Listeners (Japanese: リスナーズ, Hepburn: Risunāzu) is an original Japanese anime television series produced by MAPPA, created by Jin, and directed by Hiroaki Ando. The series aired from April 3 to June 19, 2020 on the Animeism programming block.

Listeners
リスナーズ
(Risunāzu)
Created by
  • 1st Place
  • Slow Curve
  • Story Riders
  • Original story:
  • Taichi Hashimoto
  • Dai Satō
  • Jin
Anime television series
Directed byHiroaki Andō
Written byDai Satō
Music byL!th!um
StudioMAPPA
Licensed byFunimation
Original networkMBS, TBS, BS-TBS
Original run April 3, 2020 June 19, 2020
Episodes12 (List of episodes)

Plot

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The series is set in a post-apocalyptic world where Humanity is defended from Earless attacks by the Players, the latter earning fame and fortune along the way. Echo Rec dreams of joining the Players and piloting a mecha of his own, but has no prospects of doing so, until he encounters μ - an enigmatic girl who's lost her memory and has an auxiliary port on her body. An auxiliary port signifies a Player; together, μ and Echo work together towards fame and fortune.[1]

Characters

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Echo Rec (エコヲ・レック, Ekowo Rekku)
Voiced by: Ayumu Murase (Japanese); Justin Briner (English)[2][3]
μ (Mu) (ミュウ, Myū)
Voiced by: Rie Takahashi (Japanese); Bryn Apprill (English)[2][3]
Nir (ニル, Niru)
Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya (Japanese); Jad Saxton (English)[2][4]
Roz (ロズ, Rozu)
Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa (Japanese); Brina Palencia (English)[2][4]
Denka (殿下)
Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe (Japanese); Jamal Sterling (English)[2][4]
Ritchie (リッチー, Ritchī)
Voiced by: Yūto Uemura (Japanese); Jason Liebrecht (English)[2][4]
Lyde (ライド, Raido)
Voiced by: Taku Yashiro (Japanese); Ciarán Strange (English)[2][4]
Janis (ジャニス, Janisu)
Voiced by: Reina Ueda (Japanese); Brittney Karbowski (English)[2][4]
Robert (ロバート, Robāto)
Voiced by: Banjō Ginga (Japanese); Wilbur Penn (English)[2][4]
Hole (ホール, Hōru)
Voiced by: Hiro Shimono (Japanese); Brandon McInnis (English)[2][4]
Kim (キム, Kimu)
Voiced by: Atsuko Tanaka (Japanese); Jessica Calvello (English)[2][4]
Wendy (ウェンディ, Wendi)
Voiced by: Yōko Honna (Japanese); Rachel Robinson (English)[2][4]
Lisa (リサ, Risa)
Voiced by: Yukana (Japanese); Stephanie Young (English)[2][4]
Leo Marshall (レオ・マーシャル, Reo Māsharu)
Voiced by: Shigeru Chiba (Japanese); Charlie Campbell (English)[2][4]
Ein Neubauten (アイン・ノイバウテン, Ain Noibauten)
Voiced by: Sayaka Ohara (Japanese); Mikaela Krantz (English)[2][3]
Stür Neubauten (シュテュル・ノイバウテン, Shutyuru Noibauten)
Voiced by: Yōko Hikasa (Japanese); Anastasia Muñoz (English)[2][4]
Zende Neubauten (ツェンデ・ノイバウテン, Tsende Noibauten)
Voiced by: Tomoyo Kurosawa (Japanese); Sarah Wiedenheft (English)[2] [4]
Swell Rec (スエル・レック, Sueru Rekku)
Voiced by: Rina Satō (Japanese); Morgan Garrett (English)[2][3]
McGee (マッギィ, Maggyi)
Voiced by: Chō (Japanese); Mark Stoddard (English)[2][3]
Sally Simpson (サリー・シンプソン, Sarī Shinpuson)
Voiced by: Miyuri Shimabukuro (Japanese); Luci Christian (English)[2][4]
Tommy Walker (トミー・ウォーカー, Tomī Wōkā)
Voiced by: Yūichi Nakamura (Japanese); Robert McCollum (English)[2][4]
Field Marshal Ace (エース元帥, Ēsu-gensui)
Voiced by: Hōchū Ōtsuka (Japanese); Kent Williams (English)[2][4]
Bilin Valentine (ビリン・ヴァレンタイン, Birin Varentain)
Voiced by: Nana Mizuki (Japanese); Caitlin Glass (English)[2][4]
Kevin Valentine (ケヴィン・ヴァレンタイン, Kevin Varentain)
Voiced by: Kōichi Yamadera (Japanese); Ian Sinclair (English)[2][4]
Jimi Stonefree (ジミ・ストーンフリー, Jimi Sutōnfurī)
Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama (Japanese); Lee George (English)[2][3]

Production and release

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On June 8, 2019, the original anime television series was announced by Jin, the creator of the Kagerou Project.[5] The series is animated by MAPPA and directed by Hiroaki Ando, with Dai Satō as scriptwriter, Shinpei Kamada as character designer, and L!th!um as music composer.[6] It premiered from April 3 to June 19, 2020 on the Animeism programming block on MBS, TBS, and BS-TBS.[2] ACCAMER performs the series' opening theme "Into the blue's", and Rie Takahashi performs 11 of the series' ending theme songs.[7]

