Show by Rock!!

Show By Rock!! (Japanese: ショウ・バイ・ロック!!, Hepburn: Shō Bai Rokku!!) (also known as Show By Rock!! Gonna be a Music Millionaire!) is a mobile rhythm video game developed and published by Geechs, in conjunction with Sanrio. It is Sanrio's first-ever franchise project aimed for older audiences, as opposed to the younger audience. The game was released on July 30, 2013 for iOS and on June 27, 2014 for Android devices. In January 2018, development transferred from Geechs to Edia with its service discontinued in December 26, 2019. A successor to the original game was later developed by Now Production and published by Square Enix on March 12, 2020 on all mobile platforms.

Show By Rock!!
Cover of the sixth Blu-ray volume, showing the main cast.
ショウ・バイ・ロック!!
(Shō Bai Rokku!!)
GenreAction, comedy, urban fantasy
Game
DeveloperGeechs (2013–2017)
Edia (2018–2019)
PublisherGeechs (2013–2017)
Edia (2018–2019)
GenreRhythm
PlatformiOS
Android
ReleasedJuly 30, 2013 (iOS)
June 27, 2014 (Android)
Anime television series
Directed byTakahiro Ikezoe
Written byTōko Machida
Music byYasuharu Takanashi
Funta7
Rega Sound
StudioBones
Licensed by
Medialink
Original networkTokyo MX, ytv, BS11
English network
Funimation Channel
Original run April 5, 2015 – June 21, 2015
Episodes12
Anime television series
Show by Rock!! Short!!
Directed byTakahiro Ikezoe
Written byTōko Machida
Music byYasuharu Takanashi
Funta7
StudioBones
Licensed by
Funimation
Medialink
Original networkTokyo MX, ytv
Original run July 4, 2016 – September 19, 2016
Episodes12
Anime television series
Show by Rock!!#
Directed byTakahiro Ikezoe
Written byTōko Machida
Music byYasuharu Takanashi
Funta7
Rega Sound
StudioBones
Licensed by
Funimation
Medialink
Original networkTokyo MX, TV Aichi, ytv, BS11
Original run October 2, 2016 – December 18, 2016
Episodes12
Anime television series
Show by Rock!! Mashumairesh!!
Directed bySeung Hui Son
Written byDaisuke Tazawa
Music byYasuharu Takanashi
Funta7
StudioKinema Citrus
Licensed by
Funimation
Original networkTokyo MX, BS Fuji, UHB, SUN, TV Tokyo
Original run January 9, 2020 – March 26, 2020
Episodes12
Game
Show by Rock!! Fes A Live
DeveloperNow Production
PublisherSquare Enix
GenreRhythm
PlatformiOS
Android
ReleasedMarch 12, 2020
Anime television series
Show by Rock!! Stars!!
Directed byTakahiro Ikezoe
Daigo Yamagishi
Written byTouko Machida
StudioKinema Citrus
Original networkTokyo MX, BS Fuji
Original run 2020 – scheduled
Manga
Written byTakemaru Yokoshima
Published byKadokawa Shoten
MagazineYoung Ace
DemographicSeinen
Original runJuly 4, 2020 – present

Four anime adaptations based on the series were made. The first three animated by Bones and is the first late night anime based on a Sanrio character or franchise. Season 1 aired in Japan between April and June 2015 on Tokyo MX, a short anime aired from July to September 2016 and a second season aired from October to December 2016. The third season of the series was animated by Kinema Citrus and aired from January 9, 2020 to March 26, 2020. A fourth season is currently in development. A manga adaptation of the first series began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace magazine in July 2020.

Gameplay

Show By Rock!!

Show By Rock!! is a mobile game, combining elements from both rhythm games and raising sim games. Players can choose from 26 different bands, each having their own music style and uses special cards for each gameplay. The player's team can have up to five cards, and choose one support player from a list. The player has a certain amount of "soul" for each element depending on their cards. The player can play whichever song they would like from the band of their choice, as well as the level that works with their team. Occasionally, a band's members' Melodisian Stones may turn dark, and thus a boss battle appears. For the boss battles, you may only choose a song from the band whose Melodsian Stones turned dark, and the goal for each boss battle is to survive until the end. Players also get to create their own character at the start of the game, and design their own room.

Fes A Live

Gameplay for Fes a Live is similar to that to the original series that preceded it, but presented it in a landscape format similar to THE iDOLM@STER SHINY COLORS and BanG Dream!. Unlike the previous game, the game only has a limited amount of bands presented but each are assigned to their musical alignment: Melody, Harmony and Rhythm instead of the traditional elemental attributes of the previous game. Gameplay for the live section mode has the same elements from the original and inherits newer twists such as swipeable notes, the ability to adjust scrolling speed and a more traditional 5-note layout.

A new feature of the game is the town of GURF, which serves as a main hub for the player. Players has to customize with specific buildings in order to gain sound dollars, the game's free currency. These can also be earned by obtaining items after each play session specific to each band, which can be sold to the shop ans also can level up each band. As the player levels up, newer slots in the town were added in order to add more buildings. Also, players can also upgrade buildings by buying them through the in-game store using sound dollars as well. The game also has a boss battle mode, which can be accessed through by finding a corrupted myummon in town and defeating it can earn players with more currency. The game's bromide system also returns, allowing players to obtain bromide cards through gacha using Melodisian Stones and each card can be evolved if certain levels are reached, each having various rarity. In addition to a story mode, the game also has a 69 Memorial Mode, which allows players to read the storyline of the original anime series for new players of the game.

Plot

Show by Rock!!

