14歳のシンデレラ高島一菜がグランプリ！「DEEMO THE MOVIE」歌姫オーディション

今年はコロナウイルス感染症の拡大予防のため中止となったものの、オフィシャルサイトにて「Anime Expo Lite 2020」と銘打って7月3〜4日の二日間に渡り、開催予定だったゲストを迎えたアニメ作品の発表（パネル）やワールドプレミアなどを世界中にストリーミング配信を行っている。
そんな中、注目を集める「DEEMO THE MOVIE」のパネル「DEEMO THE MOVIE –UTAHIME AUDITION FINAL-」が、ロサンゼルスと日本とをZOOMで結んでの二元中継という形で開催された。

世界中から1400名以上のエントリーが殺到し、オーディションもZOOMを交えた選考を重ねてきて、当日の発表を迎えるにあたり、森氏は「映画にとって非常に大きなピースの一つが埋まりました！」と画面からも期待感を煽られる。そんな中、第三次オーディションで選ばれた6名のファイナリストから勝ち抜きグランプリに輝いたのは東京在住の弱冠14歳・高島一菜さんが発表されると世界中の様々な言語で祝福のコメントが寄せられた。

選考にあたっての軸として梶浦氏は「特殊な形なオーディションとなりましたが、基本は”歌”。歌で生きていかなければいけない人を選ぶわけなので、”歌の力”で音楽をやっている姿を綺麗に魅せるチャームを見せてくれる方。「DEEMO」という作品のイメージに合う方を選ばせていただきました。」と語ると、森氏は「優勝者の決め手は歌唱力と将来性」とグランプリの可能性を称賛した。

松田氏からは「今回のオーディションはこの日本のアニメ主題歌がきっかけとなって、世界中の人々が参加できるように門戸を開いたということは画期的でした。作品と新しい歌姫のこれからに期待したいと思います。」と半年に渡り開催されたオーディションに関して世界的意義も踏まえたコメントで総括した。

グランプリの高島さんはオーディションで歌った課題曲の3曲を披露し、その歌声は全世界へと配信された。歌唱を終え、感想を聞かれると「まだ夢のようで信じられません。ふわふわしています(笑)世界中の人の心を揺さぶる歌手になりたいという夢の第一歩が叶いました。”高島一菜を選んで良かった!”と言われるように一生懸命主題歌を歌い上げたいと思います！」とはにかみながらも力強く答えた。

■■Anime Expo Lite 2020： https://www.anime-expo.org/
「DEEMO THE MOVIE –UTAHIME AUDITION FINAL-」
放送日時： 7/3(金) 18:45-19:20（日本時間：7/4(土)10:45-11:20）　※オンデマンド視聴も可能

https://www.twitch.tv/animeexpo2
■■「DEEMO THE MOVIE」オフィシャルサイト：
https://deemomovie.jp/
■■「DEEMO THE MOVIE」PV：

■■ＢＳ日テレ「ＤＥＥＭＯ ＴＨＥ ＭＯＶＩＥ歌姫オーディション」毎週日曜日23:30～24:00オンエア中：
https://www.bs4.jp/DEEMO/

■■「DEEMO THE MOVIE」

劇場アニメ「DEEMO THE MOVIE」の原作となる「DEEMO」は全世界で累積2300万ダウンロードを突破する人気ゲーム。

劇場アニメ化のプロジェクトは「進撃の巨人」を世界的ヒットへと導いたポニーキャニオンとProduction I.Gグループの共同制作であることが発表されている。
劇場アニメ化にあたり注目を集めているのが、「Fate/Zero」や「鬼滅の刃」など数々のアニメ作品の楽曲や劇判音楽を手がけてきた梶浦由記氏が主題歌とイメージソングを手掛け、その主題歌を担当する歌姫を世界中から公募したことでも注目を集めた。

LOS ANGELES – July 3, 2020 – Pony Canyon reports that the final round of the female singer audition for the theme song of the upcoming theatrical animation film “DEEMO THE MOVIE” was announced during “DEEMO THE MOVIE – UTAHIME AUDITION FINAL” (*utahime = diva/songstress), an official program of the online event “Anime Expo Lite”, with 14-year-old Japanese girl Hinano Takashima being selected as the grand winner, guaranteeing her with a debut-release of that film’s theme song from Pony Canyon.

The audition which began this January attracted over 1400 participants from across the globe, but due to effects of COVID-19 the qualifying rounds were held online via Zoom, and six finalists were selected after three rounds.

“Anime Expo Lite” is the online version of “Anime Expo”, the largest Anime convention in North America that is held annually in Los Angeles. This year the event is being carried out as a two-day live-streaming event on July 3rd and 4th due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

Five judges oversaw the final round online: Theme-song writer Yuki Kajiura, music producer Yasunori Mori, Pony Canyon producers Hidetoshi Nishinaka and Mitsuyasu Yanagida, and Anime Expo Senior Director Azusa Matsuda.

“Although it ended up being a rather unique audition, the basis lies in the “song”. Since we were selecting someone that would have to make singing their livelihood, it was about finding the one that can display the charm of a beautiful music performance through the power of the “song”.” said Kajiura. Similarly, Mori stated “the deciding factor was the winner’s vocal ability and future potential”, applauding the potential of the grand winner. “This audition was inspired by this Japanese anime theme song, and it was revolutionary that it opened the door for people all over the world to participate. I look forward to the film and to the future of this young diva” said Matsuda, summarizing this half-year audition with a comment while also recognizing its global significance.

Grand winner Takashima performed the three songs that were tasked during the qualifiers. “It’s still dreamlike, I can’t believe it. I’m feeling all fluffy (laugh). I accomplished the first step in my dream of becoming a singer that can reach the heart of audiences worldwide. I’d like to continue singing with all my heart so that people who listen would tell me “I’m glad I chose Hinano Takashima!” said Takashima with a shy smile on her face.

This program can be viewed on the Anime Expo Lite official channel on YouTube and Twitch until July 5th (Sun) 12 am, PST. Furthermore, the final round of the audition will be made available on DEEMO THE MOVIE’s official website after the program airs on BS Nippon Television on July 5th in Japan.

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“DEEMO THE MOVIE – UTAHIME AUDITION FINAL”
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qneoBcls27o&feature=youtu.be
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/animeexpo2

< “DEEMO THE MOVIE” OFFICIAL WEBSITE>
https://deemomovie.jp/en/index.html

The film has been produced by Pony Canyon and Production I.G group, a partnership that has already yielded tremendous success with the global blockbuster Anime “Attack on Titan”. The film is currently in production and is expected to be released in 2021. Yuki Kajiura, known for providing the music to notable animations such as Fate/Zero and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba will write the theme song and image song.

Alone in a castle, a figure plays a piano… Deemo. One day, a girl falls from the sky. A castle littered with mysterious inhabitants. A sacred tree growing by the melody of piano. A girl with no memory and Deemo. A gentle story that will touch your heart.

DEEMO is a Smartphone rhythm game app that has had over 23 million downloads worldwide. DEEMO was inspired by a piano and carries approximately 200 songs of varying genre, from beautiful classical music to rock, jazz, and electronic. The game offers innovative entertainment to the players who must tap the notes on the screen as if playing the piano, and in addition to its collection of superlative music, the smooth gameplay remains unrivaled by any other game, captivating many music game fans in Asia and around the world.