Big announcement from MM on Thurs. Aug. 20

[Madara]

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-rele...-on-crunchyroll



Anyone have any idea what this is? (I suppose I can wait till tomorrow.) Crunchyroll was one of the sponsors of Anime Expo 09.



Here's the relevant part from the press release:







HELLO! PROJECT AND CRUNCHYROLL TEAM UP TO BRING A SPECIAL WORLD EXCLUSIVE ONLINE VIDEO ANNOUNCEMENT FROM MORNING MUSUME



Lead Group of Hello! Project to Appear on the Number One Online Destination for Anime and Asian Entertainment



San Francisco, CA (August 19, 2009) ― Within the last days of their live concert shows at the Nakano Sun Plaza, celebrated lead group of Hello! Project, MORNING MUSUME, will be sending out a special message to all their fans via the number one online destination for Anime and Asian Entertainment … Crunchyroll. More information can be found at http://www.Crunchyroll.com.



Crunchyroll Kabushiki Kaisha president Mr. Vince Shortino states, “I am extremely pleased and honored to be working with Hello! Project. Morning Musume is an amazing band with a worldwide following. By utilizing Crunchyroll to communicate with fans, I truly feel that Crunchyroll can help bring the global fans of Morning Musume closer.”



WHAT: Special message from mega super J-Pop Band Morning Musume

WHEN: Thursday; August 20, 2009; 12:00 pm (noon) PST

WHERE: www.Crunchyroll.com

[Joel]

WHAT: Morning Musume US tour?!

WHEN: Soon?!

WHERE: A CITY NEAR ME?!



Only one could wish~



I'm kind of excited for this announcement though even though it probably won't be that big.

[Pucchi-Mo]

USA AUDITION ~ <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/sick.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' /> ~ 2009



That's the title.

[Special Needs Tricycle]

You know, I really do hope it's something big, like a US tour or an American audition (Preferably a tour. The audition would just be something to laaaaugh at. Oh man.), but I get the feeling it's going to be something like "We're going to upload all of our PVs on Crunchyroll! Woooooo thanks for supporting us!!!!". <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />



The good thing is that either way, it seems like UFA is actually actively trying to push H!P here somewhat, even in a niche market like anime. And it means that AX wasn't a small fluke they did for the hell of it/money.



But it would be nice if we got something major.

[aine]

I saw the words "MM" and "announcement" in one line and my heart skipped a beat as a huge "GRADUATION" banner flashed before my eyes. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />



My bet: US releases of their stuff.

My dream: A concert in Europe. (just not this year. I'm out of vacation days already. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hatthe.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />)



[quote name='TightWetPucchi' post='67596' date='Aug 19 2009, 10:16 PM']USA AUDITION ~ <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/sick.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> ~ 2009[/quote]

Oh gods please no. This sounded realistic enough if the announcement was actually to be something not underwhelming. More realistic than a tour. Although the wording "special message" is much more ambiguous than "announcement" and I can hardly imagine something as specific as the suggestions posted so far.

[AEUGNewtype]

This just comes to show you what an "industry con" AX is. Only two months after appearing together at a weeaboo business convention, they already have a partnership. Its very true, though, when you compare it to most of the other cons around the country, its basically a huge business summit for companies related to the industry, us fans can just go there as spectators.

[Geof]

It's probably just an announcement of the AX concert or something, hahaha. I mean, they couldn't possibly know it's my dad's birthday on August 20th & he couldn't possibly know they exist, so what else COULD it be?



::prays for Aika graduation announcement with beheading streamed live on Crunchyroll::

[Cyrene]

I'm guessing a US release album, a tour, or a USA Musume (lol, see what I did there!) audition.

[eri]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='67599' date='Aug 19 2009, 02:22 PM']I get the feeling it's going to be something like "We're going to upload all of our PVs on Crunchyroll! Woooooo thanks for supporting us!!!!". <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />



The good thing is that either way, it seems like UFA is actually actively trying to push H!P here somewhat, even in a niche market like anime. And it means that AX wasn't a small fluke they did for the hell of it/money.



