Angela (stylized in lowercase) is a Japanese band, notable for having their music portrayed as theme songs for several anime television shows. The main members are Atsuko and Katsu. Their signature upbeat tunes and rich arrangements combine elements of rock, electronica, jazz and ska. In 2008, they started an alter ego band called Domestic Love Band (ドメスティック・ラヴバンド). They are most well known for providing all opening and ending themes to the Fafner in the Azure anime series.
Although both Atsuko and Katsu were born in Okayama Prefecture, they met for the first time in Tokyo at a music school. In 1993 angela was formed and they began as street performers. In 1999 they made their debut with the single memories, however this release went largely unnoticed. However, in 2002 angela signed on with Starchild. Their breakthrough came when they wrote the opening song, "Asu e no brilliant road" (明日へのbrilliant road), along with three different ending themes for the anime Stellvia of the Universe. Their first album, Sora no Koe (ソラノコエ) was released by Starchild in 2003. Since then they have provided songs for the show Fafner in the Azure and have released eight more studio albums: I/O in 2004, PRHYTHM in 2006, Land Ho! in 2009, mirror☆ge in 2011, ZERO in 2013, ONE WAY in 2015, LOVE & CARNIVAL in 2016, and Beyond in 2017; as well as two best-of compilations: Takarabako -Treasure Box- (宝箱 - Treasure Box) in 2007, and Takarabako 2 -Treasure Box II- (宝箱2 -Treasure Box II-) in 2014.
In 2004, angela played at the Otakon Convention in Baltimore, Maryland. The following year, 2005, saw live performances at Sakura-Con in Seattle, Washington, and also at Fan Expo Canada (known at the time as CN Anime) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sora no Koe was released in the United States by the Geneon label as Voice of the Sky in January 2005. Their second album I/O was released under the Geneon label in the U.S. in August 2005. Their next album, PRHYTHM, was released by Geneon in the U.S. in November 2006.
In 2010, for the first time, angela performed at Southeast Asia's largest anime convention, Anime Festival Asia (AFA), held annually in Singapore. It is also their first time performing in the country.In 2011, they followed up with another performance organised by jplex in Singapore at Republic Polytechnic. In the same year, they appeared in Singapore again at Anime Festival Asia 2011. In 2012, they were invited for the third time to perform at Anime Festival Asia 2012 in Indonesia. The following year in 2013, they would return to perform in Singapore at Anime Festival Asia 2013. In 2018, they were invited for the fifth time to perform in Singapore at Anime Festival Asia 2018.
In July 2013, angela performed for the first time in Paris, France at the Japanese culture convention, Japan Expo. On 31 October 2013, angela launched their official YouTube channel. They would make an appearance at the Anime Expo anime convention in Los Angeles in July 2014.[1] 19th September 2015 Angela performed their first concert in Germany at the anime convention Connichi in Kassel.[2] In 2017, their song was used as the opening theme to the anime series Aho-Girl.[3]
On June 4, 2023, angela was officially certified by Guinness World Records for "Most songs sung by the same artist for an animation franchise" in the Fafner in the Azure series. The award was presented at the Fafner in the Azure BEHIND THE LINE special screening event on the same day. It was also announced that a complete album containing all songs from the Fafner in the Azure series is in production.[4]
Song | Tie-in | Year | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Memories | Anime television series Shin Hakkenden opening theme | 1999 | ||
明日へのbrilliant road (Asu e no brilliant road) | Anime television series Stellvia opening theme | 2003 | ||
綺麗な夜空 (Kirei na Yozora) | Anime television series Stellvia 1st ending theme | 2003 | ||
The end of the world | Anime television series Stellvia 2nd ending theme | 2003 | ||
明日へのbrilliant road ~second genesis~ (Asu e no brilliant road ~second genesis~) | Anime television series Stellvia insert song | 2003 | ||
Dear my friend | Anime television series Stellvia final episode ending theme | 2003 | ||
merry-go-round | Television Variety Kaiun! Nandemo Kanteidan ending theme | 2003 | ||
butterfly | Radio program Nagasawa Nao to angela no Ora! Radio | ending song | 2003 | |
Stay With Me | Anime television series Saikoro Bot Konbok (a.k.a. Cubix) opening theme | 2003 | ||
笑顔でバイバイ (Egao de Bye Bye) | Anime television series Saikoro Bot Konbok ending theme | 2003 | ||
fly me to the sky | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner image song | 2004 | ||
Proof | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner 15th episode ending theme | 2004 | ||
in your arms | Television Drama ヴァンパイアホスト opening theme | 2004 | ||
solitude | Television Drama Vampire Host ending theme | 2004 | ||
Shangri-La | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner opening theme | 2004 | ||
Separation | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner ending theme | 2004 | ||
Separation[pf] | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner special ending theme | 2004 | ||
How many? | Radio program angela no sparking!talking!show! opening theme | 2004 | ||
feel,like a breeze | Radio program angela no sparking!talking | show! ending theme | 2004 | |
YOU GET TO BURNING (cover) | Anime television series Martian Successor Nadesico opening theme | 2005 | ||
