| Kaleido Star | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| カレイドスター (Kaleido Star) |
||
| Demographic | Shōjo | |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy | |
| TV anime | ||
| Director | Junichi Sato Yoshimasa Hiraike (Season 2) |
|
| Studio | Gonzo, G&G Entertainment | |
| Network |  TV Tokyo Tooniverse QTV A+, RTL Klub Boomerang,Cartoon Network Anime Network Canal Panda Barnkanalen  A+ |
|
| Original run | 4 April 2003 – 27 March 2004 | |
| Episodes | 51 | |
| OVA: Warawanai Sugoi Ohimesama | ||
| Director | Junichi Sato Yoshimasa Hiraike |
|
| Studio | Gonzo | |
| Episodes | 1 | |
| Released | September 24, 2004 | |
| OVA: Legend of Phoenix ~Layla Hamilton Monogatari~ | ||
| Director | Junichi Sato Yoshimasa Hiraike |
|
| Studio | Gonzo | |
| Episodes | 1 | |
| Released | December 11, 2005 | |
| OVA: 'Good day yo! Goood | ' | |
| Director | Junichi Sato Yoshimasa Hiraike |
|
| Studio | Gonzo | |
| Episodes | 1 | |
| Released | September 27, 2006 | |
Kaleido Star (カレイドスター Kareido Sutā?) is an anime series produced by Gonzo Digimation and licensed in the United States by ADV Films. It was a joint venture involving Japanese studio Gonzo Digimation Holding, Korean studio G&G Entertainment, and American studio ADV Films.[1] The series is about a young girl named Sora Naegino who comes from Japan to the United States in search of her dream. She wants, with all her heart, to be a member of the acrobatic circus that performs at the famous Kaleido Stage (similar to the Cirque du Soleil) located in the fictional city of Cape Mery, California (which is roughly analogous to San Francisco). With the help of her friends, Sora struggles to make this dream come true. The series doesn't put much emphasis on love relationships (although a few are suggested), because achieving one's dream is the primary focus of the series. The series was aired in the United States in 2005, on the Anime Network.
Contents |
Plot
1st Season
Sora Naegino, a young Japanese girl, comes to America in hopes of auditioning for the Kaleido Stage, a world famous circus which has mesmerized her since childhood. However, she runs into difficulties as soon as she arrives. She gets lost on her way to the Stage, is leered at by a mysterious stranger, and has her bag stolen by a nimble thief. Employing her acrobatic skills, Sora chases down the criminal. A kind police officer gives her a ride to Kaleido Stage, but she discovers that she's missed her audition. Her idol, the star performer Layla Hamilton, advises her to return to Japan but a performer's unexpected injury provides Sora with a window of opportunity. She's given the rare chance to perform by the Stage's owner, Kalos (who turns out to be the mysterious man who had eyed her legs earlier). After a faltering effort, Sora is dismissed from Kaleido Stage and prepares to return to Japan, but Kalos reconsiders, and lets Layla know that someday Sora's performance will be the main draw at the circus. Sora spends the beginning of the season as an outcast, as the other performers believe that she had relations with the director to gain her position. Layla is particularly cold towards her, and sees her alternately as either an annoyance or a threat. With the help of a friend, Ken, and a lot of hard work and determination, Sora begins to earn the respect of those around her. Her incredible personality wins her a variety of friendships (including that of a baby seal) as well as several increasingly major roles in the productions. Over time, she even manages to form a friendship with Layla. However, things begin to go astray as Layla's father pressures her to leave and insiders plot to take over and shut down Kaleido Stage. Sora must rely on her winning personality, hard work and close friendships to keep the stage afloat.
