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Ensemble Stars!

Ensemble Stars! (あんさんぶるスターズ！, Ansanburu Sutāzu!) is a Japanese game franchise developed by Cacalia Studio and published by Happy Elements K.K., the Japanese division of the Chinese company Happy Elements. It is a spin-off of the 2012 game Ensemble Girls! It was first released as a life simulation and gacha game on Google Play on April 28, 2015, and on the App Store on May 1, 2015.

On March 9, 2020, Ensemble Stars! was rebranded and relaunched under the title Ensemble Stars!! (あんさんぶるスターズ！！, Ansanburu Sutāzu!!, with two exclamation marks), with the original app split into two games catering to different gameplay styles: Ensemble Stars!! Basic, the original game; and Ensemble Stars!! Music, a rhythm game.

The success of the game led to several stage plays and manga adaptations. An anime television series by David Production aired from July 7 to December 22, 2019.[2] A theatrical anime premiered on March 4, 2022.

Characters

Ensemble Square

Anzu (あんず, Anzu)
Voiced by: Maaya Sakamoto (Japanese); Felecia Angelle (English)[3]
The main protagonist/player of the franchise.

STARMAKER PRODUCTION

Trickstar

Hokuto Hidaka (氷鷹 北斗, Hidaka Hokuto)
Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya (2015-2017),[4] Tomoaki Maeno (2017-present) (Japanese); Adam Gibbs (English)[3]
Subaru Akehoshi (明星 スバル, Akehoshi Subaru)
Voiced by: Tetsuya Kakihara (Japanese); Garret Storms (English)[3]
Makoto Yuuki (遊木 真, Yūki Makoto)
Voiced by: Showtaro Morikubo (Japanese); Jerry Jewell (English)[3]
Mao Isara (衣更 真緒, Isara Mao)
Voiced by: Yuki Kaji (Japanese); David Matranga (English)[3]
The main characters from ! era.

fine

Eichi Tenshouin (天祥院 英智, Tenshōin Eichi)
Voiced by: Hikaru Midorikawa (Japanese); Aaron Dismuke (English)[3]
Wataru Hibiki (日々樹 渉, Hibiki Wataru)
Voiced by: Takuya Eguchi (Japanese); Aaron Roberts (English)[3]
Tori Himemiya (姫宮 桃李, Himemiya Tōri)
Voiced by: Ayumu Murase (Japanese); Mikaela Krantz (English)[3]
Yuzuru Fushimi (伏見 弓弦, Fushimi Yuzuru)
Voiced by: Kotaro Hashimoto (Japanese); Evin Wood (simulcast), Chris Burnett (home video) (English)[3][5]

RYUSEITAI (流星隊, RYŪSEITAI)

Tetora Nagumo (南雲鉄虎, Nagumo Tetora)
Voiced by: Yoshiki Nakajima (Japanese); Kyle Igneczi (English)[3]
Midori Takamine (高峯翠, Takamine Midori)
Voiced by: Takumi Watanabe (Japanese); Jason Liebrecht (English)[3]
Shinobu Sengoku (仙石忍, Sengoku Shinobu)
Voiced by: Anju Nitta (Japanese); Christopher Llewyn Ramirez (English)[3]
Chiaki Morisawa (守沢千秋, Morisawa Chiaki)
Voiced by: Yuichi Jose (Japanese); Aaron Campbell (English)[3]
Kanata Shinkai (深海奏汰, Shinkai Kanata)
Voiced by: Kōtarō Nishiyama (Japanese); Brandon McInnis (English)[3]

ALKALOID

Hiiro Amagi (天城一彩, Amagi Hiiro)
Voiced by: Gakuto Kajiwara
Aira Shiratori (白鳥藍良, Shiratori Aira)
Voiced by: Kōhei Amasaki
Mayoi Ayase (礼瀬 マヨイ, Ayase Mayoi)
Voiced by: Chiharu Shigematsu
Tatsumi Kazehaya (風早巽, Kazehaya Tatsumi)
Voiced by: Masatomo Nakazawa
The main characters from !! era.