Cyan Hijirikawa is a first-year high school student who has a good passion for music. However, she is very shy and doesn't have the courage to join the school's music club. But on one fateful night, she gets sucked into the rhythm game she had been playing on her smartphone after receiving an item called "Strawberry Heart". Cyan ends up in a new world called Midi City, a place where those who command music control everything. There, she sees a concert performed by a kemono band called Trichronika and realizes she had taken on the form of a white kemono cat girl, dressed in a costume resembling Gothic Lolita fashion. However, when a "dark monster" starts to attack the concert and begins to corrupt the Melodisian stones of the Trichronika members, Strawberry Heart materializes in Cyan's hands and tells her to play something with it to defeat the monster. As she saves the band from turning into dark monsters themselves, she returns to her human form, but retaining her cat ears and tail. She is then approached by Maple Arisugawa, the CEO of Banded Rocking Records to join his recording agency. She meets ChuChu, Retoree, and Moa, the vocalist, bassist, and drummer of Plasmagica, one of Banded Rocking Record's bands. Retoree asks Cyan to join, and she accepts. Together, they all tackle and perform together in the music scene, aiming to be the best music band of all Midi City, discovering the secrets surrounding the Dark Monsters and importantly for Cyan, to find a way to get back to her own world.

Show by Rock!!#

Set after the events of the first season, the intergalactic fleet led by the malevolent Queen of Darkness, Victorious, unleashed a devastating attack on Sound Planet in the future, causing total destruction of Midi City. Upon its destruction, a mysterious band named Bud Virgin Logic appeared and performed a malevolent tune to the surviving denizens while Dagger Morse corrupts all the citizens, draining them of their sound energy and plunging the city into chaos and despair. From the attack, only Ninjinriot survived and feared the worst scenario that would lead to the fall of the Sound Universe. With no choice, the band traveled back in time to prevent it from happening. In present-day Midi City, Maple told the members of Plasmagica, Shingan Crimson, and Cristicrista that their recording label is holding a beneficiary concert to the people with somewhat positive reactions. Though at the time of the concert, Plasmagica, despite not having Cyan is eager to perform, until Bud Virgin Logic appeared alongside Dagger Morse, who announced he will destroy the ones who defeated them. But they were thwarted by Ninjinriot, who rescued the trio. After Dagger and his band retreated, Arashi told them that bad things will happen if they don't stop Dagger and Bud Virgin Logic, resulting in the said bad future and got everyone worried that there will be a new battle. At the same time in the Human World, Cyan Hijirikawa was stuck in a writer's block regarding composing a song for her band in the upcoming school festival. Kamui arrived at the Human World and transported Cyan back to the Sound World in order to prevent the dark future from happening. With the entire world in a knife's edge, it's up to Cyan and her friends once again to stop Dagger and Victorious from destroying the Sound Universe.

Show by Rock!! Mashumairesh!!

Taking place somewhere after the 2nd season, the story focuses on Howan, a Fox Myummon who lives in the countryside on Sound Planet. Though she enjoys her peaceful life in the countryside, Howan dreams of music stardom and gets the chance to achieve her dream when she passes the audition for a music competition in Midi City. Meanwhile, the guitarist Mashima Himeko is equally passionate about music but feels uncomfortable having been placed in a band with two other young artists, the bassist Delmin and the drummer Ruhuyu. Howan loses her audition pass, making her unable to join the audition. Under the glittering lights of Midi City, when Howan is distraught at losing her audition pass, Howan, Himeko, Delmin and Ruhuyu meet each other for the first time and discover together with what they could never reach alone.

