From Argonavis

From Argonavis (stylized as from ARGONAVIS, originally titled Argonavis from BanG Dream! in 2018–2021) is a Japanese multimedia project by Bushiroad. An anime television series by Sanzigen aired from April 10 to July 3, 2020, on the Super Animeism block. A rhythm mobile game by DeNa titled Argonavis from BanG Dream! AAside featuring five bands was released in Japan on January 14, 2021.^[2] A compilation anime film titled Gekijōban Argonavis: Ryūsei no Obligato premiered on November 19, 2021, and a new anime film titled Gekijōban Argonavis Axia premiered in March 2023.

In November 2021, it was announced that the project changed its name from Argonavis from BanG Dream! to From Argonavis. This means that the project is now a whole of its own instead a part of the BanG Dream! franchise.^[3] A new company centered to manage the project, Argonavis Co., Ltd., was established with Daisuke Hyūga as the public relations manager. Some additions include establishment of a fanclub, server termination of rhythm game AAside, and new smartphone game ARGONAVIS -Kimi ga Mita Stage e- in development.^[4][5]

In October 2024, it was announced that the franchise would enter an indefinite hiatus towards the end of 2025.^[6]

Concept

From Argonavis' former name was stylistically written in all caps (ARGONAVIS from BanG Dream!) to differentiate the project and band names.^[7] Although it was titled Argonavis from BanG Dream!, the BanG Dream! franchise creator Takaaki Kidani stated that there will be no interaction between the girls in the main BanG Dream! universe and the new project as the IPs do not take place within the same universe.^[8] While the Argonavis project was originally planned as an extension of the general BanG Dream! franchise, mixed reception to the appearance of male characters in the original all-female franchise prompted Argonavis to be turned into an independent project in an alternative continuity.^{[citation needed]}

Unlike the original BanG Dream! which is set in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Argonavis from BanG Dream! is set in Hakodate, Hokkaido.^[9] The first band, Argonavis, consists of five first-year university students. They begin their debut with their "0th Live", which was held July 29, 2018. The second "0th live" was held on September 15, following the third live on December 10 of the same year. The lives were held at Shimokitazawa GARDEN.^[10] Argonavis' first original song, "Steady Goes!" was distributed for free for those who attended their first "0th" live.^[11]

The band's first single "Goal Line" (ゴールライン) was released on February 20, 2019.^[12] Their second single "Starting Over" was released on August 21, 2019.^[13]

The band's first live was held on May 17 at Maihama Amphitheater, Chiba Prefecture. The projects announces manga serialization as well as music video for "Goal Line". Their second live titled Voice -Hoshizora no Shita no Yakusoku= (VOICE -星空の下の約束-) will be held on December 5, 2019, at Tokyo Dome City Hall.^[14]

On November 5, 2019, Bushiroad announced that the franchise will have both an anime series scheduled for Spring 2020 and a rhythm mobile game scheduled for early Spring 2021 release. The franchise also introduced three new bands: εpsilonΦ, Fujin Rizing!, and Fantôme Iris. The bands will be featured in the new game along with the Argonavis and Gyroaxia.^[2]

Characters

Argonavis

A college students pop rock band based in Hakodate, Hokkaido.

Ren Nanahoshi (七星 蓮, Nanahoshi Ren)

Vocalist. A first-year university student who is studying at the Faculty of Law. He could not forget the excitement of the outdoor live he saw as a child, and wished to stand on a big stage one day. However, since he is not good at communicating with other people, he would only sing on his own at karaoke sessions until he was scouted by Yūto, who was looking for vocalist for Argonavis. He is usually a calm person but will get fired up when it comes to music.

Yūto Goryō (五稜 結人, Goryō Yūto)

Guitarist. A first-year university student who is studying at the Faculty of Literature. Born within a prestigious family in Hakodate, he immersed himself with music activities due to his inferiority complex towards his superior older brothers. He is strong-minded and optimistic, and does not doubt that he will one day become successful with his band and that his family will finally look at him. With his creed "we wouldn't know before we try it", he created Argonavis with enough confidence.

Wataru Matoba (的場 航海, Matoba Wataru)

Bassist. A first-year university student who is studying at the Faculty of Literature. His father used to be a seafarer and his mother's whereabouts are unknown. He has always been with his older brother since they were small. He started to become interested in bass because his brother was in a band. He is a prudent character who makes negative remarks to those who try to talk positively. However, he does that to make the band successful.