2nd Season: New Wings
In the second season Sora returns to the stage after attempting the Legendary Great Maneuver with Layla. This leaves Layla's shoulder injured and unable to perform. The absence of her co-star, having retired to further a career in Broadway productions, prompts a slight decline of the Kaleido Stage. Because of this Khalos brings in a new recruit, Leon Oswald (a lofty trapeze artist). It seems at first that Leon is reminded very much of someone due to Sora's presence, and at times this causes him to get very frustrated with Sora, or very loving. Despite this, however, Leon does not accept Sora as worthy of being on the stage with him. This leads to a new recruit (May Wong of China, who is a master on Ice) to question and challenge Sora's position as Leon's partner and star of the show. Sora's first goal in the season is to attend the circus festival in Paris, but the competitors will do anything to attain the title of 'festival winner': betray, deceive, or even attack their opposers. The atmosphere and attitude this creates does not bode kindly to Sora's carefree, optimistic outlook. It inturn causes her to withdraw from the competition in the middle of her act (or the Angel Act), leaving friends, family and, worst of all, Layla confused and otherwise disappointed with Sora. Most of the season concentrates on Sora finding and pursuing her new dream. After many trials and rejections Sora aims to become a "True Kaleido Star" while creating a fun, conflict-free stage, the complete opposite of what she experiences at the festival in Paris. In the season the Kaleido stage end doing swan lake with Sora playing the lead as odette and becomes a Kaleido star.
1st OVA: The Amazing Princess Without a Smile
The first OVA looks at a new production in the works that follows the Kaleido Stage's success with Swan Lake about a female princess that is unable to smile and a jester of hers that is hoping to bring her smile back. The idea for the production came to Mia from a painting that featured a character that looked very similar to Rosetta and a jester in the background that looked surprisingly like Fool (the stage spirit that can be seen only by very talented students). Rosetta is assigned the lead role as the princess. Unfortunately, despite the likeliness of her being able to comprehend the role fully as she herself never carried a smile when she first came to Kaleido Stage, she has difficulties acting out the part and leaves the rehearsals mid-way frustrated. Will Rosetta be able to play the role right? What ties do Fool have with the painting of the princess and the jester?
2nd OVA: Legend of Phoenix ~Layla Hamilton Monogatari~
Layla and Sora are about to launch different interpretations of the same show "Legend of Phoenix" on opposite coasts. Layla is preparing at the Broadway but is dissatisfied with her performance. She feels that she cannot perform the role properly if she is not truly reborn as a new Layla Hamilton. In a desperate attempt to be reborn, she runs off on a solo bicycle trip to upstate New York in hopes of rediscovering herself. Meanwhile, Sora is also attempting to find her own Phoenix, but when she learns of Layla's disappearance she, Ken and May run off to New York to find the former Kaleido Star who at that instant was on a bike journey with no set destination. Layla meets various strangers and reminisces memories of her childhood along the way as she thinks of how she can change herself. But while she tries to find a new self, she spends her entire time alone thinking about Sora until she comes to realize just how much Sora has been a muse to her. Once she realizes that, she is reborn. The nature of this revelation, though speculated in different ways by various fans, is up to interpretation. During the end credits, we are shown two different Phoenixes.
3rd OVA: Good day yo! Goood!!
Good day yo! Goood!! is a TV episode length OVA that is rendered by computer graphics. All of the characters are presented super deformed. The OVA is split up into three parts. The first part is a lesson in Chinese cooking presented by May Wong; the dish that is presented is mapo doufu. The second part is a lesson on how to use the diabolo by Rosetta Passel. The final part is a lesson in seal lingo presented by Marion and Jonathan to Sora.
