Prominent Singers and Voice Actors Gather at Animelo Summer Live 2019

The world’s largest anisong event, Animelo Summer Live 2019: Story, was held from August 30th to September 1st at Saitama Super Arena. First held in 2005, this year was the event’s 15th memorial festival. In celebration of its anniversary, the number of artists and audience members were the biggest in its history.

One-day passes, which cost 9,200 yen (approx. 90 US dollars) were sold out immediately after their release in late June. The total number of attendees across all three days reached 84,000, and there were 141 artists from 59 groups participating in the event. On average, nearly six hours of exciting live performances were held each day, and it seemed like many fans had purchased three-day tickets to attend.

Day 1

20 artists performed on the first day. First, three songs from Kemono Friends were played. It was a lively show befitting of the opening, as it raised the spirit and expectations of the whole crowd.

Suzuko Mimori, who is known for anime roles such as Umi Sonoda from Love Live! School Idol Project and Mimori Togo from Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru, has been performing at this event for 10 consecutive years. She belted out four songs, including the second ending theme song of Diamond no Ace, “Glory!”, with Masayoshi Ooishi.

Sayaka Sasaki sang three songs from Girls & Panzer. The anime is quite popular in Japan, and the popularity is partially sustained by fans who visit places depicted in the franchise on pilgrimages called “seichi junrei.”

ReoNa performed two ending themes from Sword Art Online:Alicization.

Konomi Suzuki, a veteran singer and voice actress who won the All-Japan Anison Grand Prix in 2011 at the age of 14 rendered four songs solo. One of them was “This Game,” the opening theme song of No Game No Life.

Roselia sang “Brave Jewel” from the second season of BanG Dream!. As the popularity of BanG Dream! grows, Roselia are definitely among the top up-and-coming artists in Japan.

Masayoshi Suzuki, who sang “Love Dramatic” from Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen, is known nationally for his love songs and ballads. This was his first anisong, thus he is considered the biggest rookie to an Animelo Summer Live. The performance also featured Sphere, an all-girl idol group.

The last act of Day 1 was Sphere (Haruka Tomatsu, Minako Kotobuki, Ayahi Takagaki, and Aki Toyosaki). They performed two songs, in addition to Otome Youkai Zakuro‘s “Moon Signal” and “Now loading… SKY!!” from Asobi ni Iku yo!

Day 2

21 artists performed on the second day. Many of the theme songs were from popular anime works.

Today’s live performances opened with Ga-Rei:Zero‘s “Paradise Lost” by Minori Chiara and TRUE. Chiara also provided the solo performance of Kyoukaisenjou no Horizon‘s opening theme song, “Terminated.”

Tasuku Hatanaka, the voice of Yuuma Tsukumo from Yu☆Gi☆Oh! Zexal Second, sang the opening theme of Konjiki no Gash Bell!!

Minori Suzuki made her appearance on Day 2 too, where she sang Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san‘s opening theme, “Feeling Around”.

Takuma Terashima performed the opening theme song, “Nameless Story,” from Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken.

It was followed by a duet from Yuiko Oohara, who sings the theme song for Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san, and Rie Takahashi, who plays the role of Takagi-san.

Minami Kuribayashi and surprise guest Masami Okui performed the classic opening theme song of Shoujo Kakumei Utena as the venue roared in excitement.

TRUE and Kitauji Quartet (Tomoyo Kurosawa, Ayaka Asai, Moe Toyota, Chika Anzai) performed four songs from Hibike! Euphonium.

The next pair of surprise guests, Aira Yuuki and Minori Chihara, continued with songs from Violet Evergarden.

angela’s medley in the second half consisted of Aho Girl, Soukyuuno Fafner: Dead Aggressor, and Sidonia no Kishi‘s opening theme songs.

When Love Live! Sunshine!!‘s Aqours showed up as the last act of Day 2, the crowd was elated. Their performance, while clad in the same costumes as the characters, was well received.

Day 3

Then, on the last day, the excitement of the crowd reached its peak because the surprise guest was someone no one would’ve guessed: Houkago Tea Time from K-On! Screams filled the stadium and pen lights were swung wildly during “Don’t say ‘Lazy'” and “Go! Go! Maniac”. Even 10 years after the broadcast ended, K-On! still has dedicated fans.

Nijigasaki Gakuen School Idol Doukoukai (Mayu Sagara, Miyu Kubota, Tomori Kusunoki, Aguri Oonishi, Natsumi Murakami, Chiemi Tanaka, Kaori Maeda, Akari Kitou, and Maria Sashide) from the Love Live! franchise was another crowd pleaser as the performance was synchronized with the idols dancing on the rear screen, and the audience waved their penlights.

ClariS sang Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai. and Hataraku Saibou‘s ending theme songs.

After Yuuma Uchida sang the ending theme song for Kono Oto Tomare.

Next, OxT (Masayoshi OoishixTom-H@ck) sang the opening theme song, “Union,” from SSSS.Gridman, while the ending theme song, “Youthful Beautiful,” was sung by Maaya Uchida featuring Sumire Uesaka.

OxT also sang the opening theme song, “Clattonoia,” from Overlord with power and passion.

ZAQ, a singer-songwriter known for Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!‘s opening theme, sang Shokugeki no Souma: San no Sara‘s opening theme song in an up-tempo rock ‘n’ roll style, and roused the crowd with an acoustic rendition of her next song, Kouya no Kotobuki Kikoutai‘s opening theme song, “Soranone”.

Maon Kurosaki, who performs the theme songs for Toaru Majutsu no Index, sang the third season’s second opening theme song, “Roar”.

I’d like to call attention to Poppin’ Party, the five-member group born out of BanG Dream!, comprised of voice actresses Aimi (guitar and vocals), Ayasa Itou (keyboard), Rimi Nishimoto (bass), Sae Otsuka (lead guitar) and Ayaka Ohashi (drums). Roselia, who performed on the first day, is also from BanG Dream!.

The very last act in the three days of Animelo Summer Live 2019 was Eir Aoi, who sang four songs including opening themes from Kill la Kill and Sword Art Online. You could call her the reigning queen of the anisong world.

Song List Day 1

Song List Day 2

Song List Day 3