The appeal and reputation of "K-ON!!": the harmony of music and youth

The appeal and reviews of "K-ON!!": A masterpiece anime depicting the brilliance of youth

"K-ON!!" is a TV anime series that aired in 2010 and is based on a manga by Kakifly that was serialized in Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara. Directed by Yamada Naoko and produced by Kyoto Animation, it is a joint production between the Sakura High School Light Music Club and TBS. The anime has gained many fans by depicting the daily lives of high school students who belong to the light music club and by realistically portraying the brilliance of youth and friendship.

Broadcast information

"K-ON!!" was broadcast on the TBS Television Network from April 6th to September 28th, 2010. It consists of 26 episodes, each 30 minutes long. It was broadcast on the TBS Television Network and TBS Channel, as well as on broadcast stations across the country. The specific broadcast schedule is as follows:

• TBS Television (TBS): April 6, 2010 to September 28, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Tuesday 25:25 to 25:55
• Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS): April 10, 2010 to October 2, 2010 (episodes 1 to 26) every Saturday from 26:28 to 26:58
• Aomori Television (ATV): April 18, 2010 to October 17, 2010 (1st to 26th episodes) Every Sunday 24:50 to 25:20
• Kumamoto Broadcasting (RKK): April 18, 2010 to October 17, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Sunday 25:50 to 26:20
• Nagasaki Broadcasting System (NBC): April 19, 2010 to October 11, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Monday 24:50 to 25:20
• Hokuriku Broadcasting (MRO): April 19, 2010 to October 11, 2010 (episodes 1 to 26) Every Monday 25:25 to 25:55
• Sanin Broadcasting (BSS): April 19, 2010 to October 11, 2010 (episodes 1 to 26) Every Monday 25:25 to 25:55
• Sanyo Broadcasting (RSK): April 19, 2010 to October 11, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Monday 25:50 to 26:20
• IBC Iwate Broadcasting (IBC): April 20, 2010 to October 12, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Tuesday 24:45 to 25:15
• TV U Yamagata (TUY): April 20, 2010 to October 12, 2010 (1st to 26th episodes) Every Tuesday 24:50 to 25:20
• Niigata Broadcasting System (BSN): April 20, 2010 to October 12, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Tuesday 25:15 to 25:45
• Shizuoka Broadcasting System (SBS): April 20, 2010 to October 12, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Tuesday 25:20 to 25:50
• Hokkaido Broadcasting System (HBC): April 20, 2010 to October 12, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Tuesday 25:56 to 26:26
• Minami Nippon Broadcasting (MBC): April 21, 2010 to October 13, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Wednesday 25:10 to 25:40
• Kochi Television (KUTV): April 21, 2010 to October 13, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Wednesday 26:26 to 26:55
• Yamaguchi Television (TYS): April 22, 2010 to October 14, 2010 (episodes 1 to 26) every Thursday 25:17 to 25:47
• Ai TV (ITV): April 22, 2010 to October 14, 2010 (episodes 1 to 26) Every Thursday 25:20 to 25:50
• Oita Broadcasting System (OBS): April 22, 2010 to October 14, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Thursday 25:20 to 25:50
• Tohoku Broadcasting System (TBC): April 22, 2010 to October 14, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Thursday 25:30 to 26:00
• Tulip TV (TUT): April 22, 2010 to October 14, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Thursday 25:35 to 26:05
• Yamanashi Television (UTY): April 22, 2010 to October 14, 2010 (episodes 1 to 26) every Thursday from 25:55 to 26:25
• Chubu Nippon Broadcasting (CBC): April 22, 2010 to October 14, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Thursday 26:30 to 27:00
• Ryukyu Broadcasting (RBC): April 23, 2010 to October 15, 2010 (episodes 1 to 26) Every Friday 26:05 to 26:35
• Chugoku Broadcasting (RCC): April 23, 2010 to October 15, 2010 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Friday 26:55 to 27:25
• Shinetsu Broadcasting (SBC): April 24, 2010 to October 16, 2010 (episodes 1 to 26) Every Saturday 25:45 to 26:15
• Miyazaki Broadcasting (MRT): April 24, 2010 to October 16, 2010 (1st to 26th episodes) Every Saturday 26:09 to 26:37
• RKB Mainichi Broadcasting (RKB): April 24, 2010 to October 16, 2010 (episodes 1 to 26) Every Saturday 26:45 to 27:15
• TV U Fukushima (TUF): April 24, 2010 to October 16, 2010 (episodes 1 to 26) every Saturday from 26:48 to 27:18
• TBS Channel: August 7, 2011 to November 13, 2011 (Episodes 1 to 26) Every Sunday 22:00 to 23:00

story

The story of K-ON!! depicts the daily life of Hirasawa Yui, a beginner at musical instruments who joins the light music club in the spring of her first year of high school, and her friends. Yui spends her days having fun, centering around tea in the clubroom, training camps, the school festival, Christmas, and more, together with club president Tainaka Ritsu, shy Akiyama Mio, and easygoing Kotobuki Tsumugi. In her second year of high school, new member Nakano Azusa is welcomed, and the club's second school festival is a huge success as the five-person band "After School Tea Time" is formed. Then, as Yui and her friends enter the spring of their third year of high school, the story of their growth and friendship unfolds.

