Saekano Explained

Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend
Ja Kanji:冴えない彼女(ヒロイン)の育てかた
Ja Romaji:Saenai Hiroin no Sodatekata
Creator:Fumiaki Maruto
Type:light novel
Author:Fumiaki Maruto
Illustrator:Kurehito Misaki
Publisher:Fujimi Shobo
Demographic:Male
Imprint:Fujimi Fantasia Bunko
First:July 20, 2012
Last:October 20, 2017
Volumes:13
Volume List:List of Saekano volumes#Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata
Author:Fumiaki Maruto
Illustrator:Takeshi Moriki
Publisher:Fujimi Shobo
Demographic:Shōnen
Magazine:Monthly Dragon Age
First:January 9, 2013
Last:August 9, 2016
Volumes:8
Volume List:List of Saekano volumes#How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend
Type:manga
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Egoistic-Lily
Author:Fumiaki Maruto
Illustrator:Niito
Publisher:Kadokawa Shoten
Demographic:Seinen
Magazine:Young Ace
First:February 4, 2013
Last:May 2, 2014
Volumes:3
Volume List:List of Saekano volumes#Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Egoistic-Lily
Type:manga
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Koisuru Metronome
Author:Fumiaki Maruto
Illustrator:Sabu Musha
Publisher:Square Enix
Demographic:Seinen
Magazine:Big Gangan
First:August 24, 2013
Last:April 25, 2018
Volumes:10
Volume List:List of Saekano volumes#Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Koisuru Metronome
Type:TV series
Director:Kanta Kamei
Music:Hajime Hyakkoku
Studio:A-1 Pictures
Network:Fuji TV (Noitamina)
First:January 9, 2015
Last:March 27, 2015
Episodes:13
Episode List:List of Saekano episodes
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Girls Side
Type:light novel
Author:Fumiaki Maruto
Illustrator:Kurehito Misaki
Publisher:Fujimi Shobo
Demographic:Male
Imprint:Fujimi Fantasia Bunko
First:February 20, 2015
Last:June 20, 2017
Volumes:3
Volume List:List of Saekano volumes#Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Girls Side
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Girls Side
Type:manga
Author:Fumiaki Maruto
Illustrator:Takeshi Moriki
Publisher:Kadokawa
Demographic:Male
Magazine:Dragon Age
First:September 9, 2016
Last:June 9, 2017
Volumes:2
Volume List:List of Saekano volumes#Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Girls Side 2
Type:TV series
Flat
Director:Kanta Kamei
Music:Hajime Hyakkoku
Studio:A-1 Pictures
Licensee:Amazon Video
Network:Fuji TV (Noitamina)
First:April 14, 2017
Last:June 23, 2017
Episodes:11 + Special
Episode List:List of Saekano episodes#Season 2: Flat (2017)
Anime film
Content:
  • (2019)
Portal:yes

Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, known in Japan as and the short form [1] is a Japanese romantic comedy light novel series written by Fumiaki Maruto, with illustrations by Kurehito Misaki. Fujimi Shobo published thirteen volumes between July 2012 and October 2017 under their Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint. The story follows high school student Tomoya Aki, who recruits a trio of beautiful girls to help him develop a visual novel to sell at the Comiket convention.

Saekano has received a manga adaptation in addition to three spin-off manga adaptations. An anime television series adaptation by A-1 Pictures aired between January 9 and March 27, 2015 on Fuji TV's noitamina block, which has been licensed by Aniplex of America. A second season aired from April 6, 2017 to June 23, 2017, and was streamed exclusively on Amazon Video. A visual novel based on the anime, titled Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata -Blessing Flowers-, was released on April 30, 2015. An animated film, titled , was produced by CloverWorks and premiered on October 26, 2019.

Premise

Tomoya Aki, a male high school teenager who works part-time to fund his otaku lifestyle (light novels, manga, anime, video games like visual novels and dating sims, and related merchandise) encounters a beautiful girl one day during spring vacation. A month later, he finds out that the girl is his classmate, Megumi Kato, who is hardly noticeable to her classmates. Hoping to create a visual novel computer game, he turns to school beauties Eriri Spencer Sawamura for designing the art, and Utaha Kasumigaoka for writing the game scenario. Tomoya then recruits Megumi to star as the "heroine" (the main character's love interest) of his game, thus forming the development team "Blessing Software", in which the three most renowned students in the school (Tomoya, Eriri, and Utaha) work on one of the least noticeable (Megumi). The series follows their adventures in developing the game and their plans to sell it at the Comiket convention, as well as the emotional entanglements among the team.[2]

Publication

Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend began as a light novel series written by Fumiaki Maruto,[3] with illustrations provided by Kurehito Misaki.[4] The first light novel volume was published by Fujimi Shobo under their Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint on July 20, 2012.[5] In the twelfth volume, Maruto announced that the series would end in the thirteenth volume,[6] which was released on October 20, 2017.[7] As of November 2018, thirteen volumes and two short story collections have been published.

