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K-On! (TV series)

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K-On!
けいおん!
(Keion!)
Genre
Anime television series
Directed byNaoko Yamada
Produced by
  • Naohiro Tafu
  • Shinichi Nakamura
  • Yoko Hatta
  • Yoshihisa Nakayama
Written byReiko Yoshida
Music byHajime Hyakkoku
StudioKyoto Animation
Licensed byCrunchyroll[a]
Original networkTBS, BS-TBS
English network
Original run April 3, 2009 – September 28, 2010
Episodes39 + 2 OVAs (List of episodes)
Anime film
K-On! The Movie
Directed byNaoko Yamada
Produced by
  • Naohiro Tafu
  • Shinichi Nakamura
  • Yoko Hatta
  • Yoshihisa Nakayama
Written byReiko Yoshida
Music byHajime Hyakkoku
StudioKyoto Animation
Licensed by
  • Crunchyroll
    • NA: Sentai Filmworks
ReleasedDecember 3, 2011
Runtime110 minutes
icon Anime and manga portal

K-On! (Japanese: けいおん!, Hepburn: Keion!)[c] is a Japanese anime television series based on the manga of the same name written and illustrated by Kakifly. Produced by Kyoto Animation, it aired in Japan between April and June 2009. An additional original video animation (OVA) episode was released in January 2010. A 26-episode second season, titled K-On!! (with two exclamation marks), aired in Japan between April and September 2010, with an OVA episode released in March 2011. An anime film adaptation was released in Japan in December 2011. Bandai Entertainment had licensed the first season until their closure in 2012. Sentai Filmworks has since re-licensed the first season, in addition to acquiring the rights to the second season and film, and is currently streaming at first on Anime Network Online then later Hidive.

The main series focuses on four young Japanese high school girls who join their school's light music club to try to save it from being dissolved. However, they are the only four members of the club, one of which has little experience with guitar playing.

Series overview

[edit]
Main article: List of K-On! episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1133 April 2009 (2009-04-03)26 June 2009 (2009-06-26)
2267 April 2010 (2010-04-07)28 September 2010 (2010-09-28)

Cast

[edit]
Main article: List of K-On! characters
Character Japanese English (Bang Zoom!)
Main characters
Yui Hirasawa (平沢 唯, Hirasawa Yui) Aki Toyosaki Stephanie Sheh
Mio Akiyama (秋山 澪, Akiyama Mio) Yōko Hikasa Cristina Vee
Ritsu Tainaka (田井中 律, Tainaka Ritsu) Satomi Satō Cassandra Lee Morris
Tsumugi Kotobuki (琴吹 紬, Kotobuki Tsumugi) Minako Kotobuki Shelby Lindley
Azusa Nakano (中野 梓, Nakano Azusa) Ayana Taketatsu Christine Marie Cabanos
Secondary/supporting characters
Sawako Yamanaka (山中 さわ子, Yamanaka Sawako) Asami Sanada Karen Strassman
Ui Hirasawa (平沢 憂, Hirasawa Ui) Madoka Yonezawa Xanthe Huynh
Nodoka Manabe (真鍋 和, Manabe Nodoka) Chika Fujitō Laura Bailey
Jun Suzuki (鈴木 純, Suzuki Jun) Yoriko Nagata Michelle Ann Dunphy
Megumi Sokabe (曽我部 恵, Sokabe Megumi) Asumi Kodama Bennett Abara[d]
(From left to right): Christine Marie Cabanos (Nakano), Shelby Lindley (Kotobuki), Cassandra Lee Morris (Tainaka), Stephanie Sheh (Hirasawa) and Cristina Vee (Akiyama) provided the English voices of the K-On! series by Bang Zoom! Entertainment in Burbank, California.

Production

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Season 1

[edit]
Main article: K-On! season 1

A 13-episode anime adaptation directed by Naoko Yamada, written by Reiko Yoshida, and produced by Kyoto Animation aired between April 3 and June 26, 2009, on TBS in Japan.[3] The episodes began airing on subsequent networks at later dates which include BS-TBS, MBS, and CBC. The TBS airings are in 4:3 ratio, and the series began airing in widescreen on BS-TBS on April 25, 2009. Seven BD/DVD compilation volumes were released by Pony Canyon between July 29, 2009, and January 20, 2010. An additional original video animation (OVA) episode was released with the final BD/DVD volumes on January 20, 2010.[4] The BD/DVD volumes contained extra short anime titled Ura-On!.