cast

The cast of "K-ON!!" is as follows:

• Yui Hirasawa: Aki Toyosaki
• Mio Akiyama: Yoko Hikasa
• Ritsu Tainaka: Satomi Sato
• Tsumugi Kotobuki: Minako Kotobuki
• Azusa Nakano: Ayana Taketatsu
• Sawako Yamanaka: Asami Sanada
• Kazu Manabe: Tomoka Fujito
• Hirasawa Ui: Yonezawa Madoka
• Jun Suzuki: Yoriko Nagata
• Satoshi Tainaka: Mika Ito
• Megumi Sogabe: Asumi Kodama
• Tomi Ichimonji: Sachiko Chijimatsu
• Noriko Kawaguchi: Yu Asakawa
• Kawakami-san: Chie Nakamura

Main Staff

The main staff of "K-ON!!" are as follows:

• Original work: Kakifly (serialized in Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara)
• Producers: Yoshihisa Nakayama, Shinichi Nakamura, Naohiro Otobu, Yoko Hatta
• Series Composition: Reiko Yoshida
• Character design: Yukiko Horiguchi
• Instrument setting: Hiroyuki Takahashi
• Art: Seiki Tamura
• Color design: Akiyo Takeda
• Director of photography: Lynn Yamamoto
• Edited by: Kengo Shigemura
• Effects: Kyoto Animation Digital Video Development Room
• Sound effects: Daisuke Jinbo
• Sound: Yasushi Nagura
• Recording assistant: Mika Kamemoto
• Sound Production: Yoshimi Sugiyama
• Recording studio: Studio2010
• Sound production: Rakuonsha
• Music Production: Pony Canyon
• A&R Producers: Atsushi Isoyama, Mariko Okamoto
• Music Coordinator: Kosuke Fukai (FMF)
• Publicity producers: Sadakazu Kikuchi, Teppei Nojima
• Advertising: Mizuho Tanaka
• Product Manager: Yusuke Mimori
• Planning cooperation: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Junichiro Tanaka
• Cooperation: Takeshi Shinohara (Houbunsha), Yoshimi Nakajima, Shigekaoru Sato (Quoras), Akihiro Sugimura
• Web design: Akiko Noguchi
• Edited by Studio2001
• Online Editing: IMAGICA
• Online editors: Naoki Kanazawa and Hideto Yasuda
• Advisor: Tatsuya Ishihara
• Animation producer: Nagaharu Ohashi
• Assistant producers: Maya Fujino, Yuichi Matsunaga, Tomohiro Fujita
• Music: Momoishi Gen (FMF)
• Sound Director: Yota Tsuruoka
• Director: Naoko Yamada
• Animation Production: Kyoto Animation
• Production cooperation: Pony Canyon, Movic, Kyoto Animation
• Produced by: Sakura High School Light Music Club, TBS

Main Characters

The main characters of "K-ON!!" are as follows:

• Hirasawa Yui: She joined the light music club because she thought it meant light music (like whistling). She started playing the guitar as a complete beginner. She is the type who relies on her own style and intuition. She loves cute and sweet things.
• Mio Akiyama: She was planning to join the literature club, but her childhood friend Ritsu dragged her into the light music club. She is a serious girl with excellent grades and the best proportions of all the members, but she is so shy that she chose the bass because the guitar would stand out. However, her bass skills are quite impressive.
• Ritsu Tainaka: She has a rough personality and is not good at detailed instruments, so she chose the drums. She has been friends with Mio since kindergarten and is always teasing her. She has strange talents, such as narrating and imitating other people's voices.
• Kotobuki Tsumugi: From her behavior, she is assumed to be quite a rich young lady. She has been learning piano since she was four years old and has even won a competition. She is gentle and friendly, and always has a smile on her face. She brings sweets and a tea set to the club room.
• Nakano Azusa: A new first-year who joined the light music club. She is in the same class as Yui's younger sister, Ui. She has a very serious personality and is worried about the light music club's tea time and the relaxed atmosphere of Yui and her friends. She started playing the guitar when she was in elementary school, influenced by her parents, and has become quite skilled.
• Sawako Yamanaka: Advisor of the light music club. She is beautiful, graceful, and popular with the students, but she finds the light music club an oasis where she can return to her true self. She is an alumna of Sakura High School, where Yui and her friends attend. She was inspired to take on the role of advisor after seeing a photo of her from her school days. She is a skilled guitarist.
• Manabe Kazu: Yui's childhood friend and a member of the student council. He is always cool, but can be scary when angry. He is a good friend of Yui and watches over her like a guardian.
• Hirasawa Ui: Yui's younger sister, one year younger than her. She is a good-natured and modest girl who is good at cooking and doing all kinds of housework. She also has excellent grades and sometimes helps her older sister Yui with her studies.
• Suzuki Jun: Ui and Azusa's classmate. She's good at being spoiled and doesn't hesitate to behave around others, but deep down she's serious. She never misses checking out what's trendy. She has curly hair, so she doesn't like rainy or humid days.