COSMIC PRODUCTION

Eden

Nagisa Ran (乱凪砂, Ran Nagisa)
Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe (Japanese); David Wald (English)
Hiyori Tomoe (巴日和, Tomoe Hiyori)
Voiced by: Natsuki Hanae (Japanese); Dallas Reid (English)[3]
Ibara Saegusa (七種茨, Saegusa Ibara)
Voiced by: Ryōta Ōsaka (Japanese); Stephen Fu (English)
Jun Sazanami (漣 ジュン, Sazanami Jun)
Voiced by: Yuma Uchida (Japanese); Orion Pitts (English)[3]

Valkyrie

Shu Itsuki (斎宮宗, Itsuki Shū)
Voiced by: Hiroki Takahashi (Japanese); Shawn Gann (English)[3]
Mika Kagehira (影片みか, Kagehira Mika)
Voiced by: Jun Osuka (Japanese); Clifford Chapin (English)[3]

2wink

Hinata Aoi (葵ひなた, Aoi Hinata)
Yuta Aoi (葵ゆうた, Aoi Yūta)
Both Voiced by: Soma Saito (Japanese); Justin Duncan (English)[3]

Crazy:B

Rinne Amagi (天城燐音, Amagi Rinne)
Voiced by: Yōhei Azakami
HiMERU (ひめる, Himeru)
Voiced by: Jun Kasama
Kohaku Oukawa (桜河 こはく, Ōkawa Kohaku)
Voiced by: Tasuku Kaito
Niki Shiina (椎名 ニキ, Shiina Niki)
Voiced by: Tomohiro Yamaguchi

Rhythm Link

UNDEAD

Rei Sakuma (朔間 零, Sakuma Rei)
Voiced by: Toshiki Masuda (Japanese); Anthony Bowling (English)[3]
Kaoru Hakaze (羽風 薫, Hakaze Kaoru)
Voiced by: Kei Hosogai (Japanese); Josh Grelle (English)[3]
Koga Ogami (大神晃牙, Ōgami Kōga)
Voiced by: Yūki Ono (Japanese); Ricco Fajardo (English)[3]
Adonis Otogari (乙狩アドニス, Otogari Adonisu)
Voiced by: Wataru Hatano (Japanese); Taylor Harris (English)[3]

Ra*bits

Tomoya Mashiro (真白友也, Mashiro Tomoya)
Voiced by: Shunya Hiruma (Japanese); Blake McNamara (English)[3]
Nazuna Nito (仁兎なずな, Nito Nazuna)
Voiced by: Yuki Yonai (Japanese); Stephen Sanders (English)[3]
Mitsuru Tenma (天満光, Tenma Mitsuru)
Voiced by: Junya Ikeda (2015-2023), Daiki Kobayashi (2023-present) (Japanese); Derek Whitener (English)[3]
Hajime Shino (紫之創, Shino Hajime)
Voiced by: Tomoya Kosaka (Japanese); Brittney Karbowski (English)[3]

AKATSUKI (紅月)

Keito Hasumi (蓮巳敬人, Hasumi Keito)
Voiced by: Yūichirō Umehara (Japanese); Daman Mills (English)[3]
Kuro Kiryu (鬼龍紅郎, Kiryū Kurō)
Voiced by: Shinichiro Kamio (Japanese); Jarrod Greene (English)[3]
Souma Kanzaki (神崎颯馬, Kanzaki Sōma)
Voiced by: Keisuke Kaminaga (Japanese); Patrick McAlister (English)[3]

