Kaleido Star
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kaleido Star | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| カレイドスター (Kaleido Star) |
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| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Shoujo |
| TV anime | |
| Directed by | Junichi Sato Yoshimasa Hiraike (Season 2) |
| Studio | GONZO |
| Network |  TV Tokyo QTV A+, RTL Klub Boomerang Anime Network |
| Original run | 4 April 2003 – 27 March 2004 |
| No. of episodes | 51 |
| OVA: Warawanai Sugoi Ohimesama | |
| Directed by | Junichi Sato Yoshimasa Hiraike |
| Studio | GONZO |
| No. of episodes | 1 |
| Released | September 24, 2004 |
| Runtime | |
| OVA: Legend of Phoenix ~Layla Hamilton Monogatari~ | |
| Directed by | Junichi Sato Yoshimasa Hiraike |
| Studio | GONZO |
| No. of episodes | 1 |
| Released | December 11, 2005 |
| Runtime | |
Kaleido Star (カレイドスター Kareidosutā?) is an anime series produced by GONZO DIGIMATION and licensed in the United States by ADV Films. It was a joint venture involving Japanese studio Gonzo Digimation Holding, Korean studio G&G Entertainment, and American studio ADV Films[1]. The series is about a young girl who comes from Japan to the United States in search of her dream. She wants, with all her heart, to be a member of the famous Kaleido Stage (a circus similar to the Cirque du Soleil) located in the fictional city of Cape Mery, California (which is roughly analogous to San Francisco.) With the help of her friends, she struggles to make this dream come true. The series was aired on the Anime Network during 2005 in the USA.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
[edit] Season 1
The plot of the first season begins with Sora Naegino arriving in America full of hope as she is to audition for Kaleido stage, but she immediately begins to encounter troubles as she finds herself meeting weird people and has her bag stolen. A kind police officer gives her a ride to Kaleido Stage where she finds she has missed her audition. A performer is injured, however and Sora is given an opportunity to perform.
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, the star of the show in the story, is particularly cold towards the new recruit. With the help of a friend, Ken, and a lot of hard work and determination, Sora begins to earn the respect of those around her. Her incredible personality wins her a variety of friendships (including that of a baby seal) as well as several increasingly major roles in the productions. However, things begin to go astray as Layla's father pressures her to leave and insiders plot to take over and shut down Kaleido Stage. Sora must rely on her winning personality, hard work and close friendships to keep the stage afloat.
[edit] Season 2
In the second season Sora returns to the stage after attempting the great Mystical Act with Layla. The absence of her co-star, having retired to further a career in Broadway productions, prompts a slight decline of the Kaleido Stage. The owner brings in a new recruit, Leon Oswald (a lofty trapeze artist). Leon does not accept Sora as worthy of being on the stage with him, which leads a new recruit (May Wong) to challenge Sora's position as Leon's partner. Most of the season concentrates on Sora finding and pursuing her new dream. Her first goal is to attend the circus festival in Paris, but the competitive circuit is not kind to her carefree, optimistic outlook. After many trials and rejections Sora aims to become a "True Kaleido Star" while creating a fun, conflict-free stage.
[edit] Characters
- Sora Naegino (苗木野そら Naegino Sora?)
- Sora is the main character of Kaleido Star. Her parents took her to Kaleido Stage when she was young. Although they died shortly thereafter, and Sora went to live with her aunt and uncle, Sora is inspired by this childhood memory to become a member of the Stage when she reaches adulthood. With her aunt and uncle's hesitant approval she travels to the United States to audition. While she wanders around lost, her bag is stolen. As a consequence of chasing the thief and speaking to the police, she is late to the audition; Layla will not allow her to audition, but the owner gives her a chance to perform in the actual show. Most of the cast do not accept Sora at first because of the special circumstances through which she joins; Sora wins them over with persistence and hard work along with a magnetic personality. In the beginning of the series Sora is the only one who can see the magical stage spirit Fool. This character reveals she has been chosen by the stage. In the first season, Fool reveals only she can perform the Legendary Great Manuvor with Layla. In the second, he reveals that she has the potential to become a "true star".
