Morfonica
{{short description|Japanese band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Morfonica
| image = Morfonica BanG Dream art.jpg
| landscape =
| caption = Promotional art from the band's reveal, from left to right: Rui, Nanami, Mashiro, Tsukushi, and Tōko
| origin = Japan
| genre = Pop rock, symphonic rock
| years_active = 2020–present
| label = Bushiroad Music
| spinoff_of = BanG Dream!
| website =
| current_members =
- Amane Shindō (Mashiro Kurata)
- Hina Suguta (Tōko Kirigaya)
- Yūka Nishio (Nanami Hiromachi)
- mika (Tsukushi Futaba)
- Ayasa (Rui Yashio)
}}
Morfonica is a Japanese all-female rock band that is part of Bushiroad's media franchise BanG Dream!. Formed in 2020, the group's members portray fictional characters in the project's anime series and mobile game BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! in addition to performing their characters' respective instruments in live concerts.
The band consists of Amane Shindō (vocals), Hina Suguta (guitar), Yūka Nishio (bass), Mika (drums), and Ayasa (violin). In the game, Morfonica is represented by five first-year students at the prestigious Tsukinomori Girls' Academy: Mashiro Kurata (Shindō), Tōko Kirigaya (Suguta), Nanami Hiromachi (Nishio), Tsukushi Futaba (Mika), and Rui Yashio (Ayasa).
Of the nine bands in BanG Dream!, Morfonica is one of six whose members perform their own music during live shows.
History
Morfonica's formation was announced on 1 March 2020 during the franchise's live stream BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! @HHW CiRCLE Live Broadcasting Pre-3rd Anniversary Special. The band is the seventh in the franchise and the fourth that performs in live concerts after Poppin'Party, Roselia, and Raise A Suilen.{{cite news|last=Morrissy|first=Kim|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2020-03-07/bang-dream-announces-new-violin-rock-band-morfonica/.157114|title=BanG Dream! Announces New Violin Rock Band Morfonica|publisher=Anime News Network|date=7 March 2020|access-date=12 June 2020}} Morfonica is the only group in the project with a violinist, which was conceived by BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! developer Craft Egg to differentiate them from the others.{{cite interview|last=Kidani|first=Takaaki|subject-link=Takaaki Kidani|url=https://akiba-souken.com/article/46461/|title=今、リアルライブを再開する決断──「BanG Dream! 8th Live 夏の野外3 Days」直前！ブシロード木谷高明会長インタビュー|work=Akiba Souken|date=17 August 2020|access-date=17 August 2020|language=Japanese|trans-title=Right now, the decision to resume real lives, just before "BanG Dream! 8th Live Summer Outdoors 3 Days"! Interview with Takaaki Kitani, Chairman of Bushiroad}}
During the stream, a music video for their song "Daylight" was broadcast; the video was animated by the BanG Dream! anime's studio Sanzigen.{{cite news|last=Komatsu|first=Mikikazu|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2020/03/01-1/watch-anime-mv-by-bang-dreams-new-violin-rock-band-morfonica|title=Watch Anime MV by BanG Dream!'s New Violin Rock Band Morfonica|publisher=Crunchyroll|date=1 March 2020|access-date=2 July 2020}} A live-action music video and an introduction clip starring the voice actresses were released four days later.{{cite news|last=Komatsu|first=Mikikazu|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2020/03/05/bang-dreams-4th-real-band-morfonica-members-introduce-themselves-in-video|title=BanG Dream!'s 4th Real Band Morfonica Members Introduce Themselves in Video|publisher=Crunchyroll|date=5 March 2020|access-date=2 July 2020}} The Morfonica-centric weekly YouTube show Morfonical, hosted by the band's members, began airing on 24 March.{{cite press release|url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/356/G035692/20200323002/|title=「バンドリ！」，Morfonicaの冠番組「MORFONICAL」の放送が決定|work=Craft Egg|publisher=4Gamer.net|date=23 March 2020|access-date=6 April 2020|language=Japanese|trans-title="Bandori!", Morfonica's crown program "MORFONICAL" will be broadcast}}