Characters
Episodes
Episode list
Season 1
| Ep# | English title | Japanese title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Amazing Stage Debut! | 初めての! すごい! ステージ (Hajimete no! Sugoi! Sutēji) |
| 2 | My Amazing & Lonely Challenge! | 孤独な すごい チャレンジ (Kodoku na Sugoi Charenji) |
| 3 | The Amazing Distant Stage | 遠い すごい ステージ (Tōi Sugoi Sutēji) |
| 4 | Try Hard & You'll Get an Amazing Chance | がんばれば すごい チャンス (Ganbareba Sugoi Chansu) |
| 5 | My Amazingly Distant Family | いつも すごい 遠い家族 (Itsumo Sugoi Tooi Kazoku) |
| 6 | The Amazing Seal | 小さくて すごい オットセイ (Chiisakute Sugoi Ottosei) |
| 7 | The Amazing Girl Who Doesn't Smile | 笑わない すごい 少女 (Warawanai Sugoi Shōjo) |
| 8 | An Amazing Star Even in Tough Times | つらくても すごい スター (Tsurakutemo Sugoi Sutā) |
| 9 | My Amazing Challenge for the Lead Role | 主役への すごい 挑戦 (Shuyaku e no Sugoi Chōsen) |
| 10 | Facing an Amazing Wall | 主役への すごい 壁 (Shuyaku e no Sugoi Kabe) |
| 11 | Anna's Not so Amazing Father | アンナの すごくない お父さん (Anna no Sugokunai Otōsan) |
| 12 | An Amazingly Hot New Production | 熱い すごい 新作 (Atsui Sugoi Shinsaku) |
| 13 | The Amazing Competition Calls Up a Storm | 嵐を呼ぶ すごい 競演 (Arashi o Yobu Sugoi Kyōen) |
| 14 | Mysterious Amazing Circus | 怪しい すごい サーカス (Ayashii Sugoi Sākasu) |
| 15 | The Diva's Amazing Love | 歌姫の すごい 愛 (Utahime no Sugoi Ai) |
| 16 | An Amazing Sinister Rumor | 黒い すごい 噂 (Kuroi Sugoi Uwasa) |
| 17 | Fire It Up! Amazing Mia | 燃えろ! すごい ミア (Moero! Sugoi Mia) |
| 18 | Yuri's Amazing Trap | ユーリの すごい 罠 (Yūri no Sugoi Wana) |
| 19 | Amazing Family Ties | 家族の すごい 絆 (Kazoku no Sugoi Kizuna) |
| 20 | An Amazing Change From Zero To Hero | ゼロからの すごい スタート (Zero kara no Sugoi Sutāto) |
| 21 | The Amazing Mystery Star | 謎の すごい 仮面スター (Nazo no Sugoi Kamen Sutā) |
| 22 | The Amazing Resolve Beneath The Mask | 仮面の下の すごい 覚悟 (Kamen no Shita no Sugoi Kakugo) |
| 23 | The Legendary Amazing Maneuver | 幻の すごい 大技 (Maboroshi no Sugoi Oowaza) |
| 24 | The Amazing Intensive Training Continues | まだ続く すごい 特訓 (Mada Tsuzuku Sugoi Tokkun) |
| 25 | An Amazing Bond | ふたりの すごい 絆 (Futari no Sugoi Kizuna) |
| 26 | An Amazing Comeback | 傷だらけの すごい 復活 (Kizudarake no Sugoi Fukkatsu) |
Season 2
| Ep# | English Title | Japanese Title |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Amazing Prologue to Stardom (Part 1) | スターへの すごい プロローグ（前編） (Sutā e no Sugoi Purorōgu (Zenpen)) |
| 28 | Amazing Prologue to Stardom (Part 2) | スターへの すごい プロローグ（後編） (Sutā e no Sugoi Purorōgu (Kōhen)) |
| 29 | An Amazing New Rival | 新しい すごい ライバル (Atarashii Sugoi Raibaru) |
| 30 | The Amazing Newcomer | もう一人の すごい 新人 (Mou Hitori no Sugoi Shinjin) |
| 31 | The Amazing Passionate Rival | 情熱の すごい ライバル (Jōnetsu no Sugoi Raibaru) |
| 32 | Amazing Match On Ice | 氷の上の すごい 対決 (Kōri no Ue no Sugoi Taiketsu) |
| 33 | Amazing Rosetta of Sweat and Tears | 汗と涙の すごい ロゼッタ (Ase to Namida no Sugoi Rozetta) |
