Tap Trap Love Vol.02 - Crown

Tap Trap Love Vol.02 - Crown

Company: 5pb
Based on: Original
Released: 2012.05.23
Official site: http://5pb.jp/ttl/index.html


Tap Trap Love is set in an semi-apocalyptic world. After World War III, Tokyo slowly transformed into a lawless district where the two largest groups -the SS and the Horde- are fighting for dominance. Dance is one of the things that still inspire the young people in these bleak days, and our heroine joins a tap dance group. The CD is a mix of story parts, and tap lessons by the other members of the group.

While I say heroine, Nico has lost her voice and memories so the other characters basically talk directly to you. A character called “John Do” introduced her to the dance group Euphoria. When needed for the plot, Nico communicates either by tapping or by using her cellphone. The lesson parts are recorded with the dummy head mic, so those are really spoken directly to the listener.

You meet with John Doe (CV: Ishida Akira) a couple of times in this CD, and he seems to both want you to continue with dancing, and to stop. Just like he hopes that you will remember the things you forgot, but somehow hopes you don’t regain them. Either way your meeting remains mysterious.

Insert cool theme song at the beginning.

Everyone is practicing some new steps that Jackie (CV: Maeno Tomoaki) is teaching them. Joy (CV: Fujiwara Yuuki) and you are the only ones that haven’t remembered them yet, so Jackie shows you one more time, after which everyone tries it together. Jackie gives everyone a few more pointers, except for Joy who apparently still needs to practice more. But for now needs to head to Club Justice, where he is the DJ for the night.

While Joy Rushes out you get a lesson from Cap (CV: Kamiya Hiroshi) . He gives you a lesson on posture. Compared to his lesson in the first CD, he is unusually strict. Unfortunately the use of the dummy head mic is also less effective. After the lesson you go grab something to eat at Red Dogs (Nico her part time job, a hotdog stand)

At Justice you meet up with Leo (CV: Nakai Kazuya). While Cap is getting all of you drinks, you and Leo listen a bit to Joy his DJ-ing. When Leo remarks that Joy isn’t half bad someone called Anger (CV: Ookawa Genki) starts making fun of Joy. Leo almost makes a fight out of it, but Cap returns just in time to stop him. Leo hurt his hand though, so he visits dr.Ginger (CV: Itou Kentarou). Who also seems a bit different from last time, his interactions with Leo are quite comical. Also pun alert when dr.Ginger recommends ショウガ (shouga, ginger) for the wound to heal.

During the next lesson Jackie comes back with the list of participants for the next audition, and Joy suddenly says he won’t participate after seeing Anger his name on the list as a member of the group Edge. The rest tries to ask why, but Joy simply runs off. Turns out he goes to find Anger, as we discover that the two have some sort of past together that Joy ran away from.

After finishing the dance lessons with Leo and Jackie, you decide to try and find Joy at club Justice together with Jackie. You bump into Anger again, who makes fun of Nico but she retaliates by showing him some awesome dance moves. Joy finally shows up telling Anger to back off, and that he will participate in the audition. To make up for all the trouble he caused Joy takes you out for dinner, and on the way home he tells you about his past.

This CD seemed to focus mostly on Joy, which makes me wonder whether every CD will focus on one of the members of Euphoria. It would make sense, with everyone giving you lessons and each CD focussing on a different character you can choose your favourite on your own. (And then they can start releasing actual situation CD’s with only one character, haha). Except for John Do hinting that whatever it was Nico forgot really isn’t pleasant, we get to know little about Nico this time though.

Thanks to Joy his backstory there is also a little more background info on the city where they live. While divided by the wall it apparently isn’t impossible to cross it. The dance auditions are at the Atomic theatre in New Town (the ‘good’ side), and because Joy was born there it appears that it is at least possible to move from New Town to the other side, or maybe he really escaped over the wall, but either way he got from one side to the other.

Personally I thought the Dummy Head parts were executed better last time. Cap his lesson might have been a bit over the top last time, but this time all of the lessons somehow felt a bit lacking. We’ve got Joy giving Nico a hug at the end to make up for it though.