subtitle

The subtitles for each episode of "K-ON!!" are as follows:

• Episode 1: 3rd year of high school! (2010/04/06)
• Episode 2: Tidy up! (2010/04/13)
• Episode 3: Drummer! (2010/04/20)
• Episode 4: School trip! (2010/04/27)
• Episode 5: Staying at home! (2010/05/04)
• Episode 6: Rainy Season! (2010/05/11)
• Episode 7: Tea Party! (2010/05/18)
• Episode 8: Future! (2010/05/25)
• Episode 9: Final Exams! (2010/06/01)
• Episode 10: Teacher! (2010/06/08)
• Episode 11: It's Hot! (2010/06/15)
• Episode 12: Summer Festival! (2010/06/22)
• Episode 13: Late-summer greetings! (2010/06/29)
• Episode 14: Summer School! (2010/07/06)
• Episode 15: The Marathon! (2010/07/13)
• Episode 16: Senpai! (2010/07/20)
• Episode 17: There's no clubroom! (2010/07/27)
• Episode 18: The main character! (2010/08/03)
• Episode 19: Romeo and Juliet! (2010/08/10)
• Episode 20: Another school festival! (2010/08/17)
• Episode 21: Graduation Album! (2010/08/24)
• Episode 22: Exams! (2010/08/31)
• Episode 23: After School! (2010/09/07)
• Final episode: Graduation ceremony! (2010/09/14)
• Bonus: Planning meeting! (2010/09/21)
• Bonus: Visit! (2010/09/28)

Related Titles

The following works are related to "K-ON!!"

• K-ON!
• K-ON! Extra episodes, unaired episodes
• K-ON! Ura-on!
• K-ON!! Extra episodes, unaired episodes
• K-ON!! Ura-on!!
• K-ON! The Movie
• "K-ON!" Movie Guide: "1, 2, 3 is K-ON!"

Theme songs and music

The theme songs and music for "K-ON!!" are as follows.

• OP1
  • Period: 1-13
  • Song title: GO! GO! MANIAC
  • Lyricist: Shoko Omori
  • Composer: Tom-H@ck
  • Arrangement: Tom-H@ck
  • Song: After School Tea Time
• OP2
  • Period: 14-26
  • Song Name: Utauyo!!MIRACLE
  • Lyricist: Shoko Omori
  • Composer: Tom-H@ck
  • Arrangement: Tom-H@ck
  • Song: After School Tea Time
• ED1
  • Period: 1-13
  • Song Name: Listen!!
  • Lyricist: Shoko Omori
  • Composer: Hiroyuki Maezawa
  • Arrangement: Shigeo Komori
  • Song: After School Tea Time
• ED2
  • Period: 14-26
  • Song Name: NO, Thank You!
  • Lyricist: Shoko Omori
  • Composer: Hiroyuki Maezawa
  • Arrangement: Shigeo Komori
  • Song: After School Tea Time
• IN1
  • Duration: 7
  • Song Name: Pure Pure Heart
  • Lyrics: Emi Inaba (Mio Akiyama)
  • Composer: Hiroyuki Maezawa (Kotobuki Tsumugi)
  • Arrangement: Hiroyuki Maezawa
  • Sung by: After School Tea Time (Mio Akiyama)
• IN2
  • Duration: 10
  • Song Name: Love
  • Lyrics: KANATA (DEATH DEVIL)
  • Composer: Shigeo Komori (DEATH DEVIL)
  • Arrangement: Shigeo Komori
  • Sung by: DEATH DEVIL
• IN3
  • Duration: 20
  • Song Name: Rice is a Side Dish
  • Lyrics: Kakifly (Yui Hirasawa)
  • Composer: bice (Kotobuki Tsumugi)
  • Arrangement: bice
  • Sung by: After School Tea Time (Yui Hirasawa)
• IN4
  • Duration: 20
  • Song title: U&I
  • Lyrics: Kakifly (Yui Hirasawa)
  • Composer: Hiroyuki Maezawa (Kotobuki Tsumugi)
  • Arrangement: Hiroyuki Maezawa
  • Sung by: After School Tea Time (Yui Hirasawa)
• IN5
  • Duration: 24
  • Song title: I Touched an Angel!
  • Lyrics: Emi Inaba (Yui Hirasawa, Mio Akiyama, Ritsu Tainaka, Tsumugi Kotobuki)
  • Composer: Susumu Kawaguchi (Tsumugi Kotobuki)
  • Arrangement: Susumu Kawaguchi
  • Sung by: After School Tea Time (Yui Hirasawa, Mio Akiyama, Ritsu Tainaka, Tsumugi Kotobuki)