Media

Manga

A manga adaptation with art by Takeshi Moriki was serialized from January 9, 2013 to August 9, 2016 in Fujimi Shobo's shōnen manga magazine Monthly Dragon Age.[8] [9] It has been collected in eight tankōbon volumes between August 2013 and November 2016.[10] It has also been published in English by Yen Press between January 2016 and December 2017.[11]

A spin-off manga titled with art by Niito was serialized from February 4, 2013 to May 2, 2014 in Kadokawa Shoten's seinen manga magazine Young Ace.[12] [13] It has been collected in three tankōbon volumes. Another spin-off manga titled with art by Sabu Musha was serialized from August 24, 2013 to April 25, 2018 in Square Enix's seinen manga magazine Big Gangan.[14] [15] It has been collected in ten tankōbon volumes.[16] A manga adaptation of Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata: Girls Side was serialized in Fujimi Shobo's Monthly Dragon Age magazine from September 9, 2016 to June 9, 2017.[9] [17] It has been collected in two tankōbon volumes.

Anime series

An anime television series adaptation of the light novel series was announced in March 2014 to premiere on Fuji TV's Noitamina block in January 2015.[18] The anime was produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Kanta Kamei, with scripts written by series creator Fumiaki Maruto, character designs by Tomoaki Takase and music by Hajime Hyakkoku.[19] The opening theme song for the anime was by Luna Haruna, while the ending theme song was by Miku Sawai. The series began airing on January 9, 2015 and finished airing on March 27, 2015 with a total of 13 episodes.[20] The first season has been licensed for North America by Aniplex of America.[21]

A second season to the anime series, titled [22] was announced on May 3, 2015,[23] with the main staff and cast returning from the previous season to reprise their roles.[24] It aired on Fuji TV's Noitamina block from April 13, 2017 to June 23, 2017 running for 12 episodes,[25] [26] with the web-only episode 0 streamed on April 5, 2017. The opening theme song for the second season is by Luna Haruna,[27] while the ending theme song are for episode 0 to 10 and for episode 11, both sung by Moso Calibration.[28] The second season streamed exclusively on Amazon Video.[29]

Theatrical film

An anime film was announced at the "Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Fes. flat -glistening moment-" event on December 3, 2017.[30] The all-new film, titled was produced by CloverWorks and directed by Akihisa Shibata, with Kanta Kamei serving as chief director. The rest of the main staff and cast from the anime series returned to reprise their roles. It premiered in Japan on October 26, 2019.[31] The theme song "glory days", was sung by Luna Haruna, with Miku Sawai composing.[32] [33]

Video game

A PlayStation Vita visual novel based on the anime, titled was released on April 30, 2015.[34] A limited edition with an original soundtrack CD and a B2-size cloth poster retailed for 8,800 yen (about US$74), a regular edition for 6,800 yen (US$57), and a download edition for 6,000 yen (US$51). The first copies of all editions included a download code for an original custom PS Vita theme. The game utilizes Live2D software, which moves the characters with CGI but retains their two-dimensional look.[35]

Reception

Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend ranked 10th place on the "Top-Selling Light Novels in Japan by Series" with 227,314 copies sold in the period between November 2014 and May 2015,[36] and later ranked 16th place with 313,744 copies sold between November 2014 and November 2015.[37]

