ANISAMA WORLD 2024 in Shanghai - a special international edition of Animelo Summer Live (Anisama), one of the world's largest anime song festivals - was held at Shanghai Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in China.
For the unfamiliar, Anisama annual summer event in Japan which has captivated many fans as a flagship event of anime song culture. This year, it reached Shanghai, revealing new possibilities for international cultural exchange.
Anime, as a symbol of Japanese culture, enjoys immense popularity overseas, and anime songs (anisongs) share its world through music, fostering unique connections among fans. The Shanghai event was a milestone, symbolizing the evolution of anisong culture as a bridge for international cultural exchange beyond Japan.
The event kicked off shortly after 4:30 PM. As the introductory video concluded, a huge cheer erupted when T.M.Revolution and Shouta Aoi appeared on stage, opening the day with 'Preserved Roses' from the anime Valvrave the Liberator. After Aoi exited, T.M.Revolution performed iconic tracks 'INVOKE' and 'ignited' from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, prompting loud cheers from the audience from the moment the very first notes enveloped the venue.
Next, Miku Itō appeared on stage performing 'Shocking Blue', as blue lighting shrouded the venue while the audience waved blue glow sticks in unison. During the next song, 'No.6', her choreography with the dancers was perfectly synchronized, mesmerising the audience with an energetic performance. After the song ended, Ayaka Ohashi, Shuka Saito, and Liyuu, wearing witch hats, appeared on stage, saying "We're joining in." Miku Itou also donned a witch hat, and they performed the opening theme of Ojamajo Doremi titled 'Ojamajo Carnival!!'.
As the stage lit up again, Shuka Saito appeared and the intro of Sekai no Hate began to play. Contrary to her earlier playful appearance, she now wore a serious expression. In the following song, 'Papapa', she transformed her expression and, with the ANISAMA version of the music video playing behind her, she moved vibrantly with dancers amidst colorful visuals. The audience clapped along with the rhythm, creating a sense of unity between crowd and performer.
Next to take the stage was Liyuu. Accompanied by dancers, she delivered a lively performance of 'bloomin'' to an upbeat rhythm. In response to the enthusiastic reaction from the audience, she charmingly bantered with them in Mandarin, saying things like, "The audience feels so close! Thank you all for coming. How did you get here?" —a reflection of her Shanghai roots that further wowed the audience. She continued with 'TRUE FOOL LOVE' and concluded by inviting a pianist to the stage. Together, they performed 'Big Fish', the theme song from the Chinese animated film Big Fish & Begonia in its original Mandarin.
Later on, Shouta Aoi appeared once again. He energetically ran across the stage with a powerful performance of 'Zessei Stargate'. Without missing a beat, he went on to perform 'BAD END', an edgy number that further excited the audience. During the MC segment, he smiled and said, "This isn't one of my songs, but I've prepared a song that I want to sing with everyone." As the intro to 'Butter-Fly', the theme song from the highly popular anime Digimon Adventure began to play, the venue erupted in cheers. When the chorus came, Aoi pointed the microphone towards the audience, prompting a massive sing-along.
Next to take the stage was Ayaka Ohashi, dressed in a pink varsity jacket. With the call to "Let's enjoy ANISAMA Shanghai!" she kicked off her performance with 'YES!!'. Her bright and lively performance elicited shouts of her nickname "Hassy!" from the audience, creating a warm and supportive atmosphere. During the MC segment, she enjoyed interacting with the audience and then proceeded to perform 'Daisuki.' and 'Wagamama MIRROR HEART'.
Subsequently, Konomi Suzuki burst onto the stage with a powerful call of, "Hi Shanghai, let's keep going!" and instantly energized the venue with her first rock-influenced song, 'DAYS of DASH'. During an MC segment, she announced that she would be holding an Asian tour in the spring of next year, to which the audience cheered.
The next song was a ballad, called 'THERE IS A REASON'. With piano accompaniment, she showcased her rich vocal talent. For her third song, 'Reweave', she returned to an aggressive rock style that shook the venue once again. The finale was what Suzuki described as a special song - 'This game'. Ayaka Ohashi made a surprise appearance dressed in black, contrasting with Suzuki's white outfit. The two delivered a perfectly synchronized performance. The audience was struck by the stunning duet and responded with enthusiastic applause.
As the excitement in the venue continued, Minori Chihara took the stage. With animation from Beyond The Boundary playing in the background, she passionately performed the theme song of the same name. In the following song,' Yuki, Muon, Madobe Nite.', Chihara sang quietly and stood still, displaying an expression reminiscent of the character Yuki Nagato, whom she portrayed in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. With the next song, 'Michishirube' accompanied by piano, she captivated the audience with her delicate singing. Cheering on the audience with "Let's get energized from here!" Chihara performed 'Paradise Lost', inviting Ayaka Ohashi for her fourth appearance of the day. Together, they delivered an emotional collaboration. Each holding a microphone stand, they sang intensely, with the audience responding with delirious cheers.
TRUE was the next to take the stage, performing 'Frozen' with scenes from Wistoria: Wand and Sword playing in the background. The gentle sound of the acoustic guitar brought a new atmosphere to the venue. In the following song, 'Sincerely', she stood by the piano and stunned the audience with her remarkable vocal ability. After performing 'ReCoda', which she introduced as a song filled with her passion for music, she invited a special guest, ReoNa, to join her. Together, they delivered a performance of 'Independence'. TRUE's fiery, passionate expression contrasted beautifully with ReoNa's calm and serene voice, creating a striking contrast that moved the audience deeply.
ReoNa began her solo part with her latest song 'GG'. Emulating the music video, which features over 70 guitarists, she performed with four guitarists on stage, delivering a powerful grunge-infused guitar rock performance. The next song was 'Alive', the theme song for Arknights: Prelude to Dawn which she presented in a special version, singing entirely in Mandarin. This unexpected rendition elicited surprised and appreciative cheers from the audience. She concluded with one of her signature songs, 'ANIMA'. ReoNa addressed the audience with the question, "What colour is your soul?" and ended the stage with her deeply resonant and heartfelt singing.
As ReoNa's set ended, a countdown suddenly began, raising the anticipation in the venue. Tetsuya Komuro then made a dynamic entrance. Showcasing his skills by playing a synthesizer solo, he transitioned into the famous track 'Get Wild'. Midway through the intro, Takanori Nishikawa reappeared on stage. Komuro, sporting a shoulder keyboard, moved freely around the stage, enchanting the audience alongside Nishikawa. Before the second song, Nishikawa raised anticipation by excitingly asking in Mandarin, "Have you seen the movie?!" He then passionately performed 'FREEDOM', the theme song for Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM, marking the first collaboration between Komuro and Nishikawa. This special moment was made even more memorable by its debut in Shanghai, home to a life-size Freedom Gundam statue.
Next, they performed 'BEYOND THE TIME ~Mebius no Uchuu wo Koete~' the theme song for the 1988 movie Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack which Komuro had adjusted to seamlessly segue from the outro of 'FREEDOM'. The collaboration between these legends, not only from the anime song world but also from the Japanese music scene, showcased the enduring power of music that transcends eras.
After Komuro shyly introduced himself in Mandarin and left the stage, Nishikawa called all the vocalists who performed to come forward. Each of them expressed their gratitude to the audience, and together they concluded the event by singing the Anisama theme song, 'Stargazer'.
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