Morfonica Explained

Morfonica
Origin:Japan
Genre:Pop rock, symphonic rock
Years Active:2020–present
Label:Bushiroad Music
Spinoff Of:BanG Dream!
Current Members:

Morfonica is a Japanese all-female rock band that is part of Bushiroad's media franchise BanG Dream!. Formed in 2020, the group's members portray fictional characters in the project's anime series and mobile game BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! in addition to performing their characters' respective instruments in live concerts.

The band consists of Amane Shindō (vocals), Hina Suguta (guitar), Yūka Nishio (bass), Mika (drums), and Ayasa (violin). In the game, Morfonica is represented by five first-year students at the prestigious Tsukinomori Girls' Academy: Mashiro Kurata (Shindō), Tōko Kirigaya (Suguta), Nanami Hiromachi (Nishio), Tsukushi Futaba (Mika), and Rui Yashio (Ayasa).

Of the nine bands in BanG Dream!, Morfonica is one of six whose members perform their own music during live shows.

History

Morfonica's formation was announced on 1 March 2020 during the franchise's live stream BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! @HHW CiRCLE Live Broadcasting Pre-3rd Anniversary Special. The band is the seventh in the franchise and the fourth that performs in live concerts after Poppin'Party, Roselia, and Raise A Suilen.[1] Morfonica is the only group in the project with a violinist, which was conceived by BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! developer Craft Egg to differentiate them from the others.[2]

During the stream, a music video for their song "Daylight" was broadcast; the video was animated by the BanG Dream! anime's studio Sanzigen.[3] A live-action music video and an introduction clip starring the voice actresses were released four days later.[4] The Morfonica-centric weekly YouTube show Morfonical, hosted by the band's members, began airing on 24 March.[5]

On 13 May, Morfonica was named Tower Records' recommended artist of May 2020. "Daylight" was released as their debut single two weeks later on 27 May.[6] The single sold over 15,000 copies in its first week, and peaked at second on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.[7] In June, the BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Cover Collection Vol. 4, a series of cover songs by Morfonica and other bands in the franchise, topped Oricon's Weekly Albums Chart with 2,231 sales in the opening week.[8]

The band's first concert, Special Live: Summerly Tone at the BanG Dream! 8th Live Summer Outdoors 3 Days alongside Poppin'Party and Pastel Palettes' Ami Maeshima with Raise A Suilen, took place on 23 August at Fuji-Q Highland Conifer Forest. Morfonica was the first of the three acts to perform, playing five songs.[9] Cantabile, Morfonica's maiden standalone performance, came on 7 October at Tokyo Garden Theater.[10] The live featured 12 songs, including the two from the "Daylight" single and four cover versions of popular anime theme music.

Morfonica's second single "Bloom Bloom", which was revealed during Cantabile, was released on 13 January 2021.[11] The group held a "Friendship Live" concert with Poppin'Party, known as Astral Harmony, on 23 February at Yokohama Arena.[12] The band's second standalone show, titled Andante, took place on 21 May at Zepp Haneda. Morfonica also performed alongside Raise A Suilen at the BanG Dream! 9th Live, subtitled Mythology, on 4–5 September at Fuji-Q Highland Conifer Forest.[13] A sequel to Mythology was held 18 June 2022.[14]

"Harmony Day", the band's third single, came out on 6 October 2021. One of the single's tracks, "Fateful..." was used as the second ending theme music for the anime Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress.[15] Later in the month, Morfonica began a two-stop concert tour, titled Amabile, at Zepp Osaka Bayside on 28 October and Zepp Haneda on 5 November.[16]

In 2022, Morfonica partnered with Jun'ichi Satō of the band Fhána for a song composed by Satō titled "The Circle of Butterflies". The collaboration also included Morfonica covers of Fhána's songs "Rhapsody of Blue Sky" and "Divine Intervention".[17] [18] The band's fourth single "fly with the night" was released on 30 March. They held the Resonance show at Tokyo Dome City Hall on 24 April; Nishio did not take part after testing positive for COVID-19, and backing tracks of her bass and vocals were used in her place.[19]