NEW DIMENSION

Knights

Tsukasa Suou (朱桜司, Suō Tsukasa)
Voiced by: Reio Tsuchida (Japanese); Kyle Phillips (English)[3]
Leo Tsukinaga (月永レオ, Tsukinaga Leo)
Voiced by: Shintarō Asanuma (Japanese); Jordan Dash Cruz (English)[3]
Izumi Sena (瀬名泉, Sena Izumi)
Voiced by: Masami Ito (Japanese); Austin Tindle (English)[3]
Ritsu Sakuma (朔間凛月, Sakuma Ritsu)
Voiced by: Daiki Yamashita (Japanese); Zach Bolton (English)[3]
Arashi Narukami (鳴上嵐, Narukami Arashi)
Voiced by: Sōsuke Sōma (2015),[6] Ryo Kitamura (2015-present)[7] (Japanese); Matt Shipman (English)[3]

Switch

Natsume Sakasaki (逆先夏目, Sakasaki Natsume)
Voiced by: Kenji Nojima (Japanese); Derick Snow (English)[3]
Tsumugi Aoba (青葉つむぎ, Aoba Tsumugi)
Voiced by: Kaito Ishikawa (Japanese); Justin Briner (English)[3]
Sora Harukawa (春川宙, Harukawa Sora)
Voiced by: Kazutomi Yamamoto (Japanese); Emily Fajardo (English)[3]

MaM

Madara Mikejima (三毛縞斑, Mikejima Madara)
Voiced by: Kohsuke Toriumi (Japanese); Tyson Rineheart (English)[3]

Double Face (Disbanded)

Madara Mikejima (三毛縞斑, Mikejima Madara)
Voiced by: Kohsuke Toriumi (Japanese); Tyson Rineheart (English)[3]
Kohaku Oukawa (桜河 こはく, Ōkawa Kohaku)
Voiced by: Tasuku Kaito

THUNDERBOLT CHALLENGE 4piece

4piece

Esu Sagiri (冴霧 笑主, Sagiri Esu)
Voiced by: Shuhei Toyoshima
Ibuki Taki (滝 維吹, Taki Ibuki)
Voiced by: Chiaki Kobayashi
Kanna Natsu (名都 神無, Natsu Kanna)
Voiced by: Yuki Sakakihara
Fuyume Hanamura (花群 冬芽, Hanamura Fuyume)
Voiced by: Taichi Kusano
Raika Hojo (宝丈 萊香, Hojo Raika)
Voiced by: Yuuki Terui
Nice Arneb Thunder (ナイス・アルネブ・サンダー, Nice Arneb Thunder)
Voiced by: Ryōta Suzuki

Supporting characters

Jin Sagami (佐賀美陣, Sagami Jin)
Voiced by: Tomoyasu Hishiba (Japanese); Mike McFarland (English)[3]
Akiomi Kunugi (椚章臣, Kunugi Akiomi)
Voiced by: Wataru Komada (Japanese); Brandon Potter (English)[5]
Seiya Hidaka (氷鷹誠矢, Hidaka Seiya)
Voiced by: Shin-ichiro Miki
Gatekeeper (ゲートキーパー, Gētokīpā)
Voiced by: Shunsuke Takeuchi

Media

Game

Ensemble Stars! was released for the Android on April 28, 2015, and iOS on May 1, 2015. Shortly after the game's release, in 2015, Sousuke Sōma, who provided the voice for Arashi Narukami, was replaced by Ryo Kitamura, with all voice clips replaced on July 18, 2015;[8] Kitamura would later go on to portray the character in the stage play adaptations. In April 2017, Yoshimasa Hosoya left the franchise due to a medical hiatus, and Happy Elements announced that he would be replaced by Tomoaki Maeno in the role of Hokuto Hidaka, with all his voice clips replaced beginning on May 31, 2017.[4]

On November 9, 2019, Happy Elements announced at the Animate Girls Festival that they would be adding two new groups, Alkaloid and Crazy B.[9] On March 15, 2020, Ensemble Stars! was relaunched and was split into two separate games: Basic, the original game; and Music, a brand new rhythm game; both games offered different gameplay but contained the same events, storylines, and items.[10]

In March 2016, Ensemble Stars! was planned to launch in China in Q2 2016 through Tencent.[11] In February 2018, Ensemble Stars! was launched in South Korea through Kakao Games.[12] On December 24, 2021, an English version of Ensemble Stars!! Music opened pre-registrations for users in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.[13] It was then officially launched on June 16, 2022.

