakamoto | Reiko Yoshida | September 14, 2010 | March 30, 2011 |
| 25 (extra) | "Planning Discussion!" Transliteration: "Kikaku Kaigi!" (Japanese: 企画会議!) | Hiroko Utsumi | Masahiro Yokotani | September 21, 2010 | N/A |
| 26 (extra) | "Visit!" Transliteration: "Hōmon!" (Japanese: 訪問!) | Mitsuyoshi Yoneda | Jukki Hanada | September 28, 2010 | N/A |
| OVA | "Plan!" Transliteration: "Keikaku!" (Japanese: 計画!) | Yasuhiro Takemoto | Reiko Yoshida | March 16, 2011 | N/A |
| No. | Title | Release Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ura–1 | "Fortune Telling for Everyone" Transliteration: "Minna de Uranai" (Japanese: みんなで占い) | July 30, 2010 | |
| Ura–2 | "Souvenir Stories" Transliteration: "Omiyage Banashi" (Japanese: おみやげ話) | August 18, 2010 | |
| Ura–3 | "I Want Siblings" Transliteration: "Kyōdai Hoshii" (Japanese: きょうだいほしい) | September 15, 2010 | |
| Ura–4 | "Childhood Dreams" Transliteration: "Kodomo no Koro no Yume" (Japanese: 子どものコロのゆめ) | October 2010 | |
| Ura–5 | "MC Grand Prix" Transliteration: "MC Guran Puri" (Japanese: MCグランプリ) | November 2010 | |
| The girls have a contest to see who is the best MC. | |||
| Ura–6 | "Ura-On! 3-Minute Cooking" Transliteration: "Ura-On! Sanpun Kukkingu" (Japanese: うらおん! 3分クッキング) | December 2010 | |
| Ura–7 | "Sakuragaoka Musical Productions" Transliteration: "Sakuragaoka Kageki Dan" (Japanese: 桜が丘かげき団) | January 2011 | |
| Ura–8 | "Once upon a Time" Transliteration: "Mukashibanashi" (Japanese: むかしばなし) | February 2011 | |
| Ura–9 | "Help Us! Yui-chanman / Light Music Club Rap" Transliteration: "Otasuke! Yui-chanman / Keionbu Rappu" (Japanese: おたすけ! ゆいちゃんマン / けいおんぶラップ) | March 2011 | |
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Film | "K-On! the Movie" Transliteration: "Eiga Keion!" (Japanese: 映画 けいおん!) | Naoko Yamada | Reiko Yoshida | December 3, 2011 (theatrical) July 18, 2012 (BD/DVD) |
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Staff and cast information at the anime's official website" (in Japanese). TBS. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
- ^ a b "News section at the anime's official website" (in Japanese). TBS. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
- ^ "K-ON! Extra Episode Green-Lit for 7th BD/DVD Volume". Anime News Network. July 21, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
- ^ "K-On! on Animax Asia". Animax Asia. March 6, 2010. Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2010.
- ^ "Bandai Entertainment Adds K-On! TV Anime Series". Anime News Network. July 1, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ^ "K-On! Anime's 2nd Season Officially Announced". Anime News Network. December 30, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
- ^ "K-ON!! Gets New Side-Story Episode Green-Lit". Anime News Network. October 15, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
- ^ "K-ON!! on Animax Asia". Animax Asia. October 9, 2010. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
- ^ "Sentai Filmworks Licenses K-ON!! Anime Season 2". Anime News Network. February 20, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
- ^ "K-On! Film Scheduled for December 3". Anime News Network. February 20, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ Animage Staff (August 2009). 放課後のキーノート [After School Keynote]. Animage (in Japanese). 374. Tokyo, Japan: Tokuma Shoten: 14–15.
- ^ a b "TBSアニメーション・けいおん!!公式ホームページ / 各話紹介" [K-On! season 1 story] (in Japanese). TBS. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "TBSアニメーション・けいおん!!公式ホームページ / 各話紹介" [K-On!! (season 2) story] (in Japanese). TBS. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "Animax Asia K-on!! Episode 1 Airdate". Animax Asia. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
- ^ "Animax Asia K-On!! Episode 2 Airdate". Animax Asia. Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
- ^ "Animax Asia K-On!! Episode 3 Airdate". Animax Asia. Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
- ^ "Animax Asia K-On!! Episode 4 Airdate". Animax Asia. Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
External links edit
- Anime official website (in Japanese)