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Kemono Friends

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 2607:fea8:12a0:6fc::2 (talk) at 05:21, 12 January 2019 (→‎Key characters: doesn't make sense to substitute English spellings (particularly not halfway, as "Funbolt") when transcribing the Japanese text). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Kemono Friends
けものフレンズ
(Kemono Furenzu)
Video game
DeveloperNexon
PublisherNexon
Designed byMine Yoshizaki
GenreRPG
PlatformAndroid, iOS
ReleasedAndroid
March 16, 2015
iOS
March 19, 2015
Manga
Kemono Friends: Welcome to Japari Park!
Written byFurai
Published byKadokawa Shoten
English publisher
MagazineMonthly Shōnen Ace
DemographicShōnen
Original runJuly 2015 – March 2017
Volumes2
Anime television series
Directed byTatsuki (season 1)
Ryuichi Kimura (season 2)
Produced byYoshitada Fukuhara
Written byTatsuki (season 1)
Takuya Masumoto (season 2)
Music byAkiyuki Tateyama
StudioYaoyorozu (season 1)
Tomason (season 2)
Licensed by
Original networkTV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, AT-X
Original run January 10, 2017 – present
Episodes12 (List of episodes)
Video game
Kemono Friends Pavilion
DeveloperUniqueWave
PublisherBushiroad
Designed byMine Yoshizaki
GenreIncremental
PlatformAndroid, iOS
ReleasedJanuary 26, 2018
Original net animation
Welcome to the Japari Park
Licensed by
Released August 10, 2018 – present
Video game
Kemono Friends Picross
DeveloperJupiter
PublisherKadokawa Games
GenrePuzzle game
PlatformNintendo Switch
ReleasedOctober 4, 2018

Kemono Friends (Japanese: けものフレンズ, Hepburn: Kemono Furenzu) is a Japanese media franchise created by manga artist Mine Yoshizaki. The project first produced a mobile game developed by Nexon, which ran between March 2015 and December 2016. A manga by Furai was serialized in Kadokawa's Monthly Shōnen Ace between May 2015 and March 2017. A second game in the series was released by Bushiroad on January 26, 2018, while a second anime season has been greenlit for production. An anime television series produced by Yaoyorozu aired between January and March 2017; the anime was co-financed and licensed by Crunchyroll.[1] A second season by Tomason has been green-lit, and it is set to premiere in January 2019.

Plot

Japari Park is a large zoo home to extant species, endangered species, extinct species, cryptids and some legendary creatures. Due to a mysterious substance known as "Sandstar", many of the animals have become anthropomorphized into girls known as Friends (フレンズ, Furenzu).[2]

The manga follows a park keeper named Nana who looks after the various Friends in Japari Park. In the anime, a girl known only as Kaban wakes up in Japari Park with no recollection of who she is or how she got there and encounters a Serval friend. Together, they set out on an adventure to find out what kind of animal Kaban is, passing through multiple regions of Japari Park and meeting new Friends along the way.

