State of the Character Songs Endless Summer 2009 Edition

Greetings, fellow character song enthusiasts and fellow readers. One month has passed into the new season, and that means it's time for the quarterly roundup of which shows are going to have their characters going into musical mode.

As always, I try to confirm as much of this as I can before I go posting, and that which I cannot confirm, I do guesswork.

The Already Confirmed

Umineko no Naku Koro ni
Much like its predecessor, there will be character songs. So far two singles have been announced, each to contain two songs and a mini-drama. Who will sing on them is currently unknown, but with such a large primary cast, the possibilities are many.

NEEDLESS
A character song album has been in the listings for a few weeks, and lists several major female characters who will sing. Eri Kitamura, Emiri Katou, and Yui Makino are among the names. The Lantis website should have info on this one soon enough.

Suzumiya Haruhi
Haruhi already has character songs (a plentiful amount), but for the second go-round, three character song singles are already planned to be released. Just the main heroines thus far - Haruhi, Yuki and Mikuru. But I won't rule out the possibility of more. You can plan on the songs embracing you from behind and saying "I love you" in your ear. Then stealing your wallet.

Bakemonogatari
This one falls into the ef-type category, and not just because it's animated by Shaft. By that I mean it looks to be going the route of personalized openings for each of the girls (to be included with the DVDs) and a unified ending theme. Given that each one is sung by them, they're character songs under one definition.

Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
A character song album for Zan appeared very recently in the listings. Given how unorthodox the first character song album was for Zetsubou-sensei, this one is bound to be equally as odd.

Saki UPDATE
An update from my previous two posts on the subject. There will be Saki character songs, this is already known. What's been confirmed is that the album will have nine songs. Likely a spoken introduction track and then songs for the two most notable characters from each of the schools. So: Saki, Nodoka, Touka, Koromo, Kana, Mihoko, Yumi and Stealth Momo.

Kanamemo
This one is a compilation release. The Original Soundtrack and Character Song Album ("Kanamelo") will include both the show's background music and eight character songs. There are seven main characters if you include Mika, so all that really leaves is what the eighth song will be. The Starchild site will have more on this closer to release.

Princess Lover!
A character song album is already in the listings. Visual novels and the anime based on them are usually a great source for character songs, and this shall be no exception. The maid, the hot chick with the sword, the twintail tsundere and the princess, together on one album.

Sora no Manimani
This one was confirmed by the Lantis website. A compilation album that will include pretty much all the main characters singing, in addition to a song or two by CooRie, will be released during this cour. Given that up-and-coming voice actresses like Kanae Itou, Haruka Tomatsu and Saori Hayami are on it, as well as not-so-new but still notable Ami Koshimizu, one could say "My god! It's full of stars"

Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou
Much like NEEDLESS and Manimani, a compilation album is going to be released. Only four major female characters are listed as singing on it, but then again the show really does have only four major female characters. Also, falling basins.

The Nebulous

Umi Monogatari
Under Lantis, so there's a distinct possibility. Even if nothing comes from it (this seems like the type of show not likely to get or need character songs), there will be the radio opening song performed by Kana Asumi and Minako Kotobuki. Which is close enough to a character song in execution to please me.

Fight Ippatsu! Juuden-chan!!
I don't even know when the opening and ending singles are being released for this one. Avex's site has nothing. Given the track record for shows under their label, the chance of character songs is definitely there, but I'd need actual information first.

Taisho Yakyuu Musume
A sizable cast, labeled under Lantis and plenty of opportunity for an album or a set of singles. It's in the same realm of possibility for what I usually wager - "There's a chance, but nothing's confirmed yet."

GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class
See what I wrote for Juuden-chan!!. The situation is the same.

Other Odds and Ends

K-ON!
This is probably confirmed by now everywhere, but I like to be complete. Besides the recent After School Tea Time album, and the previously-mentioned Mugi and Ritsu character singles, there's also going to be a single by Sawako's old rock band, the Band Score CD, and a character single for Azu-nyan. Plenty of music forthcoming.


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Shin Koihime Musou Character Song CD 4

ArielWave releases another, and so in turn do I.

To think that soon I'd have been running this thing for a year, slowly getting better and releasing more and more things along the way. For differing reasons, from differing sources, but always with the goal of supporting the obscure. Another release from the Shin Koihime Musou series this time, and the listings confirm that there's one more CD left in this character song series to be released in September. Which characters it is may surprise you.

Torrent
Direct Download


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