But it would be nice if we got something major.[/quote]



Yeah I'm here with you on all those points. CrunchyRoll just distributes stuff -- I don't think they would be a platform for anything new. Plus, there are NO announcements on CR's site so how much of a big deal would it be? I suspect MM is just going to release their stuff (PVs) on CR now instead of only relying on their official streaming site. CR DOES have licensed rights to show Shugo Chara though so I'm hoping this will be a big H!P expansion as well.



I would be really happy if Morning Musume started their own web-tv show that aired on CR. Now THAT would be nice. It has become way too much work (for the pay off) to be downloading all their stuff on torrent.

[Ap2000]

Never been to crunchyroll and didn't know what their website is for.



I also had some (horrible ?) thoughts at first, like, JunLin leaving or something like that.

But then I saw it was just some american site involved and my guess is, it's something pretty much absolutely uninteresting.

Probably their music videos can now be watched on that site or something like that.

[Mozenator]

So it's 12:09 eastern time no news. There is absolutely NOTHING on Crunchyroll's website to indidcate there is ANYTHING going on concerning Morning Musume, much less a "big" announcement...so....who hears what?

[Special Needs Tricycle]

[quote name='Mozenator' post='67667' date='Aug 20 2009, 12:11 PM']So it's 12:09 eastern time no news. There is absolutely NOTHING on Crunchyroll's website to indidcate there is ANYTHING going on concerning Morning Musume, much less a "big" announcement...so....who hears what?[/quote]

It's 12PM PST, not EST.

[koolmon]

They posted it a bit early, but it's weak.

http://www.crunchyroll.com/forumtopic-549799/morning-musume/



YAY PVS!... x.x

Oh there's an interview too...

[JFC]

If that's the announcement...it's far from "big".

[staplermofo]

Watching MM coupling with anime crap in America like this hurts more than Kago's new photobooks.

[eri]

[quote name='Koolmon93' post='67674' date='Aug 20 2009, 11:13 AM']They posted it a bit early, but it's weak.

http://www.crunchyroll.com/forumtopic-549799/morning-musume/



YAY PVS!... x.x

Oh there's an interview too...[/quote]



Maybe the interview will be BIG. Well, I am still pleased to see their PVs all collected in one (faster, full-screen-sizeable) place. It is better than nothing!

[Mozenator]

sigh. nothing "big". just a reach out across the pond hello. i'll take it, tho!

[Special Needs Tricycle]

That was lame, but the Happy Happy Sunday bit and JunJun saying "Tom and Jerry" were both pretty funny, I guess.

[staplermofo]

Would it kill them to release some Region 1 DVDs with subtitles at a regular store like Amazon?

[eri]

[quote name='staplermofo' post='67679' date='Aug 20 2009, 11:46 AM']Watching MM coupling with anime crap in America like this hurts more than Kago's new photobooks.[/quote]



....because idol music aimed at kids and teenagers sung by girls chosen primarily for their looks...is a significantly different kind of entertainment than anime? I never understood this random hierarchy.



I think it is brilliant and a good marketing move especially considering that Koharu (Kirarin), Buono (Shugo Chara), Kamei (Jewel Pet), Tsuji (Robby & Kerobbi), and those other side groups for Kirarin and Shugo Chara all lent their voices in some way to anime. Not to mention the Takarazuka performance of the manga Ribon no Kishi or the anime cartoons of MiniMoni. Didn't Matsuura do something for anime too? Like a hamster theme song?



edit: oh yeah, and those video games like Idol Master and the fact that some Gundam character was inspired by Tanaka. H!P falls directly into the world of youth-oriented Jpop. The girls are practically anime caricatures already.

[staplermofo]

[quote name='mEri' post='67684' date='Aug 20 2009, 02:31 PM'][quote name='staplermofo' post='67679' date='Aug 20 2009, 11:46 AM']Watching MM coupling with anime crap in America like this hurts more than Kago's new photobooks.[/quote]



....because idol music aimed at kids and teenagers sung by girls chosen primarily for their looks...is a significantly different kind of entertainment than anime? I never understood this random hierarchy.