| 34 | The Ever Amazing Miss Layla | やっぱり すごい レイラさん (Yappari Sugoi Reira san) |
| 35 | Marion's Amazing Debut | マリオンの すごい デビュー (Marion no Sugoi Debyū) |
| 36 | Amazing Training With Leon | レオンとの すごい 特訓 (Reon to no Sugoi Tokkun) |
| 37 | The Two Amazing Demons | 二人の すごい 悪魔 (Futari no Sugoi Akuma) |
| 38 | Amazing Angelic Counterattack | 天使の すごい 反撃 (Tenshi no Sugoi Hangeki) |
| 39 | Cruel Amazing Festival | 惨酷な すごい 祭典 (Zankoku na Sugoi Saiten) |
| 40 | Amazing and Sad Homecoming | 絶望の すごい 帰国 (Zetsubō no Sugoi Kikoku) |
| 41 | My Amazing Fresh Start | 再出発の すごい 決意 (Saishuppatsu no Sugoi Ketsui) |
| 42 | An Amazingly Humiliating Performance | 屈辱の すごい 共演 (Kutsujoku no Sugoi Kyōen) |
| 43 | Mr. Policeman's Amazing Proposal | ポリスの すごい プロポーズ (Porisu no Sugoi Puropōzu) |
| 44 | Launching An Amazing Smile! | 笑顔の すごい 発進! (Egao no Sugoi Hasshin!) |
| 45 | Leon's Amazing Past | レオンの すごい 過去 (Reon no Sugoi Kako) |
| 46 | The Amazing Fated Duel | 宿命の すごい 決斗 (Shukumei no Sugoi Kettō) |
| 47 | Flight of the Amazing Angel | 舞い降りた すごい 天使 (Maiorita Sugoi Tenshi) |
| 48 | The Amazing Injured Swan | 傷ついた すごい 白鳥 (Kizutsuita Sugoi Hakuchou) |
| 49 | Our Amazing Futures | ひとりひとりの すごい 未来（あした） (Hitorihitori no Sugoi Ashita) |
| 50 | A Most Amazing and Inescapable Showdown | 避けられない ものすごい 一騎討ち (Sakerarenai Monosugoi Ikkiuchi) |
| 51 | To the Amazing Promised Place | 約束の すごい 場所へ (Yakusoku no Sugoi Basho e) |
OVA
| English Title | Japanese Title |
|---|---|
| The Amazing Princess Without a Smile | 笑わない すごい お姫様 (Warawanai Sugoi Ohimesama) |
| Legend of Phoenix ~Layla Hamilton Monogatari~ | Legend of Phoenix ～レイラ・ハミルトン物語～ (Legend of Phoenix ~Reira Hamiruton Monogatari~) |
| It is Good! Goood!! | ぐっどだよ！ぐぅ～っど！！ (Guddo da yo! Gūddo!!) |
DVD List
Season 1
| Vol# | DVD Title | Episodes | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welcome to the Kaleido Stage! | 1 - 5 | May 11, 2004 |
| 2 | All Things Great and Small | 6 - 9 | June 22, 2004 |
| 3 | Great Expectations | 10 - 13 | August 3, 2004 |
| 4 | Fall From Grace | 14 - 18 | September 14, 2004 |
| 5 | Masquerade | 19 - 22 | October 26, 2004 |
| 6 | Reach for the Brass Ring! | 23 - 26 | December 7, 2004 |
Season 1 (ADV Slim Case Release)
| Vol# | Episodes |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 - 5 |
| 2 | 6 - 10 |
| 3 | 11 - 15 |
| 4 | 16 - 20 |
| 5 | 21 - 26 |
Season 2
| Vol# | DVD Title | Episodes | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eclipse of the Star | 27 - 31 | January 17, 2006 |
| 2 | A Tale of Two Rivals | 32 - 35 | March 14, 2006 |
| 3 | The Better Angels of Our Nature | 36 - 39 | May 16, 2006 |
| 4 | Return to the Rising Sun | 40 - 44 | July 18, 2006 |
| 5 | Angel and Anathema | 45 - 48 | September 19, 2006 |
| 6 | A Kaleido Star is Born | 49 - 51 | November 07, 2006 |
Reception
Kaleido Star was generally well received by critics, with the majority of acclaim paid to the first season.
