Gen-Z singer-songwriter Riria. made her major label debut in 2020 with the song Kaeru-ka Genshou ni Nayanderu Onna no Ko no Hanashi on the new label VIA, part of TOY’S FACTORY.

The singer has gained overwhelming support from the younger generation during her brief career, amassing over 1.7 million followers on social media. Her song Uwakisaretakedo Madasukittekyoku (He Cheated on me, but I Still Love Him) made waves on LINE MUSIC, ranking at #1. Recently, Riria portrayed the heroine Uta in the film Wit Studio film Bubble, also singing the ending theme Jaa ne, Mata Ne (See You, Catch You Later.) 

Riria’s new song Shitsuren Songu Takusan Kiite Naite Bakari no Watashi wa Mou (All I’ve Done is Listen to Sad Songs About Heartbreak and Cry, Enough) has been chosen as the second ending theme for the anime series Summer Time Rendering. The bittersweet track was written by the singer as she pondered the story of the main heroine Ushio Kofune. It’s sure to pull at the heartstrings of anyone watching the series. 

The original Summer Time Rendering manga series was written by Yasuki Tanaka and ran in Shonen Jump+ from 2017 until 2021. The series has been viewed over 130 million times. The anime series is available to watch on Disney+ and has been a hit with international audiences.

Comment from Riria.

“I wrote the melody for this song while pondering my own thoughts on Summer Time Rendering, and wrote the lyrics while imagining the loneliness of the tide. 

I hope you all love it as much as I do!”

© 田中靖規/集英社・サマータイムレンダ製作委員会

The soundtrack for the anime film Bubble will be released on May 11, 2022, both in a physical version and on streaming services! The film is scheduled to open in theaters across Japan on May 13 and will be streaming globally on Netflix on April 28, 2022. The entire soundtrack is produced by beloved composer Hiroyuki Sawano.

Wit Studio is in charge of Bubble’s animation. Tetsurou Araki (Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress) is the film’s director while Gen Urobuchi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica) is the scriptwriter. Artist Takeshi Obata (Death Note) serves as the film’s original character designer and Satoshi Kadowaki (Attack on Titan) handles the chief animation direction. Singer-songwriter Riria will voice the film’s main heroine, Uta. She joins Jun Shison as Hibiki, Mamoru Miyano as Shin, Yuuki Kaji as Kai, Tasuku Hatanaka as Denki Ninja Leader, Sayaka Senbongi as Usagi, Marina Inoue as Undertaker Leader, and Alice Hirose as Makoto.

Popular among Gen-Z, Riria wrote the ending theme Jaa ne, Mata Ne (See You, Catch You Later), which will be included on the soundtrack. Be sure to watch the film when it appears on Netflix next week!

Music group Macaroni Pencil has unveiled the jacket for its latest song, Hoshi ga Oyogu, scheduled to be released on April 15, 2022.

The song will serve as the opening song for the anime adaptation of Summer Time Rendering. Yasuki Tanaka’s manga series ran from 2017 to 2021 in Shonen Jump+, quickly becoming a smash hit. A live-action adaptation and real escape game based on the series will also be coming soon.

The band recently performed at Nippon Budokan on their 10th-anniversary tour, becoming a popular topic on social media sites and stirring up plenty of excitement for the new series.

Summer Time Rendering Trailer #2
https://youtu.be/_JgOMtS2FkE

The chorus of the opening song can be heard in the second half of the second trailer, so be sure to give it a watch and a listen!

The anime film Bubble is coming to theaters in Japan on May 13, 2022, and will be available to watch on Netflix globally on April 28, 2022. The opening theme will be performed by Eve, while the ending song will be sung by Riria, who also voices Uta in the film. A full trailer featuring the theme by Eve has also been uploaded to YouTube!

