Template:Short description Template:Infobox animanga/Header Template:Infobox animanga/Print Template:Infobox animanga/Print Template:Infobox animanga/Game Template:Infobox animanga/Print Template:Infobox animanga/Game Template:Infobox animanga/Game Template:Infobox animanga/Video Template:Infobox animanga/Print Template:Infobox animanga/FooterTemplate:Nihongo is a fictional character created by Tsuji Santa for the Japanese computer and video game software company Nitroplus, first appearing as a mascot for a Nitroplus-sponsored music festival in 2006. Nitroplus has since developed the character into a media franchise that includes music products, manga series, computer and video games, toy figurines, and other merchandise. An anime television series by White Fox based on the character aired in Japan between January and March 2014.
Characters
Super Sonico
Super Sonico is a fictional character created by Tsuji Santa of Nitroplus. Her debut appearance was on October 14, 2006, as the mascot for Nitroplus' annual live music festival event "Nitro Super Sonico", which took place at Shiba Park in Minato-KU.[1] Nitroplus was initially focused on computer games based on visual novels, but every year since 2000, they have also held a music festival.
Sonico appears in various media as an eighteen-year-old college student. She is depicted as an attractive young woman with light peach skin, large red eyes, and straight, light pink hair. She keeps her hair long in the back and in the front. She is always shown wearing her signature headphones. Her depictions show much variation in her facial features and body proportions between the different artists, while always keeping her trademark traits: headphones, pink hair color, and large bust. She also appears as a popular gravure idol as well as the vocalist and guitarist of the fictional band Template:Nihongo. Sonico also studies marine biology at Musasaka University and lives in Mushashino-shi, Tokyo. She is prone to sleep a lot, often requiring help to wake up, and her favorite foods are macarons. Her bandmates refer to her as "Nico".[2]
Associated characters
- Template:Nihongo
- Template:Animevoices
- The young female founder and bassist of the band First Astronomical Velocity. She has light green eyes and straight, long black hair. She is of average height and build but appears thin next to Fuuri and Sonico. She is often seen wearing a pink nurse's uniform and often attempts to dress up Sonico in dubious outfits.
- Template:Nihongo
- Template:Animevoices
- The young female drummer of the First Astronomical Velocity band. She has a full figure, violet eyes, and short, wavy brown hair. She is shy and good-natured and is usually seen either eating or sleeping when not playing in the band. She and Suzu first appeared in Nitroplus' 2010 visual novel computer game Axanael.[3]
- Template:Nihongo
- Template:Animevoices
- Sonico's manager, a tall man with orange-yellow flame-styled hair who is always wearing a hannya mask and carrying a katana on his back under his coat. He is particularly protective of Sonico, ready to strike at anyone threatening or attempting something inappropriate with her. When not defending Sonico, he is friendly. Despite his demon mask, he is sociable, talkative, and actively seeking modeling work for Sonico, sometimes overcommitting her.
- Template:Nihongo
- Template:Animevoices
- Nitroplus' former mascot, who is seen in the Super Sonico Animation. Ouka serves as Sonico's co-worker at the modeling agency. She is a tween-age girl of short stature and slight build. She has short orange hair; her right eye color is orange; and she wears a riveted brown leather eye patch over her left eye. She wears a frilled tiara on her head, with grooved silver disks that cover her ears. She is confident, extroverted, and constantly looking for her spot in the limelight. However, she is inexperienced with handling clients, and unlike Sonico, she does not have a protective manager, so she often ends up in bad predicaments.
Toys
A popular and extensive line of PVC figurines of Super Sonico has been produced for Nitroplus by well-known toy designers, including, among many others, Max Factory, FREEing, Orchid Seed, and Hobby Japan. Figurine styles have included the highly stylized Chibi, Nendoroid, and Figma designs, in addition to the more realistic designs drawn directly from the character as she appears in games, manga, and anime. Sizes have ranged from 1/8 to 1/2 the size of the young adult woman character as she appears in the media. Action figures have also been produced.[4][5]
Media
Music CDs
To date, there have been six singles and three albums released featuring Sonico.
- Singles
- SUPERORBITAL (released November 24, 2010; GRN-021): First studio single and first theme song for the PC game SoniComi.
- Template:Nihongo: Second single introduced at the 2010 Summer Comiket, also as an insert song from the adult PC game Axanael by Nitroplus.