- Voiced by: Ryo Hirohashi (Japanese), Cynthia Martinez (English)
- Layla Hamilton (レイラ・ハミルトン Reira Hamiruton?)
- Layla is an accomplished and seasoned performer. She is a stubborn character and plays an antagonist-like role in the beginning of the story, but like many of the other characters, she befriends Sora. Layla is the daughter of Mr. Hamilton, a wealthy hotel chain owner; he would prefer Layla to be an actress and is frequently trying to push her into doing so. Layla eventually stands up to her father and rejoins the circus; she loves the Kaleido Stage because she clearly remembers how her deceased mother enjoyed going there. At the end of the first season, after attempting the great Mystical Act and seriously injuring her shoulder Layla gives up the circus and retires to Broadway.
- Voiced by: Sayaka Ohara (Japanese), Sandra Krasa (English)
- Mia Guillem (ミア・ギエム Mia Giemu?)
- Mia is a close friend of Sora's. In the second episode, Mia accepts Sora's presence on the stage after Sora attempts to perform the Golden Phoenix. Later in the series, Mia becomes passionate about writing the scripts for Kaleido Star's performances. She occasionally has inner conflicts between performing and attending to her sick grandmother.
- Voiced by: Chinami Nishimura (Japanese), Nancy Novotny (English)
- Anna Heart (アンナ・ハート Anna Hāto?)
- Anna is also good friend of Sora's. She too accepts Sora in the Golden Phoenix episode. Anna is talented in many areas and frequently plays more serious parts. Anna truly wishes to perform comedy and usually tries to get Mia to write comedy into her parts. The request is almost always denied. Anna takes her love of comedy from her estranged father Jack, a stand-up comedian.
- Voiced by: Akeno Watanabe (Japanese), Kira Vincent-Davis (English)
- Yuri Killian (ユーリ・キリアン Yūri Kirian?)
- Yuri, like Layla, is an experienced performer. During a flashback, it's revealed that his father died attempting the Mystical Act, and he never forgave Kalos for letting his father try. He plays a pivotal role in the second half of the first season when he betrays the stage, first by stealing away a good portion of the cast and later by buying out the stage and taking control of it. He later agrees to return it to Kalos if Layla and Sora accomplish the same Mystical Act that caused his father's death, and when they manage to do so he fulfills his promise. In the second season, Yuri helps Sora get into the Circus Festival in Paris. He appears to be a bitter rival of Leon's, and feels that he is responsible for Leon's sister's death.
- Voiced by: Susumu Chiba (Japanese), Illich Guardiola (English)
- Fool (フール Fūru?)
- Fool is the mysterious spirit of the stage. He is about the size of an action figure, and appears as a type of jester or clown. He appears to Sora shortly before she appears on the Kaleido Stage for the first time. Fool is invisible to everyone but those who are destined to do great things on the stage and/or whose heart is completely dedicated to the stage. Although a ghost, Fool is a pervert who tries many times throughout the series to see Sora, and sometimes her friends, naked (usually by suggesting that they should take a shower). Sora is quick to prevent Fool from peeking in any given situation by trapping him somewhere or rebuking him forcefully, most often in a comedic, slapstick fashion. Later in the first season, Layla becomes capable of seeing Fool as well; the same happens to Rosetta at the end of the second season. In his more useful moments, he acts as a fortune teller, revealing possible futures to Sora (in the first season he reads the future from Tarot cards, in the second season he reads and reveals the hidden workings of intercharacter relationships via Astrology). He is also the one who explains the inner mechanics of the Mystical Act to Layla and Sora in episode 25, An Amazing Bond.
- Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu (Japanese), Jay Hickman (English)
- Sarah Dupont (サラ・デゥポン Sara Dyupon?)
