The original "Girls Band Cry" anime came to its conclusion on June 28 with the airing of its final episode, "Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die." Throughout its thirteen episodes, the series not only captivated fans in Japan, but also made a significant impact internationally, especially with its fictional band, Togenashi Togeari.
Since before its premiere, "Girls Band Cry" generated expectation among fans of the anime, and with each episode, interest expanded through social networks. The original songs and the band's musical quality within the anime, along with the focus on classic Japanese rock themes, resonated with anime fans and music lovers alike.
The release of the series' Blu-ray and DVD on June 26, which sold 12,000 copies in its first week, is a sign of the unprecedented success for an anime with no prior source material. In addition, Togenashi Togeari's singles, such as "Wrong World" and "I'm Nobody," reached prominent positions in Oricon's weekly rankings, with his most recent single "Emptiness and Catharsis" achieving sixth place.
The phenomenon of "Girls Band Cry" and Togenashi Togeari was not limited to Japan. A significant percentage of the traffic to the band's music videos on YouTube comes from overseas, reaching as high as 80% on some songs. This is partly due to the availability of subtitles in more than 10 different languages, making it easier to access a global audience.
Particularly noteworthy is the success in China, where the band's songs are played on streaming services such as Netease and QQ Music at a rate of 8 million weekly streams. In addition, they have reached the top spot in the J-POP charts on these platforms. The fever for "Girls Band Cry" has also spread to social networks such as Weibo, where fans share fan art and cosplay, demonstrating the cultural impact of the series.
Togenashi Togeari's music producer, Kenji Tamai of agehasprings, has pointed out that one of the goals was to reach the level of quality of K-POP groups, a goal that, according to the results, seems to be getting closer. The combination of Japanese rock elements with advanced animation techniques and an emotional narrative has created a synergy that catches both anime and music fans.
Although the anime has concluded, the Togenashi Togeari band will continue their trajectory in real life. The release of their second album, '棘ナシ' (Toge Nashi), is scheduled for August 28, and they will participate in events and concerts that promise to keep the flame of 'Girls Band Cry' alive.
This phenomenon demonstrates how a well-executed project can cross cultural boundaries and become a global success. The story of Togenashi Togeari and 'Girls Band Cry' is not over yet, and the future promises more music and memorable moments for fans around the world.
Source: Real Sound
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