Pony Canyon to Host an Audition for a Female Singer to Sing Yuki Kajiura’s Theme Song for “Deemo the Movie”

Pony Canyon K.K. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Takashi Yoshimura) announced the details of the second round of auditions to find an artist to perform the theme song (music and lyrics by Yuki Kajiura) for the animated film “DEEMO THE MOVIE” which is currently in production.

The panel of judges will include Yuki Kajiura, Yasunori Mori (the film’s music producer), Pony Canyon producers and voice actress Ayana Taketatsu.

The audition is open to contestants from Japan as well as abroad. The entry deadline is 11:59 pm on Saturday, February 29.

Second Round of Auditions
Date: March 20, 2020
Time: 1:00 pm ~
Place: Tokyo, specific location to be announced
Details:
(1) The audition piece: Each contestant will sing a song of their choice. The song should last no longer than two minutes from intro to fade out. Also, it will be limited to “Japanese songs”.
(2) Each contestant will make a self-introduction/promotion speech lasting no longer than one minute.
Judges: Yuki Kajiura
Yasunori Mori (The film’s music producer)
Ayana Taketatsu (Voice actress)
Canyon Producers and others

Names of contestants who passed the first round of auditions will be posted on the “DEEMO THE MOVIE” official website https://deemomovie.jp/ on Friday, March 6.

An explanatory meeting will be held before the second audition
Date:  March 13 or 14
Place: PONY CANYON K.K.
Izumi Garden ANNEX1-5-17 Roppongi 
Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8487

Agenda: General guidelines and schedule following the second round of auditions

Submission of documents
Documents will be mailed separately to contestants who passed the first round of auditions. Please sign or place your official seal on the document and bring it with you.
Written consent of a parent or guardian will be required if the contestant is a minor.

Other important considerations
The explanatory meeting for the second round is not considered part of the audition.
If you cannot attend the meeting, please mail all required documents to the provided address.
All contestants will be responsible for their own transportation fees, lodging, etc. for both the explanatory meeting and the audition itself.
Please note that unforeseen events including weather or accidents may impact the schedule and general guidelines of the audition.

Announcement of final results
The grand winner of the audition will be announced on July 2020 at ANIME EXPO in L.A.
Details/updates will be posted on the official website: deemomovie.jp

Applications to the audition can be submitted using the KARASTA app (mixi) in Japan, while over-seas applications can be made through YouTube and bilibili.
Additionally, fan (viewer) votes will be counted in addition to professional judge votes in deciding the qualifiers beyond the 2nd round of auditions.

Objective of the audition:
To discover a new talent with outstanding singing skills who would be suitable to sing the theme song for “DEEMO THE MOVIE”, an Anime Film that pursues high music qualities in accordance with the original story (world-renowned music game “DEEMO”).

Visit the “DEEMO THE MOVIE” official website for more details about the audition: https://deemomovie.jp/utahime

Application Platform

• Domestic (Japan) applications: KARASTA (YouTube & bilibili accepted as well)
• International applications: YouTube, bilibili

How to Apply

• KARASTA
  -Download the KARASTA app and upload your performance of the assignment song.
  *KARASTA can be downloaded at: https://karasta.net/
• YouTube & bilibili
  Upload your performance of the assignment song with the following 2 hashtags:
  #deemo #deemomovie_utahime

Song to apply with
Assignment song: “inside a dream” (song featured in DEEMO THE MOVIE). Music/Lyrics by Yuki Kajiura. Song by Joelle.
*the original song is performed in words coined by Yuki Kajiura, but applicants are free to change the lyrics. Humming is accepted as well.

Conditions of application
1.  Must be female aged 13 or older.
2. Must not be signed with and/or represented by any record label, management or agency/agent.
3.  Applicants under the age of 20 must be authorized by their parent/guardian before applying.
4.  Must be able to participate in screenings beyond the second round that will be held in Japan.
5.  Must understand and approve that photographs/videos will be taken beyond the 2nd round of auditions.
6.  The winner of the audition must base her activities in Japan and participate in the domestic entertainment industry.

Schedule
January 1st – February 29th, 2020:
-Application period.

Early March 2020:
-1st round qualifiers (approx. 30 contestants) will be announced
-Assignment song for the 2nd round will be announced

March – June 2020
2nd round > 3rd round > Final round
On top of votes by professional judges Yuki Kajiura, Yasuhiro Mori (the film’s music producer), and Pony Canyon’s producers, public fan votes will be added, and the total score will determine the qualifiers for these rounds.

Results
The grand winner of the audition will be announced on July 2020 at ANIME EXPO in L.A.

Details/updates will be posted on the official website: deemomovie.jp

About DEEMO, the game on which the movie is based

DEEMO is a SmartPhone rhythm game app that has had over 23 million downloads worldwide. DEEMO -Reborn-, both its downloadable and packaged software for PlayStation4, will be released on November 21.

DEEMO, a rhythm video game inspired by the musical instrument of piano, carries approximately 200 songs of a wide variety, from beautiful classical music to rock, jazz, and electronic. It offers innovative entertainment to the players who must tap the notes on the screen like playing the piano, and in addition to its collection of superlative music, the smoothness of gameplay is unrivaled by any other game app, which have captivated many music game fans in Asia and around the world.

Movie: Introduction

“Never left without saying goodbye”

Alone in a castle, a figure plays a piano… Deemo

One day, a girl with no memory falls from the sky.

A gentle story that will touch your heart

DEEMO: the rhythm game cherished around the world       NOW, adapted for animated film

STAFF

• Based on the original story “DEEMO” by Rayark Inc.
• Screenplay: Junichi Fujisaku, Bun-o Fujisawa
• Character design: Mebachi
• Image board : Yoshitsugi Yoshida
• Art : Hiromasa Ogura
• Art settings: Taiyo Yoshida
• Color design: Yumiko Katayama
• CG animation director: Hiroshi Suzuki
• Modeling supervisor: Shunsuke Imaizumi
• Technical director: Kouichirou Tamura
• 3DCG production: Bros
• Composting: Hisashi Ezura, Akira Saitoh
• Editing by: Yoshinori Murakami
• Sound director: Jin Aketagawa
• Sound work: Magic Capsule
• Theme song:Yuki Kajiura
• Assistant director: Yoshihiro Hiramine
• Director: Shuhei Matsushita
• General director: Junichi Fujisaku
• Production: SIGNAL.MD 
• Production I.G
• Produced by PONY CANYON

ABOUT PONYCANYON INC.

Pony Canyon has long been a leading supplier of animation across the world. We are involved in every stage of content creation – from the planning through the co-production and finally, its distribution. As fans ourselves, we are able to cultivate animation that comes to be loved by fans across the world – just a few include “Attack on Titan”,” Sound! Euphonium” and “Kengan Ashura”.

https://www.rayark.com/en/games/

http://www.productionig.com/

http://www.signal-md.co.jp/