Manga

A manga adaptation written and illustrated by Ichi Sayo was launched in Kodansha's Shōjo manga magazine Aria on August 28, 2015[14] and ended on December 28, 2016.[15]

Ensembukubu Stars!, a 4-panel gag parody, drawn by Bkub Okawa, is serialized on Ensemble Stars! official Twitter account and Dengeki Online since 2017.[16]

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced in December 2015.[17] It was planned to premiere in 2017, but the staff announced they had postponed it in February 2017.[18] The series was produced by David Production, with Marza Animation Planet producing the 3DCG live scenes, aired from July 7 to December 22, 2019, on Tokyo MX, SUN, KBS, TVA, and BS11.[19] Masakazu Hishida was the director under the pseudonym Junpaku Yagurashita.[20] Yasufumi Soejima was the series director, with Shinichi Inotsume as chief writer, and Haruko Iizuka, Tomoyuki Shitaya, and Eri Nagata as character designers.[21] Akira was the scriptwriter, and Tatsuya Kato composed the series' music.[22] Funimation has acquired the series for streaming in North America; the simuldub premiered on August 4, 2019.[23] The anime uses the CACANi 2D animation & in-between software tool.

On September 10, 2022, a new anime project titled Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection: Element (あんさんぶるスターズ！！追憶セレクション「エレメント」, Ansanburu Sutazu!! Tsuioku Serekushon "Eremento") was announced. The anime project aired from April 6 to April 11, 2023 on Ensemble Stars' official YouTube channel.[24] The episodes are also available on the project's website.[25]

On April 25, 2023, a new anime project titled Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection: Crossroads (あんさんぶるスターズ！！追憶セレション『クロスロード』) was announced. [26] It aired on November 3, 2023 via the Ensemble Stars' official Youtube channel. [27]

Ensemble Stars! episode list

Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection: Element episode list

Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection: Crossroad (Episode List)

Ensemble Stars!! Recollection Selection: Checkmate (Episode List)

Film

The series received a compilation film titled Ensemble Stars!! Road to Show!!, which premiered on March 4, 2022. It featured 10 idol characters already featured in the game (Mao Isara, Makoto Yuuki, Aira Shiratori, Mayoi Ayase, Nagisa Ran, Hinata Aoi, Kohaku Oukawa, Rei Sakuma, Izumi Sena, Ritsu Sakuma) as well as the player character Anzu.[28] It also featured Mitsunari Samejima, a new character specific to the film.[29] Masakazu Hishida directed the film at David Production, with Asami Nakatani serving as chief director, Seitarō Kino writing the scripts, Haruko Iizuka designing the characters and serving as chief animation director, and Tatsuya Katō composing the film's music.[28] In addition, BukuSuta The World, a series of animated shorts based on Bkub Okawa's parody manga Ensembukubu Stars!, were screened in theaters with Road to Show!![16]

Reception

By March 2016, over 1,500,000 users downloaded the game.[11]

By July 2023, over 16,000,000 users downloaded the game.[30]