Members

In-universe band

In the anime and game, Morfonica is a band of first-year high school students at the prestigious Tsukinomori Girls' Academy. The group is formed by Mashiro Kurata, a new student who struggles to fit in with her more accomplished peers, after attending a concert by Poppin'Party and the other major bands.[24] Morfonica is a portmanteau of "morpho", in reference to their goals of changing themselves for the better (a metamorphosis), and "symphonic", alluding to their use of a violin.[25]

Morfonica's characters first appeared in Girls Band Party! in the main story's second season in 2019,[26] and were formally added as a group during the third-year anniversary on 15 March 2020 and later worldwide in 2021.[27] The band makes its anime debut in the 2020 spin-off series BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Pico: Ohmori.[28] A two-episode original anime focusing on the band titled Morfonication premiered in July 2022.[29] [30]

Discography

See also: BanG Dream! discography., Morfonica has 13 original songs.[31]

Singles

YearTitleCoupling trackRelease datePeak Oricon chart positionNotesRef
202027 May2[32]
2021"flame of hope"13 January6[33]
"Sonorous", "Fateful..."6 October8[34]
2022"fly with the Night""Secret Dawn"30 March7[35]
"One Step at a Time"14 September23Limited edition release includes Morfonication soundtrack[36] [37]

Albums

YearTitleRelease datePeak Oricon chart positionNotesRef
202027 MayJoined by Poppin'Party, Afterglow, Pastel Palettes, Roselia, Hello, Happy World, and Raise A Suilen[38]
16 December4[39]
202124 February6[40]
"BanG Dream! FILM LIVE 2nd Stage" Special Songs25 August13[41]
10 November4[42]
2022BanG Dream! Dreamer's Best16 March6Fan vote-determined compilation album with Morfonica's "Daylight", "flame of hope", and "Bloom Bloom" included[43]
14 December13Joined by Poppin'Party, Afterglow, Pastel Palettes, Roselia, Hello, Happy World!, and Raise A Suilen [44]
2023Quintet15 March9[45]