Rio Kikyō (桔梗 凛生, Kikyō Rio)

Keyboardist. A first-year university student who is studying at the Faculty of Political Science and Economics. Being surrounded by study, sports, and music to the point that he could do anything, he is nicknamed "Shindou", (meaning child prodigy) by people around him. Above all, he hoped to be a baseball player, but got hurt before the Koshien and had to give up his baseball career. He doesn't show his real emotions but will respond to people who need him and try his best.

Banri Shiroishi (白石 万浬, Shiroishi Banri)

Drummer. A first-year university student who is studying at the Faculty of Business. He wants to make a name for himself and earn money with the band to rebuild his parents' dairy farm that was sunk with debts. From his experience of playing taiko when he was young, he showcased a powerful performance and sold himself to joining Argonavis. He made use of the fact that his drumming is surprisingly powerful from someone his height and stature to be able to join Argonavis. With a thorough pragmatism and a personality that dislikes waste, he is constantly a high tension and a mood maker.

Gyroaxia

A college students hard rock band based in Sapporo, Hokkaido.

Nayuta Asahi (旭 那由多, Asahi Nayuta)

^[2]

Vocalist. He leads GYROAXIA due to his powerful vocals and overwhelming charisma. He expects nothing from his band members other than the best. However, if they are not up to his expectations, he won't hesitate to cut them off without warning. He seems to be doing all this to get back at his father, who was a legendary bandman, for abandoning him and his mother. He has no other interests other than music to the point where he initially has a disconnect with his bandmates.

Kenta Satozuka (里塚 賢汰, Satozuka Kenta)

^[15]

Guitarist. Bewitched by Nayuta Asahi's talent, this leader of GYROAXIA spares no effort in making his name well-known. He is proficient in intel-gathering and uses it to gather information on rival bands, among others. While he adores Nayuta, he doesn't adore him as his own person rather, he adores him as a vocalist. Since he lives in different homes from Wataru Matoba, due to their parents' divorce, he worries about him a lot.

Reon Misono (美園 礼音, Misono Reon)

^[15]

Guitarist. A stubborn man who is also very exceedingly patient. He's the enthusiastic hardworker type who won't stop trying until he excels. While he strongly opposes Nayuta's dictatorial ways, he recognizes the talent in GYROAXIA and strongly believes they deserve to be on top. The only person who has guts to bear his fangs towards Nayuta, but against someone as unpredictable as him, he always holds back from directly confronting him.

Ryo Akebono (曙 涼, Akebono Ryō)

^[15]

Bassist. He committed a crime back on his home planet and was banished to Earth as punishment. His crime was "the inability to make people happy". So he will stay on this planet until he is able to make someone happy... or so he says. He's a rare kind of genius—one able to join GYROAXIA without much of a sweat.

Miyuki Sakaigawa (界川 深幸, Sakaigawa Miyuki)

^[15]

Drummer. He was a kickboxer before switching over to drums to get more popular. Making use of his natural strength, he engraved GYROAXIA's rhythm to anyone who ears with a flashy manner. He's nice to kids and women, looks superficial at first, but he's actually quite stoic. He's among the oldest in GYROAXIA and also admires Nayuta. However, he doesn't get along with Kenta's idea of throwing away his humanity for him.

Fantôme Iris

A visual kei band from Nagoya. They go by stage names during lives. The members are all working adults.

Felix Louis-Claude Mont D'or / FELIX (フェリクス・ルイ＝クロード・モンドール, Ferikusu Rui＝Kurōdo Mondōru)

^[2]

Vocalist.

Tomoru Kurokawa / LIGHT (黒川 燈, Kurokawa Tomoru)

Guitarist.

Jun Suzaki / ZACK (洲崎 遵, Suzaki Jun)

Guitarist.

Koharu Mitsurugi / HARU (御劔 虎春, Mitsurugi Koharu)

Bassist.

Daimon Kusunoki / D (楠 大門, Kusunoki Daimon)

Drummer.

Fujin Rizing

A college students ska band based in Nagasaki.

Futa Kaminoshima (神ノ島 風太, Kaminoshima Futa)

Vocalist and Saxophonist.