Key characters

Kaban (かばん, lit. Bag)
Voiced by: Aya Uchida[3] (Japanese)
The main protagonist of the anime series. A young girl who finds herself in Japari Park with no memory of who she is or where she comes from. Her name was given by Serval due to the backpack she carries. Shy yet resourceful, she travels through Japari Park along with Serval to find out her identity while encountering more Friends along the way, eventually discovering that she is a human. She is the only character with whom Lucky Beast will directly communicate.
Serval (サーバル, Sābaru)
Voiced by: Yuka Ozaki[3] (Japanese)
A serval cat Friend originally from the Savannah Area of Japari Park. She is the first friend to meet Kaban, eager to journey with her in the search for her identity. Energetic and curious, Serval is often amazed by the skills and talents of Kaban and the Friends they encounter on their journey.
Fennec (フェネック, Fenekku)
Voiced by: Kana Motomiya[3] (Japanese)
A fennec fox who accompanies Raccoon as she pursues Kaban and Serval.
Raccoon (アライグマ, Araiguma)
Voiced by: Saki Ono[3] (Japanese)
A raccoon who is chasing after Kaban and Serval, believing that she stole something from her. She calls herself "Arai-san" instead of using the word "I".
Royal penguin (ロイヤルペンギン, Roiyaru pengin)
Voiced by: Mikoi Sasaki[3] (Japanese)
Emperor penguin (コウテイペンギン, Koutei pengin)
Voiced by: Ruka Nemoto[3] (Japanese)
Gentoo penguin (ジェンツーペンギン, Jentsu pengin)
Voiced by: Kyoka Tamura[3] (Japanese)
Rockhopper penguin (イワトビペンギン, Iwatobi pengin)
Voiced by: Aina Aiba[3] (Japanese)
Humboldt penguin (フンボルトペンギン, Funboruto pengin)
Voiced by: Ikuko Chikuta[3] (Japanese)
Lucky Beast (ラッキービースト, Rakkī Bīsuto)
A small, robotic creature also referred to as "Boss" (ボス) by the Friends. While he does not respond to the Friends themselves, he will directly answer questions and statements made by Kaban, providing information on Japari Park, Friends, and needed items when trouble arises.
Mirai (ミライ)
Voiced by: Aya Uchida
A park guide who worked at Japari Park when it was still open and adores animals. During her time at the park, she recorded various reports which are played through Lucky Beast. A different Serval (Voiced by: Ai Nonaka) worked alongside Mirai when Japari Park was open.
Nana (奈々)
The main protagonist of the manga, who works as a caretaker at Japari Park.
Ezo Red Fox (キタキツネ, Kita Kitsune)
Voiced by: Suzuko Mimori
A reoccuring character in the manga series. An Ezo red fox who is rather lazy and enjoys eating Japari buns.
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Voiced by: Yui Ishikawa[4]
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Voiced by: Riko Koike[4]
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Voiced by: Madoka Suge[5]
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Voiced by: Mashiro Yagi[5]
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Voiced by: Mami Yamashita[6]
error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help)
Voiced by: Kaori Maeda[6]
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Voiced by: Yukiyo Fujii
error: {{nihongo}}: Japanese or romaji text required (help)
Voiced by: Yūki Kaneko[7]

Media

Video games

The first smartphone app by Nexon launched in Japan in March 2015, running until its service was shut down on December 14, 2016, one month prior to the anime's premiere.[8] Nexon initially stated that there were no plans to restart the service despite the popularity of the anime series,[9] although the company later announced that, while a return is possible, no final decision on a game relaunch has been made.[10]

On April 23, a new game in development by Bushiroad was announced.[11] On August 14, its name was revealed to be Kemono Friends Pavilion (Japanese: けものフレンズぱびりおん, Hepburn: Kemono Furenzu Pabirion),[12] and will be a simulation game. Originally meant to be released in late 2017, the release date was pushed back to January 26, 2018.[13][14]

Kemono Friends Picross, a picross game developed by Jupiter, was released internationally for Nintendo Switch on October 4, 2018.[15]

Manga

A manga illustrated by Furai, titled Kemono Friends: Welcome to Japari Park! (けものフレンズ ようこそジャパリパークへ!, Kemono Furenzu: Yōkoso Japari Park e!), began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Shōnen Ace magazine from May 2015.[8] The first tankōbon volume was released on December 26, 2016.[16] At their panel in Anime Expo, Yen Press announced their license to the manga.[17] In April 2018, Tokyopop announced that they will release the German version of the manga and that they will publish the first volume on July 26, 2018.[18]

Anime

The anime television series, produced by Yaoyorozu, aired in Japan between January 10, 2017 and March 28, 2017; the anime was simulcast by Crunchyroll, which co-financed and licensed the anime series.[19] The opening theme is "Yōkoso Japari Park e" (ようこそジャパリパークへ, Welcome to Japari Park) by Dōbutsu Biscuits×PPP, while the ending theme is "Boku no Friend" (ぼくのフレンド, My Friend) by Mewhan. Original content for TV Tokyo's AniTele service was released from April 1, 2017.[20] An unofficial "episode 12.1" 2-minute short was uploaded by the director to Niconico and YouTube on April 5, 2017.[21] Additional shorts have been created in collaboration with Japan Racing Association, Animelo Summer Live 2017, and Nissin Foods.[22][23][24]

A second anime season was announced to be greenlit for production on July 26, 2017 and was officially confirmed on September 2, 2018.[25][26][27] The second season will be animated by Tomason with Ryuichi Kimura and Takuya Matsumoto replacing Tatsuki as director and writer, respectively. The rest of the cast and staff will reprise their roles. It is set to premiere in January 15, 2019.[4] The opening theme is "Notteke~ Japari Beat," by Dōbutsu Biscuits×PPP.[28]