- Template:Nihongo: A solo single sold on the iTunes Store and Amazon MP3 to raise revenue for earthquake relief following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[6]
- Template:Nihongo: Third single released in collaboration with Earth Star Entertainment's Comic Earth Star as the theme song of the magazine. The single was used to collect aid funds for earthquake relief.
- VISION (released July 29, 2011; GRN-027): Fourth single as the second theme song to SoniComi.
- Template:Nihongo: Debut solo single. The single included an additional costume patch for the PC game SoniComi on the CD-ROM.
- Albums
- GALAXY ONE (released November 11, 2011; GRN-028): First studio album.
- Love & II+ (released June 27, 2012; GRN-030): First Cosmic Velocity's 2nd album that contains three discs with Love&II+ LIVE gokko!, Love&II+, and SoniComi: Communication with Sonico Original Soundtrack.
- SONICONICOROCK Tribute to VOCALOID: Third studio album containing vocal covers of assorted Vocaloid songs.
Manga
A 4koma manga series by Chika Nonohara titled Super Sonico SoniKoma began serialization on March 12, 2011, in Comic Earth Star. Another manga series titled Sonicomi, with art by Imusanjo, was serialized in the Monthly Comic Blade. A 4koma manga series titled Template:Nihongo has also been featured in Enterbrain's Magi-Cu.
Games
SoniComi (2011/2016, PC)
Template:Nihongo is a computer game for Microsoft Windows released on November 25, 2011, developed by Nitroplus and published by Nitroplus and Enterbrain. As a visual novel game, the player takes on the role of Sonico's cameraman. The game features events where the player is able to take gravure photographs of her.[7][8] A PlayStation 3 adaptation with improved visuals, titled Template:Nihongo, was released on March 20, 2014.[9][10][11][12] The PS3 version received a Famitsu score of 30/40.[13] The game was released worldwide with an English translation by JAST USA through Steam, featuring dubbed voice by Jessica Nigri.[14]
SoniPro (2014, 3DS)
Template:Nihongo is a game developed by Nitroplus and Imageepoch for the Nintendo 3DS, announced during the 2013 Wonder Festival. As an idol-producing game, the player takes on the role of Sonico's producer, who aims to train her to become an idol. The game was released on July 31, 2014.[9]
Famitsu gave SoniPro a review score of 30/40.[15]
Appearances in other games
Sonico has made cameo appearances in various games, including Le Ciel Bleu,[16] the visual novels Shiny Days[17] and Lovesick Puppies,[18] the Japanese online games Web Knight Carnival,[19][20] Mechanical Girl War Z,[21] Dragon League,[22] Dungeons Lord,[23] Momoiro Daisen Pylon,[24] Blue Sky Dragon Guild,[25] and Super Heroine Chronicle.[26] Sonico appears as a character within the eroge Axanael developed by Nitroplus. She also appears in Square Enix's Kaku-San-Sei Million Arthur between March 11 and March 23, 2014.[27] Super Sonico and Ōka appear in the Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel fighting game, appearing as a support character in the arcade version and as a playable character in the console version, while the latter is playable in all versions.[28] Sonico also appeared in Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash as one of the DLC characters, along with the three characters from Koei Tecmo/Team Ninja's Dead or Alive series, four characters from the manga Ikki Tousen, two characters from Valkyrie Drive, and the titular character of Idea Factory's Hyperdimension Neptunia.
