NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020 in Tokyo Cancelled Due to Coronavirus Fears

Posted on February 28, 2020 - 8:30 pm by Rekka Alexiel

Square Enix has just announced that all performances in Tokyo for the NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020 on March 28 and 29 have been cancelled. Those who have purchased tickets are asked to request a refund through the agency that issued the tickets. More detailed information is available on the official concert page.

【ご案内】3/28,29に開催を予定しておりました「NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020」東京公演につきまして、新型コロナウイルス感染症が拡大している状況を踏まえ、お客様の健康・安全面を第一に考慮し、開催を中止することとなりました。
詳細は公式サイトをご確認下さい。https://t.co/RRLf2RRiow pic.twitter.com/UppfzVxeNf
— SQUARE ENIX MUSIC (@sem_sep) February 28, 2020

Shortly after SQEX issued this statement, Saito Yosuke had this to say:

違う形で何かできないか考えてます。
— 齊藤陽介　Yosuke Saito (@SaitoYosuke_Z) February 28, 2020

I’m thinking about how we might be able to do something differently.

I’m not sure what he might have in mind, but I would hope they could at least have a similar concert or something for Tokyo once the Coronavirus threat settles down. Since it’s 2020, this year is probably entirely out of the question due to the olympics, but 2021?

That would be a cool name 12021. It’s a palindrome that can be read the same way both forwards and backwards, so it feels kinda special for a NieR event. Plus, by that time, we’ll likely already have an idea about what Yoko’s New Project is going to be.

It would be interesting if they could somehow merge the NieR 10th Anniversary Theatrical Orchestra in with whatever Yoko’s New Project will be… that is, if they are at all connected (we sort of know it will be, to some degree).

So, in the meantime, everyone please stay safe and healthy! Hopefully this will get under control soon!!

NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020 Promotional Video

Posted on February 19, 2020 - 1:09 pm by Rekka Alexiel

Square Enix has just released a short promotional video for the NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020, which will be held in Tokyo on March 28-29 and in Osaka on April 25, for a total of 5 separate performances.

NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020 Promotional Video
Translation below:

In 2020, 10 years from the release of NieR Gestalt/Replicant, the “NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020” concert will be held in Tokyo and Osaka.

This performance will consist of fully orchestrated performances of songs carefully selected from NieR Gestalt/Replicant and NieR:Automata, including recitations by the voice cast as well songs performed by vocalists.

Please look forward to this amazing music festival worth of the 10th Anniversary!

Very few details are currently known about the concert besides this, but it will likely be similar to the NieR:Orchestra Concert 12018 with additional recitations from the voice actors from the game. It’s unclear whether this is referencing new recitation dramas like what was performed at the NieR:Automata Memory of Puppets Concert, although this is likely referencing the monologue inserts before various pieces by Emil and 2B. In this sense, the Theatrical Orchestra may not be all that different from the original concert from 2018, save for the new arrangements that will be released as part of the Addendum album.

NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020 – Official Site (Japanese)
NieR Orchestral Arrangement Album Addendum – Official Site (Japanese)

NieR:Orchestra Concert 12018 Shinjuku Blu-ray Screening

Posted on February 26, 2019 - 7:08 pm by Rekka Alexiel

Last night was the special cleaning of the soon to be released blu-ray of the NieR:Orchestra Concert! Yoko Taro, Okabe Keiichi, and Saito Yosuke were at the show talked a little bit before the show (Saito didn’t speak, however).

Unfortunately, I came to the venue almost 15 min late, so I missed most of their talk (ugh!!)

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Ebb and Flow – Conversations on the Recent Momentum of Japanese Games

Posted on May 11, 2018 - 7:27 pm by Rekka Alexiel

Archipel just released a nice video with many video game developers to discuss the so-called “ebb and flow” of Japanese games.

Yoko Taro (Bukkoro) and John Ricciardi (8-4) among many other big-name developers make appearances!

“Starting end 2016, we saw the release of a succession of Japanese games that were critically acclaimed both in Japan and overseas.

“We met with some of their directors to discuss their views on this period and on the state of the Japanese game industry.”

SINoALICE x DOD3 – New Character Designs

Posted on March 23, 2018 - 8:21 pm by Rekka Alexiel

The official SINoALICE twitter account just posted a couple designs for the new character. They’ve redacted the character’s name, but if you saw my last post regarding this, then you’d know that it’s actually a human Mikhail!

Since I designed the DOD3 characters a long time ago, I find myself thinking “What do DOD3 characters look like again?” I hand trouble with that sort of ambiguity, but I imagined that anything would work as long as I made it cute. That’s pretty much how I came up with this design. ーFujisaka Kimihiko

He was originally a dragon, so he’s borrowed wings* and a tail* from that design. I began designing it with the thought that he’ll attack by grasping the heart, powering up by squeezing it, and getting angry by ??? The electric looking bolts are supposed to resemble blood vessels. ーFujisaka Kimihiko
* educated guess from the obvious. xD

The collaboration with DOD3 will begin on Tuesday, March 26!