Not only did "K-ON!" build a huge fan base after it aired on TV, but it also had a major impact on the music industry and subsequent anime works.
"K-ON!" is an anime that depicts the soft and heartwarming daily lives of high school girls, but what kind of social phenomenon did it spark?
We'll be introducing the impact "K-ON!" has had on the anime industry and the records it has achieved in the music industry, so be sure to read to the end.
Slice-of-life stories have become popular in anime since "K-ON!"
Source: K-ON! © Kakifly, Houbunsha / Sakura High School Light Music Club
When the first season of the TV anime "K-ON!" aired in 2009, it quickly became a hot topic, inspired by the laid-back daily lives of high school girls and their youth as members of a light music club.
The second season of the TV anime aired in 2010, and it moved many fans with its series of events, from the growth of Hirasawa Yui and the other members of After School Tea Time to their graduation. Its beautifully put-together story remains beloved to this day.
The smash hit of K-ON! sparked major changes in the anime industry, so let's start by looking at the impact it had.
Manga Time Kirara's first film adaptation was K-ON! 』
There are countless slice-of-life anime titles, such as "Nichijou" and "Hidamari Sketch," and they all enjoy widespread fan support.
Many slice-of-life anime are from Manga Time Kirara, the same magazine where "K-ON!" was originally serialized. This trend of excluding male characters and depicting stories centered around the characters became popular with a wide range of viewers.
Kyoto Animation's popularity also skyrocketed!
Source: K-ON! © Kakifly, Houbunsha / Sakura High School Light Music Club
Kyoto Animation is the studio behind the anime series "K-ON!", which has been gaining attention since its predecessor, "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya."
However, as "K-ON!" became a social phenomenon, and "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" similarly influenced the anime industry, the company's name quickly became known.
Kyoto Animation has also produced other titles such as "Shine! Euphonium" and "Violet Evergarden," and its meticulous backgrounds and beautiful characters have captivated countless fans.
Related songs are so popular they're even dominating the music charts!
Source: K-ON! © Kakifly, Houbunsha / Sakura High School Light Music Club
Not only has K-ON! received critical acclaim as an anime, but its music has also delivered familiarity to not only anime fans but also general music lovers.
Here, we'll take a look at how K-ON!'s theme songs, insert songs, character songs, and other related songs have influenced the Japanese music industry.
Until then, anime songs hadn't received much attention, but K-ON!'s presence has brought about a major shift, so be sure to check it out.
The first anime character song to reach number one and garner attention
Source: K-ON! © Kakifly, Houbunsha/Sakura High School Light Music Club
The theme songs and insert songs from "K-ON!" reached the top 10 on the Oricon weekly charts, leading to many opportunities to hear Houkago Tea Time's music on music programs and other media.
The opening theme song, "GO! GO! "GO! GO! MANIAC" reached number one on the Oricon charts, and all three ending theme songs also reached number two, setting an unprecedented record.
Furthermore, the fact that "GO! GO! MANIAC" and "Listen!!" dominated the top two spots together is a historic achievement in the history of the Oricon charts, the first time that this has ever been achieved for an anime song or character song.
Anime songs, which had previously been seen as unorthodox, were now officially accepted by the Japanese music industry, so their achievement can be considered enormous.
Single and album sales also reached astounding figures
Source: K-ON! © Kakifly, Houbunsha/Sakura High School Light Music Club
Perhaps due to its record of dominating the top and second places on the Oricon charts, "K-ON!" Total sales of "K-ON!" related CDs have exceeded one million copies, suggesting that the series is reaching out to more than just anime fans.
In addition, the number of downloads from music streaming services has also exceeded one million, demonstrating that "K-ON!" songs are listened to by a wide range of people, an unprecedented result for anime songs.
They have also become popular songs at karaoke, and it is not uncommon to see "K-ON!" related songs in one's singing history.
It also won a Special Award at the 24th Japan Gold Disc Awards!
Source: K-ON! © Kakifly, Houbunsha / Sakura High School Light Music Club
In recognition of these achievements, After School Tea Time, who sings K-ON!-related songs, received a Special Award at the 24th Japan Gold Disc Awards.
It was unimaginable at the time that anime songs and voice actors would beat out famous artists and soar to the top of the charts, so it's still fresh in our memories that it caused quite a stir.
K-ON! has also won numerous awards, including the Recochoku Award and the 4th Seiyuu Awards for Best Singing, achieving results that no other work has achieved.
It's the catalyst for rekindling the all-girl band boom!
Source: K-ON! © Kakifly, Houbunsha/Sakura High School Light Music Club
The broadcast of "K-ON!" sparked a girl band boom among high school girls, with even those who had previously been uninterested in anime tuning in due to its relatable slice-of-life anime theme.
While the story mainly focused on the heartwarming daily lives of high school girls, the insert songs and opening and ending themes were both cute and cool, and you can imagine they made quite an impression.
K-ON! has rekindled the all-girl band boom, but it has had a variety of repercussions along with it, so let's take a look at some of them.
Instruments featured in the series have even disappeared from music stores!?
In addition, die-hard "K-ON!" fans began purchasing the same models of instruments used by Hirasawa Yui and her friends, resulting in them selling out of stock.
In addition to musical instruments, band scores and collaboration goods for "K-ON!" songs were also sold, and many music stores recorded record sales.
While some models are no longer in production, the "Gibson Les Paul Standard" used by Hirasawa Yui is extremely popular, including vintage models, and affordable versions are also available, making it easy to obtain.
The market size of "K-ON!" is XX billion yen!
Source: K-ON! © Kakifly, Houbunsha / Sakura High School Light Music Club
The series' huge success led to numerous collaborations with numerous companies, and the production and sale of related merchandise led to a vast array of merchandise.
In addition to anime merchandise and tie-in products, collaborations with commemorative tickets, snacks, and beverages were also created. By the time the anime's broadcast ended, there were estimated to be over 1,000 merchandise items in total.
The economic impact of the series was estimated at over 15 billion yen at the time, and after the release of the movie "K-ON!", it was recalculated to be as high as 38 billion yen.
More than just anime, "K-ON!" undoubtedly sparked a social phenomenon, as it engaged a broad range of society and stimulated the economy.
The impact of "K-ON!" is undeniable in the history of anime!
It has made a particularly significant contribution to the music industry, and it's no exaggeration to say it helped make anime songs a part of everyday life.
In addition to its numerous achievements and records, "K-ON!" is also a compelling work, so rewatching it will surely help you appreciate just how incredible it is.