Dearest (cover) | Anime film ending theme | 2005 | ||
未来とゆう名の答え (Mirai to Yuu Na no Kotae) | Anime television series ending theme | 2005 | ||
DEAD SET | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner RIGHT OF LEFT image song | 2005 | ||
Peace of mind | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner RIGHT OF LEFT theme song | 2005 | ||
果て無きモノローグ (Hatenaki Monologue) | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner RIGHT OF LEFT insert song | 2005 | ||
鳥 (Tori) | Television Drama Lion Maru G 1st ending theme | 2006 | ||
人生遊戯 (Jinsei Yugi) | Television Drama Lion Maru G 2nd ending theme | 2006 | ||
gravitation | Anime television series Heroic Age opening theme | 2007 | ||
君の傍で (Kimi no Soba de) | Radio program angelaのsparking!talking | show! ending song | 2007 | |
Theme principal | Anime television series Ryoko's Case File opening theme | 2008 | ||
Theme principal La chanson d'atsuko | Anime television series Ryoko's Case File ending theme | 2008 | ||
Beautiful fighter | Anime television series Shikabane Hime opening theme | 2008 | ||
My story | Anime television series Shikabane Hime ending theme | 2008 | ||
約束 (Yakusoku) | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner 5th Anniversary theme song | 2008 | ||
Beginning | Anime television series Shikabane Hime: Kuro 1st ending theme | 2009 | ||
光、探せなくとも (Hikari, Sagase Naku Tomo) | Anime television series Shikabane Hime: Kuro 3rd ending theme | 2009 | ||
謝罪状況 (Shazai Jokyo) | Anime television series Shikabane Hime: Kuro insert song | 2009 | ||
Spiral | Anime television series Asura Cryin' opening theme | 2009 | ||
Link | Anime television series Asura Cryin ending theme | 2009 | ||
オルタナティヴ (Alternative) | Anime television series Asura Cryin' 2 opening theme | 2009 | ||
彼方のdelight (Kanata no delight) | Anime television series Asura Cryin' 2 ending theme | 2009 | ||
キラフワ (Kirafuwa) | Anime television series Asura Cryin' 2 final episode ending theme | 2009 | ||
「リアル」は… ("Real" wa...) | Japanese film Shinju Tenshi theme song | 2010 | ||
ツナガル→ム (Tsunaga Room) | Television broadcast a-GENERATION opening theme | 2010 | ||
Wonderful World | Japanese film Wonderful World theme song | 2010 | ||
蒼い春 (Aoi Haru) | Anime television series Seitokai Yakuindomo ending theme | 2010 | ||
FORTUNES | Anime film Soukyuu no Fafner: HEAVEN AND EARTH image song | 2010 | ||
理解と破壊へのプレリュード (Rikai to Hakai no Prelude) | Soukyuu no Fafner | Soukyuu no Fafner: HEAVEN AND EARTH image song | 2010 | |
蒼穹 (Soukyuu) | Anime film theme song | 2010 | ||
さよならの時くらい微笑んで (Sayonara no Toki Kurai Hohoen de) | Anime film insert song | 2010 | ||
Shangri-La[mf] | Stage play Soukyuu no Fafner ~FACT AND RECOLLECTION~ theme song | 2010 | ||
THE LIGHTS OF HEROES | PlayStation Portable RPG Heroes Phantasia theme song | 2012 | ||
Cry out | Anime television series Kokoro Connect 2nd ending theme | 2012 | ||
いつかのゼロから (Itsuka no Zero Kara) | Anime television series K image and insert song | 2012 | ||
境界線Set me free (Kyoukaisen Set me free) | Anime television series K insert song | 2012 | ||
KINGS | Anime television series K opening theme | 2012 | ||
-Requiem of Red- | Anime television series K insert song | 2012 | ||
To be with U! | Anime television series K final episode ending theme | 2012 | ||
Remember me | Musical theater Soukyuu no Fafner theme song | 2012 | ||
生命 -イノチ- (Seimei -Inochi-) | Musical theater Soukyuu no Fafner ending theme | 2012 | ||
Always 好きだよ (Always Suki da yo) | Television broadcast a-GENERATION ending theme | 2013 | ||
僕じゃない (Boku Janai) | Anime television series Valvrave the Liberator ending theme | 2013 | ||
ANGEL | Anime television series Coppelion opening theme | 2013 | ||
遠くまで (Tookumade) | Anime television series Coppelion ending theme | 2013 | ||
バイバイオーライ (Bye Bye All Right) | Anime television series Coppelion final episode ending theme | 2013 | ||
シドニア (Sidonia) | Anime television series Knights of Sidonia opening theme | 2014 | ||
This is LOVE | PlayStation Portable Visual Novel Game Gakuen K -Wonderful School Days- opening theme | 2014 | ||
春夏秋冬 (Shunkashuto) | PlayStation Portable Visual Novel Game Gakuen K -Wonderful School Days- ending theme | 2014 | ||
Different colors | Anime film theme song | 2014 | ||
イグジスト (Exist) | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner EXODUS opening theme | 2015 | ||
暗夜航路 (Anya Kouro) | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner EXODUS ending theme | 2015 | ||
その時、蒼穹へ (Sono Toki, Soukyuu e) | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner EXODUS insert song | 2015 | ||
愛、ひと欠片 (Ai, Hito Kakera) | Anime film Sidonia no Kishi Movie theme song | 2015 | ||
騎士行進曲 (Kishi Koushinkyouku) | Anime television series Sidonia no Kishi: Daikyuu Wakusei Seneki opening theme | 2015 | ||
DEAD OR ALIVE | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner EXODUS 2nd opening theme | 2015 | ||
ホライズン (Horizon) | Anime television series Soukyuu no Fafner EXODUS 2nd ending theme | 2015 | ||
KIZUNA | Anime television series final episode ending theme | 2015 | ||
僕は僕であって (Boku wa Boku de Atte) [feat. [[fripSide]]] | Anime television series 2nd season 1st opening theme | 2016 | ||
全力☆Summer! (Zenryoku☆Summer | ) | Anime television series Aho Girl opening theme | 2017 | |
乙女のルートはひとつじゃない! (Otome no Route wa Hitotsu Janai | ) | Anime television series Otome Gēmu no Hametsu Furagu Shika Nai Akuyaku Reijō ni Tensei Shiteshimatta… opening theme | 2020 |