Conclusion:
It looks like we will be focussing more on the individual members in any upcoming CD’s (although no Vol.3 has been announced as of yet). If they make the lessons a bit more interesting again I think that is a good way to go. I hope they’ll continue - and I still think that this would make a good game. Also, I kind of like the ending theme.

Tap Trap Love Vol. 01 - Stray Dog

 Tap Trap Love Vol. 01 - Stray Dog

Company: 5pb
Based on: Original
Released: 2012.02.22
Official Site: http://5pb.jp/ttl/index.html


Tap Trap Love is set in an semi-apocalyptic world. After World War III, Tokyo slowly transformed into a lawless district where the two largest groups -the SS and the Horde- are fighting for dominance. Dance is one of the things that still inspire the young people in these bleak days, and our heroine joins a tap dance group. The CD is a mix of story parts, and tap lessons by the other members of the group.

While I say heroine, Nico has lost her voice and memories so the other characters basically talk directly to you. When needed for the plot, Nico communicates either by tapping or by using her cellphone. The lesson parts are recorded with the dummy head mic, so those are really spoken directly to the listener.

At the beginning of the CD the mysterious stranger John Do (probably not his real name, CV: Ishida Akira) takes Nico to see the tap dance group "Euphoria". A little later you contact the group that you want to join. Opinions on whether you should be allowed to join differ though, so they agree to all give you lessons until they have decided on a final answer.

The doctor you are staying with, Dr.Ginger (CV: Itou Kentarou) as well as you friend and fellow part-time worker Lee (CV: Shimozaki Nobunaga) are surprised but encourage you to do what you want. Meanwhile you see John Do again, who seems that dancing is the way to get your memories back.

The main interest of this CD are of course the dance lessons. They are recorded with the dummy head mic, and actual tap sounds. The four members of the dance group are all supposed to give you a lesson, and the first is their leader Jackie (CV: Maeno Tomoaki), his lesson is mostly stretching though. The flirty Cap (CV: Kamiya Hiroshi) is the second to give you a lesson, and the DJ Joy (Fujiwara Yuuki) the third one.

Leo (CV: Nakai Kazuya)is supposed to give you a lesson as well, but being the only member of the group who doesn't approve he doesn't want to. His track isn't a dance lesson, but the two of you walking home after he saved you from some troublesome guys. After learning that you are the one that makes the Soy Yakisoba that he loves so much at the place where you work as a part timer, he opens up a little to you.

I was quite surprised by this CD. When the project was first announced I expected it to be a sweet romance with a dance theme, but when I then the official site was updated with the story and I discovered that it was going to be post-apocalyptic romance instead.

I think that have made a good mix of the story and the dance lessons. There is enough going on that makes you curious about the story, Nico her past, what her relation to 'John Do' is, why Leo is partly deaf on his left side, etc. Meanwhile the tap lessons are fun to listen to, and the music they use is good as well.

Because Nico can't talk anyway, she is an easy way to link the plot and the lessons together. I still really felt like they are giving the lessons to 'me' and the rest of the plot happens to the character Nico. That is exactly the point of course, Nico is just a walking puppet made for self-projection, but I'm actually curious about her story.


Conclusion:
With everyone giving you lessons and explaining things about the world around you (you do have amnesia after all) this CD feels as an introduction. Now that we know everyone and the world around us the rest of the story can break loose. Or at least that is how I feel. Speaking of the rest of the story; vol.2 goes on sale today.

Hiatus is over!

I stay away for a month and blogger changes it's interface... It is now all stylish and very confusing xD

Prepare for one LONG news post. It is not going to be everything that I missed in this month, only the most important bits, but even that is going to be one loooooong list. So one mixed plate of old and new News, coming right up!!



Shuukan Soine:

a special volume, but essentially vol.13 of the Shuukan Soine series will be released on 2012.05.25 and will be voiced by Morikawa Toshiyuki. His character is described as someone "embracing you with a lot of love and a big heart". More then anything though, the character design is gorgeous.