See also

Notes

  1. Book: Maruto, Fumiaki . August 20, 2014 . 『冴えない彼女の育てかた FD』 . Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata Fan Disc . ja . . 284 . 978-4-04-070282-7.
  2. News: 15 Anime To Watch If You Like Nisekoi. Comic Book Resources. Valente. Adriano. July 11, 2020. March 21, 2021.
  3. News: Saekano's Fumiaki Maruto Writes New Manga. Anime News Network. Pineda. Rafael Antonio. January 4, 2021. March 14, 2021.
  4. News: SAENAI HEROINE NO SODATEKATA – FILME TEM TRAILER ANUNCIADO. Anime United. pt. Nascimento. Vitor. March 24, 2019. March 14, 2021.
  5. Web site: 冴えない彼女の育てかた at Fujimishobo.co.jp. Fujimi Shobo. August 20, 2014. ja. August 26, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120957/http://www.fujimishobo.co.jp/bk_detail.php?pcd=301405003687. dead.
  6. Web site: How to Raise A Boring Girlfriend Light Novel Series Ends in 13th Volume. March 18, 2017. Anime News Network. Ressler. Karen. March 18, 2017.
  7. Web site: http://www.fujimishobo.co.jp/bk_detail.php?pcd=321702000733. ja:冴えない彼女の育てかた13. Fujimi Shobo. September 29, 2017. ja. September 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930224538/http://www.fujimishobo.co.jp/bk_detail.php?pcd=321702000733. dead.
  8. Web site: https://natalie.mu/comic/news/82828. ja:「地獄ようちえん」など新連載4本が一挙始動、Dエイジで. January 9, 2013. Natalie. ja. September 2, 2021.
  9. Web site: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Manga Ends, Girls Side Sequel Starts in September. Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Anime News Network. August 14, 2016. September 2, 2021.
  10. Book: ja:冴えない彼女の育てかた 1 (ドラゴンコミックスエイジ も 3-2-1). ja. Amazon.co.jp. 978-4047128934. August 2013.
  11. Web site: Yen Press Licenses My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As I Expected, How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, Baccano!, More. Ressler. Karen. Anime News Network. July 5, 2015. September 2, 2021.
  12. Web site: https://natalie.mu/comic/news/84250. ja:「冴えない彼女の育てかた」ヤングエースでコミカライズ. February 4, 2013. Natalie. ja. September 2, 2021.
  13. Web site: Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata ~egoistic-lily~ Manga Ends. Nelkin. Sarah. Anime News Network. April 28, 2014. September 2, 2021.
  14. Web site: https://natalie.mu/comic/news/97887. ja:「冴えない彼女の育てかた」ヒロインは女子高生ラノベ作家. August 26, 2013. Natalie. ja. September 2, 2021.
  15. Web site: Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata: Koi-suru Metronome Manga Ends on April 25. Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Anime News Network. April 14, 2018. September 2, 2021.
  16. Book: https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4757557299. ja:冴えない彼女の育てかた 恋するメトロノーム(10) (ビッグガンガンコミックス). Amazon.co.jp. 9784757557291 . June 25, 2018. ja . June 25, 2018 .
  17. Web site: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend: Girls Side Manga Ends. Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Anime News Network. June 19, 2017. September 2, 2021.
  18. News: Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata Light Novels Get Anime on Noitamina. Anime News Network. Loo. Egan. March 21, 2014. March 21, 2014.
  19. Web site: Bunny Drop's Kamei Helms Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata Anime. April 21, 2014. Anime News Network. Loo. Egan. December 19, 2016.
  20. Web site: Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata's New Video Previews Otaku Romantic Comedy. December 6, 2014. Anime News Network. Loo. Egan. December 19, 2016.
  21. News: Aniplex USA Licenses Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend. Anime News Network. Ressler. Karen. December 17, 2014. December 17, 2014.
  22. News: Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Flat Anime Reveals New Key Visual. Anime News Network. Ressler. Karen. February 14, 2017. February 19, 2021.
  23. News: Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Anime Gets Sequel. Anime News Network. Nelkin. Sarah. May 3, 2015. January 18, 2016.
  24. News: Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Staff Confirmed to Return for Sequel. Anime News Network. Pineda. Rafael Antonio. January 19, 2016. January 19, 2016.
  25. News: Saekano's TV Anime Sequel to Premiere on Noitamina in April 2017. Anime News Network. Hodgkins. Crystalyn. March 17, 2016. March 17, 2016.
  26. Web site: BD&DVD VOL.6. saenai.tv. April 7, 2017. ja.
  27. Web site: Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Flat's Video Previews Luna Haruna Song. February 16, 2017. Anime News Network. Sherman. Jennifer. February 16, 2017.
  28. Web site: Saenai Heroine no Sodate-kata Flat Anime's Video Previews Moso Calibration's Ending Theme. March 9, 2017. Anime News Network. Ressler. Karen. March 9, 2017.
  29. Web site: Amazon's Anime Strike Announces Full Spring Lineup, Premiere Dates. April 5, 2017. Anime News Network. Ressler. Karen. April 7, 2017.
  30. News: Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Anime Gets Theatrical Film. Anime News Network. Loo. Egan. December 3, 2017. December 3, 2017.
  31. Web site: Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Anime Film Reveals Title, Visual, Fall 2019 Debut. October 21, 2018. Anime News Network. Hodgkins. Crystalyn. October 21, 2018.
  32. Web site: Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Anime Film Reveals October 26 Debut, Luna Haruna Theme Song. June 30, 2019. Anime News Network. Hodgkins. Crystalyn. June 30, 2019.
  33. Web site: Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend Anime Film Unveils Theme Song Info, Visual. August 21, 2019. Anime News Network. Mateo. Alex. August 21, 2019.
  34. News: Two Teaser Trailers for Saekano -Blessing Flowers- Visual Novels. Good e-Reader. Chao. Thi. April 20, 2015. March 20, 2021.
  35. Web site: 「冴えない彼女の育てかた-blessing flowers-」4月30日発売決定! . saenai.tv . March 20, 2019 . ja . January 26, 2015.
  36. News: Top-Selling Light Novels in Japan by Series: 2015 (First Half). Anime News Network. Loo. Egan. May 31, 2015. March 20, 2021.
  37. News: Top-Selling Light Novels in Japan by Series: 2015. Anime News Network. Loo. Egan. November 29, 2015. March 20, 2021.