On 13 May, Morfonica was named Tower Records' recommended artist of May 2020. "Daylight" was released as their debut single two weeks later on 27 May.{{cite news|last=Komatsu|first=Mikikazu|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2020/05/13/bang-dream-violin-rock-band-morfonica-chosen-as-tower-records-japans-recommended-artist-of-may-2020|title=BanG Dream! Violin Rock Band Morfonica Chosen as Tower Records Japan's Recommended Artist of May 2020|publisher=Crunchyroll|date=13 May 2020|access-date=2 July 2020}} The single sold over 15,000 copies in its first week, and peaked at second on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.{{cite news|url=https://aramajapan.com/news/chart/walkure-bang-dream-girls-band-party-yoasobi-and-lady-gaga-top-the-oricon-charts-for-the-week-of-5-25-5-31/106963/|title=Walkure, BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!, YOASOBI, and Lady Gaga Top the Oricon Charts for the Week of 5/25 – 5/31|work=Arama! Japan|access-date=3 July 2020}} In June, the BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Cover Collection Vol. 4, a series of cover songs by Morfonica and other bands in the franchise, topped Oricon's Weekly Albums Chart with 2,231 sales in the opening week.{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/88669/2|title=【ビルボード】バンドリ！カバーアルバム第4弾が総合アルバム首位 3位にはレディー・ガガ|work=Billboard Japan|date=3 June 2020|access-date=4 June 2020|language=Japanese|trans-title=[Billboard] Bandori! The 4th cover album is Lady Gaga in 3rd place}}
The band's first concert, Special Live: Summerly Tone at the BanG Dream! 8th Live Summer Outdoors 3 Days alongside Poppin'Party and Pastel Palettes' Ami Maeshima with Raise A Suilen, took place on 23 August at Fuji-Q Highland Conifer Forest. Morfonica was the first of the three acts to perform, playing five songs.{{cite magazine|url=https://app.famitsu.com/20200823_1687203/|title=『バンドリ！』"モニカ"、"パスパレ"、"ポピパ"が次々に登場する8thライブ千秋楽開催レポート|magazine=Famitsu|date=23 August 2020|access-date=24 August 2020|language=Japanese|trans-title="BanG Dream! 8th Live" music report where Morfonica, PasuPare, and PoPiPa appear one after another}} Cantabile, Morfonica's maiden standalone performance, came on 7 October at Tokyo Garden Theater.{{cite magazine|url=https://dengekionline.com/articles/43973/|title=『ガルパ』新情報まとめ。初音ミクコラボ第3弾が開催決定|magazine=Dengeki|publisher=ASCII Media Works|date=20 July 2020|access-date=16 August 2020|language=Japanese|trans-title="Garupa" new information summary. The third Hatsune Miku collaboration will be held}} The live featured 12 songs, including the two from the "Daylight" single and four cover versions of popular anime theme music.
Morfonica's second single "Bloom Bloom", which was revealed during Cantabile, was released on 13 January 2021.{{cite magazine|url=https://app.famitsu.com/20201007_1707835/|title=『バンドリ！』ファン待望の"Morfonica"単独ライブ『Cantabile』の模様をレポート|magazine=Famitsu|date=7 October 2020|access-date=7 October 2020|language=Japanese|trans-title="BanG Dream! Report on the long-awaited "Morfonica" solo live "Cantabile"}} The group held a "Friendship Live" concert with Poppin'Party, known as Astral Harmony, on 23 February at Yokohama Arena.{{cite magazine|url=https://app.famitsu.com/20201009_1708572/|title=『バンドリ！』8thライブ千秋楽となる"ポピパ"単独ライブ2日目の模様をレポート|magazine=Famitsu|date=9 October 2020|access-date=17 October 2020|language=Japanese|trans-title="BanG Dream!" 8th Live Breakthrough PoPiPa single live 2nd day report}} The band's second standalone show, titled Andante, took place on 21 May at Zepp Haneda. Morfonica also performed alongside Raise A Suilen at the BanG Dream! 9th Live, subtitled Mythology, on 4–5 September at Fuji-Q Highland Conifer Forest.{{cite magazine|url=https://dengekionline.com/articles/69034/|title=『バンドリ！』ポピパとサイサイの対バンライブが開催決定|magazine=Dengeki|publisher=ASCII Media Works|date=23 February 2021|access-date=26 February 2021|language=Japanese|trans-title="BanG Dream!" PoPiPa and SaiSai's band live will be held}} A sequel to Mythology was held 18 June 2022.{{cite web|url=https://bang-dream.com/events/mythology2|title=RAISE A SUILEN x Morfonica "Mythology Chapter 2"|work=BanG Dream!|access-date=4 November 2021|language=Japanese}}
"Harmony Day", the band's third single, came out on 6 October 2021. One of the single's tracks, "Fateful..." was used as the second ending theme music for the anime Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress.{{cite news|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-09-14/cardfight-vanguard-overdress-anime-gets-3rd-4th-seasons/.177353|title=Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress Anime Gets 3rd, 4th Seasons|publisher=Anime News Network|date=14 September 2021|access-date=14 September 2021}} Later in the month, Morfonica began a two-stop concert tour, titled Amabile, at Zepp Osaka Bayside on 28 October and Zepp Haneda on 5 November.{{cite web|url=https://bang-dream.com/events/morfonica-tour2021|title=Morfonica ZEPP TOUR 2021「Amabile」|work=BanG Dream!|access-date=28 October 2021|language=Japanese}}