References

  1. ^ "The Summer 2019 Anime Preview Guide". Anime News Network. July 8, 2019.
  2. ^ "「あんスタ」 5周年＆アニメ化記念、2020年春にメットライフドームでライブ" (in Japanese). Natalie. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao Funimation. "[Master Thread] Ensemble Stars (English dub)". www.funimation.com. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 24, 2017). "Yoshimasa Hosoya Replaced in Ensemble Stars Franchise, Not Replaced in Starmyu, Strike the Blood Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Ensemble Stars Collection One (Blu-ray). Funimation. August 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "気さくで明るいオネェキャラ!? 草摩そうすけさん演じる『あんさんぶるスターズ！』鳴上 嵐を紹介！【第13回】". Animate (in Japanese). April 23, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "声優・北村諒さん、『あんさんぶるスターズ!』『舞台 刀剣乱舞』『あんさんぶるスターズ！オン・ステージ』『舞台 青の祓魔師』『舞台 弱虫ペダル』など代表作に選ばれたのは？ − アニメ＆舞台キャラクター代表作まとめ". Animate (in Japanese). January 25, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  8. ^ "スマホアプリ「あんさんぶるスターズ!」で急遽キャスト変更。北村諒のツイートがプチ炎上". GMO Internet (in Japanese). July 19, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "『あんさんぶるスターズ！！』新ユニット≪ALKALOID & Crazy:B≫のユニットソングCD＆イベント情報が解禁！". Animate (in Japanese). December 13, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  10. ^ "【配信開始】『あんさんぶるスターズ！！Basic／Music』リリース！ 記念キャンペーンも開催". B's Log (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. March 16, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "「あんさんぶるスターズ！」の中国語版が今夏にTencent Holdingsで独占配信". 4gamer (in Japanese). March 28, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  12. ^ "Happy Elements、『あんさんぶるスターズ』韓国語版をKakao Gamesを通じてリリース App Storeセールスランキングでは早くもTOP20入り". GameBiz (in Japanese). February 8, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  13. ^ "Ensemble Stars!!Music Begins the Pre-registration for English version". CGMagazine. December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  14. ^ 「あんさんぶるスターズ！」マンガ版開幕、TrickstarらがARIAでキラめく. Natalie (in Japanese). August 28, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  15. ^ マンガ版「あんさんぶるスターズ！」フィナーレ！ARIAで車谷晴子の新連載も. Natalie (in Japanese). December 28, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  16. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (February 5, 2022). "Ensemble Stars! Spoof Manga Ensembukubu Stars! Gets Anime as Film Bonuses". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  17. ^ Ressler, Karen (December 4, 2015). "Ensemble Stars! TV Anime, Stage Play Confirmed". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  18. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (February 17, 2017). "Genco Postpones Ensemble Stars! TV Anime Series". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  19. ^ "Ensemble Stars! TV Anime's 1st Promo Video Reveals July Premiere". Anime News Network. January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  20. ^ "King of Prism's Masakazu Hishida Revealed as Ensemble Stars! Anime's Director (Updated)". Anime News Network. June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  21. ^ "Ensemble Stars! TV Anime Unveils Directors, Designers, July 7 Premiere, Character Visuals". Anime News Network. April 7, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  22. ^ "Ensemble Stars TV Anime Reveals Staff, 2019 Premiere". Anime News Network. May 5, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  23. ^ "Funimation Turns Up the Heat with Their Summer 2019 Lineup!". Funimation. June 14, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  24. ^ "追憶セレクション『エレメント』 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  25. ^ "追憶セレクション「エレメント」". あんさんぶるスターズ！！ (in Japanese). Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  26. ^ "あんさんぶるスターズ！！追憶セレクション『クロスロード』". X (formerly Twitter) (in Japanese). April 25, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  27. ^ "追憶セレクション「クロスロード」". あんさんぶるスターズ！！ (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  28. ^ a b "Ensemble Stars!! Franchise Gets All-New Theatrical Anime on March 4, 2022". Anime News Network. November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  29. ^ Shoaff, Brandon (February 24, 2022). "Ensemble Stars!! Road To Show!! Release Date, Characters, And Plot - What We Know So Far". Looper.com. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  30. ^ "あんさんぶるスターズ！！【公式】". X (formerly Twitter) (in Japanese). July 31, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.

External links