- Sarah is the diva of Kaleido Stage as well as the building manager for the dorms where everyone lives. Many want Sarah to sign on record label because she is so gifted in the singing department but she stays true to Kaleido stage. She is an avid fan of the martial arts, and frequently proposes bizarre alternative methods to help Sora achieve her objectives. She's well acquainted with Kalos and has been with the Stage from the beginning, when she and Kalos were performing on the street with another friend. This friend returns once to try to persuade Sarah to leave Kaleido Stage with offering her a singing career, but she refuses.
- Voiced by: Aya Hisakawa (Japanese), Luci Christian (English)
- Ken Robbins (ケン・ロビンス Ken Robinsu?)
- Ken is the stage manager for Kaleido. He is unable to perform due to a heart condition. Ken also greatly admires Sora, in many respects, but never has the guts to confess his true feelings for her. This doesn't stop him from doing everything he can to help her out. Frequently he acts as her personal trainer, warning her of the dangers she might encounter. Many times he acts as the voice of reason for the group.
- Voiced by: Hiro Shimono (Japanese), John Swasey (English)
- Kalos Eido (カロス・永戸 Karosu Eido?)
- Kalos is the head manager of the entire Kaleido Stage and gives Sora many helpful pieces of advice throughout the anime. He also maintains high expectations of everyone he encounters. Before Kaleido Stage, Kalos used to perform on the street with Sarah. Their past relationship is rather vague. Kalos is also the one who trained Yuri's father for the Mystical Act. He is the only person who can tell Layla and Sora how to train for the act.
- Voiced by: Keiji Fujiwara (Japanese), Rick Burford (English)
- Policeman (Jerry) (ポリス Porisu?, Police)
- The character Jerry is self-described throughout the show as Sora's "#1 fan". He has helped and supported her from episode one. He is also secretly in love with Kate, a doctor who occasionally appears to help cast members through physical injuries. In the second season, the policeman gathers the courage to ask her to marry him.
- Voiced by: Unshou Ishizuka (Japanese), James Reed Faulkner (English)
- Marion Benigni (マリオン・ベニーニ Marion Benīni?)
- Marion is a young girl living near the stage. Her father works on sets, but her mother (a former trampoline artist) is dead due to an accident. Like many of the others, Marion doesn't accept Sora at first, but is quickly won over to her side. In the second season Marion begins to perform with the group on the Children's Stage.
- Voiced by: Fumiko Orikasa (Japanese), Kim-Ly Nguyen (English)
- Jonathan (ジョナサン Jonasan?)
- Jonathan is a baby seal that Sora picked up one day. Unable to keep pets, Sora tries to hide him. However, the secret is revealed and instead of kicking him out, Marion's father builds a tank for him. He is capable of doing many tricks and sometimes seems more coordinated than Sora, creating comical performances that the children attending love. During the second season, Jonathan becomes closer to Marion and refuses to perform with anyone else.
- Voiced by: Etsuko Kozakura (Japanese), Tiffany Grant (English)
- Rosetta Passel (ロゼッタ・パッセル Rozetta Passeru?)
- Rosetta is a world champion diabolo performer. After her first Kaleido performance Kalos kicks her off the stage because she was unsatisfying: he explains despite being perfect in the technical fields, her act lacked passion and everyone was bored by her act. Sora takes the girl under her wing, teaching her how to put audience enjoyment before technical perfection. In return, Rosetta teaches Sora diabolo, which Sora returns to when she needs help learning new acts. Rosetta returns in the second season wishing to become a trapeze artist and follow in Sora's steps.
- Voiced by: Kaori Mizuhashi (Japanese), Serena Varghese (English)
- May Wong (メイ・ウォン Mei Won?)
- First appearing in the second season, May is a new recruit who challenges Sora's position. Sora and May have a tense rivalry for most of the second season, which aids both in becoming better performers. May turns out to be exceptionally talented and becomes Leon's partner for the Dracula show. During one of the performances, Leon drops her dislocating her shoulder. This allows Sora to obtain the spot for the Circus festival. May, understanding that Leon abandoned her due to her selfish and childish attitude, refuses to give up her spot and overtakes Sora with a new one armed trick finally besting Sora and putting her on top. As she does so, she lays off her arrogance and becomes a better person.