Funimation has acquired the series for an English release,[8] and streams the series on Funimation, AnimeLab and Wakanim.[9][10]

No. Title[11] Original air date
1"Live Forever"
Transliteration: "Rivu Fōevuā" (Japanese: リヴ・フォーエヴァー (Live Forever))
April 3, 2020 (2020-04-03)
2"Half Man"
Transliteration: "Hanbun Ningen" (Japanese: 半分人間 (HALBER MENSCH))
April 10, 2020 (2020-04-10)
3"You Made Me Realise"
Transliteration: "Yū Meido Mī Riaraizu" (Japanese: ユー・メイド・ミー・リアライズ (You Made Me Realise))
April 17, 2020 (2020-04-17)
4"Teen Spirit"
Transliteration: "Tīn Supiritto" (Japanese: ティーン・スピリット (TEEN SPIRIT))
April 24, 2020 (2020-04-24)
5"In the Embrace of the Beat"
Transliteration: "Bīto ni Idakarete" (Japanese: ビートに抱かれて (When Doves Cry))
May 1, 2020 (2020-05-01)
6"Goodbye Blue Sky"
Transliteration: "Gubbai Burū Sukai" (Japanese: グッバイ・ブルー・スカイ (Goodbye Blue Sky))
May 8, 2020 (2020-05-08)
7"Day of Rage"
Transliteration: "Ikari no Hi" (Japanese: 怒りの日 (problems))
May 15, 2020 (2020-05-15)
8"Real Me"
Transliteration: "Riaru Mī" (Japanese: リアル・ミー (The Real Me))
May 22, 2020 (2020-05-22)
9"Freedom"
Transliteration: "Furīdamu" (Japanese: フリーダム (Freedom))
May 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)
10"Cross Road Blues"
Transliteration: "Kurosurōdo Burūsu" (Japanese: クロスロード・ブルース (Cross Road Blues))
June 5, 2020 (2020-06-05)
11"I Am The Resurrection"
Transliteration: "Ai Amu Za Rizarekushon" (Japanese: アイ・アム・ザ・リザレクション (I Am The Resurrection))
June 12, 2020 (2020-06-12)
12"Hello, Goodbye"
Transliteration: "Harō Guddobai" (Japanese: ハロー・グッドバイ (Hello, Goodbye))
June 19, 2020 (2020-06-19)
"Tomorrow Never Knows"
Transliteration: "Toumorō Nebā Nouzu" (Japanese: トゥモロー・ネバー・ノウズ (Tomorrow Never Knows))

Opening/Ending themes

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Opening Themes
# Transcription/Translation Performed by Episodes
1 "Into the blue's" ^ ACCAMER 1-12
Ending themes
# Transcription/Translation Performed by Episodes
2 "Muse" Mu (Rie Takahashi) 2
3 "Borders" Mu (Rie Takahashi) 3
4 "Slip out!" Mu (Rie Takahashi) 4
5 "Rainy lain" Mu (Rie Takahashi) 5
6 "Top of ocean" Mu (Rie Takahashi) 6
7 "Trauma" Mu (Rie Takahashi) 7
8 "Dilemma" Mu (Rie Takahashi) 8
9 "Fairy tale" Mu (Rie Takahashi) 9
10 "Slumber" Mu (Rie Takahashi) 10
11 "Love song" Mu (Rie Takahashi) 11
12 "Listeners" Mu (Rie Takahashi) 12
12 "Into the blue's" Rie Takahashi 12 (Epilogue)

Notes

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References to real life media

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References

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  1. ^ "The Spring 2020 Anime Preview Guide - Listeners". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Rock Battle TV Anime 'Listeners' Confirms More Cast, Characters, Story, Ending Song Artist, April Premiere (Updated)". Anime News Network. February 1, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Listeners English Cast". www.funimation.com. April 8, 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Listeners Blu-ray (Blu-ray). Funimation. July 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "Kagerou Daze's Jin, Eureka 7's Dai Sato Create Listeners Anime Project". Anime News Network. June 8, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  6. ^ "Listeners Original TV Anime Reveals Cast, More Staff in Video". Anime News Network. January 27, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "MUSIC | LISTENERS" (in Japanese). Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  8. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (February 16, 2020). "Funimation to Stream Listeners Anime This Spring". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  9. ^ AnimeLab [@AnimeLab] (March 3, 2020). "Can you imagine a world where music doesn't exist?? Check out the latest key visual from Listeners, an original series coming to AnimeLab this April season that dares to imagine what that would be like!" (Tweet). Retrieved March 3, 2020 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Wakanim [@Wakanim] (February 16, 2020). "[ANNONCE SERIE] Listeners débarque en avril en exclusivité sur Wakanim. Découvrez la nouvelle série originale écrite par Dai Sato, l'un des auteurs derrière Samurai Champloo et Cowboy Bebop ! Dans un monde sans musique, nos héros vont faire du bruit ! https://wakanim.tv/fr/v2/catalogue/show/812" (Tweet) (in French). Retrieved March 3, 2020 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ "LISTENERS" (in Japanese). Retrieved April 4, 2020.
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