Notes and References

  1. News: Morrissy. Kim. BanG Dream! Announces New Violin Rock Band Morfonica. Anime News Network. 7 March 2020. 12 June 2020.
  2. Kidani. Takaaki. Takaaki Kidani. 今、リアルライブを再開する決断──「BanG Dream! 8th Live 夏の野外3 Days」直前！ブシロード木谷高明会長インタビュー. Akiba Souken. 17 August 2020. 17 August 2020. Japanese. Right now, the decision to resume real lives, just before "BanG Dream! 8th Live Summer Outdoors 3 Days"! Interview with Takaaki Kitani, Chairman of Bushiroad.
  3. News: Komatsu. Mikikazu. Watch Anime MV by BanG Dream!'s New Violin Rock Band Morfonica. Crunchyroll. 1 March 2020. 2 July 2020.
  4. News: Komatsu. Mikikazu. BanG Dream!'s 4th Real Band Morfonica Members Introduce Themselves in Video. Crunchyroll. 5 March 2020. 2 July 2020.
  5. 「バンドリ！」，Morfonicaの冠番組「MORFONICAL」の放送が決定. Craft Egg. 4Gamer.net. 23 March 2020. 6 April 2020. Japanese. "Bandori!", Morfonica's crown program "MORFONICAL" will be broadcast.
  6. News: Komatsu. Mikikazu. BanG Dream! Violin Rock Band Morfonica Chosen as Tower Records Japan's Recommended Artist of May 2020. Crunchyroll. 13 May 2020. 2 July 2020.
  7. News: Walkure, BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!, YOASOBI, and Lady Gaga Top the Oricon Charts for the Week of 5/25 – 5/31. Arama! Japan. 3 July 2020.
  8. News: 【ビルボード】バンドリ！カバーアルバム第4弾が総合アルバム首位 3位にはレディー・ガガ. Billboard Japan. 3 June 2020. 4 June 2020. Japanese. [Billboard] Bandori! The 4th cover album is Lady Gaga in 3rd place.
  9. 『バンドリ！』"モニカ"、"パスパレ"、"ポピパ"が次々に登場する8thライブ千秋楽開催レポート. Famitsu. 23 August 2020. 24 August 2020. Japanese. "BanG Dream! 8th Live" music report where Morfonica, PasuPare, and PoPiPa appear one after another.
  10. 『ガルパ』新情報まとめ。初音ミクコラボ第3弾が開催決定. Dengeki. ASCII Media Works. 20 July 2020. 16 August 2020. Japanese. "Garupa" new information summary. The third Hatsune Miku collaboration will be held.
  11. 『バンドリ！』ファン待望の"Morfonica"単独ライブ『Cantabile』の模様をレポート. Famitsu. 7 October 2020. 7 October 2020. Japanese. "BanG Dream! Report on the long-awaited "Morfonica" solo live "Cantabile".
  12. 『バンドリ！』8thライブ千秋楽となる"ポピパ"単独ライブ2日目の模様をレポート. Famitsu. 9 October 2020. 17 October 2020. Japanese. "BanG Dream!" 8th Live Breakthrough PoPiPa single live 2nd day report.
  13. 『バンドリ！』ポピパとサイサイの対バンライブが開催決定. Dengeki. ASCII Media Works. 23 February 2021. 26 February 2021. Japanese. "BanG Dream!" PoPiPa and SaiSai's band live will be held.
  14. Web site: RAISE A SUILEN x Morfonica "Mythology Chapter 2". BanG Dream!. 4 November 2021. Japanese.
  15. News: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress Anime Gets 3rd, 4th Seasons. Anime News Network. 14 September 2021. 14 September 2021.
  16. Web site: Morfonica ZEPP TOUR 2021「Amabile」. BanG Dream!. 28 October 2021. Japanese.
  17. 「バンドリ！」佐藤純一さん提供楽曲"The Circle Of Butterflies"を追加. Craft Egg. 4Gamer.net. 22 September 2022. 30 September 2022. Japanese. "BanG Dream!" Added "The Circle Of Butterflies" provided by Junichi Sato.
  18. ガルパステーション発表内容まとめ。バンドリーマーが投票で選んだアルバム収録曲が決定. Dengeki. ASCII Media Works. 20 March 2022. Japanese. 1 April 2022. "Girls Band Party!" fhána and Hyadain participating! New extra songs & artist tie-ups announced.
  19. Web site: Morfonica Concept LIVE「Resonance」. BanG Dream!. 21 April 2022. Japanese.
  20. 『バンドリ ガルパ』Morfonica倉田ましろ役進藤あまねが語る"ましろと新バンドの魅力"【3周年記念ボーカルキャストインタビュー第6弾】. Famitsu. 31 March 2020. 6 April 2020. Japanese. Morfonica Mashiro Kurata, Amane Shindo talks about "The charm of Mashiro and the new band" [6th anniversary vocalist cast interview].
  21. Mika. 『ガルパ』新バンド・Morfonica、Dr.二葉つくし役のmikaさんにインタビュー【拡大版】. Dengeki G's Magazine. ASCII Media Works. 28 April 2020. 3 July 2020. Japanese. Interview with mika, who plays the role of "Garupa" new band Morfonica, Dr. Tsukushi Futaba [enlarged version].
  22. News: Ayasa、『バンドリ！』新バンド・Morfonicaのバイオリン担当・八潮瑠唯役に決定. Yahoo! Japan. 6 March 2020. 6 April 2020. Japanese. Ayasa, "Bandori!" New band Morfonica plays violin, Rui Yashio.