Toriai Kyoudai
the series is continuing, but under the name 'zoku toriai kyoudai' (zoku essentially means 'continued'). There isn't much info on the characters yet, but this time Tachibana Shinnosuke and Terashima Takuma will be fighting over our love. Apparently the atmosphere will be slightly different from the previous two CD's, but in what way is unknown.

Weekly News Post

Short plug: Sweet Translations has it's first translation out, with thanks to Vii for proofreading! The translation for Karekoe vol.1 can now be found here. More translations are planned, so go and spread the word :D



Disney Date
You can't beat how popular Disney is in Japan. And thus we now have a Disney x Seiyuu collaboration. It looks like the CD will consist of famous disney songs sung by popular seiyuu. If we can trust amazon and a few other sources, the track list will be as follows:

ホール・ニュー・ワールド（A hole new world)
ひと足お先に（one jump ahead）
いつか夢で（once upon a dream）
愛を感じて（can you feel the love tonight）
ビビディ・バビディ・ブー（bippity boppety boo）
アンダー・ザ・シー（under the sea）
星に願いを（when you wish upon a star）
ハイ・ホー（Hi-ho (the dwarve song）
ゴー・ザ・ディスタンス（go the distance）
サークル・オブ・ライフ（circle of life）

The deluxe edition also has a 'date CD' in which the seiyuu introduce date spots, I'm not sure whether those are Disney related though. Speaking of seiyuu, I haven't seen a confirmation yet, but rumoured are Fukuyama Jun, Kamiya Hiroshi, Suzumura Kenichi, Seki Tomokazu, Morita Masakazu, Sakurai Takahiro, Sugita Tomokazu, Irino Miyuu, Midorikawa Hikaru, Yamadera Kouichi. The CD is slated for a 2012.02.22.

Weekly News Post

It is almost new year :D I don't know whether anyone has anything special planned, but have an awesome night, watch out around fireworks, but above all enjoy!!!


Tap Trap Love
The official site for Tap Trap Love is now officially open, which means lots of new info. This is a quick translation but the story is as follows:


The year 20XX - Just after the end of World War III.

The Capital of Japan - Tokyo - is overflowing with people and in no longer the place it used to be.
The now multinational centre “City”, called “B-Valley” as the last remains of it’s former nickname, is transforming into a lawless district where the two largest groupt, the SS and the Horde are fighting for dominance.

The only thing that excites the young people in B-Valley is dance. Streetdance, jazz, classical…the district is overflowing with all kinds of dance. What they long for is dancing at the ‘Atomic Theatre’ at the other side of the wall*.

The Heroine who has lost her memories is one of those people.

While undergoing bitter-sweet training lessons with the members of the dance team, she aims for a new stage. To find her past, as well as a new self.

This is certainly, different from what I expected. I expected sweet romance with a dance theme, instead they give us post-war (and probably post apocalyptic) amnesia, with a dance theme. Also, am I the only one thinking that they could have been a bit more subtle with the references?

But the story is not the only thing we get more info on, there is now more info on the characters as well:

From left to right:

Cap (CV: Kamiya Hiroshi): Member of the dance team Euphoria. Gentle and elegant, but his mindset is the most hard-boiled in the entire team.

Dr. Ginger (CV: Itou Kentarou): A doctor in the CITY district. He mainly performs illegal operations, for which he demands a large sum of money, but at hart he is a gentle person.

Joy (CV: Fujiwara Yuuki): The moodmaker of the team, and a DJ at a club called "Justice".

Nico: The heroine. Lost her memories and suffers from aphonia, and communicates through her cellphone. She has a part time job at a hotdog stand. (Oh sue me but I totally thought this would be a shota character, instead it is actually the heroine xD)

Lee (CV: Shimozaki Nobunaga): The heroine her friend, and he also works part-time at the same hotdog stand. He is aiming to become an artist and dreams of drawing his paintings on the wall.