Wit Studio is in charge of Bubble’s animation. Tetsurou Araki (Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress) is the film’s director while Gen Urobuchi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica) is the scriptwriter. Artist Takeshi Obata (Death Note) serves as the film’s original character designer and Satoshi Kadowaki (Attack on Titan) handles the chief animation direction. Hiroyuki Sawano (86 EIGHTY-SIX co-composer) is in charge of the musical score. 

Singer-songwriter Riria will voice the film’s main heroine, Uta. She joins Jun Shison as Hibiki, Mamoru Miyano as Shin, Yuuki Kaji as Kai, Tasuku Hatanaka as Denki Ninja Leader, Sayaka Senbongi as Usagi, Marina Inoue as Undertaker Leader, and Alice Hirose as Makoto.

The opening theme, Bubble feat. Uta, was written by Eve. The up-tempo and fast-paced track foreshadows the more intense scenes in the film and the fate awaiting the two main characters.

Full Trailer

When asked about the theme song’s production, Eve stated that he was deeply moved to sing alongside so many greats. “I wrote Bubble for this pure and gentle film, and it took me somewhere I hadn’t been before. The film is set on a magnificent scale with action that you can’t tear your eyes away from. Each character has such a rich personality. I’m so happy to be a part of this project. Please come to the theater and see it for yourself–parkour is so cool!” 

“I’d seen him perform a number of times, but it was still difficult to approach him for the project. I felt that once he agreed, it was fate,” said director Tetsurou Araki. “The world that Eve portrays in his music is exactly what I had set out to express in this project.”

Voice actor and singer-songwriter Riria performs the ending theme and plays the role of Uta in the film. Popular among Gen-Z, she wrote the ending theme Jaa ne, Mata Ne (See You, Catch You Later). The fragile and sad track brings the audience closer to Uta’s heart and helps to understand her character. In a departure from his previous works, Margt (PERIMETRON) was in charge of art direction. 

Netflix also provided a synopsis for the film. 

“In a Tokyo where gravity has broken, a boy and a girl are drawn to each other… The story is set in Tokyo after bubbles that broke the laws of gravity rained down upon the world. Cut off from the outside world, Tokyo has become a playground for a group of young people who have lost their families, acting as a battlefield for parkour team battles as they leap from building to building. Hibiki, a young ace known for his dangerous playstyle, makes a reckless move one day and plummets into the gravity-bending sea. His life is saved by Uta, a girl with mysterious powers. The pair then hear a unique sound audible only to them. Why did Uta appear before Hibiki? Their encounter leads to a revelation that will change the world.”

Riria was selected to play the role of major character Uta despite this being her first voice-acting experience. “First, they asked if I wanted to perform a song for the film, and I immediately said I would love to,” she said. “Then they asked if I wanted to play the role of the heroine and I freaked out! I can’t, I thought, I can’t do it! But at the same time, it looked like so much fun, so I had to make a decision. It was only after I accepted the role that I realized how big this project was. When I read the script for the first time, I cried so much. I felt like I was feeling what Uta was feeling. Even now when I think about it, I want to cry. Even during my first recording session, I immediately felt like I had become her.”

Keep an eye out for the film on Netflix later next month!

©2022「バブル」製作委員会

Japanese escape game creative company SCRAP has announced a brand new game in collaboration with Summer Time Rendering, a manga series written and illustrated by Yasuki Tanaka which concluded in February this year. An anime adaptation for the series has been green-lit.

Shueisha describes the manga’s story: “Upon hearing of Ushio’s death, Shinpei returns to his hometown of Wakayama City on Hitogashima and reunites with his childhood friend’s family. The funeral goes smoothly, but under the surface something strange is brewing on the island. What mysteries await him on this secluded summer island?”

SCRAP’s escape game will take place on Tomogashima, an island located in Wakayama which inspired the setting of Summer Time Rendering. Taking place for one day only on July 22, the game will have players solving puzzles and mysterious around the real-life island in order to escape. The game is limited to just 50 groups and a maximum of 100 people. Applications are open now until April 26 and players will be selected randomly.

©田中靖規／集英社