An original net animation mini-series based on the original mobile game, titled Welcome to the Japari Park (ようこそジャパリパーク, Yōkoso Japari Pāku), began streaming on TV Tokyo's AnimeTele service from August 10, 2018.[29] Crunchyroll began streaming the series from October 16, 2018.[30]

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# Episode title[a][31][32] Original air date
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Stage play

A stage play adaptation of Kemono Friends with an original storyline ran at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel Club eX in Tokyo from 2017 June 14 to 18. Hiroki Murakami directed the play and penned the script while some of the characters were portrayed by the same actors who voiced them in the anime series. It ran again from 2018 January 13 to 21.

Reception

Anime

Initial criticisms often latched onto the 3D CGI animation style and character design. Critic Hiroki Azuma reported on Twitter that he stopped watching partway through the first episode. However, its popularity increased explosively after the release of the fourth episode.[33] Referring to the simplistic and childish but addictive nature of the show, it has been described (in ironic disapproval) as "causing one's IQ to melt" and "lowering one's intelligence".[34][35] Despite its low production quality, the anime series earned praise from critics and viewers in Japan due to its well crafted storyline and characters, becoming a fad in the country.[36] Nick Creamer of Anime News Network gave the series an overall grade of B, praising the worldbuilding and criticizing the visual aspects.[37]

Multiple phrases and exclamations from the anime have become popular keywords on Twitter;[38][33] Kemono Friends-related phrases have been tweeted by the accounts of Sharp and Warner Bros. Japan.[39]

The first episode of many anime shows are available for free viewing on Niconico Douga. The first episode of Kemono Friends quickly surpassed the first episode of Is the Order a Rabbit? (9 million views as of September 2017; uploaded on April 16, 2014) as well as other popular shows like Attack on Titan in total views. By February 5, it had surpassed 1 million views, by April 4, it had surpassed 5 million views, and by August 24, it had reached a record-breaking 10 million views.[40]

The week after episode 12 and around the time episodes would normally air, demand for an episode 13 reached Twitter's international trends list,[41] and the episode 12.1 short that was uploaded that day (April 5) had reached over 1 million views on both Niconico and YouTube by April 7.

The opening theme song "Yōkoso Japari Park e" rose to 3rd place in the iTunes charts upon release.[42] It was revealed on May 20 that "Yōkoso Japari Park e" had reached gold status (sales of 100,000+ in Japan).[43][44] Gen Hoshino has expressed high praise of the song.[39] Hisashi, guitarist of the band Glay, was inspired to create a guitar arrangement of the opening theme song after watching episode 11.[45]

Multiple other Kemono Friends merchandise topped Amazon rankings upon announcement.[34] The unexpected popularity of the show created a shortage in supply and reservations had to be placed on backorder.[33]

It was reported on NHK's News Check 11 that an increase in the number of visits to zoos rose as a direct result of inspired viewers of Kemono Friends.[35] Kemono Friends has also participated in multiple promotional events with zoos and other establishments, such as posting boards in the image of the franchise's anthropomorphized animals near their real-life counterparts. One of the results of this was a Humboldt penguin named Grape-kun (Japanese: グレープ君) at the Saitama Tobu Zoo that appeared to have fallen in love with its Kemono Friends depiction, display mating behavior towards the board. The popularity of this unusual incident was substantial, such that the penguin was featured on the obi of the fourth guidebook, and the board was not removed after the promotion ended. Grape-kun died on October 12, 2017 beside the cutout.[46]