I think it is brilliant and a good marketing move especially considering that Koharu (Kirarin), Buono (Shugo Chara), Kamei (Jewel Pet), Tsuji (Robby & Kerobbi), and those other side groups for Kirarin and Shugo Chara all lent their voices in some way to anime. Not to mention the Takarazuka performance of the manga Ribon no Kishi or the anime cartoons of MiniMoni. Didn't Matsuura do something for anime too? Like a hamster theme song?



edit: oh yeah, and those video games like Idol Master and the fact that some Gundam character was inspired by Tanaka. H!P falls directly into the world of youth-oriented Jpop. The girls are practically anime caricatures already.

[/quote]



It's not a hierarchy thing, I just think they should come on their own as a musical group.

If they pander to the anime-loving crowd on the side, great for them, whatever gets them fans. But coming coupled with anime like this presents them as a niche within a niche and makes them seem much smaller than they are.



Look at Polysics, they have a ton of fans in America because they're fun to listen to and fun to watch live. I think that's a better angle to play than anime.

[Pucchi-Mo]

Yes, but how would Morning Musume ever have an equivalent to that angle? They don't play their music, they sing catchy, cute tunes which is logically hand in hand with anime.



How did most of us discover Morning Musume? (Those who knew about them before youtube existed) I'd bet a good amount of people had some sort of anime connection, even if it wasn't direct in the sense that an MM girl was in it. I heard Koi no Dance Site on an Anime & JPOP internet radio station. Why did I listen to the station? because I've heard some anime themes in Japanese in the past that sounded interesting, so I looked further into it.



Also, how else would they find a large amount of people in the USA who appreciate listening to the Japanese language? It's no news flash, but the average person doesn't care for it, even if they like going to fun concerts. A lot of people would think their voices are too high and that they're annoying.



Actually, I think this has something to do with the direction of their songs this year. I already said that Platinum 9 DISC is the most USA friendly MM album (because it was a more focused sound than usual and the small group songs were 3 girls max), and their singles are definitely mellowing out from the hyper and happy stuff. I think this might be part of their approach as well.





For Polysics, Hayashi knows a decent amount of English, and he's a robotic alien. Plus the whole DEVO synthy 80s music connection. The Polysics angle isn't really a typical case. They kind of lucked out in several ways.

It's a hell of a lot easier to find 80s music fans who will dance to something quirky than target people who will like a 9 member idol group of girls with drastically varying talent and appeal.



[quote name='mEri' post='67684' date='Aug 20 2009, 03:31 PM']Didn't Matsuura do something for anime too? Like a hamster theme song?[/quote]

Yes, but they don't like to admit that it was Aya, the song was too fast and fun for a post-Kiseki no Kaori Dance release.

[Ap2000]

[quote name='Koolmon93' post='67674' date='Aug 20 2009, 08:13 PM']They posted it a bit early, but it's weak.

http://www.crunchyroll.com/forumtopic-549799/morning-musume/



YAY PVS!... x.x

Oh there's an interview too...[/quote]



Can somebody please make an account there and slap them in their faces ?

Those comments there suggest as if the members there have never heard of youtube etc.

[eri]

[quote name='staplermofo' post='67686' date='Aug 20 2009, 12:42 PM']It's not a hierarchy thing, I just think they should come on their own as a musical group.

....coming coupled with anime like this presents them as a niche within a niche and makes them seem much smaller than they are.[/quote]



I know what you mean but Morning Musume IS a niche within a niche already. Outside of mm's history of a lot of #1 hits and its gimmicky generation system, the H!P empire runs on recycling cute young girls of varying talent and is already no different than hundreds of similar B-level idol campaigns of past or present. On top of that, they are largely forgotten pop idol group with a huge, embarrassing otaku fandom and they haven't been considered "main stream" for over 5 years either in the US or in Japan. At least anime tie-ins bring new creative energy, appropriate casting, and money -- which keeps this Titanic afloat.