The series later began airing on Japan's Disney Channel[5] from April 2011. Animax has aired the anime in Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan. Both an English-subtitled and English-dubbed version by Red Angel Media began airing on March 16, 2010, on Animax Asia.[6] At their industry panel at Anime Expo 2010, anime distributor Bandai Entertainment announced that they have acquired K-On! for a DVD and Blu-ray Disc release,[7] with Bang Zoom! Entertainment producing an English dub for the show.[8] The series was released over four volumes in standard and limited editions for each format[9] starting on April 26, 2011.[10] Bandai released the full first season on DVD under their "Anime Legends" line on February 7, 2012.[11] Manga Entertainment, now known as Crunchyroll UK and Ireland, released the series in the UK in individual DVD volumes during 2011, and in a complete DVD of the first season on April 30, 2012.[12][13] A planned BD box set release in 2012 was cancelled.[14]

Sentai Filmworks has licensed the first season and re-released the series on DVD on September 23, 2014, and currently streams on its HIDIVE platform.[15] Sentai also re-released the series on Blu-ray on September 1, 2015.[16] Netflix aired the first season in the United States and Canada between November 2019 and November 2021.[17] In Australia, the first season was broadcast on ABC Me in Australia, with episodes being hosted on ABC iview.[18]

Season 2

[edit]
Main article: K-On!!

At the Let's Go live concert in Yokohama, Japan held on December 30, 2009, a second season was announced for production.[19] The second season, titled K-On!! (with two exclamation marks), aired with 26 episodes on TBS in Japan between April 7 and September 28, 2010.[20][21] An additional OVA episode was released with the final BD/DVD volumes on March 16, 2011.[22] As with the first season, the BD/DVD volumes contained extra short anime titled Ura-On!!. It also aired on Animax Asia starting October 20, 2010.[23]

Sentai Filmworks licensed the second season and released the series on DVD and Blu-ray in two boxsets released on June 19, 2012, and August 28, 2012, respectively. The original English dub cast reprised their roles for this season.[24] HIDIVE and Netflix (from November 2019 and November 2021) streamed the second season in the United States and Canada.[17] In Australia, the second season was broadcast on ABC Me in Australia, with episodes being hosted on ABC iview.[18]

Film

[edit]

A film adaptation of K-On! was released in Japan on December 3, 2011. It follows the girls as they travel to London to celebrate their graduation.[25] Developed as an original story, it was produced by Kyoto Animation with Naoko Yamada as the director.[26][27][28] The film features the two songs "Ichiban Ippai" and "Unmei wa Endless" by Aki Toyosaki. The ending theme is "Singing" by Yōko Hikasa. The film opened at #2 with a gross of ¥317,287,427 (US$4,070,919) from 137 theaters,[29] and has earned a total of ¥1,639,685,078 (US$21,419,792) by the end of its run.[30]

The film features a London cafe inspired by the Troubadour Cafe in Earl's Court, and K-On! fans often visit the cafe.[31]

K-On!: The Movie was released on BD and DVD on July 18, 2012. Sentai Filmworks released the film on BD/DVD in North America on May 21, 2013.[32] Madman Entertainment, which its anime unit is now branded as Crunchyroll Store Australia, released the film in Australia on BD/DVD.[33] HIDIVE and Netflix (from November 2019 and November 2021) also streamed the film in the United States and Canada.[17]

Future

[edit]
See also: Tamako Market

Although a third season of the series was speculated to be produced, Yamada and Yoshida went on to produce Tamako Market instead. Much of the production staff of the K-On! anime returned for the series.[34]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]
Fans of the anime visit the former elementary school in Toyosato, Shiga, which is used as a model for the high school in the anime.[35][36]

The first Japanese DVD volume of the anime series sold around 8,000 copies to debut seventh in the ranking on the Oricon charts for the week of July 29, 2009.[37] The Blu-ray Disc release of the first volume sold about 33,000 copies in the same week, to top the Oricon BD charts. In August 2009, the first volume of K-On! was the top-selling anime television Blu-ray Disc in Japan, having surpassed the previous record holder Macross Frontier, which sold approximately 22,000 copies of its first volume. It was the second best-selling Blu-ray Disc in Japan, trailing only Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, with around 49,000 copies.[37] However, in October 2009, the first volume of Bakemonogatari surpassed K-On!'s previous record, having sold 37,000 copies at that time.[38] Later, with the release of K-On!! volume 3, total BD sales for the series have outsold Bakemonogatari.[39] Both series have sold a combined total of over 520,000 BD copies by February 20, 2011.[40]

The room at the Toyosato Elementary School that served as the model for the room used by the Light Music Club in the anime. Fans have decorated the room with the items shown in the anime.