Characters

Main Bands
Plasmagica (プラズマジカ, Purazumajika)
The starter band in the video game's story mode, composed of four members gathered by Maple Arisugawa of Banded Rocking Records. Cyan hopes on her band to be the best aim to the top of the Music Industry.[1] They are also the featured group in the Show By Rock!! anime.[2]
  • Cyan Hijirikawa (聖川 詩杏, Hijirikawa Shian) / Cyan (シアン, Shian) (Voiced by: Eri Inagawa (Japanese); Bryn Apprill (English)) – guitar and vocals – The series's main protagonist, Cyan is a first-year high school student who is good at music, but is very shy with joining any music club at her school. When she got sucked into the Sound World, she became a white cat girl Myuumon[1] who wears a Gothic Lolita outfit with striped stockings. She once dreamed of becoming the best music star in the world until she gets involved on the fight against the Dark Monsters and then scouted by Maple to be part of the band. When performing, she uses the guitar called Strawberry Heart, which is used as a way to communicate with the Grateful King. In human form, she has black hair and both cat ears and a long cat tail.
  • Chuchu (チュチュ, Chuchu) (Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka (Japanese); Alexis Tipton (English)) – guitar and vocals – a purple rabbit girl who dresses in black clothing. An honor student of a school she attended, she is rather strictly mannered but sociable. However, she can be prideful in certain situations and once formed the band in order to boost her popularity for her to start her solo career. But she decided not to leave due to how important she is to them. She wields the Antique Batman Guitar, which is her prized instrument. In human form, she has purple hair and white rabbit ears and tail.
  • Retoree (レトリー, Retorī) (Voiced by: Eri Kitamura (game), Manami Numakura (anime) (Japanese); Caitlin Glass (English)) – bass and vocals – a Golden Retriever dog girl who has long blonde ears and a ribbon in her hair. She is the smart girl in the group and uses her smartphone anytime, making her shy and unsociable. She uses the Blue Station Electric Bass as her main instrument. In her human form, she has long blonde hair tied in twin-tails and yellowtail. She appears to have a crush on Cyan.
  • Moa (モア, Moa) (Voiced by: Ayane Sakura (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)) – drums and vocals – a pink and black Pyuruian sheep girl with yellow horns, described as an alien who came from the Planet Pyuru. She came to the Sound Planet to research the planet for a new energy source until she is scouted to join the band. She always ends her speeches with "Pyuru~" (ぴゅる〜, Pyuru〜) and plays with the band using the Super Cosmo drums. In her human form, she has pink curly hair, yellow horns, black ears and a short black tail. She is later revealed to be the Crown Princess of Planet Pyuru.
Shingan Crimsonz (シンガンクリムゾンズ, Shingan Kurimuzonzu)
The second main band of the game, classified as a Visual Kei band. Like Plasmagica, they are also contracted to Banded Rocking Records and also aims on becoming the best of all Midi City.[3] All the songs are performed by Kishō Taniyama of Granrodeo in Japanese and Mike McFarland in English.
  • Crow (クロウ, Kurō) (Voiced by: Kishō Taniyama (Japanese); Mike McFarland (English)) – guitar and vocals - The leader of Shingan Crimsonz, he is a Hedgehog Mummon who aims to be the best rocker in MIDI City. Shown to be as impulsive and vulgar, he usually boasts his skills in music and tends to disagree with Aion and Yaiba. Being from a family of Dairy Farmers, he sometimes thinks his fans are cattle to him which is considered an insult to them. However, he is very skilled in music and wields the ax-shaped Red Tomahawk Guitar.
  • Aion (アイオーン, Aiōn) (Voiced by: Junichi Yanagida (game), Kōki Uchiyama (anime) (Japanese); Jerry Jewell (English)) – guitar - A Lion Mummon who is very calm and yet thinks highly of himself. Usually gets into fights with Crow and Yaiba, he wields the Holy Arc Guitar. He is Ailane's older brother.
  • Yaiba (ヤイバ, Yaiba) (Voiced by: Mitsuhiro Ichiki (game), Tetsuya Kakihara (anime) (Japanese); Ian Sinclair (English)) – bass - A Fox Mummon who knows the way of the samurai, Yaiba is a guy who has huge respect to the way of the Bushido and the Rock Spirit. He is very timid and somehow gets into fights with both Crow and Aion. He wields the "Ryūkenden (龍剣伝)" guitar.
  • Rom (ロム, Romu) (Voiced by: Teruyuki Tanzawa (game), Yoshimasa Hosoya (anime) (Japanese); Chris Sabat (English)) – drums - A Leopard Mummon and the de facto leader the group. Despite having a hot personality and looking tough, he is level headed and usually scolds the other 3 when they're arguing. He plays the Skull Jacker Drums and is the only member of the group who has a full-time job. He is once friends with Shu Zo when he was a member of his previous band Amatelast, until they broke up.
Tsurezurenaru Ayatsuri Mugenan (徒然なる操り霧幻庵)[4]
Tsurezurenaru Ayatsuri Mugenan is the game's Enka band, which plays a fusion of both rock and traditional Japanese music. They came to Midi City to spread Far East music. The songs in the game were all performed by Salia of the band Unicorn Table until "Sadame" which is performed by Saori Hayami in Japanese and Dawn M. Bennett in English.
  • A (阿) (Voiced by: Saori Hayami (Japanese); Dawn M. Bennett (English)) – guitar shamisen and vocals - A tan Shiba Inu wearing a bamboo hat over her head.
  • Un (吽) (Voiced by: Eriko Matsui (Japanese); Jad Saxton (English)) – bass shamisen and vocals - She is a grey mouse Myuumon wearing a brown hat
  • Daru Dayu (ダル太夫, Daru Dayū) (Voiced by: Megumi Han (Japanese); Stephanie Young (English)) – drums and vocal - A cat myummon and leader of the band. She is seen with a red daruma figure with cat ears that serves as the band's drummer.
Trichronika (トライクロニカ, Toraikuronika)[5]
Trichronika is an all-male idol group and the first band Cyan met in the anime. It is composed of three members, signed to the Major idol label Judas.
  • Shu Zo (シュウ☆ゾー, Shū Zō) (Voiced by: Kasuya Daisuke (game), Mamoru Miyano (anime) (Japanese); Vic Mignogna (English)) – guitar and vocals - A Myumon of unconfirmed species and the leader of Trichronika, he is considered the galactic prince with the sweet angelic voice. He is very popular with fans in Midi City, especially for his music skills. He is able to sing, play guitar, and play the piano to perfection. However, he shares a dark past with one of the members of ShinganCrimonz, Rom, whom he was in a Visual Kei band named Amatelast before they broke up and later being scouted by Judas.
  • Riku (リク, Riku) (Voiced by: Ayumu Murase (Japanese); Micah Solusod (English) – bass - A Myumon of unconfirmed species and one of the twins supporting Shu Zo. Despite his dedication to performing with Trichronika, his soft-spoken nature and lack of confidence have given him a slight inferiority complex.
  • Kai (カイ, Kai) (Voiced by: Ryota Osaka (Japanese); Ricco Fajardo (English) – drums - A Myumon of unconfirmed species and Riku's older twin brother. His two favorite things are Shu Zo and dancing. He is a caring big brother to Riku, if a bit eccentric.
Criticrista (クリティクリスタ, Kuritikurisuta)[6]
A new group debuting in the game and anime, they are a 4-piece band composed of students from the St. Midi Middle School's Student Council.[7] In the anime, the group is working for Unicorn Virtual Music and is eyeing Cyan after she arrived in the sound world. By their defeat through a rematch against Plasmagica, Dagger corrupted their Melodisian Stones and turned them all into dark monsters. After they were purified and returned to their original forms, Cristicrista joins Banded Rocking Records after Dagger Morse is defeated.
  • Rosia (ロージア, Rōjia) (Voiced by: Rina Hidaka (Japanese); Mikaela Krantz (anime), Trina Nishimura (Short!! episode 8) (English)) – guitar and vocals
  • Tsukino (ツキノ, Tsukino) (Voiced by: Ai Kayano (Japanese); Natalie Hoover (English)) – keyboards and vocals
  • Holmy (ホルミー, Horumī) (Voiced by: Hiromi Igarashi (Japanese); Apphia Yu (English)) – bass and vocals
  • Jacqueline (ジャクリン, Jakurin) (Voiced by: Rie Murakawa (Japanese); Morgan Berry (English)) – drums and vocals
Arcareafact (アルカレアファクト, Arukareafakuto)
Arcareafact is an all-male band composed of four wealthy members, signed to the Major idol label Judas. The members are named after chemical elements. Titan=Titanium; Selen=Selenium; Argon=Argon; Orion=Aurum. The band's official abbreviation is arukare-Arcare (アルカレ, Arukare).
  • Titan (チタン, Chitan) voiced by Yūsuke Kobayashi (Japanese); Jason Liebrecht (English) - keyboard and vocals - A blue unicorn Myumon. His parents are famous musicians. He inherited his talent from his parents however he's the kind of person who hates losing and always tried exceptionally hard since his childhood. At first glance, he has a poker face and a different attitude compared to his band members, but he secretly hides a burning fighting spirit inside that can burn up anytime. He seems to take interest on Shingan Crimsonz, though he believes more in chivalry. Through the second season, Victorious took away their possessions, reverting him and his band back to poverty and tries to raise his poor brothers.
  • Orion (オリオン, Orion) voiced by Taku Yashiro (Japanese); J. Michael Tatum (English) – violin - A bison Myumon. The band's leader as well as a descendant from the ancient and honorable ENDENCLOTH and heir of a financially powerful family. Until now he has solved all problems with the power of money and his sharp eyes hidden behind those glasses. A competent man who's skilled with his hands. His butler ("Jii") is always by his side.
  • Selen (セレン, Seren) voiced by Eishin Fudemura (Japanese); Brandon McInnis – bass - A soft lamb Myumon. He's the son of an out-of-space super major label's chairman. Because he spent all his time in his parent's library during his childhood he gained a deep knowledge of music and loves rumors of minor bands that no one ever heard about. In contrary to the young boy's appearance he utters both malicious and mature remarks.
  • Argon (アルゴン, Arugon) voiced by Chiharu Sawashiro (Japanese); Marcus D. Stimac (English)– drums - A velocity gazelle Myumon. Before joining Judas he found a company and became No.1 on MIDI CITY's ranking of its top billionaires. Since his hobbies include dancing, working out his muscles and expanding his business he can earn sound dollars while training. With his bright and light (gentle) mood he might annoy his bandmembers a little.
  • Jii (じい, Jī) voiced by Tomohisa Asō (Japanese); Kent Williams (English) - Orion's butler.