Controversy

Dispute between Kadokawa and Yaoyorozu

On September 25, 2017, the director of the anime, Tatsuki, revealed on Twitter that Kadokawa had decided to replace him for the production of the second season; fan response included immense condemnation of Kadokawa and widespread support of Tatsuki, as Tatsuki is regarded as being a highly instrumental part of the anime's charm and success.[47][48][49][50] Fans left angry comments en masse towards Kadokawa on Niconico Douga's stream of the first episode, with some declaring that they would cancel their Niconico Douga premium membership with the service in response to Tatsuki's firing, as Dwango [Niconico's owner] and Kadokawa are both child companies of Kadokawa Dwango.[51] The Nikkei reported that stock prices for Kadokawa Dwango fell by 3.3% compared to the previous day at the Tokyo Stock Exchange as a result of the news.[52] In response, the production committee of the Kemono Friends anime announced that director Tatsuki and the animation studio Yaoyorozu had been using the Kemono Friends property on its own without consulting all concerned parties and that Yaoyorozu would not agree to a normalization in communication and withdrew from the project as a result.[53] A September 26 Kemono Friends streaming program on Niconico Douga then featured several voice actresses from the anime publicly apologizing for the ongoing controversy, despite having little connection to the corporate decisions made. This led to further backlash against Kadokawa, with accusations that they had used the actresses to deflect blame from the company itself.[54]

On December 27, 2017, Fukuhara, the producer, confirmed that Yaoyorozu would ultimately not go on to produce the second season.[55]

Notes

  1. ^ All English titles are taken from Crunchyroll.

