CyberAgent announced on Monday that Colorful Palette, a subsidiary of Craft Egg, and Sega are collaborating on an anime film based on the Project Sekai: Colorful Stage feat. Hatsune Miku smartphone game titled COLORFUL STAGE! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing (Gekijо̄ban Project Sekai: Kowareta Sekai to Utaenai Miku). The film will open in theaters in Japan on January 17, 2025. The company unveiled a video and visual:
Saki Fujita will reprise her role as Hatsune Miku from other works in the franchise:
The cast (which features returning members from the franchise) includes:
- Asami Shimoda as Kagamine Rin & Len
- Yuu Asakawa as Megurine Luka
- Meiko Haigō as MEIKO
- Naoto Fuuga as KAITO
- Ruriko Noguchi as Ichika Hoshino
- Karin Isobe as Saki Tenma
- Reina Ueda as Honami Mochizuki
- Yuki Nakashima as Shiho Hinomori
- Yui Ogura as Minori Hanasato
- Mayu Yoshioka as Haruka Kiritani
- Ai Furihata as Airi Momoi
- Rina Honnizumi as Shizuku Hinomori
- Chuna as Kohane Azusawa
- Tomomi Jiena Sumi as Ari Shiraishi
- Fumiya Imai as Akito Shinonome
- Kent Itō as Toya Aoyagi
- Daisuke Hirose as Tsukasa Tenma
- Hina Kino as Emu Otori
- Machico as Nene Kusanagi
- Shunichi Toki as Rui Kamishiro
- Tomori Kusunoki as Kanade Yoisaki
- Rui Tanabe as Mafuyu Asahina
- Minori Suzuki as Ena Shinonome
- Hinata Satō as Mizuki Akiyama
The story follows Ichika Hoshino, who hears a Miku song that she has never heard before at a CD shop and sees a Hatsune Miku whom she had never seen before. Ichika calls out to Miku, who surprised by the voice, disappears shortly after making eye contact. Miku later appears on Ichika's smartphone to tell her that she would like to reach others with her songs, but no matter how much she sings, her songs cannot reach them. After seeing Ichika reach others' hearts with her live street performance, Miku asks for her help.
Hiroyuki Hata (Lapis Re:LiGHTs) is directing the anime at P.A. Works. Yoko Yonaiyama (Ya Boy Kongming!) is writing the screenplay. Yuki Akiyama (IRODUKU: The World in Colors) is designing the characters and is a chief animation director, along with Masatoshi Tsuji (chief animation director for Summer Time Rendering), who is also a sub-character designer. Satoshi Hōno (Aggretsuko) is composing the music.
Other staff members include:
- Prop design: Hiromi Makino
- Art director: Kurumi Suzuki
- Art design: Yoshinori Shiozawa
- Director of photography: Kazuya Iwai
- Color design: Akemi Tejima
- CGI directors: Kyōsuke Ogawa and Haruki Suzuki
- Editor: Ayumi Takahashi
- Sound director: Jin Aketagawa
- Sound effects: Tsutomu Ueno
- Sound production: Magic Capsule
- Distribution: Shochiku
The Project Sekai: Colorful Stage feat. Hatsune Miku smartphone game launched in Japan in September 2020. The game is a collaboration between Sega, Crypton Future Media, and Colorful Palette, a subsidiary of Craft Egg. Sega and Colorful Palette released the game globally as Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage! on iOS and Android devices in December 2021.
Sega describes the "mobile rhythm and visual novel" game:
Hatsune Miku: COLORFUL STAGE! is a rhythm game featuring Hatsune Miku and her virtual friends, including virtual singers like Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, KAITO and MEIKO. Players will discover a cast of 20 original characters, split into five bands, each with their own musical style and backstories. Hatsune Miku's biggest hits, including "Tell Your World" by kz, "Melt" by ryo and "ROKI" by Mikito-P as well as brand new songs produced for the game will be featured in the game. Players will tap to the rhythm and face challenges with five different difficulty modes for each track that can be played solo or with friends. By earning rewards and XP for completing challenges, players can level up and unlock additional character cards through the gacha system. As the unique features of Hatsune Miku: COLORFUL STAGE!, players can participate in virtual live performances from their favorite in-game bands and engage with the community, participate in online events and earn rewards such as exclusive stamps.
The game inspired a mini anime adaptation titled Petit Seka (Puchi Seka). The anime had 10 episodes, and streamed for free on YouTube.
Sources: Email correspondence, COLORFUL STAGE! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing anime's X/Twitter account and website