For Immediate Release
New Girls’TV Program
Featuring Live & Animated Content Linking Merchandise, Shops, Events!
Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream¹
Fashion, Song, Dance…Young Girls Chase Their Dreams…Promotes “Girl Power” Starts
Tokyo, Japan, January 25, 2011: TOMY Company, Ltd. (President, Kantaro Tomiyama) announces TOMY’s
participation in the production consortium for the development of new TV program for young girls, Pretty Rhythm
Aurora Dream1, based on TOMY’s original content, the popular coin-operated video game, Pretty Rhythm. The
program will start in April 2011, reaching a nationwide audience on the TV Tokyo Network (6 Stations) and BS Japan.
The TAKARATOMY Group will launch toys, apparel and a wide variety of novelty products based on this program,
aiming for Y8.5 billion in Group sales in annual sales. South Korean toy company, Sonokong Company, Ltd. is also a
consortium member and plans to launch a wide variety of toys and merchandise in South Korea along with the
broadcast of the program there from the summer of 2011.
The new TV program, Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream, aims to link the anime’s storyline, the merchandise and special
boutique shops with the uniquely mixed program featuring both reality programming and animated content. The total concept aims to inspire the “Girl Power” generation of young girls who are working hard to chase their dreams.
The TV Program:
Fashion, Dance, Song, Infotainment-Packed, Mix of Anime & Live Action:
Creating a New TV Genre Sensation
Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream is composed of anime and live action TV programming. It is a show which will help
young girls to grow as they brush up their unique personalities and pursue their dreams. With a storyline revolving
around girls pursuing the dream of becoming a star, it blends fashion, dance and song with animation and live
programming offering information girls crave. In the live infotainment portion, young girls who are the same age as
the protagonist of the anime will discuss topics which are the same fashionable themes and events in the storyline.
Like the characters in the anime, the live action participants will also grow and improve their talents as they aim to
become stars themselves.
Merchandise:
The Hot Brand Introduced in the Anime Will Be Brought to Life with Toys, Apparel, Etc.
The Coin-Op Game Will Also Be Refreshed
The TAKARATOMY Group will release a wide variety of products under the brand, Prism Stone. This brand is also
featured in the storyline of the anime and is intended to help girls achieve their dream of leading the sparkling life of a celebrity. Merchandise will include toys from TOMY, apparel from Tinkerbell Inc. and plush and novelty goods from T-Arts. TOMY’s development partner for the Pretty Rhythm coin-operated video game, syn Sophia Inc. will also renew the content of the game while AVEX Entertainment will launch DVDs and Shogakukan Inc. will publish related manga, etc.
Boutique Shop:
The Prism Stone Boutique Featured in the Anime Will Also Open in Real Life
In the Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream storyline the protagonist’s
favorite boutique is Prism Stone. This boutique will come to
life in the real world, opening in April in Yokohama’s
Landmark Plaza. Products and events which are featured in the
anime will appear in real time at the real-world shop, so when
viewers say to themselves, “I wish I could go to that shop!”
they will actually be able to go! Some limited edition products
sold only at the shop will also be available and the shop will be a place to learn about new trends and information.
1 The title Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream and various character names mentioned throughout this release refer to the Japanese version. The title and character names may change when released in other countries and languages.
Events:
The Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream TV Program Will Feature Viewer Participation
Auditions Will Be Held for Young Girls to Appear on the Program
Consortium partners, TOMY, AVEX Entertainment, Shogakukan, TV Tokyo et al will also sponsor and promote
auditions for young girls dreaming of a chance at stardom to earn the chance to appear on the program.
Pretty Rhythm was first serialized as a manga by Shuesha Inc. when it was featured in the girls’ manga, Ribbon,
starting from July 2010. Now, in conjunction with the start of the TV program Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream,
Shogakukan will publish a new manga series in the girls’ comic, Chao. With two Pretty Rhythm series’ in print, the
Pretty Rhythm brand will be reaching a wide range of elementary school girls.
Over the past year, teen girl idol groups have been a social phenomenon. Additionally, the Japanese term joshi-kai
(ladies gathering) was coined, meaning groups of ladies going out together—no men allowed! These trends are
indicative of the economic and cultural influence of women in Japan, a kind of “Girl Power” which becoming
increasingly apparent. It is an age where powerful young ladies who work hard to chase their dreams and realize their full potential can be a source of inspiration for people of all ages who cheer from the sidelines and find a bit of success for themselves. The goal of the Pretty Rhythm game, which was released in July of 2010, is for the protagonists to use fashion, dance, etc. to become stars. TOMY’s new TV program, Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream, likewise is meant to be a source of inspiration for young girls and ladies to continue chasing their dreams, and to use their Girl Power to reinvigorate Japanese society.
Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream TV Program Summary
Title: Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream
Broadcast: Nationwide, starting April 2011 on the TV Tokyo Network (6 Stations) and BS Japan Network.
Target: Elementary, middle school and high school girls
Original Work: TOMY Company, Ltd. / syn Sophia Inc.
Production: Tatsunoko Productions / syn Sophia Inc.
Director: Masakazu Hishida
Music Director: Yukio Nagasaki
Series Composition: Deko Akao
Character Design: Akio Watanabe
Music: Seikou Nagaoka
Opening Theme Song: You May Dream, LISP (Kana Asumi, Azusa Kataoka, Sayuri Hara)
Ending Theme Song Artist: SUPER☆GiRLS (Song title TBD)
Voice Actors: Kana Asumi (LISP) as Harune Aira, Sayuri Hara (LISP) as Amamiya Rizumu,
Azusa Kataoka (LISP) as Takamine Mion.
Copyright: ©ＴＯＭＹ / syn Sophia / TV Tokyo / PRA Production Consortium
Story Summary: To perform on The Prism Show requires expert levels the three arts of Dance-Skating, fashion
coordination and singing. To reach this level requires a high degree of skill, perception and voice talent, plus high
popularity. Two friends named Rizumu (Rhythm) and Aira are vying to be chosen for the Prism Show and become
Prism Queen. They sometimes quarrel, sometimes like a guy, sometimes worry about life, but all the while they
try their best to improve their skills at dance, singing and fashion sense so that they can reach dream.
The Production Consortium (In alphabetical Order)
AVEX Entertainment syn Sophia, Inc.
Nihon Ad Systems, Inc. Tatsunoko Production
Shogakukan, Inc. TOMY Company, Ltd.
Sonokong Company, Ltd. TV Tokyo Corporation
To continue reading, please go to the following page:
http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/company/english/pdf/p110125_en.pdf