  • Balt (バルト, Baruto) voiced by Ayane Sakura (Japanese); Alison Viktorin (English) - One of Titan's younger brothers
  • Nickel (ニッケル, Nikkeru) voiced by Manami Numakura (Japanese); Lara Woodhull (English) - One of Titan's younger brother
Bud Virgin Logic (バッドヴァージンロジック, Baddo Bājin Rojikku)
A mysterious band that appears in the second season allied with Dagger Morse. They have melodies as sharp as a knife and delicate vocals as transparent as glass. They were all innocent once until Dagger corrupted them and their Melodisian Stones, forcing them to work for him.
  • Ailane (アイレーン, Airēn) voiced by Ruriko Noguchi (Japanese); Leah Clark (English) – vocals and guitar – A majestic lion Myumon, with a haughty, commanding gaze, powerful charisma and mystical speech. Immersion into music had made her a bit of klutz. She likes high places and things smaller than herself. She is Aion's younger sister.
  • Peipain (ペイペイン, Peipein) voiced by Aimi Tanaka (Japanese); Amanda Lee (English) – bass – A rare mythical Kirin Myumon. Taken in by a mysterious Foundation at an early age to serve as Airen's maid. Now, keeps unfazed, watching expression on her face and lots of weapons hidden in her skirt. Scary when angry.
  • Hundreko (ハンドレッコ, Handorekko) voiced by Ibuki Kido (Japanese); Jeannie Tirado (English) – drums – A white tiger Myumoroidom developed to be Aireen childhood playmate. Can play knife-drumsticks at amazing speeds. Generally surly, but smiles and laughs when recollecting fond memories.
Uwasanopetals (ウワサノペタルズ, Uwasanopetaruzu)
A band hailing from the countryside of the Sound World. In the anime, all of the members had a brief cameo, portrayed as high school students in the countryside who had high respects to Tsurezurenaru Ayatsuri Mugenan and wished to go to Midi City to cheer them in person, who later signed a recording contract with Ogasawara prior to the last episode of season 1. The group returned in the second season alongside their manager and later became contracted to Unicorn Virtual Music prior to the finale. All the songs in the game are performed by Luna, an artist signed to Nippon Columbia.
  • Shibarin (しばりん) (Voiced by: Marika Kouno (Japanese); Whitney Rodgers (English)) – guitar and vocals
  • Kittsun (きっつん) (Voiced by: Nozomi Furuki (Japanese); Tia Ballard (English)) – drums
  • Hakkun (はっくん) (Voiced by: Tomoya Kōsaka (Japanese); Kyle Phillips (English)) – bass
  • Pokoe (ぽこえ) (Voiced by: Marumi Koike (Japanese); Ashleigh Domangue (season 1), Jill Harris (season 2) (English)) – keyboard
Shizuku Secretmind (雫シークレットマインド, Shizuku Shīkurettomaindo)
A band hailing from the water capital of Venicillin, they came to Midi City to perform for the first time. The songs in the game are sung by artist Chihiro.
  • Wendy (ウエンディ, Uendi) (Voiced by: Kiyono Yasuno (Japanese); Michelle Rojas (English)) – vocals
  • Coriente (コリエンテ, Koriente) (Voiced by: Saki Ogasawara (Japanese); Megan Shipman (English)) – guitar
  • Shabobon (シャボボン, Shabobon) (Voiced by: Nozomi Furuki (Japanese); Sarah Wiedenheft (English)) – drums
  • Turtle B.I.G (タートルB・I・G, Tātoru B・I・G) – bass
Shinimonogurui (しにものぐるい)
A band originating in MIDI City's Yokai Street, composing of family members based around yokai. All of the songs in the game are performed by J-pop artist Marie Ueda.
  • Mari Mari (まりまり) (Voiced by: China Kitahara (Japanese); Brittney Karbowski (English)) – vocals and guitar
  • Tsugihagi (つぎはぎ) (Voiced by: Natsuki Kawasaki (Japanese); Josh Grelle (English)) – keyboard
  • DyuraDyura (でゅらでゅら, Deyuradeyura) – Voiced by: Ryuichi Kijima – guitar
  • MonMon (もんもん, Monmon) – Voiced by: Jun Kasama – bass
  • GashiGashi (がしがし, Gashigashi) – Voiced by: Kentaro Kumagai – drums
Dolly Dolci (ドーリィドルチ, Dōryi Doruchi)
A Lolita rock band whose motif are based on sweets that appears in the second season. All of them are fans of other bands while being good on making sweets and desserts.
  • Candy Lapin (キャンディラパン, Kyandirapan) Voiced by: Mikoi Sasaki (Japanese); Alex Moore (English) – vocals - Leader of Dolly Dolci and a Holland Lop rabbit Myummon.
  • Pig Macaron (ピグマカロン, Pigumakaron) Voiced by: Izumi Chiba (Japanese); Terri Doty (English) – drums - Member of Dolly Dolci and a Pig Myummon. She appeared as one of the spectators during the course of season one until revealed she's a member of the band.
  • Chocoreil (チョキュルイユ, Chokiyurui) – guitar - Member of Dolly Dolci and a squirrel Myummon.
  • Cream Teddy (クリームテディ, Kurimu Tedi) – bass - Member of Dolly Dolci and a bear Myummon.
Ninjinriot (忍迅雷音, Shinobu jinrai-on)
A four piece ninja band that came from the future to prevent the Queen of Darkness from invading Sound World and using its energy to conquer the entire galaxy. They have no known record label and perform exclusive shows on the streets.
  • Oboro (朧, Oboro) – voiced by Oscar Seung (English) guitar - Leader, a cyber Oni Myuumon.
  • Arashi (嵐, Arashi) – Voiced by: Naoya Hirose (Japanese); Justin Briner (English) - vocals and guitar - A Tan Shiba Inu Myuumon who is aware of the Victorious attack on Sound Planet.
  • Rin (燐, Rin) -Voiced by Janelle Lutz (English) – bassist - She is a light brown fox Myuumon
  • Kamui (神威, Kamui) – Voiced by: Tsuguo Mogami (Japanese); Jeremy Inman (English) – drums - A Ninmachine Myummon who is from the future. Upon knowing Victorious's invasion plan, he traveled back in time to find Cyan in the Human World and sends her back to the Sound World.
Baiganba V (バイガンバー V, Baiganbā V)
A superhero band with a hot heart and a marketing soul. Normally they are employees for the major musical instrument chain of stores, "Revolution Music Store." Every week on its rooftop they hold a "Superhero Live Show".
  • Bai Red (バイレッド, Baireddo) – Voiced by: Tsuyoshi Takahashi (Japanese); Daman Mills (English) - vocals and guitar - He is a Red Panda Myuumon that dons a Red Ranger Super Sentai costume with Red Panda like features.
  • Bai Yellow (バイイエロー, Baiierō) – bass
  • Bai Blue (バイブルー, Baiburū) – guitar
  • Bai Pink (バイピンク, Baipinku) – keyboard
  • Bai Green (バイグリーン, Baigurīn) – drums
Gauga Strikes (ガウガストライクス, Gaugasutoraikusu)
A three-piece indie band working in Shibu Valley, now a four-piece band after Uchuura joined in the band. They were hired to protect the Gates to the purest Melodisian stone lying in the mountains of the Sound World. The band is based on the real-life band KFK.
  • Kintaurus (キンタウルス, Kintaurusu) – Voiced by: Hirofumi Nojima (Japanese); Seth Magill (English) - vocals and guitar - He has the appearance of a werewolf. Kintaurus likes cardigans. He has an awkward personality. Likes wearing t-shirts with the Kanji for gold (金) written on them but gets told that he/it's lame by the member, Deyan.
  • Deyan (デーヤン, Dēyan) – Voiced by: Shimotsuki Yukari (Japanese); Todd Haberkorn (English) - bass - He has the appearance of a devil. A bit frivolous. His glowing blond hair is his trademark and he loves dressing up/being fashionable. Always criticizes the members' clothes. His aggressive performance is his strong point.
  • Uchuura (ウチュウラー, Uchuurā) – Voiced by: Sasaki Yoshihito (Japanese); Derick Snow (English) - guitar - The new member of Gaugastrikes. He was drawn by the exquisite sound waves emitted by Kintaurus lame t-shirts and came to midi city from beyond a faraway galaxy. The inside of the space hat that he's always wearing is apparently connected to black holes.
  • Daishizen (ダイシゼン, Daishizen) – Voiced by: Yoshihito Ohtori (Japanese); Tyson Rinehart (English) - drums - He's big and reticent. His spirit reaches higher than the clouds. He rarely gets angry but when he does, apparently he's super scary. With his big body and heart, he watches over the members and the fans, a magnanimous man.
Yokazenohorizon (ヨカゼノホライズン, Yokazen Horizon)
A band that debuted later in the first game's life and marks as the last band added in the original game. Yokazenohorizon are a 4-piece Electronica Rock Band who hails from Fourthvalley, an area somewhere in Midi City where they play artistic and atmospheric sounds in the Yokaze Bar. The band is later will make a formal anime debut in Stars.
  • Rikao (リカオ, Rikao) – Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa - vocals and bass
  • Jalop (ジャロップ, Jaroppu) – Voiced by: Taichi Ichikawa – guitar
  • Kusuka (クースカ, Kūsuka) – Voiced by: Ryōta Suzuki – keyboard
  • Uraragi (ウララギ, Uragi) – Voiced by: Daiki Hamano – drums
Mashumairesh!! (ましゅまいれっしゅ!!)
Debuting first in the Mashumairesh!! anime before appearing in the successor game Fes a Live, Mashumairesh is a four piece rock band who formed after Howan misses an audition for a music competition in Midi City and met up with Himeko, Delmin and Ruhuyu. They are notable for their "popping and emotional sounds", which sparkles into everyone's hearts with gorgeous and joyful smiles.
  • Howan (ほわん) – Voiced by: Hikaru Tohno - vocals and guitar
  • Mashima Himeko (マシマヒメコ, Himeko Mashima) – Voiced by: Yūko Natsuyoshi - vocals and guitar
  • Delmin (デルミン) – Voiced by: Misaki Watada - vocals and bass
  • Ruhuyu (ルフユ) – Voiced by: Aya Yamane - vocals and drums
Dokonjofinger (どこんじょうふぃんが, Dokonjōfinga)
Debuting first in the Mashumairesh!! anime before appearing in the successor game Fes a Live, Dokonjofinger is a heavy metal high school band hailing from the infamous Dokonjo Kita Academy in Midi City. Known for its unique style of heavy rock, they were formed when the principal summoned the 4 of them into his office, telling them that they all have good potential in music except that they were all expelled from school.
  • Yasu (ヤス, Yasu) – Voiced by: Kento Itō – vocals and guitar
  • Hachin (ハッチン, Hatchin) – Voiced by: Shohei Komatsu – bass
  • Joe (ジョウ, Jō) – Voiced by: Yūki Ono – guitar
  • Sojun (双循, Sō Jun) – Voiced by: Yusuke Shirai – drums
Reijingsignal (レイジングシグナル, Reijingushigunaru)
Debuting first in the Mashumairesh!! anime before appearing in the successor game Fes a Live, Reijingsignal is a 3-piece rock band known for their advanced and high-level sound, vocals, and sense. They have shown to have no leader, as belief that all 3 members are all equals that hone themselves against each other to become better.
  • Rararin (ララリン, Rararin) – Voiced by: Lynn – vocals and guitar
  • Sumomone (スモモネ, Sumomone) – Voiced by: Yū Serizawa – vocals and guitar
  • Uiui (ういうい, Ui ui) – Voiced by: Minori Suzuki – vocals and bass
Kuronoatmosphere (クロノアトモスフィア, Kuronoatomosufia)
Debuting in Fes a Live, Kuronoatmosphere is a 5-piece punk rock band whose members are themed after time and numbers. Each member is named after roman numerals. They serve as the main antagonists in the game.
  • 919 (Nike) (ナイク, Naiku) – vocals and guitar
  • 661 (Roroy) (ロロイ, Roroi)
  • 659 (Rocoku) (ロコク, Rokoku)