  23. News: Dennison. Kara. Watch BanG Dream!'s Ayasa Perform the Latest KAGUYA-SAMA Theme in Cosplay. Crunchyroll. 27 June 2020. 2 July 2020.
  24. BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!. Craft Egg. Bushiroad. iOS/Android. Morfonica, To the Sparkling World. I Want to Try Being in a Band!. Mashiro: Th-they... w-were a lot of fun!! Just amazing!! So cool!! [...] I-I thought maybe I'd start a band of my own! (After that, I went home and made a poster to recruit bandamtes right away... Kasumi-san and the other bands were all shining just as brightly as the students at Tsukinomori. If I start a band, maybe even someone like me... can shine just as bright as them...).
  25. BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!. Craft Egg. Bushiroad. iOS/Android. Morfonica, To the Sparkling World. Morfonica. Tsukushi: I'd like our name to have something to do with change... Kurata-san, didn't you say you thought starting a band would be a good chance to change yourself? Then that idea should be a part of our name. [...] I'd like to add something that represents us... Ah, the violin! / [...] Nanami: Ah... Symphony... What about 'symphonic'?.
  26. Yuda. Masaru. Sawamura. Eisuke. Tsuji. Kōta. Tsukasa. Kōyō. 『ガルパ』開発陣インタビュー。MorfonicaとRAISE A SUILEN実装の裏側に迫る！. Dengeki. ASCII Media Works. 11 June 2020. 20 October 2020. Japanese. Interview with the development team of "Garpa". Get behind the scenes of Morfonica and Raise a Sullen! implementations!.
  27. News: 「バンドリ！ガルパ」，3周年キャンペーンやアップデートの情報が公開. 4Gamer.net. 2 March 2020. 8 March 2020. Japanese. "Bandori! Garupa" 3rd anniversary campaign and update information released.
  28. Web site: Hacaga. Shawn. BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!☆PICO～OHMORI～ Episode #07 Anime Review. Fandom Post. 19 June 2020. 2 July 2020.
  29. News: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. BanG Dream!'s Morfonica Group Gets Original Anime This Summer. Anime News Network. 19 March 2022. 19 March 2022.
  30. News: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. BanG Dream! Morfonica Anime Reveals Title, Teaser Video, July 28–29 Premiere. Anime News Network. 3 June 2022. 3 June 2022.
  31. Web site: Music. BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!. Bushiroad. 30 September 2022. Japanese.
  32. Web site: Daylight-デイライト-. Oricon. 29 May 2020. Japanese.
  33. Web site: ブルームブルーム【Blu-ray付生産限定盤】. Oricon. 21 January 2021. Japanese. Bloom Bloom [Limited Edition with Blu-ray].
  34. Web site: ハーモニー・デイ. Oricon. 20 October 2021. Japanese. Harmony Day.
  35. Web site: fly with the night. Oricon. 16 April 2022. Japanese.
  36. Web site: 寄る辺のSunny,Sunny. Oricon. 30 September 2022. Japanese. Yorube no Sunny, Sunny.
  37. Web site: 寄る辺のSunny,Sunny(Blu-ray付生産限定盤). Oricon. 30 September 2022. Japanese. Yorube no Sunny, Sunny (Limited edition with Blu-ray).
  38. Web site: バンドリ! ガールズバンドパーティ! カバーコレクションVol.4. Oricon. 4 June 2020. Japanese. BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Cover Collection Vol.4.
  39. Web site: ガルパ ボカロカバーコレクション. Oricon. 31 December 2020. Japanese. Garupa Vocaloid Cover Collection.
  40. Web site: バンドリ! ガールズバンドパーティ! カバーコレクションVol.5. Oricon. 4 March 2021. Japanese. BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Cover Collection Vol.5.
  41. Web site: 劇場版「BanG Dream! FILM LIVE 2nd Stage」Special Songs. Oricon. 5 September 2021. Japanese.
  42. Web site: バンドリ! ガールズバンドパーティ! カバーコレクションVol.6. Oricon. 18 November 2021. Japanese. BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Cover Collection Vol.6.
  43. Web site: BanG Dream! Dreamer's Best. Oricon. 1 April 2021. Japanese.
  44. Web site: バンドリ! ガールズバンドパーティ! カバーコレクションVol.7. Oricon. 21 December 2022. Japanese. BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Cover Collection Vol.7.
  45. Web site: Quintet. Oricon. 22 March 2023. ja.

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