- Voiced by: Mai Nakahara (Japanese), Hilary Haag (English)
- Leon Oswald (レオン・オズワルド Reon Ozuwarudo?)
- Leon is a trapeze performer who arrives in the second season. He comes off as arrogant, refusing to perform with Sora because she is not skilled enough for him. His true desire, however, lies in a promise he made to his dying sister Sophie: to see the Angel's Act, an unrivaled and beautiful trapeze act they had developed, completed. He's a rival of Yuri Killian, whom he blames for the death of Sophie in an accident.
- Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese), Mike MacRae (English)
- Mr. Kenneth (ケネス Kenesu?)
- Mr. Kenneth is an elderly man he is the representative for the Stage's stockholders and also said to be the producer or the stage. Putting him in a position as high as Kalo or even higher. He has great experience in the showbusiness and also often aids Sora like Kalos. He also personally knows Ken but never calls him by his real name.
- Voiced by: Mitsuo Senda (Japanese), Jason Douglas (English)
[edit] Episodes
[edit] Episode list
[edit] Season 1
| Ep# | English title | Japanese title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | My Amazing Stage Debut! | 初めての! すごい! ステージ (Hajimete no! Sugoi! Stage) |
| 2 | My Amazing & Lonely Challenge! | 孤独な すごい チャレンジ (Kodoku na Sugoi Challenge) |
| 3 | The Amazing Distant Stage | 遠い すごい ステージ (Tooi Sugoi Stage) |
| 4 | Try Hard & You'll Get an Amazing Chance | がんばれば すごい チャンス (Ganbareba Sugoi Chance) |
| 5 | My Amazingly Distant Family | いつも すごい 遠い家族 (Itsumo Sugoi Tooi Kazoku) |
| 6 | The Amazing Seal | 小さくて すごい オットセイ (Chiisakute Sugoi Ottosei) |
| 7 | The Amazing Girl Who Doesn't Smile | 笑わない すごい 少女 (Warawanai Sugoi Shōjo) |
| 8 | An Amazing Star Even in Tough Times | つらくても すごい スター (Tsurakutemo Sugoi Star) |
| 9 | My Amazing Challenge for the Lead Role | 主役への すごい 挑戦 (Shuyaku e no Sugoi Chōsen) |
| 10 | Facing an Amazing Wall | 主役への すごい 壁 (Shuyaku e no Sugoi Kabe) |
| 11 | Anna's Not so Amazing Father | アンナの すごくない お父さん (Anna no Sugokunai Otōsan) |
| 12 | An Amazingly Hot New Production | 熱い すごい 新作 (Atsui Sugoi Shinsaku) |
| 13 | The Amazing Competition Calls Up a Storm | 嵐を呼ぶ すごい 競演 (Arashi o Yobu Sugoi Kyōen) |
| 14 | Mysterious Amazing Circus | 怪しい すごい サーカス (Ayashii Sugoi Circus) |
| 15 | The Diva's Amazing Love | 歌姫の すごい 愛 (Utahime no Sugoi Ai) |
| 16 | An Amazing Sinister Rumor | 黒い すごい 噂 (Kuroi Sugoi Uwasa) |
| 17 | Fire It Up! Amazing Mia | 燃えろ! すごい ミア (Moero! Sugoi Mia) |
| 18 | Yuri's Amazing Trap | ユーリの すごい 罠 (Yuri no Sugoi Wana) |
| 19 | Amazing Family Ties | 家族の すごい 絆 (Kazoku no Sugoi Kizuna) |
| 20 | An Amazing Change From Zero To Hero | ゼロからの すごい スタート (Zero kara no Sugoi Start) |