Jackie (CV: Maeno Tomoaki): The leader of Euphoria. Because his hair covers his eyes it is hard to understand his expressions. He doesn't talk much but he is very virtuous.

Leo (CV: Nakai Kazuya): A member of Euphoria, he is a bit of a troublemaker who picks fights easily. He can't hide his emotions, and it takes a while before he can get along with people, but once he trusts you he does so forever.

I am now officially at a complete loss as to what kind of work this is.

Weekly News Post

Tap Trap Love
A teaser site for Tap Trap Love has been opened, although there is nothing there yet except for a larger version of group illustration and the announcement that 'the site will be opened soon'. Ah well, at least we have some eyecandy now (the three on the right are already my fav characters~)

A 'trial disc' will also be sold at the winter comiket, so we will get a chance to meet the characters this year.


Damekare

Kippei his character illustration is finally up! Visit the official site to see a larger version.

I'll be honest, his design isn't quite to my liking, but I'm still interested in the concept, so I might still give it a try.




Amemakura
Taiga (CV: Taniyama Kisho) his voice sample has been added to the official site, go and listen if you're interested!

Weekly News Post

Hello again! I've been changing little things around the site. To begin with the link to audiowiki has been removed, because it has been on hiatus for quite a while now, and several new links have been added under the 'drama label' section. I'm still working on the by now impossibly long list of tags, but I have yet to find a proper solution for that one.


Oujisama (warai)
The covers for Oujisama (warai) Gakuen and Oujisama (warai) Variety 2nd Season have been uploaded on the official site. I like the cover for Oujisama (warai) Gakuen a lot, but compared the the 1st Vacation CD, doesn't the cover for 2nd Season look a bit simple?

 

Bokutachi Otoko no Ko

A new episode in the lives of our three little cross-dressing idols has been announced: ”Bokutachi Otoko no Ko　~Masaka no Scandal~. Not much info about the plot yet, except that as the title implies there will probably be some sort of scandal.

Weekly News Post

Diabolik Lovers
A new drama CD series has arrived. Diabolik Lovers Kyuuketsuki Do-S CD is a series all about sadistic vampires who are out for your blood (and probably also fall in love with you). This also more of a multimedia project, as the CDs will be accompanied by a NicoNico Live broadcast show and a game by otomate.

Because your father has to go out of the country for his work for a while you somehow end up living in with 6 brothers that visit the same high school as you do. The 6 of them are so pretty the entire town talks about them, but they also have incredibly bad personalities and to top it all they turn out to be vampires!

From left too right we have the oldest son Shuu (CV: Toriumi Kousuke), who is described as "a apathetic music loving aristocrat". The second son Reiji (CV: Konishi Katsuyuki), who talks polite but insulting. The triplets Ayato (CV: Midorikawa Hikaru), Kanato (CV: Kaji Yuuki) and Raito (CV: Hirakawa Daisuke). And the rather violent Subaru (CV: Kondo Takeshi). Click here to see a larger version.

The release order is a bit of a mystery to me, but the first CD to be released is the one for Ayato, on 2011.12.21, and next up are Subaru (2012.01.25), Kanato (2012.02.22), Raito (2012.03.21), Reiji (2012.04.25) and finally Shuu (2012.05.23). A tokuten for those who buy all 6 CD's will also be published, but they have yet to announce what it will be.


Tap Trap Love
This was announced at 5pb their live event last week. Not much info about it yet, except that the series has 'Tap Dancing' as it's theme and that is uses the dummy head mic, and a list of seiyuu: Maeno Tomoaki, Kamiya Hiroshi, Nakai Kazuya, Itou Kentarou, Fujiwara Yuuki, Shimazaki Nobunaga, and Ishida Akira,

I'm curious about this, I don't know how one combines dancing and a drama CD but I've seen stranger things, and the dummy head mic is always love. Moreover, I'm kind of happy to see two unfamiliar names. Fujiwara Yuuki and Shimazaki Nobunaga are two names I'm unfamiliar with, and I'm curious about them. The series is planned for February 2012.