Anime
An anime television series titled Template:Nihongo was announced at the Nitro Super Sonic 2013 event held at the Tokyo International Forum.[26][29][30][31][32] Produced by White Fox, the 12-episode series aired in Japan between January 6, 2014, and March 24, 2014, and was simulcast by Crunchyroll.[33][34][35][36] A DVD and Blu-ray release of the TV series in Japan was announced for March 19, 2014.[37][38] Sentai Filmworks has licensed the series in North America.[39] It was released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on May 26, 2015.[40][41][42] The Anime Network began streaming the series on February 6, 2014.[43] MVM Films has licensed the series in the United Kingdom.[44] In Australia and New Zealand, Hanabee licensed the series within the region.[45] Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia and streamed on Muse Asia YouTube channel.[46]
The main opening song of the anime is Template:Nihongo by Super Sonico (Ayano Yamamoto). The opening theme for episode one is "Beat Goes On" by Yamamoto, while a different ending theme, each performed by First Astronomical Velocity (Yamamoto, Mai Goto, and Mami Ozaki), is featured in each episode.[47][48][49]
Episode list
Template:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode list| No. | Title | Ending theme | Original air date |
|---|
Other media
Gravure books featuring Sonico were released by Enterbrain on July 7, 2011. An internet radio show, Template:Nihongo, began broadcasting on March 24, 2011. A Sonico-themed non-game networking software application for iOS has also been released.[50]
Endorsements
Sonico was used to promote the International Exhibition Center station of the Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line.[51] She is also being used to promote the Template:Nihongo brand of beer from Nara Prefecture as a collaboration based on the similar-sounding name.[52] Sonico was also the mascot for the 2013 Anitamasai Convention in Saitama.[53]
The Super Sonico Tab is a special edition ASUS MeMo Pad ME172v tablet computer featuring the artwork of Sonico on the rear of the device.[54]
Notes
References
External links
- Template:Official website Template:In lang
- Super Sonico Official YouTube Channel
- Nitroplus Official Homepage Template:In lang
- Super Sonico The Animation official page Template:In lang
- Super Sonico (sonico_macaron) on Twitter Template:In lang
- "SoniCommu" portal at Dengeki Online Template:Webarchive Template:In lang
- Daiichi Uchū Sokudo Official Site Template:In lang
- Virtual Idol Uprising? Template:In lang
- Template:Anime News Network
- Sonicomi Official English Site
Template:Nitroplus Template:White Fox
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ 被災地復興支援ソング, Nitroplus
- ↑ 2010-07-31, SoniComi Gameplay System Detailed, The-O Network
- ↑ 2011-11-30, Sonico Seducing Otaku With "Communication", SeventhStyle
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 2013-07-28, SoniPro 3DS Game Has You Training Super Sonico To Be An Idol, Siliconera
- ↑ 2013-09-19, 『モット！ ソニコミ』すーぱーそに子がPS3に登場, Famitsu
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ 2014-03-11, Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1319, Gematsu
- ↑ 2017-02-11, Sonicomi: Communication with Sonico, JAST USA
- ↑ 2014-07-22, Famitsu Review Scores: 1337, Gematsu
- ↑ April 2012, ル・シエル・ブルー×すーぱーそに子 コラボレーション！, Userjoy Japan
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ 2013-01-11, 『LOVESICK PUPPIES』EDテーマを歌うのはすーぱーそに子がボーカルのバンド「第一宇宙速度」 Template:Webarchive, moedigi
- ↑ 2012-10-19, 「Web ナイトカーニバル！」と「すーぱーそに子」のコラボレーションが決定, 4gamer
- ↑ 2013-07-30, 【新コース追加！】「超（スーパー）すーぱーそに子コース」販売開始！ Template:Webarchive, Gamania Japan
- ↑ 2013-07-31, Mobage/GREE「メカ少女大戦Z」が「すーぱーそに子」とコラボ, GAME Watch
- ↑ 2013-09-13, 「すーぱーそに子」ライブ出演記念コラボレーション！『ドラゴンリーグX With すーぱーそに子』iPhoneアプリ「ドラゴンリーグX」にて2013年9月16日(月・祝)よりスタート！ Template:Webarchive, ICT Headline
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ 2011-12-01, 「桃色大戦ぱいろん for ニコニコアプリ」，本日よりすーぱーそに子とコラボ, 4gamer
- ↑ 2012-12-17, "すーぱーそに子"がもらえる 『蒼穹ドラゴンギルド』でコラボイベントが開催, Famitsu
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ 2013-09-22, すーぱーそに子がテレビアニメ化決定『そにアニ -SUPER SONICO THE ANIMATION-』, Famitsu
- ↑ 2013-09-22, 「そにアニ -SUPER SONICO THE ANIMATION-」 "すーぱーそに子"が、まさかのアニメ化決定, Animeanime.jp
- ↑ 2013-09-22, Super Sonico Gets Her Own TV Anime, Crunchyroll
- ↑ 2013-10-14, "Super Sonico: the Animation" Staff and Cast Announced, Crunchyroll
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ 2012-08-09, 発車メロディーのCMブランド名を当てるキャンペーンを実施！ ～りんかい線「国際展示場駅」で発車メロディーにCMソングを採用！～ Template:Webarchive, Zenrin Promo
- ↑ 2013-09-22, Super Sonico and Hello Kitty Get Their Own Beers, Crunchyroll
- ↑ 2013-09-16, Nitroplus Character Super Sonico to be Mascot for Saitama's Anitamasai Anime Convention, Crunchyroll
- ↑ ハイホー × すーぱーそに子 コラボレーション！ Template:Webarchive, hi-ho