ABC Animation, a prominent entity in the animation landscape and a subsidiary of Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings, has officially expanded its operations with the establishment of a dedicated music business and label. This strategic move signifies ABC Animation’s deeper integration into the entertainment industry, with its inaugural major undertaking being the production and release of theme songs for the highly anticipated Shūkan Ranobe Anime Program.
A New Era for ABC Animation’s Creative Endeavors
The launch of the music division marks a significant development for ABC Animation, enabling the company to directly oversee and produce musical components for its various animation projects. This internal capability promises greater synergy between animation and music production, potentially fostering more cohesive and impactful artistic outputs. The new music label is poised to become a vital arm of ABC Animation’s content diversification strategy.
Shūkan Ranobe Anime Program: A Unique Multi-Story Project
The Shūkan Ranobe Anime Program, also known as “Weekly Light Novel Anime,” is an innovative initiative that adapts four distinct original stories from a collective of popular light novel authors and illustrators. This project showcases a unique approach to anime production by compiling multiple narrative threads under a single program, offering viewers diverse storytelling within a unified broadcast. Initially, parts of this “Light-novel Anime” project were released as short, vertical anime designed for smartphone viewing, including titles like “Shōshin Time Leap” and “Femme Fatale Ikusei Keikaku,” which premiered as YouTube Shorts in June.
For television broadcast, these works have been re-edited for horizontal screens and are scheduled to air as the Shūkan Ranobe Anime Program beginning July 12 (or July 13 according to some sources) within the “Animazing!!!” programming block. The “Animazing!!!” block, a late-night anime segment, is planned and produced by ABC Animation itself, airing on ABC TV, TV Asahi, and their affiliated networks. The four adapted stories featured in the program include “Shōshin Time Leap,” “Femme Fatale Ikusei Keikaku,” “Jack the Reaper,” and “Marie Antoinette ni Tensei Shita node, Zenryoku de Guillotine wo Kaihi Shimasu.”
Curating the Sonic Identity: Featured Theme Songs
Central to the Shūkan Ranobe Anime Program‘s appeal are its newly produced theme songs, which are being released under ABC Animation’s nascent music label. These musical pieces are designed to encapsulate the essence of the program and enhance the viewer’s experience.
Opening Theme: “Hajimari no Aizu”
The program’s opening theme song is “Hajimari no Aizu” (Signal of a Start), performed by voice actress Chihaya Yoshitake. This track holds particular significance as it marks Yoshitake’s solo artist debut, signaling a new chapter in her career. The single for “Hajimari no Aizu” is slated for release on September 24, 2025.
Ending Theme: “Gunjō to Mikan no Kanata”
Complementing the opening, the ending theme song for Shūkan Ranobe Anime Program is “Gunjō to Mikan no Kanata” (Ultramarine and Incomplete Beyond). This song is performed by voice actress Ayaka Nanase, featuring Takayuki “Kojiro” Sasaki. The collaboration between Nanase and Sasaki aims to provide a memorable and fitting conclusion to each episode.
The establishment of ABC Animation’s music production company and its immediate involvement in the Shūkan Ranobe Anime Program‘s theme songs underscores a strategic commitment to expanding its creative footprint and delivering a comprehensive entertainment experience to its audience.