Season 1
In a review of the first Volume, Anime News Network called the series "heartwarming fluff without too many sugar calories" and praised the Japanese voice cast for stellar performances, with particular emphasis on Ryo Hirohashi and Takehito Koyasu.[2] Anime On DVD also noted Koyasu's performance, the quality of the animation in the performance scenes, and the fulfilling climax of the final episode.[3][4] Underland Online noted Kaleido Star as being "...an extraordinary series is in a class all its own."[5]
Season 2
Despite being put off by the recap episodes, Anime New Network positively reviewed the first Volume of Kaleido Star: New Wings. While critiquing the story as "straight from the shojo drama playbook," the review held praise for the visuals, stating that "the best thing about Kaleido Star is, far and away, the amazing animation and production values. The circus scenes are wildly original and sometimes breathtaking; the animation quality hasn't dipped at all in the second season." Cynthia Martinez also won notice for developing her performance as Sora.[6] Anime Advanced also looked at the first volume and praised it highly, noting that "Kaleido Star gets my highest possible recommendation. This is a show that dreams are made of."[7] Summing up the series, Chris Beveridge of Anime On DVD said that "Kaleido Star has been a great series overall with a somewhat weak second season that really took its time to find its own voice," but that "it's still a series that's very easy to recommend on a whole and one that is very much worth showing to a younger audience."[8] ActiveAnime's Holly Ellingwood commented that "The finale is climatic and fulfilling." and summarized the series as being "An anime that is a pure joy to watch. Exhilarating, Kaleido Star is a stirring series that is both inspirational and remarkable.".[9]
OVAs
The Amazing Princess Without a Smile (also known as Kaleido Star: New Wings Extra Stage) was included on Volume 6 of the American Kaleido Star: New Wings and was thus reviewed with the final batch of TV episodes. Anime On DVD proclaimed the OVA to be "a beautiful piece of work and the best way to close out things for a while as it is much more oriented on the comedy and the lighter side of the characters... It's a great little self contained story that plays strong in a similar fashion to the last episode of the series but without quite so much angst and hardship associated with it. It leaves you laughing and really smiling at the end of the disc."[8] Thus far, The Amazing Princess Without a Smile is the only Kaleido Star OVA to be released internationally.
Staff
- Planning: GDH & HAL
- Original creator & director: Junichi Sato
- Associate producer: Toyo Ikeda
- Series story editor: Reiko Yoshida
- Character design & animation director: Hajime Watanabe, Fumitoshi Oizaki
- Art director: Junichiro Nishikawa
- Sound director: Yota Tsuruoka
- Composer: Mina Kubota
Theme music
- Opening
1. "Take it Shake It" by Sugar (eps 1–13) 2. "Yakusoku no basho e" (約束の場所へ?) by Chihiro Yonekura (eps 14–26)
- Lyrics: Chihiro Yonekura
- Music: Chihiro Yonekura
3. "Tattoo Kiss" by r.o.r/s (eps 27–51)
- Lyrics: Mizue
- Music: Dream Field
- Arrangement: Keiji Tanabe
4. "Blanc et Noir" by Ryō Hirohashi and Kaori Mizuhashi (The Amazing Princess Without a Smile OVA) 5. "Ray of Light" by Sayaka Ōhara (Legend of Phoenix ~Layla Hamilton Monogatari~ OVA)
- Lyrics: Yuki Matsuura
- Music: Mina Kubota
- Arrangement: Yuki Matsuura
- Ending
1. "real Identity" by Sugar (eps 1–13) 2. "Boku wa kokoni iru" (僕はここにいる?) by Sophia (eps 14–26) 3. "Escape" by r.o.r/s (eps 27–50)
- Lyrics: Mizue
- Music: Keiji Tanabe
- Arrangement: Kenji Tanabe
4. "Yakusoku no basho e" (約束の場所へ?) by Chihiro Yonekura with Kaleido Stars (ep 51) 5. "Tattoo Kiss" by r.o.r/s (The Amazing Princess Without a Smile OVA) 6. "Golden Phoenix ~Nando demo~" (Golden Phoenix ~何度でも~?) by Sayaka Ōhara (Legend of Phoenix ~Layla Hamilton Monogatari~ OVA)
- Lyrics: Kaleido Stage
- Music: Hitoshi Sakimoto
- Arrangement: Hitoshi Sakimoto
- Insert
1. "Ray of Light" by Layla Hamilton (Sayaka Ōhara) (ep 50)
Manga
A manga entitled Kaleido Star ~Wing of Destiny.[10] began serialization in Shōnen Fang's April issue and was released on February 19, 2007.[11] The story takes place fifteen years after the events of the anime series and it revolves around Sora's younger sister, Yume. Because Sora has not visited her family in years for reasons unknown, Yume joins Kaleido Stage in hopes to meet her. At this point, one can only speculate as to what has become of the former Star of Kaleido Stage. Though various new characters have been introduced, old ones have also come back including Yuri Killian, May Wong, Marion Benigni[12], Mia Guillem[13], and Rosetta Passell[14]. Other characters, including Sora and Layla, have yet to appear in the manga as their present selves. Unfortunately, it was revealed during summer of 2007 that Shonen Fang will cease its publication for good in September.[15] This will leave the Kaleido Star manga temporarily without a home.