References

  1. ^ "Crunchyroll - crunchyroll co-production". Crunchyroll. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  2. ^ @yosRRX (March 19, 2015). "..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Staff & Cast". Kadokawa. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c "Kemono Friends Season 2 Reveals Cast, Staff, January Premiere". AnimeNewsNetwork. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Kemono Friends 2 Anime's 2nd Promo Video Features New Character Kyururu". AnimeNewsNetwork. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Kemono Friends 2 Anime Casts Mami Yamashita, Kaori Maeda". AnimeNewsNetwork. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  7. ^ "Kemono Friends 2 Anime Adds Yuki Kaneko to Cast". AnimeNewsNetwork. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Kemono Friends App Ends Service Before Anime Premieres in January". animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "Kemono Friends Game App Will Not Return Despite Anime's Popularity". Anime News Network. February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  10. ^ "Nexon: Kemono Friends App's Return 'is Possible'". Anime News Network. April 1, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  11. ^ "ブシロードが『けものフレンズ』の完全新作スマホゲーム発表！ 配信開始時期も判明 [ファミ通App]". ファミ通App (in Japanese). Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  12. ^ Inc., Aetas. "ブシロード，完全新作ゲーム「けものフレンズぱびりおん」とアラームアプリ「けものフレンズあらーむ」を発表。ティザーサイトも開設" (in Japanese). Retrieved November 10, 2018. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  13. ^ ""Kemono Friends: Pavilion" Pushed Back to January of 2018". Crunchyroll. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  14. ^ "Kemono Friends Pavilion App's Video Previews January 26 Launch". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  15. ^ "Kemono Friends Picross Switch Game Gets Western Release on October 4". Anime News Network. September 28, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  16. ^ "けものフレンズ ‐ようこそジャパリパークへ!‐ (1) (角川コミックス・エース) | フライ, けものフレンズプロジェクト |本 | 通販 | Amazon". www.amazon.co.jp. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  17. ^ "Yen Press Licenses Silver Spoon, Kemono Friends Manga, A Sister's All You Need, Reborn as a Vending Machine Light Novels, More". Anime News Network. July 2, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
  18. ^ "Kemono Friends - Willkommen im Japaripark! (FLY / Kemono Friends Project)". Comicforum - Sponsored by Carlsen und Tokyopop (in German). Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  19. ^ "Crunchyroll to Stream Kemono Friends Anime". Anime News Network. January 5, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  20. ^ "Kemono Friends Gets Original Content on TV Tokyo's Streaming Service". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  21. ^ "たつき監督ありがとう！　先週で完結したはずの「けものフレンズ」まさかの12.1話がサプライズ公開される". ねとらぼ (in Japanese). Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  22. ^ "Kemono Friends, JRA Collaboration Short Anime Introduces 3 Horse Friends". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  23. ^ "Animelo Event Posts Kemono Friends Short on Proper Concert Behavior (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  24. ^ "Kemono Friends' Fox Girls Try to Figure Out Udon in Animated Short". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  25. ^ "Kemono Friends Confirms 2nd TV Anime". AnimeNewsNetwork. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  26. ^ "アニメ「けものフレンズ」ニコ生特番『第11回けものフレンズアワー』". Niconico Live (in Japanese). Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  27. ^ "Kemono Friends Has New On-Screen Project in the Works". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  28. ^ "'Dōbutsu Biscuit x PPP' Returns for Kemono Friends 2 Anime's Opening Song". AnimeNewsNetwork. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  29. ^ "Kemono Friends Smart Phone Game Story Gets Mini-Anime Adaptation". Crunchyroll. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  30. ^ "Crunchyroll Streams Welcome to the JAPARI PARK Anime". Crunchyroll. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  31. ^ "Kemono Friends on Crunchyroll!". crunchyroll.com. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  32. ^ "けものフレンズプロジェクト｜公式サイト". kemono-friends.jp. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  33. ^ a b c "アニメ「けものフレンズ」が突如大ブレイク 社会現象か虚像か、巡りバトル".
  34. ^ a b "「けもフレ」円盤入り書籍の予約がAmazonランキングで1位に　KADOKAWA内は「けもフレ」がほぼ総なめ".
  35. ^ a b "「けものフレンズ」で動物園に行く人が増加？ NHK報道に多摩動物園の反応は".
  36. ^ "TV Tokyo Head Praises Kemono Friends as Series Concludes". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  37. ^ Creamer, Nick (April 3, 2017). "Kemono Friends". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  38. ^ "ネット上の『けものフレンズ』ブームにえらいひとから一言!? - アニメイトタイムズ".
  39. ^ a b "異色人気アニメ「けものフレンズ」｜Infoseekニュース". Infoseekニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  40. ^ "けものフレンズ　1話「さばんなちほー」とは (ケモノフレンズイチワサバンナチホーとは) [単語記事] - ニコニコ大百科". ニコニコ大百科 (in Japanese). Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  41. ^ "「けものフレンズ13話」Twitterでトレンド入り　放送終了に耐えられないフレンズたちが……". ねとらぼ (in Japanese). Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  42. ^ "すごーい！　「けものフレンズ」の主題歌がフレンズ爆増によりiTunesで総合3位に".
  43. ^ "一般社団法人 日本レコード協会". www.riaj.or.jp. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  44. ^ "大石昌良【オーイシマサヨシ】 on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  45. ^ "GLAYのHISASHIさん『けものフレンズ』第11話のかばんショックから一転『ようこそジャパリパークへ』を演奏！ - エキサイトニュース".
  46. ^ "Japan mourns anime-loving penguin". BBC News. October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  47. ^ モーメント, Twitter [@MomentsJapan] (September 25, 2017). "「突然ですが、けものフレンズのアニメから外れる事になりました。」とたつき監督（@irodori7）https://twitter.com/i/moments/912276626947182592 …" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved September 26, 2017 – via Twitter. {{cite web}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  48. ^ モーメント, Twitter [@MomentsJapan] (September 25, 2017). "海外のフレンズもショックを受けている様子…。 #NoTatsukiNoTanoshi https://twitter.com/i/moments/912312642085064705 …" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved September 26, 2017 – via Twitter. {{cite web}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  49. ^ モーメント, Twitter [@MomentsJapan] (September 25, 2017). "「たつき監督辞めないで！」一晩で2万人以上の署名。 #けものフレンズhttps://twitter.com/i/moments/912543690274496512 …" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved September 26, 2017 – via Twitter. {{cite web}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  50. ^ "「突然ですが、けものフレンズのアニメから外れる事になりました」たつき監督がTwitterで報告　ファンに衝撃広がる". ねとらぼ (in Japanese). Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  51. ^ "ニコニコ動画「けものフレンズ」1話が大荒れ　プレミアム解約宣言やKADOKAWA株価速報で画面が埋まる". ねとらぼ (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  52. ^ "＜東証＞カドカワが軟調　人気アニメの監督降板、悪影響を懸念". The Nikkei (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  53. ^ "「けものフレンズ」たつき監督降板騒動、原因は制作会社との条件不一致　製作委員会が正式にコメント". ねとらぼ (in Japanese). Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  54. ^ "Fans take to Change.org to bring back former Kemono Friends director". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  55. ^ 福原慶匡 [@fukuhara_ystd] (December 27, 2017). "今回はお騒がせをしまして誠に申し訳ございませんでした、皆様を不安にさせてしまった事をお詫び致します。最終的な報告になりますが、2期を外れる事に関しては覆りませんでした。井上専務と共に皆様のご期待に応える為、精一杯取り組んで参りましたが、力及ばず大変申し訳ございませんでした。" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved December 28, 2017 – via Twitter.
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