Yamato Tsubaki (椿 大和, Tsubaki Yamato)

Guitarist.

Kohei Hayasaka (早坂 絋平, Hayasaka Kohei)

Bassist.

Aoi Wakakusa (若草 あおい, Wakakusa Aoi)

Trombonist.

Misaki Goto (五島 岬, Goto Misaki)

Drummer.

Epsilon Phi

A techno pop electronic rock band from Kyoto composed of middle school and high school students.

Shu Ujigawa (宇治川 紫夕, Ujigawa Shuu)

Vocalist.

Haruka Nijō (二条 遥, Nijō Haruka)

Vocalist and Guitarist. Older twin brother of Kanata Nijo

Kanata Nijō (二条 奏, Nijō Kanata)

Bassist. Younger twin brother of Haruka Nijo.

Tadaomi Kurama (鞍馬 唯臣, Kurama Tadaomi)

Synthesizer.

Reiji Karasuma (烏丸 玲司, Karasuma Reiji)

Drummer.

Straystride

A two-person rock band from Osaka. They previously won the LRFes and had their major debut but ended up disbanding.

Rintarō Yodogawa (淀川 麟太郎, Yodogawa Rintarō)

^[16]

Vocalist.

Ryusuke Tennoji (天王寺 龍介, Tennoji Ryusuke)

^[16]

MC/rapper.

Other characters

Kenzō "Master" Hakkōda (八甲田 健三, Hakkōda Kenzō)

^[17]

Owner of the cafe Submariner.

Shintaro Mashū (摩周 慎太郎, Mashū Shintaro)

^[17]

Manager of Gyroaxia.

Kōga Iryū (伊龍恒河, Iryū Kōga)

^[17]

Vocalist of the legendary band SYANA and Nayuta Asahi's Father.

Music

An animation music video for "Goal Line" animated by Sanzigen will be some time in 2019.^[14] The band's second single, "Starting Over" was used as the theme song in the video game Card Fight!! Vanguard Ex; its coupling song is the ending song of Cardfight!! Vanguard's anime adaptation.^[18]

Media

Anime

An anime adaptation for the franchise was announced on November 4, 2019. The series is animated by Sanzigen and directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori, with Nobuhiro Mōri handling series composition, Hikaru Miyoshi designing the characters, and Ryō Takahashi composing the series' music. It aired from April 10 to July 3, 2020, on the Super Animeism block on MBS, TBS, and other channels.^[25][17]

Films

During the Argonavis AAside New Year Live-Streamed 'NaviZome' Online event on January 9, 2021, it was announced that a new anime film project is in production.^[26] A compilation film titled Gekijōban Argonavis: Ryūsei no Obligato has also been announced and premiered on November 19, 2021.^[27] The new anime film project, titled Gekijōban Argonavis Axia, was originally set to premiere in Japanese theaters in Q3 2022,^[28] but it was later delayed to November 4, 2022,^[29] and then to March 24, 2023.^[30]

Mobile game

A mobile rhythm game developed by DeNa titled Argonavis from BanG Dream AAside (with AA pronounced as Double A) was released on January 14, 2021. The game featured three bands other than Argonavis and Gyroaxia: Fantôme Iris, Fujin RIZING!, and εpsilonΦ. It was initially planned for a late 2020 release before being postponed to spring 2021 to continue development and ensure a better product.^[31] On January 31, 2022, the game was shut down, however it was announced that a new game would commence development soon. On May 22, 2023, the game ARGONAVIS -Kimi ga Mita Stage e- (アルゴナビス -キミが見たステージへ-, ARGONAVIS -To the Stage You've Dreamed Of) was announced, along with the addition of a new band titled Straystride.^[16] The game is a band raising simulator in which players raise the stats of band members by leveling up cards and using the "produce" mechanic. It was planned for a Summer 2023 release, but was postponed to Winter 2023, and yet again postponed to the first half of 2023. The game was officially released on February 7, 2024.^{[32][better source needed]} On October 7, 2024, it was announced the game would end its service on November 30, 2024^{[citation needed]}.