Novel
A novel named Mr. Policeman's Amazing Wedding (ポリスの すごい 結婚式 Porisu no Sugoi Kekkonshiki?) was released on February 10, 2006.[16]
Trivia
- The first episode of the English adaptation appeared on the January 2004 edition of Newtype magazine.[17]
- Luci Christian voices both Sarah and Kate in the English speaking version. She stated in an interview that when this occurs that "voice patterns can really set your voices apart".[18]
- In a few episodes of Kaleido Star, it is shown that the sun sets behind the Kaleido Stage. In episode 51, the sun is shown rising above the ocean behind the stage.
References
- ^ Kaleido Star (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia Retrieved on 2006-07-07.
- ^ Leslie Mitsuko Tokiwa (September 3, 2004). Reviews - Anime News Network - Kaleido Star Volume 1. AnimeNewsNetwork.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-30.
- ^ Chris Beveridge (May 8, 2004). AnimeOnDVD.com >> Disc Reviews >> Kaleido Star Volume 1. AnimeOnDVD.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-30.
- ^ Chris Beveridge (December 10, 2004). AnimeOnDVD.com >> Disc Reviews >> Kaleido Star Volume 6. AnimeOnDVD.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-30.
- ^ Mike Lewis. Kaleido Star Amazing Collection. Underland Online. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Zac Bertschy (January 19, 2006). Reviews - Anime News Network - Kaleido Star New Wings Volume 1. AnimeNewsNetwork.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-30.
- ^ Vincent Del Vecchio (January 19, 2006). Kaleido Star: New Wings Volume 1. Anime Advanced. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ a b Chris Beveridge (October 18, 2006). AnimeOnDVD.com >> Disc Reviews >> Kaleido Star: New Wings Volume 6. AnimeOnDVD.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-30.
- ^ Holly Ellingwood (November 5, 2006). Kaleido Star New Wings: A Kaleido Star is Born (Vol. 6) [Advance Review]. Active Anime. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
- ^ Kaleido Star Manga Cover Scan (Japanese). Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
- ^ Shōnen Fang (Japanese). Retrieved on 2007-02-10.
- ^ Kaleido Star Manga Scan 2 (Japanese). Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
- ^ Kaleido Star Manga Scan 3 (Japanese). Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
- ^ Kaleido Star Manga Scan 4 (Japanese). Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
- ^ Comic Press (English). Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
- ^ Product information for the novel (Japanese). Rakuten. Retrieved on 2007-02-10.
- ^ Bound by Blood. Newtype Magazine USA. Retrieved on 2006-07-07.
- ^ Voice actors in bed. DVD Vision Japan. Retrieved on 2006-07-07.
External links
 |
This article contains Japanese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of kanji or kana. |
- Japan
- USA & Canada
- ADV Kaleido Star Website
- Kaleido Star at TV.com
- Kaleido Star (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Korea