At the beginning of September 2010, the Kyoto prefectural government began using K-On!! to promote the census and encourage people to be counted.[41] In 2011, Sharp and Bandai announced plans to jointly launch a calculator with designs of the characters from K-On!.[42] K-On! has influenced a string of tourism for the rural town of Toyosato, related to the phenomenon of the anime pilgrimage, home to the elementary school that was used as a model for the high school in the anime. The school has opened portions of itself to the public as an exhibit for the series. Matthew Li of Anime Tourist described the exhibit as, "A place that genuinely understands its fanbase and carries all the sentimental props one can remember from the show and more; housing items seen in the school, like a museum."[43] The anime has also inspired real-life musicians. Hiroto, the bassist of The Sixth Lie, joined a band that was influenced by K-On! when he was in junior high school.[44]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

K-On! received a Best TV Animation Award at the 2010 Tokyo Anime Awards,[45] with K-On!! receiving the same award in 2011.[46] K-On!! also won the Best Television award at the 2010 (15th) Animation Kobe Awards.[47] In 2012, the film was nominated for the 35th Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year award,[48] and won the Best Film award in the 2nd Newtype Anime Awards.[49] The film also won the Theatrical Film Award at the 17th Animation Kobe Awards.[50]

See also

[edit]
  • Tamako Market, another anime directed by Naoka Yamada that aired in 2013