| 21 | The Amazing Mystery Star | 謎の すごい 仮面スター (Nazo no Sugoi Kamen Star) |
| 22 | The Amazing Resolve Beneath The Mask | 仮面の下の すごい 覚悟 (Kamen no Shita no Sugoi Kakugo) |
| 23 | The Legendary Amazing Maneuver | 幻の すごい 大技 (Maboroshi no Sugoi Oowaza) |
| 24 | The Amazing Intensive Training Continues | まだ続く すごい 特訓 (Mada Tsuzuku Sugoi Tokkun) |
| 25 | An Amazing Bond | ふたりの すごい 絆 (Futari no Sugoi Kizuna) |
| 26 | An Amazing Comeback | 傷だらけの すごい 復活 (Kizudarake no Sugoi Fukkatsu) |
[edit] Season 2
| Ep# | English Title | Japanese Title |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Amazing Prologue to Stardom (Part 1) | スターへの すごい プロローグ（前編） (Star e no Sugoi Prologue (Zenpen)) |
| 28 | Amazing Prologue to Stardom (Part 2) | スターへの すごい プロローグ（後編） (Star e no Sugoi Prologue (Kōhen)) |
| 29 | An Amazing New Rival | 新しい すごい ライバル (Atarashii Sugoi Rival) |
| 30 | The Amazing Newcomer | もう一人の すごい 新人 (Mou Hitori no Sugoi Shinjin) |
| 31 | The Amazing Passionate Rival | 情熱の すごい ライバル (Jōnetsu no Sugoi Rival) |
| 32 | Amazing Match On Ice | 氷の上の すごい 対決 (Kōri no Ue no Sugoi Taiketsu) |
| 33 | Amazing Rosetta of Sweat and Tears | 汗と涙の すごい ロゼッタ (Ase to Namida no Sugoi Rosetta) |
| 34 | The Ever Amazing Miss Layla | やっぱり すごい レイラさん (Yappari Sugoi Laylasan) |
| 35 | Marion's Amazing Debut | マリオンの すごい デビュー (Marion no Sugoi Debut) |
| 36 | Amazing Training With Leon | レオンとの すごい 特訓 (Leon to no Sugoi Tokkun) |
| 37 | The Two Amazing Demons | 二人の すごい 悪魔 (Futari no Sugoi Akuma) |
| 38 | Amazing Angelic Counterattack | 天使の すごい 反撃 (Tenshi no Sugoi Hangeki) |
| 39 | Cruel Amazing Festival | 惨酷な すごい 祭典 (Zankoku na Sugoi Saiten) |
| 40 | Amazing and Sad Homecoming | 絶望の すごい 帰国 (Zetsubō no Sugoi Kikoku) |
| 41 | My Amazing Fresh Start | 再出発の すごい 決意 (Saishuppatsu no Sugoi Ketsui) |
| 42 | An Amazingly Humiliating Performance | 屈辱の すごい 共演 (Kutsujoku no Sugoi Kyōen) |
| 43 | Mr. Policeman's Amazing Proposal | ポリスの すごい プロポーズ (Police no Sugoi Proposal) |
| 44 | Launching An Amazing Smile! | 笑顔の すごい 発進! (Egao no Sugoi Hasshin!) |
| 45 | Leon's Amazing Past | レオンの すごい 過去 (Leon no Sugoi Kako) |
| 46 | The Amazing Fated Duel | 宿命の すごい 決斗 (Shukumei no Sugoi Kettō) |
| 47 | Flight of the Amazing Angel | 舞い降りた すごい 天使 (Maiorita Sugoi Tenshi) |
| 48 | The Amazing Injured Swan | 傷ついた すごい 白鳥 (Kizutsuita Sugoi Hakuchou) |
| 49 | Our Amazing Futures | ひとりひとりの すごい 未来（あした） (Hitorihitori no Sugoi Ashita) |
| 50 | A Most Amazing and Inescapable Showdown | 避けられない ものすごい 一騎討ち (Sakerarenai Monosugoi Ikkiuchi) |
| 51 | To the Amazing Promised Place | 約束の すごい 場所へ (Yakusoku no Sugoi Basho e) |
[edit] OVA
| Ep# | English Title | Japanese Title |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | The Amazing Princess Without a Smile | 笑わない すごい お姫様 (Warawanai Sugoi Ohimesama) |