In 2022, Morfonica partnered with Jun'ichi Satō of the band Fhána for a song composed by Satō titled "The Circle of Butterflies". The collaboration also included Morfonica covers of Fhána's songs "Rhapsody of Blue Sky" and "Divine Intervention".{{cite press release|url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/356/G035692/20220922171/|title=「バンドリ！」佐藤純一さん提供楽曲"The Circle Of Butterflies"を追加|work=Craft Egg|publisher=4Gamer.net|date=22 September 2022|access-date=30 September 2022|language=Japanese|trans-title="BanG Dream!" Added "The Circle Of Butterflies" provided by Junichi Sato}}{{cite magazine|url=https://dengekionline.com/articles/124035/|title=ガルパステーション発表内容まとめ。バンドリーマーが投票で選んだアルバム収録曲が決定|magazine=Dengeki|publisher=ASCII Media Works|date=20 March 2022|language=Japanese|access-date=1 April 2022|trans-title="Girls Band Party!" fhána and Hyadain participating! New extra songs & artist tie-ups announced}} The band's fourth single "fly with the night" was released on 30 March. They held the Resonance show at Tokyo Dome City Hall on 24 April; Nishio did not take part after testing positive for COVID-19, and backing tracks of her bass and vocals were used in her place.{{cite web|url=https://bang-dream.com/events/resonance|title=Morfonica Concept LIVE「Resonance」|work=BanG Dream!|access-date=21 April 2022|language=Japanese}}
Members
- Amane Shindō (Mashiro Kurata, vocals): The youngest voice actress in BanG Dream!, Shindō was 15 when she joined the franchise. Like Mashiro, Shindō was a first-year high school student at the time of Morfonica's creation, which franchise creator Takaaki Kidani felt emphasized the connection between Shindō and her fictional persona. She was a fan of Girls Band Party! prior to Morfonica, while her voice acting roles included the anime Bermuda Triangle: Colorful Pastrale. In a 2020 interview with Famitsu, she noted that since she has a low voice in contrast to Mashiro's intended pitch, she performs Morfonica songs in a higher tone.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202003/31194499.html|title=『バンドリ ガルパ』Morfonica倉田ましろ役進藤あまねが語る"ましろと新バンドの魅力"【3周年記念ボーカルキャストインタビュー第6弾】|magazine=Famitsu|date=31 March 2020|access-date=6 April 2020|language=Japanese|trans-title=Morfonica Mashiro Kurata, Amane Shindo talks about "The charm of Mashiro and the new band" [6th anniversary vocalist cast interview]}}
- Hina Suguta (Tōko Kirigaya, guitar): Before joining BanG Dream!, Suguta was a voice actress in Afterlost. She is a host of the Morfonica-based YouTube series Monica Radio.
- Yūka Nishio (Nanami Hiromachi, bass): Nishio's previous voice acting experience included portraying Yuu Higashiyama in ReBirth for You. Along with Suguta, Nishio co-hosts Monica Radio.
- Mika (Tsukushi Futaba, drums): Mika was the instructor for Poppin'Party and Roselia's drummers Ayaka Ōhashi and Megu Sakuragawa prior to Morfonica, and she also provided support drums for Poppin'Party at the BanG Dream! 7th Live. Tsukushi is her debut role as a voice actress.{{cite interview|subject=Mika|url=https://dengekionline.com/articles/32538/|title=『ガルパ』新バンド・Morfonica、Dr.二葉つくし役のmikaさんにインタビュー【拡大版】|magazine=Dengeki G's Magazine|publisher=ASCII Media Works|date=28 April 2020|access-date=3 July 2020|language=Japanese|trans-title=Interview with mika, who plays the role of "Garupa" new band Morfonica, Dr. Tsukushi Futaba [enlarged version]}}
- Ayasa (Rui Yashio, violin): Rui is Ayasa's first voice acting role.{{cite news|url=https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20200306-00134541-etalent-musi|title=Ayasa、『バンドリ！』新バンド・Morfonicaのバイオリン担当・八潮瑠唯役に決定|publisher=Yahoo! Japan|date=6 March 2020|access-date=6 April 2020|language=Japanese|trans-title=Ayasa, "Bandori!" New band Morfonica plays violin, Rui Yashio}} Outside of the franchise, she is a YouTube personality who performs violin covers of popular anime songs.{{cite news|last=Dennison|first=Kara|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2020/06/27/watch-bang-dreams-ayasa-perform-the-latest-kaguya-sama-theme-in-cosplay|title=Watch BanG Dream!'s Ayasa Perform the Latest KAGUYA-SAMA Theme in Cosplay|publisher=Crunchyroll|date=27 June 2020|access-date=2 July 2020}} She has also worked as a session musician for various artists.