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ In Australia through Crunchyroll Store Australia (formerly Madman Anime) and the United Kingdom through Crunchyroll UK and Ireland (formerly Manga Entertainment)
  2. ^ Originally licensed by Bandai Entertainment. Following Bandai Entertainment's closure in 2012, Sentai Filmworks acquired the license to the K-On! series starting with the second season.
  3. ^ The Japanese title is short for "light music" (軽音楽, Keiongaku); that is, more casual music (e.g. jazz or popular) in contrast to classical.
  4. ^ Previously credited under her real name, Amanda C. Miller.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "K-ON! Season 1". Sentai Filmworks. Archived from the original on May 28, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  2. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (January 14, 2015). "Nodame Cantabile Leads the Pack in Fans' Top Musical Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  3. ^ "TBSアニメーション・けいおん!公式ホームページ / 各話紹介" [TBS Animation K-On! Official Homepage / Each Episode Introduction] (in Japanese). TBS. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
  4. ^ "K-ON! Extra Episode Green-Lit for 7th BD/DVD Volume". Anime News Network. July 21, 2009. Archived from the original on July 23, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
  5. ^ けいおん! [K-On!] (in Japanese). Disney Channel. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  6. ^ "K-On! on Animax Asia". Animax Asia. March 6, 2010. Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2010.
  7. ^ "Bandai Entertainment Adds K-On! TV Anime Series". Anime News Network. July 1, 2010. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  8. ^ "Bandai Ent. Adds My-Otome 0~S.ifr~, Sora Kake Girl". Anime News Network. July 31, 2010. Archived from the original on August 2, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  9. ^ Beveridge, Chris (October 9, 2010). "Bandai Makes Solid New York Anime Festival Announcements". Mania. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010.
  10. ^ "K-ON! Volume 1 (Blu-ray) (Pre-order! Available 04/26/2011)". January 2011. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011.
  11. ^ "K-ON! Anime Legends DVD Box Solicited". Anime News Network. January 6, 2012. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  12. ^ "Manga UK Adds Haruhi Film, 2nd TV Season, Haruhi-chan". Anime News Network. October 31, 2010. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  13. ^ "K-ON release plans in UK". Anime News Network. April 1, 2011. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  14. ^ "Blu-ray Editions of K-ON! and The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya Cancelled". Anime News Network. January 6, 2012. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  15. ^ "Sentai Filmworks Adds K-On! Season 1". Anime News Network. May 20, 2014. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
  16. ^ "Hamatora Anime Gets English Dub". Anime News Network. May 19, 2015. Archived from the original on May 20, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  17. ^ a b c "'K-on!' Anime Series & Movie Leaving Netflix in November 2021". What's on Netflix. October 19, 2021. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "K-On!". ABC Me. 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  19. ^ "K-On! Anime's 2nd Season Officially Announced". Anime News Network. December 30, 2009. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  20. ^ "TBSアニメーション・けいおん!!公式ホームページ / 最新情報" [TBS Animation K-On! Official Homepage / News]. March 17, 2010. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  21. ^ "K-On's 2nd Season, B Gata H Kei Anime Dated for April". Anime News Network. January 29, 2010. Archived from the original on February 2, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  22. ^ "K-ON!! Gets New Side-Story Episode Green-Lit". Anime News Network. March 15, 2010. Archived from the original on October 18, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
  23. ^ "K-On!! on Animax Asia". Animax Asia. October 9, 2010. Archived from the original on October 11, 2010.
  24. ^ "Sentai Filmworks Licenses K-ON! Season 2". Anime News Network. February 20, 2012. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  25. ^ "K-On! Film's Basic Story Premise Revealed". Anime News Network. August 13, 2011. Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  26. ^ "TBSアニメーション・けいおん!!公式ホームページ". TBS. February 20, 2011. Archived from the original on March 1, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  27. ^ "K-On! Gets Film Green-Lit". Anime News Network. September 28, 2010. Archived from the original on February 22, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  28. ^ "K-On! Film Scheduled for December 3". Anime News Network. February 20, 2011. Archived from the original on February 24, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  29. ^ "Japan Box Office, December 3–4, 2011". Box Office Mojo. IMDb.com, Inc. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  30. ^ "Japan Box Office, February 4–5, 2012". Box Office Mojo. IMDb.com, Inc. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  31. ^ "Japanese K-ON! Fans Present Film Graphic to London Café". Anime News Network. February 16, 2012. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  32. ^ "Sentai Filmworks Licenses K-On! Film". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2021-08-26. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  33. ^ "K-On! The Movie". Madman Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  34. ^ "Kyoto Animation's K-ON! Team Makes TV Anime Tamako Market". Anime News Network. November 28, 2012. Archived from the original on December 1, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  35. ^ "Exploring the Anime World of K-On! in Toyosato". Biwako Visitors Bureau. July 2, 2011. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  36. ^ "Anime PilgrFile: Visiting the model of K-ON!! Highschool". Gigazine. July 28, 2010. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  37. ^ a b "1st K-On! Volume is Now #2 Blu-Ray in Japan So Far". Anime News Network. August 4, 2009. Archived from the original on August 5, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
  38. ^ "Japanese Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, October 5–11". Anime News Network. October 15, 2009. Archived from the original on October 18, 2009. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  39. ^ "K-ON! Tops Bakemonogatari as #1 TV Anime in BD Sales". Anime News Network. September 21, 2010. Archived from the original on September 23, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  40. ^ "K-ON! is 1st TV Anime Franchise to Sell 500,000+ BDs". Anime News Network. February 22, 2011. Archived from the original on February 23, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  41. ^ 平成22年国勢調査のお知らせ [Explanation of the Heisei 22 National Census] (in Japanese). Kyoto, Japan: Kyoto Prefecture. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010.
  42. ^ "Sharp, Bandai to launch calculators with anime, cartoon characters". Mainichi Daily News. February 18, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  43. ^ "The Longevity of Anime Pilgrimages". Anime Tourist. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017.
  44. ^ "The Sixth Lie". Animethon. Archived from the original on May 16, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  45. ^ "Summer Wars Wins Tokyo Anime Fair's Top Award, 6 More". Anime News Network. February 16, 2010. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2010.
  46. ^ "Arrietty Wins Tokyo Anime Fair's Top Award & 4 More". Anime News Network. March 1, 2011. Archived from the original on March 2, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  47. ^ "Haruhi Film, K-ON!!, Miku Win Anime Kobe Awards". Anime News Network. October 15, 2010. Archived from the original on October 18, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
  48. ^ "Japan Academy Prize Nods Confirmed for K-ON, Poppy Hill, Others". Anime News Network. January 16, 2012. Archived from the original on January 18, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  49. ^ "Fate/Zero, K-ON Win Top Prizes in Newtype Anime Awards". Anime News Network. October 7, 2012. Archived from the original on June 19, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  50. ^ "K-ON, Yuruyuri, Nyarko-san Win Anime Kobe Awards". Anime News Network. October 13, 2012. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.

Further reading

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[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to K-On! (TV series).
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