DEEMO: Memorial Keys is scheduled to release in select locations nationwide on February 25, 2022, and a new key visual and 90-second trailer filled with brand-new footage just dropped!

The key visual was created by Mebachi, a popular illustrator known for creating the character designs for both DEEMO and the ending animation of Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club.

Against the backdrop of the castle where Deemo lives, a spiral staircase made of piano keys leads guests to a mysterious world. Alice, the main heroine, and Deemo, the masked girl, along with other characters are seen gazing up at the sky. Cherry blossom petals and light pour down from above in this emotional key visual that perfectly encapsulates the story’s world.

DEEMO tells the story of a girl who falls from the sky. She has no memories and finds herself traversing a strange castle. The sound of piano rings out, and the girl must discover the truth of who she is, and where she finds herself.

DEEMO: Memorial Keys Trailer

Based on the popular DEEMO mobile game, many famous tracks from the title will appear in the movie, so fans shouldn’t miss it!

ⓒRayark Inc./「DEEMO THE MOVIE」製作委員会

Western video game fans aren’t as obsessed with mobile games as those in the East, but Deemo is one title that has crossed borders. The rhythm game was originally released in 2013 and has been downloaded over 28 million times worldwide on iOS and Android, with Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 ports coming in 2017. Announced in 2019, DEEMO Memorial Keys is an animated film inspired by the rhythm game due to release across Japan on February 25, 2022. Previously announced voice cast members include Ayana Taketatsu and Akari Nibu of idol group Hinatazaka46. In addition, Gaku Hamada, Naomi Watanabe, Issey Ogata, Kouhei Matsushita, and Koichi Yamadera have been added to the cast list. 

Gaku Hamada will play Mirai, a stuffed cat living in the mysterious castle that Alice, played by Ayana Taketatsu, falls into. He is the leader of the three dolls following Alice on her adventure, along with the Nutcracker and Fragrant Sachet. These characters accompany Alice through the castle as she attempts to retrieve her lost memories. 

Naomi Watanabe will take on the role of the Fragrant Sachet, the calmest and most fashionable of the three dolls. The elderly Nutcracker will be performed by Issey Ogata, who is sure to make audiences cringe with his dad jokes. The actor noted that he played the role using his entire body during recording. 

Kohei Matsushita plays Hans, a master pianist who lost his parents and currently lives with his aunt and baby sister. The actor played the piano during the recording process, channeling the spirit of the character into his music. Alice’s piano teacher Professor Valensky is played by Koichi Yamadera. 

Comment from Gaku Hamada (Mirai): 

Mirai looks cute, but he has a bad mouth and constantly pokes fun at the other characters. I felt it was an important role, and I was lucky–everyone had already recorded their lines by the time I was in the booth, so it was much easier to get into the right headspace. Hearing everyone’s voices helped me to relax and inspired me to do my best, just like Alice in the film. This movie was created by a group of real Japanese pros. I did my best to infuse Mirai with my own unique personality, so I hope you enjoy it! 

Comment from Naomi Watanabe (Fragrant Sachet): 

This was a type of character I had never played before, so it took me a while to get the role down. So much of the film’s story depended on her lines, and I was constantly nervous that my voice was shaking or that I was slurring my words. I wanted to give her a more gentle voice, and finding the right balance was really tough. The real world is tough these days, and DEEMO is a film that I could so easily lose myself in. I want people who don’t play music games or who have never heard of DEEMO to see it. It’s a movie that reminds me of emotions I haven’t felt since I was a child. 

Comment from Issey Ogata (Nutcracker): 

The film tells the story about the heart. It’s a film that allows a person to look within, and to stop and have a conversation with themselves. A new DEEMO will be born! This is DEEMO! I hope that those coming to the theater take the time to think deeply about their own feelings. 

Comment from Kohei Matsushita (Hans): 

Working on DEEMO was my first experience with dubbing, so I was nervous, but the director gave me lots of detailed instructions that made it so much easier. I learned so much. This film has elements of music, movies, and games, so I think it will be entertaining to lots of different people. With so many possibilities, I hope DEEMO will inspire people to dive into the world of music–and the world of anime as well. 

An English-subtitled trailer is available to watch on the Pony Canyon Anime YouTube channel. It was originally screened at Anime ExpoLite 2021 in July. 

ⓒ2021 Rayark Inc./「DEEMO THE MOVIE」製作委員会

Pony Canyon has announced that the third round of online votes for someone to sing the theme song for the upcoming anime film DEEMO THE MOVIE will open on June 15, 2020.

DEEMO, the rhythm music game that DEEMO THE MOVIE is based on, have 23 million downloads worldwide. The anime film is being co-produced by Pony Canyon and Production I.G.

“DEEMO THE MOVIE” PV

The song has been written and composed by none other than music composer Yuki Kajiura (Sword Art Online; Demon Slayer), and the film staff are now for someone to sing it.

Auditions opened in January, and over 1,000 people from around the world took part. Across the months, it has been whittled down to just 14, and online votes for them are now set to open.

The candidates will first be judged on their singing by Yuki Kajiura and a team of professionals. Online votes will then open on June 15 until June 16.

Over on the official website, you can now see previous singing videos that the candidates submitted, amongst other things, so you can see how their character and singing ability has improved over the course of the auditions.

Once votes are over, the 14 candidates will be reduced down to 5, with the final winner being announced in early July. They will also sign a contract with Pony Canyon to make their major debut.

未来の歌姫は一体誰になるのか？世界中のゲームファンやアニメファンから注目を集める歌姫の運命を握る一般投票。その誕生の瞬間を見届けるために、あなたもぜひ「DEEMO THE MOVIE」歌姫オーディション3次予選一般審査の投票に参加してみてはいかがだろうか。

ⓒ2020 Rayark Inc. /DEEMO THE MOVIE Production Committee

Japanese publisher Pony Canyon attended Anime NYC 2019 which was held at the Javits Convention Center in New York from November 15-17.

On Friday 15th, Ming-Yang Yu, CEO of the gaming company Rayark, held a talk about the internationally popular game DEEMO and revealed that an animated film has been greenlit. He was joined by Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, the CEO of Japanese animation studio Production I.G who are known for having worked on some of the biggest titles in the anime industry, such as Attack on Titan, Ghost in the Shell, and Guilty Crown. Together, they also announced that the Rayark’s next work will take place in collaboration with Production I.G.

DEEMO is a popular music rhythm game for smartphone which has accumulated over 23 million downloads worldwide. DEEMO -Reborn- will be released on PlayStation 4 on November 21, 2019, both digitally and physically. The game sees players using a piano to perform a wide variety of genres, from rock to jazz, electro and more, with around 200 songs to choose from. The game has proven particularly popular in Asia, but enjoys a huge fan base across the globe, who have praised how smooth it is compared to other mobile rhythm games, and how it feels like you’re actually playing a piano.

The film will be animated by Signal.MD, an animation studio founded by Production I.G holding company IG Port. Production I.G themselves will support the production.

Junichi Fujisaku (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Blood+) is the screenwriter while up-and-coming director Shuhei Matsushita will stand in as director.

Yuki Kajiura will compose the main theme and insert songs. She has composed music for the Sword Art Online series, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Fate/Zero, The Garden of Sinners, and more.

The film is set to be complete sometime in 2020. Check the official website for ongoing updates and details.

©2020 Rayark Inc. /DEEMO THE MOVIE Production Committee