Supporting characters
Maple Arisugawa (有栖川 メイプル, Arisugawa Meipuru)
Voiced by: Yūji Ueda (Japanese); Sonny Strait (English)
A former agent of Unicorn Virtual Music and currently the President and CEO of Banded Rocking Records, he's an egg Mummon who manages both Plasmagica and Shingan Crimsonz. Both serious and goofy, he tends to have a bondage and pain fetish; sometimes enjoys being punished by his secretary. Thought to be goofy due to his antics, he is very caring towards the bands he formed and treats them as his family while knowing that music can't be weighed by money. Maple also knows about the existence of Strawberry Heart and its relations to the Grateful King.
Angelica (アンゼリカ, Anzerika)
Voiced by: Risa Shimizu (Japanese); Rachel Robinson (English)
The secretary of Banded Rocking Records, she is a Wolf Mummon who also looks after both bands. She tends to be strict to Maple and has a dominatrix-like personality.
Grateful King (グレイトフルキング, Gureitofurukingu) / Strawberry Heart (ストロベリーハート, Sutoroberī Hāto)
Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino (Japanese); Justin Cook (English)
The Grateful King is a famous composer and singer, whose skills in composition and music was legendary to everyone in the Sound World. However, since he is contracted with Unicorn Virtual Music, Dagger is using him on his plans on making him compose the most powerful song that would make him ruler of the Sound World. Due to his evil ambitions, he decided to possess the Legendary Instrument, Strawberry Heart, to rescue Cyan after being brought to the Sound World while using it as a way to communicate with her and the others. Now serving as Cyan's instructor in Midi City, it gives her advice on how to defeat dark monsters. It's sometimes called "Mr. Berry" by Cyan, apparently due to its long name. At the later course of the series, the members of BRR now knows about his existence.
Master (マスター, Masutā)
Voiced by: Shigeru Chiba
Master is a Hedgehog Cat Myummon and also the owner of Studio UNZ, the place where both Mashumairesh and Dokonjofinger usually practice. He usuaklly looks on the two band like part of his family and guide them in various ways through their music.
Rocker (ロッカー, Rokkā)
The main protagonist of Fes a Live and also the main avatar for the player, Rocker is a myummon of unknown species who once lived in GURF, a town in the outskitts of Midi City which has since declined due to lack of tourism from music bands. One day, when he revisits his family's music shop and found an old amplifier, which is posseded by the spirit of Jeepe Parisugawa. Jeepe asked Rocker to help him revitalize tourism in GURF, which he ends up accepting. He later met up with amateur photographer Lameca in helping him with his mission while also investigating strange appearances of Dark Monsters all over Midi City.
Lameca Pashalikowa (ラメカ・パシャリコワ, Rameka Pasharikowa)
Voiced by: Karin Takahashi
Rocker's closer friend, Lameca is a Chinchilla Myummon and also an amateur photographer and writer for articles on Midi City's best bands. Though a bit of a newbie, she aims to be the best reporter in all of Midi City, which also the reason she joined Rocker's cause on boosting music tourism in his town.
Jeff Parisugawa (ジーペ・パリスガワ, Jīpe Parisugawa)
Voiced by: Yasuhiro Takato
A deceased ghost who has possessed an old amplifier inside Rocker's old music store. He was once a famous guitarist in Midi City and a has appeared in GURF 69 years ago before his strange death after a live show there, causing him to wanter all over Midi City. He asked Rocker to actually revive the old town back to its former glory.

