Kaleido Star
Encyclopedia
is an anime
series produced by Japanese studio Gonzo Digimation Holding. The series was created by Junichi Sato
, who also directed the first season, and written by Reiko Yoshida
. Kaleido Star: New Wings was directed by Yoshimasa Hiraike
.
Kaleido Star follows Sora Naegino, a Japanese young girl who comes to the United States to fulfill her dream: to perform at the world famous Kaleido Stage.
Three original video animation
s have been produced, as well as a manga
series and a novel.
A kind police officer gives her a ride to Kaleido Stage, but she discovers that she has missed her audition. Her idol, lead 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 a 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 then 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, in particular, disapproves of Sora. With the help of her friends (stage manager Ken Robbins, the performers Mia Guillem and Anna Heart, and young Marion Begnini) as well as a lot of hard work and determination, Sora begins to earn the respect of those around her. Her personality causes her to gain the trust of the performers as well as several increasingly major roles in the productions. She also befriends Layla over time.
However, Layla's father pressures her to leave and insiders plan to take over and shut down Kaleido Stage. Sora relies on her winning personality, hard work and close friendships to keep the stage afloat.
Despite this, however, Leon disapproves Sora as worthy of being on the stage with him. This leads to the most talented of the new Kaleido Stage recruits (the Chinese May Wong, who is also an ex-figure skater) 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, ultra-idealistic outlook. It in turn causes her to withdraw from the competition in the middle of her act (or the Angel Act) with the redeemed Yuri Killian, leaving her friends, family and Layla confused and otherwise disappointed with Sora.
Most of the season concentrates on Sora finding, questioning, and pursuing new dreams. After many trials and rejections, Sora eventually 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.
, 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 does Fool have with the painting of the princess and the jester?
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.
. 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.
Season 2
1 Take it, Shake it - Sugar (Episodes 1-13)
2 Yakusoku no Basyoe - Chihiro Yonekura Episodes 13-26)
3 "Tattoo Kiss" by r.o.r/s (eps 27–51)
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)
Ending:
1 Real Identity - Sugar(eps 1–13)
2 Bokuwa Kokoni IRU - Sophia
Insert:
entitled Kaleido Star ~Wings of the Future~ began serialization in Shōnen Fang's April issue and was released on February 19, 2007. 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.
Various new characters have been introduced, old ones have also come back including Yuri Killian, May Wong, Marion Benigni, Mia Guillem, and Rosetta Passell.
Serialization in Shōnen Fang magazine ended in September 2007 when the magazine went defunct.
named was released on February 10, 2006.
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. 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. Underland Online noted Kaleido Star as being "...an extraordinary series is in a class all its own."
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." 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."
North America
Korea
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series produced by Japanese studio Gonzo Digimation Holding. The series was created by Junichi Sato
Junichi Sato
is an anime director.-TV anime:*Queen Millennia *Patalliro! *Bemubemu Hunter Kotengu Tenmaru...
, who also directed the first season, and written by Reiko Yoshida
Reiko Yoshida
is a Japanese screenwriter and manga author.-TV anime:*Angelic Layer - Script *ARIA The ANIMATION- Script*ARIA The NATURAL - Script*Ballad of a Shinigami - Series Composition, Script...
. Kaleido Star: New Wings was directed by Yoshimasa Hiraike
Yoshimasa Hiraike
-Anime involved in:*Aria The Natural: Screenplay, Storyboard , Episode Director *Excel Saga: Episode Director *Kaleido Star: Director , Assistant director*Pretear: Episode Director...
.
Kaleido Star follows Sora Naegino, a Japanese young girl who comes to the United States to fulfill her dream: to perform at the world famous Kaleido Stage.
Three original video animation
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
s have been produced, as well as a manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series and a novel.
First Season
Sora Naegino, a young Japanese girl with a great talent for acrobatics, comes to the United States 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 has missed her audition. Her idol, lead 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 a 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 then 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, in particular, disapproves of Sora. With the help of her friends (stage manager Ken Robbins, the performers Mia Guillem and Anna Heart, and young Marion Begnini) as well as a lot of hard work and determination, Sora begins to earn the respect of those around her. Her personality causes her to gain the trust of the performers as well as several increasingly major roles in the productions. She also befriends Layla over time.
However, Layla's father pressures her to leave and insiders plan to take over and shut down Kaleido Stage. Sora relies on her winning personality, hard work and close friendships to keep the stage afloat.
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 Kalos 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 either be really rude or really sweet to Sora.Despite this, however, Leon disapproves Sora as worthy of being on the stage with him. This leads to the most talented of the new Kaleido Stage recruits (the Chinese May Wong, who is also an ex-figure skater) 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, ultra-idealistic outlook. It in turn causes her to withdraw from the competition in the middle of her act (or the Angel Act) with the redeemed Yuri Killian, leaving her friends, family and Layla confused and otherwise disappointed with Sora.
Most of the season concentrates on Sora finding, questioning, and pursuing new dreams. After many trials and rejections, Sora eventually 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.
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 LakeSwan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
, 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 does Fool have with the painting of the princess and the jester?
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, Layla 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.
Good da yo! Goood!!
Good da yo! Goood!! is a 22 minutes OVA that is rendered by computer graphicsComputer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
. All of the characters are presented super deformed
Super deformed
Super deformed or SD is a specific style of Japanese caricature where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way, typically small and chubby, with stubby limbs and oversized heads, to make them resemble small children...
. 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
Mapo doufu
Mapo doufu, or mapo tofu, is a popular Chinese dish from the Sichuan province. It is a combination of tofu set in a spicy chili- and bean-based sauce, typically a thin, oily, and bright red suspension, and often cooked with minced meat, usually pork or beef...