Evaluation and Appeal

"K-ON!!" is highly praised as a work that depicts the brilliance of youth and friendship. In particular, it has been praised for the following points:

Character Appeal

Each character in "K-ON!!" is unique and charming. The main character, Hirasawa Yui, is memorable for her hard work despite being a beginner at playing instruments and for having fun with her friends. The individuality of each character, such as Akiyama Mio's shy personality, Tainaka Ritsu's carelessness, Kotobuki Tsumugi's gentle atmosphere, and Nakano Azusa's seriousness, enrich the story. Additionally, the supporting characters, such as advisor Yamanaka Sawako, Yui's younger sister Ui, and friends Manabe Kazu and Suzuki Jun, are also charming and draw viewers in.

The appeal of music

The music for "K-ON!!" is mainly composed of songs performed by After School Tea Time. In addition to the opening and ending songs, many of the songs are performed during the show, leaving a strong impression on viewers. In particular, the songs performed during the show reflect the characters' growth and emotions, helping to provide a deeper understanding of the story. The technical skills of the staff involved in the music production are also highly praised, and are an element that captures the hearts of viewers.

Depiction of everyday life

"K-ON!!" depicts the daily life of the light music club realistically, making it easy for viewers to empathize. Through events such as tea parties in the club room, training camps, and school festivals, the characters' growth and friendships are depicted. Scenes such as school trips, final exams, and entrance exams are also depicted realistically, allowing viewers to reminisce about their own youth.

Animation quality

The animation of "K-ON!!" is a work that shows off Kyoto Animation's technical capabilities. The character designs, backgrounds, color schemes, and more are all of high quality, drawing viewers in. In addition, the scenes where musical instruments are played are also drawn realistically, and the music and animation work together to liven up the story.

Reasons for recommendation

"K-ON!!" is a work that can be recommended to many viewers as it depicts the brilliance of youth and friendship. In particular, I recommend it for the following reasons:

Evoking memories of youth

"K-ON!!" depicts the daily life of high school students in a realistic way, and it gives viewers a chance to reminisce about their own youth. It is full of scenes that many viewers can relate to, such as fun times in club activities, interactions with friends, and the pressure of exams and examinations. In addition, the story, which depicts the characters' growth and deepening friendships, will move viewers.

Feel the joy of music

"K-ON!!" is a work with a music theme, and viewers can feel the joy of music. The songs performed by Houkago Tea Time leave a strong impression on viewers and stimulate their interest in music. In addition, the songs performed in the drama reflect the growth and feelings of the characters, helping viewers to understand the story more deeply.

Be drawn in by the charm of the characters

The characters in "K-ON!!" are all unique and attractive, which is what draws viewers in. The members of the light music club, including the main character Hirasawa Yui, are characters that viewers can sympathize with and want to root for. In addition, the supporting characters, such as advisor Yamanaka Sawako, Yui's younger sister Ui, and friends Manabe Kazu and Suzuki Jun, are also attractive and draw viewers in.

Enjoy the quality of the animation

The animation of "K-ON!!" is a work that highlights Kyoto Animation's technical capabilities, allowing viewers to enjoy the quality of the animation. The character designs, backgrounds, color designs, etc. are all of high quality, drawing viewers in. In addition, the scenes where instruments are played are drawn realistically, and the music and animation work together to liven up the story.

Conclusion

"K-ON!!" is a masterpiece anime that depicts the brilliance of youth and friendship, and is a work that can be recommended to many viewers. Many elements attract viewers, such as the charm of the characters, the fun of the music, the realistic depiction of everyday life, and the quality of the animation. Please watch this work, evoke memories of your youth, and feel the joy of music.