In-universe band
{{see also|List of BanG Dream! characters#Morfonica}}
In the anime and game, Morfonica is a band of first-year high school students at the prestigious Tsukinomori Girls' Academy. The group is formed by Mashiro Kurata, a new student who struggles to fit in with her more accomplished peers, after attending a concert by Poppin'Party and the other major bands.{{cite video game|title=BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!|developer=Craft Egg|publisher=Bushiroad|platform=iOS/Android|scene=Morfonica, To the Sparkling World|level=I Want to Try Being in a Band!|quote=Mashiro: Th-they... w-were a lot of fun!! Just amazing!! So cool!! [...] I-I thought maybe I'd start a band of my own! (After that, I went home and made a poster to recruit bandamtes right away... Kasumi-san and the other bands were all shining just as brightly as the students at Tsukinomori. If I start a band, maybe even someone like me... can shine just as bright as them...)}} Morfonica is a portmanteau of "morpho", in reference to their goals of changing themselves for the better (a metamorphosis), and "symphonic", alluding to their use of a violin.{{cite video game|title=BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!|developer=Craft Egg|publisher=Bushiroad|platform=iOS/Android|scene=Morfonica, To the Sparkling World|level=Morfonica|quote=Tsukushi: I'd like our name to have something to do with change... Kurata-san, didn't you say you thought starting a band would be a good chance to change yourself? Then that idea should be a part of our name. [...] I'd like to add something that represents us... Ah, the violin! / [...] Nanami: Ah... Symphony... What about 'symphonic'?}}
Morfonica's characters first appeared in Girls Band Party! in the main story's second season in 2019,{{cite interview|last1=Yuda|first1=Masaru|last2=Sawamura|first2=Eisuke|last3=Tsuji|first3=Kōta|interviewer-last=Tsukasa|interviewer-first=Kōyō|url=https://dengekionline.com/articles/38772/|title=『ガルパ』開発陣インタビュー。MorfonicaとRAISE A SUILEN実装の裏側に迫る！|magazine=Dengeki|publisher=ASCII Media Works|date=11 June 2020|access-date=20 October 2020|language=Japanese|trans-title=Interview with the development team of "Garpa". Get behind the scenes of Morfonica and Raise a Sullen! implementations!}} and were formally added as a group during the third-year anniversary on 15 March 2020 and later worldwide in 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/356/G035692/20200302056/|title=「バンドリ！ガルパ」，3周年キャンペーンやアップデートの情報が公開|work=4Gamer.net|date=2 March 2020|access-date=8 March 2020|language=Japanese|trans-title="Bandori! Garupa" 3rd anniversary campaign and update information released}} The band makes its anime debut in the 2020 spin-off series BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Pico: Ohmori.{{cite web|last=Hacaga|first=Shawn|url=https://www.fandompost.com/2020/06/19/bang-dream-girls-band-party%E2%98%86pico%EF%BD%9Eohmori%EF%BD%9E-episode-07-anime-review/|title=BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!☆PICO～OHMORI～ Episode #07 Anime Review|publisher=Fandom Post|date=19 June 2020|access-date=2 July 2020}} A two-episode original anime focusing on the band titled Morfonication premiered in July 2022.{{cite news|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-03-19/bang-dream-s-morfonica-group-gets-original-anime-this-summer/.183774|title=BanG Dream!'s Morfonica Group Gets Original Anime This Summer|publisher=Anime News Network|date=19 March 2022|access-date=19 March 2022}}{{cite news|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-06-03/bang-dream-morfonica-anime-reveals-title-teaser-video-july-28-29-premiere/.186275|title=BanG Dream! Morfonica Anime Reveals Title, Teaser Video, July 28–29 Premiere|publisher=Anime News Network|date=3 June 2022|access-date=3 June 2022}}
Discography
{{See also|BanG Dream! discography}}
{{as of|2022|9|28}}, Morfonica has 13 original songs.{{cite web|url=https://bang-dream.bushimo.jp/music/|title=Music|work=BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!|publisher=Bushiroad|access-date=30 September 2022|language=Japanese}}