Antagonists
Ogasawara (オガサワラ)
Voiced by: Yoshihito Sasaki (Japanese); Brandon Potter (English)
The agent for Criticrista and Dagger's employee. He is fired after Criticrista is defeated by Plasmagica in the battle of the bands but then became an agent for Uwasanopetals prior to the season 1 finale and resigned as an agent to Dagger Morse. However, he is then reinstated to the company again in the season 2 finale.
Dagger Morse (ダガー・モーリス, Dagā Mōrisu)
Voiced by: Takaya Kuroda (Japanese); Chris Rager (English)
The main antagonist of season 1, he is the president of Unicorn Music and is the one responsible for the appearance of the dark monsters. He's been defeated by Cyan in the first season finale but it's revealed in the second season that he survived and recruited Bud Virgin Logic to be his new band. He is mistakenly accused to be working for the Queen of Darkness Victorious, but revealed he has no allegiance with her whatsoever. In the end, he teamed up with Maple in order to defeat her and change the future.
Victorious (ヴィクトリアス, Vuikutoriasu)
Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro (Japanese); Elizabeth Maxwell (English)
The true main antagonist of season 2. A female devil myuumon, she is known as the Queen of Darkness, who rules the planet Ordinis, a harsh world filled only with people desiring results and strong efficiency. As a child, she and her best friend Astreal both believed in justice and loved to sing together. However, at the day of the exams, she had believed that the strong can survive and the weak die when she fell from a cliff after Astreal denied to help her during their exams even though she helped Astreal earlier. Because of this betrayal, it caused her Melodisian stone to be corrupted, resulting in her becoming cold, evil and bitter while hating music in the process and her heart filled with hatred, rage, and jealousy. When she gained new powers from said darkness, she ends up scaring Astreal into falling off the cliff and claims the throne as the new ruler of Ordinis. Now in her later years, she now commands an invasion fleet in several planets in the sound universe and committing mass genocide in each planet to extract its Sound Energy. She plans to take over the Sound Universe creating a world of no hope, and full of darkness and despair. She also went undercover as a secretary for Arcareafact, until she reveals she betrayed them.