| 53 | Legend of Phoenix ~Layla Hamilton Monogatari~ | Legend of Phoenix ～レイラ・ハミルトン物語～ (Legend of Phoenix ~Layla Hamilton Monogatari~) |
| 54 | Good da yo! Goood!! | ぐっどだよ！ぐぅ～っど！！ (Good da yo! Goood!!) |
[edit] DVD List
[edit] Season 1
| Vol# | DVD Title | Episodes | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welcome to the Kaleido Stage! | 1 - 5 | 11 May 2004 |
| 2 | All Things Great and Small | 6 - 9 | 22 June 2004 |
| 3 | Great Expectations | 10 - 13 | 3 August 2004 |
| 4 | Fall From Grace | 14 - 18 | 14 September 2004 |
| 5 | Masquerade | 19 - 22 | 26 October 2004 |
| 6 | Reach for the Brass Ring! | 23 - 26 | 7 December 2004 |
[edit] Season 1 (ADV Slim Case Release)
| Vol# | Episodes |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 - 5 |
| 2 | 6 - 10 |
| 3 | 11 - 15 |
| 4 | 16 - 20 |
| 5 | 21 - 26 |
[edit] Season 2
| Vol# | DVD Title | Episodes | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eclipse of the Star | 27 - 31 | 17 January 2006 |
| 2 | A Tale of Two Rivals | 32 - 35 | 14 March 2006 |
| 3 | The Better Angels of Our Nature | 36 - 39 | 16 May 2006 |
| 4 | Return to the Rising Sun | 40 - 44 | 18 July 2006 |
| 5 | Angel and Anathema | 45 - 48 | 19 September 2006 |
[edit] Staff
- Planning: GDH & HAL
- Original creator & director: Junichi Sato
- Series story editor: Reiko Yoshida
- Character design & animation director: Hajime Watanabe, Fumitoshi Oizaki
- Art director: Junichiro Nishikawa
- Sound director: Yota Tsuruoka
[edit] Theme music
- Opening
- "TAKE IT SHAKE IT" by Sugar (eps 1–13)
- "Yakusoku no basho e" (約束の場所へ) by Chihiro Yonekura (eps 14–26)
- "Tattoo Kiss" by r.o.r/s (eps 27–51)
- "Blanc et Noir" by Sora Naegino (Ryō Hirohashi) and Rosetta Passel (Kaori Mizuhashi) (ep 52)
- "Ray of Light" by Layla Hamilton (Sayaka Ōhara) (ep 53)
- Ending
- "real Identity" by Sugar (eps 1–13)
- "Boku wa kokoni iru" (僕はここにいる) by SOPHIA (eps 14–26)
- "Escape" by r.o.r/s (eps 27–50)
- "Yakusoku no basho e" (約束の場所へ) by Chihiro Yonekura with Kaleido Stars (ep 51)
- "Tattoo Kiss" by r.o.r/s (ep 52)
- "Golden Phoenix ~Nando demo~" (Golden Phoenix ~何度でも) by Layla Hamilton (Sayaka Ōhara) (ep 53)
[edit] Trivia
- The first episode of the English adaptation appeared on the January 2004 edition of Newtype magazine. [2]
- 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". [3]
[edit] References
- ^ Kaleido Star (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2006-07-07.
- ^ Bound by Blood (English). Newtype Magazine USA. Retrieved on 2006-07-07.
- ^ Voice actors in bed (English). DVD Vision Japan. Retrieved on 2006-07-07.
[edit] External links
- Japan
- USA & Canada
- ADV Kaleido Star Website
- Kaleido Star at TV.com
- Kaleido Star (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Korea