. The second part is a lesson on how to use the diabolo
Diabolo
The diabolo is a juggling prop consisting of a spool which is whirled and tossed on a string tied to two sticks held one in each hand. A huge variety of tricks are possible using the sticks, string, and various body parts...
by Rosetta Passel. The final part is a lesson in seal lingo presented by Marion and Jonathan to Sora.
Episodes
Season 1| # | Title | | Original air date | | English air date |
|---|
Season 2
| # | Title | | Original air date | | English air date |
|---|
Music
Opening:1 Take it, Shake it - Sugar (Episodes 1-13)
- Lyrics: Kyoko Asakura
- Music: So Kikuchi
- Arrangement: Shinichiro Murayama
- Music Production: Hori Pro Inc.
2 Yakusoku no Basyoe - Chihiro Yonekura Episodes 13-26)
- Lyrics: Chinhiro Yonekura
- Music Chinhiro 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
Ryo Hirohashi
is a Japanese voice actress represented by a talent agency Aoni Production. She originates from Nagaoka, Niigata and is a graduate of Ryukoku University...
and Kaori Mizuhashi
Kaori Mizuhashi
is a Japanese voice actress who is employed by Arts Vision. Her debut was in 1998 with the game First Kiss Story.-TV anime:*Ai Yori Aoshi *Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ *Angelic Layer...
(The Amazing Princess Without a Smile OVA)
5 "Ray of Light" by Sayaka Ōhara
Sayaka Ohara
is a Japanese voice actress. She is currently affiliated with Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society. She is a graduate of Aoyama Gakuin University's Department of Literature. Her nickname is...
(Legend of Phoenix ~Layla Hamilton Monogatari~ OVA)
- Lyrics: Yuki Matsuura
- Music: Mina KubotaMina Kubotawas born on February 5, 1972 in Fukuoka, Japan. She is a Japanese composer. Kubota has also worked on vocal music composition and arrangement for anime theme songs. Two notable works would be and which managed to hit the chart positions in Japan at #25 and #18 respectively...
- Arrangement: Yuki Matsuura
Ending:
1 Real Identity - Sugar(eps 1–13)
- Lyrics: Kyoko Asakura
- Music: Satori Shiraishi
- Arrangement: Shinichiro
2 Bokuwa Kokoni IRU - Sophia
- Lyrics: Mitsuru Matsuoka
- Music: Mitsuru Matsuoka
- (Toy's Factory)
- "Escape" by r.o.r/s (eps 27–50)
- Lyrics: Mizue
- Music: Keiji Tanabe
- Arrangement: Kenji Tanabe
- by Chihiro YonekuraChihiro Yonekurais a Japanese singer from Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.-History:While Yonekura was attending university, she sent off several demonstration tapes to recording companies. She was scouted out, and received the opportunity to do the opening song "Arashi no Nakade Kagayaite" for the anime Mobile Suit...
with Kaleido Stars (ep 51) - "Tattoo Kiss" by r.o.r/s (The Amazing Princess Without a Smile OVA)
- by Sayaka ŌharaSayaka Oharais a Japanese voice actress. She is currently affiliated with Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society. She is a graduate of Aoyama Gakuin University's Department of Literature. Her nickname is...
(Legend of Phoenix ~Layla Hamilton Monogatari~ OVA)- Lyrics: Kaleido Stage
- Music: Hitoshi SakimotoHitoshi Sakimotois a Japanese video game composer and arranger. He is best known for scoring the games Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII, though he has composed soundtracks for over 70 games and arranged music for more than 40 others. He began playing music and video games in elementary school, and began...
- Arrangement: Hitoshi SakimotoHitoshi Sakimotois a Japanese video game composer and arranger. He is best known for scoring the games Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII, though he has composed soundtracks for over 70 games and arranged music for more than 40 others. He began playing music and video games in elementary school, and began...
Insert:
- "Ray of Light" by Layla Hamilton (Sayaka ŌharaSayaka Oharais a Japanese voice actress. She is currently affiliated with Tokyo Actor's Consumer's Cooperative Society. She is a graduate of Aoyama Gakuin University's Department of Literature. Her nickname is...
) (ep 50)
Manga
A mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
entitled Kaleido Star ~Wings of the Future~ began serialization in Shōnen Fang's April issue and was released on February 19, 2007. 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.
Various new characters have been introduced, old ones have also come back including Yuri Killian, May Wong, Marion Benigni, Mia Guillem, and Rosetta Passell.
Serialization in Shōnen Fang magazine ended in September 2007 when the magazine went defunct.
Novel
A novelNovel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
named was released on February 10, 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 NetworkAnime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
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. 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. Underland Online noted Kaleido Star as being "...an extraordinary series is in a class all its own."
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 shōjo 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. 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."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." 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."
Extra Stage
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."Trivia
- The first episode of the English adaptation appeared on the January 2004 edition of NewtypeNewtype (magazine)is a monthly magazine publication originating from Japan, covering anime and manga . It was launched by publishing company Kadokawa Shoten on March 8, 1985 with its April issue, and has since seen regular release on the 10th of every month in its home country...
magazine. - 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".
- Japanese circus performer Dio KobayashiDio Kobayashiis a Japanese circus performer. He is the first Japanese circus performer to become a member of the World of Top Entertainer tour. He currently works as a world wide circus performer. His other stage names include "Kinosuke Otowa" and "Clown Joker"....
is credited as special adviser.
Official sites
JapanNorth America
Korea