Media

Video games

The game was first unveiled by Sanrio on the game's official website and was first released on July 30, 2013 for iOS and later on Android platforms on June 27, 2014. Sanrio's Chief Director of License Business Akito Sasaki said at a licensing expo that the reason for the game's artistic distance from Sanrio's usual style is because it is geared toward young boys (although it ended up appealing older girls around 15–19 years old). Several promotional videos were also released for the game, and were uploaded to Sanrio's official YouTube account.[8] Service for the game was discontinued on December 26, 2019.[9]

A sequel game to the series titled Show by Rock!! Fes A Live was developed by Now Production and published by Square-Enix in both iOS and Android devices on March 12, 2020.[10][11]

Anime
See also: List of Show By Rock!! episodes

A 12-episode anime adaptation of the game animated by Bones aired on Tokyo MX between April 5 and June 21, 2015.[12][13][14] The series is directed by Takahiro Ikezoe and written by Tōko Machida, with music composed by Yasuharu Takanashi, Funta7 and Rega Sound. The opening theme is "Seishun wa Non-Stop!" (青春はNon-Stop!, lit. "Youth is Non-Stop!") and the ending theme is "Have a Nice Music!!", both performed by Plasmagica (Eri Inagawa, Sumire Uesaka, Manami Numakura and Ayane Sakura in Japanese, Bryn Apprill, Alexis Tipton, Caitlin Glass and Monica Rial in English).[15] Shimomura of Sanrio commented that "Sanrio is targeting males who like anime and games, a demographic we haven't targeted up until now, in order to develop cross-media marketing through games, anime, and SNS." Eri Inagawa, Cyan's voice actress, commented that "This has been a long-awaited anime adaptation. I'm so happy I could cry."[16][17][18]

The series is licensed in North America by Funimation, who simulcast the series as it aired and began streaming a dubbed version from June 7, 2015.[19][20] Funimation released the first season on Blu-ray and DVD on December 6, 2016 in North America and on February 20, 2017 in the United Kingdom.[21][22]

A short anime series titled Show By Rock!! Short!![23] aired from July 4 to September 19, 2016 and is also licensed by Funimation. The main theme is "Do-Re-Mi-Fa Party" (ドレミファPARTY) by Plasmagica.[24] A second season, Show By Rock!!#, aired from October 2 to December 18, 2016.[25][26][25] The opening theme is "Heart o Rock!!" (ハートをRock!!, lit. "We'll Rock Your Heart!!") while the ending theme is "My Song is YOU!!", both performed by Plasmagica.

A third season, titled Show by Rock!! Mashumairesh!! (SHOW BY ROCK!!ましゅまいれっしゅ!!, Shō Bai Rokku!!Mashiyumairesshu!!), is produced by Kinema Citrus and aired on Tokyo MX, BS Fuji, UNB, SUN, and TV Tokyo on January 9, 2020.[27] Seung Hui Son directs the series, with Daisuke Tazawa as the series's scriptwriter and Nobuyuki Itō as character designer. Polygon Pictures handles the series's 3D animation scenes while both Yasuharu Takanashi and Funta7 returned to compose the series's music in Pony Canyon.[28][29] Funimation has licensed the third season.[30][31] The season aired for 12 episodes.[32]

A fourth season titled Show By Rock!! Stars!! is currently in development and will air on Tokyo MX and BS Fuji sometime in 2020. Takahiro Ikezoe and Tōko Machida both return to direct and write the series alongside new director Daigo Yamagishi. ENGI will handle the series's 3D animation scenes with Hiroki Yoshioka as CG producer.[33]

Manga

A manga adaptation of the first anime was written and illustrated by Takemaru Yokoshima and began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace magazine on July 4, 2020.[34]