References

1. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (August 10, 2020). "Argonavis from BanG Dream! Franchise Gets Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
2. ^ "「ARGONAVIS from BanG Dream！」，アプリゲーム化＆TVアニメ化が2020年に決定。新バンド「GYROAXIA」と「Fantôme Iris」も公開". 4gamer.net. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
3. ^ "Bushiroad Establishes Wholly-Owned Subsidiary for ARGONAVIS Band Project". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
4. ^ "ARGONAVISプロジェクトの"これから"" (in Japanese). ARGONAVIS（アルゴナビス） from BanG Dream! 公式ポータルサイト. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
5. ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Archived 2024-09-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
6. ^ "「アルゴナビス -キミが見たステージへ-」，11月30日にサービス終了。プロジェクトも2025年内をもって無期限の活動休止に" (in Japanese). 4Gamer.net. 7 Oct 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
7. ^ "『教えてアルゴナビス！第１回 Vo.伊藤昌弘（七星 蓮役）』ARGONAVIS from BanG Dream!". ARGONAVIS ch. at YouTube. February 25, 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
8. ^ "「バンドリ！」新プロジェクト「ARGONAVIS from BanG Dream!」の1st LIVEをレポート。オリジナル曲の披露や2nd LIVEの開催も決定" (in Japanese). 4Gamer.net. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
9. ^ "大ヒット「バンドリ！」に続く ブシロード、次の一手はDJ". 大ヒット「バンドリ！」に続く ブシロード、次の一手はDJ：日経クロストレンド. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
10. ^ "LIVE" (in Japanese). ARGONAVIS from BanG Dream!. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
11. ^ "伊藤昌弘さん歌唱のSteady Goes！をお聴きください！". Twitter. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
12. ^ "Argonavis 1st Single「ゴールライン」" (in Japanese). ARGONAVIS from BanG Dream!. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
13. ^ "発表内容について「BanG Dream! Argonavis 1st LIVE」". ARGONAVIS from BanG Dream!. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
14. ^ "ARGONAVIS from BanG Dream! 5大重大発表". RGONAVIS from BanG Dream!（アルゴナビス フロム バンドリ！）公式. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
15. ^ "サプライズ登場 #GYROAXIA が生演奏ライブ" (in Japanese). @AAside_INFO. 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
16. ^ ARGONAVIS channel (May 22, 2023). "from ARGONAVIS 5th Anniversary Live". ARGONAVIS Inc. – via YouTube.
17. ^ "BanG Dream!'s Argonavis Male Band Anime Reveals More Cast, April 10 TV Debut in Video". Anime News Network. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
18. ^ "Cardfight!! Vanguard EX Game's Video Previews Argonavis Theme Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
19. ^ "ja:ゴールライン" [Goal Line] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
20. ^ "STARTING OVER/ギフト【Blu-ray付生産限定盤】 | Argonavis". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
21. ^ "星がはじまる【Blu-ray付生産限定盤】 | Argonavis". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
22. ^ "SCATTER【Blu-ray付生産限定盤】 | GYROAXIA". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
23. ^ "VOICE/MANIFESTO | Argonavis, GYROAXIA". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
24. ^ "Starry Line【Blu-ray付生産限定盤】 | Argonavis". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
25. ^ "BanG Dream!'s Argonavis Boy Band Gets 2020 Anime, Game Projects". Anime News Network. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
26. ^ "Argonavis from BanG Dream! Project Gets Anime Film, Stage Play". Anime News Network. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
27. ^ "Argonavis from BanG Dream! Anime Compilation Film Reveals Title, Date". Anime News Network. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
28. ^ "New Argonavis from BanG Dream! Film Opens in Summer 2022; Compilation Movie Opens in Fall". Anime News Network. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
29. ^ Loo, Egan (May 14, 2022). "Argonavis Band Project's New Anime Film Reveals Title, Story, November 4 Delay". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
30. ^ Mateo, Alex (August 1, 2022). "Argonavis Band Project's New Anime Film Reveals Trailer, March 24 Delay". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
31. ^ "「アルゴナビス from BanG Dream! AAside」の配信時期が2021年初春に延期―さらなる品質向上や機能改善のため" [Release date of "Argonavis from BanG Dream! AAside" postponed to early spring of 2021 for further quality and function improvement] (in Japanese). Gamer. August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
32. ^ "Argonavis (Music)"

External links

• Official website
• Official anime website
• Official mobile game website