Of course, I am totally biased because the only thing I actively follow and love in H!P is Buono - they have great songs, cute PVs, and appealing members in cute costumes. I also (shockingly) really liked most of the Kirarin songs and Pvs despite Koharu being the star. Pepper Keibu what now? I don't even remember how that song goes. Who is taking care of MM right now and giving it creative direction? The only Morning Musume song I really liked after Joshi Kashimashi Monagatari (2004) has been Shoganai Yume Oibito (2009). Aruiteru was okay too.



TWP has some good points. I agree that at the very least, it will introduce their target audience to them and slowly people's interest might expand. I've never heard of Polysics.



[quote name='TightWetPucchi' post='67687' date='Aug 20 2009, 01:08 PM']Yes, but they don't like to admit that it was Aya, the song was too fast and fun for a post-Kiseki no Kaori Dance release.[/quote]

I knew it! I loved that song (before it was accidentally erased). It was fun to dance around to at the gym <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... #>/sad.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':noway:' />

[Mozenator]

[quote name='mEri' post='67693' date='Aug 20 2009, 04:57 PM']The only Morning Musume song I really liked after Joshi Kashimashi Monagatari (2004) has been Shoganai Yume Oibito (2009). Aruiteru was okay too.[/quote]



Um, this IS MM- BBS is it not? Ok, just checking. The fact that you like "Aruiteru" and "Shouganai Yume Oibito" proves they still have it goin on for you to some extent. I think their new stuff is as good as old, just different. Shouganai went #1 and the new single, which I love, is #2 behind Ayumi Hamasaki's and ahead of the B'z. They can't be all that forgotten. Maybe not as big as in their heyday (1999-2002) but not bad at all.



And "Pepper Keibu" was a cover of a great old Pink Lady song. Not a new original tune. Platinum 9 Disc rocks.

[Pucchi-Mo]

[quote name='Mozenator' post='67694' date='Aug 20 2009, 05:17 PM'][quote name='mEri' post='67693' date='Aug 20 2009, 04:57 PM']The only Morning Musume song I really liked after Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari (2004) has been Shoganai Yume Oibito (2009). Aruiteru was okay too.[/quote]



Um, this IS MM- BBS is it not? Ok, just checking.

[/quote]

Don't let the name fool you. This is the most hateful BBS ever, get out while you still can! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/dead.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':noway:' />

[eri]

[quote name='TightWetPucchi' post='67695' date='Aug 20 2009, 02:43 PM'][quote name='Mozenator' post='67694' date='Aug 20 2009, 05:17 PM']

Um, this IS MM- BBS is it not? Ok, just checking.[/quote]

Don't let the name fool you. This is the most hateful BBS ever, get out while you still can! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... >/dead.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':noway:' />

[/quote]



<img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> It doesn't mean I hated all their newer songs - I just never loved them or they don't have any longevity and so they are forgotten in a few months. For example, I really liked the Osaka love song for about a year -- but its been a long long time since I've wanted to hear it. Quite differently, Ai no Tane, RRev21, Motto Miracle Night and most of Matsuura's older songs are almost always on the rotation! I do love Berryz and Buono too so I'm still dragging my feet at the back of the band wagon.



But I'm also a huge hater in general.

[Mozenator]

[quote name='mEri' post='67697' date='Aug 20 2009, 06:06 PM']But I'm also a huge hater in general.[/quote]



ok i heard about you guys. I was warned. i probably won't be here much then. lol I just wanted to see what was said about the "announcement". have fun hating. I'm going to watch the Platinum 9 Disco Concert again. I may even Guru Guru Jump.

[fpd]

[quote name='Mozenator' post='67711' date='Aug 21 2009, 02:55 AM'][quote name='mEri' post='67697' date='Aug 20 2009, 06:06 PM']But I'm also a huge hater in general.[/quote]



ok i heard about you guys. I was warned. i probably won't be here much then. lol I just wanted to see what was said about the "announcement". have fun hating. I'm going to watch the Platinum 9 Disco Concert again. I may even Guru Guru Jump.

[/quote]

This place isn't nearly as hateful as it was back in the day. I haven't really seen any hate since I started posting again recently lol.

[Special Needs Tricycle]

Thanks for judging the entire board off of a single person, despite Eri's opinion being pretty obviously a minority in this thread. Really cool logic you have there.