Reception

Nick Creamer of Anime News Network gave the first episode a positive rating, stating that the "debut was a wild merry-go-round of delirious nonsense, but most of it was the enjoyable kind of nonsense" and "this was a wild and largely entertaining debut, but it also leaves me with plenty of reservations. Shows that rely on novelty to stay interesting often fizzle out quickly, and Show By Rock!!'s premise doesn't necessarily seem unique or engaging enough to have much staying power once the sparkles fade."[35] However, Amy McNulty gave the first two episodes a B+, saying that "Show By Rock!! is hard to pin down. It's like a pinch of Di Gi Charat, a dash of The Idolmaster and a quart of Sanrio-style magical girls mixed together and thrown into a frenetic cyberpunk setting. It attempts to do too much at once, yet it manages to juggle plot points fairly well so far."[36]

The popularity of the anime is also shown at the 30th Sanrio Character Ranking with Plasmagica ranking at sixth place and Shingan Crimsonz at second place.[37]

References
  1. "Sanrio's New Social Game Show By Rock!! Gets Animated Promo Video". Anime News Network. May 3, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  2. "Plasmagica" (in Japanese). Sanrio. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  3. "Characters | SHOW BY ROCK!! Official Web Site" (in Japanese). Sanrio. Retrieved October 13, 2014. – click second icon
  4. "Tsurezure Characters | SHOW BY ROCK!! Anime Official Web Site" (in Japanese). Sanrio. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  5. "Trichronika Characters | SHOW BY ROCK!! Anime Official Web Site" (in Japanese). Sanrio. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  6. "Criticrista Characters | SHOW BY ROCK!! Anime Official Web Site" (in Japanese). Sanrio. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  7. "Hiromi Igarashi, Ai Kayano Join Show By Rock!! Anime's Cast". Anime News Network. February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  8. "Sanrio's New Social Game Show By Rock!! Gets Animated Promo Video". Anime News Network. May 5, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  9. "Original Show By Rock!! Game App Ends Service After 6 Years". Anime News Network. November 26, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  10. "スクエニが『SHOW BY ROCK!!』新作スマホゲームをリリース。テレビアニメ新シリーズが2020年1月に放送" (in Japanese). Famitsu. November 24, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  11. "【事前登録】『SHOW BY ROCK!!』のリズムゲーム最新作が登場！『SHOW BY ROCK!! Fes A Live』" (in Japanese). Famitsu. November 24, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  12. "サンリオ発！バンドをテーマにしたキャラクタープロジェクト『SHOW BY ROCK!!（ショウバイロック）』TVアニメ化決定　2015年深夜放送開始" (in Japanese). PR Times. September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  13. "「SHOW BY ROCK!!」2015年アニメ化発表！声優・稲川英里シアンコスプレでお祝い" (in Japanese). Mobile Media Production. September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  14. "Sanrio's Show By Rock!! Mobile Rhythm Game Gets TV Anime in 2015". Anime News Network. September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  15. "VIDEO: Sanrio "Show By Rock!!" Anime Announced". Crunchyroll. September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  16. "Production on TV Anime Show By Rock!! Announced". Tokyo Otaku Mode. September 11, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  17. "Show By Rock!! TV Anime's 2nd Band Promo Video Posted". Anime News Network. October 24, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  18. "Show By Rock!! TV Anime's 3rd Band Promo Video Posted". Anime News Network. November 28, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  19. "Funimation Licenses The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan, Show By Rock!! Anime". Anime News Network. March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  20. "Funimation Streams Ninja Slayer, Yuki-chan, Ultimate Otaku Teacher, Arslan, Show by Rock, Mikagura With English Dubs". Anime News Network. May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  21. "Amazon.com: Show By Rock!!: The Complete Series (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)". Amazon. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  22. "Show by Rock - Complete Season 1 Dual Format Blu-ray". Amazon. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  23. "Show By Rock!! TV Anime Gets Sequel, New Short Anime". Anime News Network. November 8, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  24. "Funimation Licenses Drifters, Show By Rock Short anime". Anime News Network. July 3, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  25. "Show by Rock!! 2nd Season's 1st Promo Video Reveals October 2 Premiere". Anime News Network. September 2, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  26. "Show By Rock!! 2nd Season to Premiere in October". Anime News Network. July 4, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  27. "Sanrio's Show By Rock!! Franchise Gets New TV Anime in January". Anime News Network. November 24, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  28. "【フジテレビ】『SHOW BY ROCK!!』3年ぶりの最新作をFODにて最速先行配信が決定！　『SHOW BY ROCK!!ましゅまいれっしゅ!!』" (in Japanese). PR Times. November 24, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  29. "新作TVアニメ『SHOW BY ROCK!!ましゅまいれっしゅ!!』2020年1月よりTOKYO MX、BSフジ他で放送決定！出演声優に遠野ひかるさん・夏吉ゆうこさん・和多田美咲さん・山根綺さん" (in Japanese). Animate Times. November 24, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  30. "Stay Cozy with Funimation's Winter 2020 Lineup". Funimation. December 26, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  31. "Funimation to Stream Show By Rock!! Mashumairesh!! Anime". Anime News Network. December 28, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  32. "Show By Rock!! Mashumairesh!! Anime Listed With 12 Episodes". Anime News Network. January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  33. "Show By Rock!! Franchise Gets New TV Anime Series". Anime News Network. March 26, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  34. "Show By Rock!! Franchise Gets Manga Based on TV Anime". Anime News Network. June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  35. "Show By Rock!! - The Spring 2015 Anime Preview Guide". Anime News Network. April 5, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  36. "Show By Rock!! Episodes 1-2". Anime News Network. April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  37. 【速報】「2015年サンリオキャラクター大賞」シンガンクリムゾンズが2位を獲得！　イベントには谷山紀章さん＆稲川英里さんがサプライズ出演！ (in Japanese). Animate. June 27, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
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