Yohane the Parhelion -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR-
(Redirected from Yohane the Parhelion -SUNSHINE in the Mirror-)
- This article is about the spin-off series. For other uses, see Yohane the Parhelion (disambiguation).
| Yohane the Parhelion -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR- | |
|---|---|
| 幻日のヨハネ -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR- | |
| Genjitsu no Yohane -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR- | |
| Air Date | June 25, 2023 (Ep.1 Advance Release) July 2, 2023 - September 24, 2023 |
| Theme Songs | |
| Opening Theme | Genjitsu Mysterium |
| Ending Theme | Kimi no Tame Boku no Tame |
| Insert Song(s) | Far far away Be as one!!! R・E・P Hey, dear my friends GIRLS!! Wonder sea breeze Forever U & I La la Yuuki no Uta |
The girl they all know.
The story they don't.
With the girl that can't be true to herself,
The mysterious world that we all know.
- Series tagline[1]
Yohane the Parhelion -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR- (幻日のヨハネ -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR- Genjitsu no Yohane -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR-) is an alternate fantasy universe illustration series featuring the members of Aqours that originally appeared in the Love Live! Days magazine and later continued in a manga entitled Unpolarized Reflexion.
On June 4, 2023, it was announced that the anime would officially begin airing on July 2, 2023, while the first episode had its advance streaming release on June 25, 2023.[2] On June 26, 2023, a video game was announced for the series entitled Yohane the Parhelion: BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE. A second game was released on February 22, 2024 with the title Yohane the Parhelion: NUMAZU in the MIRAGE.
On August 30, 2024, a recap movie was announced, and that it would be released in cinemas on November 29, 2024. On the same day, it was announced that the Blu-ray would be released on December 25, 2024.
Overview
The official title is "Genjitsu no Yohane - SUNSHINE in the MIRROR."
This is a spin-off of Love Live! Sunshine!!, set in a mysterious world, featuring the character "Yohane," modeled after Yoshiko Tsushima from Aqours. The story depicts the daily life of familiar characters in an entirely new setting.
The setting is a fictional parallel world called Numazu, which closely resembles the real Numazu City. This steampunk fantasy world blends magic and advanced technology. While magic is unusual, it is still accepted. Various races coexist, and some even have giant animals, monsters, or robots as part of their families.
Despite the fantasy elements, the infrastructure and technology are fairly modern, with smartphones and trains being commonplace.
Although Genjitsu no Yohane is a major part of the Love Live! franchise, it notably does not include school idols—a core theme of the series. Previous installments always focused on school idol activities, even when introducing parallel world settings. This makes Genjitsu no Yohane highly unique within the franchise.
In the anime, Yohane dreams of becoming a singer, providing a reason for her to sing throughout the story.
The protagonists are around 16 years old but do not attend school. Instead, they work, making this the first Love Live! series to feature adults as its main characters. As a result, Aqours is not formed in this world, and instead, the nine characters—who share names with the original members—are depicted as Yohane's friends.
Elements from Love Live! Sunshine!! have been partially incorporated into the setting, including the characters' appearances, names, professions, personalities, relationships, and city landscapes inspired by Numazu.
Although they look the same, the characters in Genjitsu no Yohane are considered separate entities from their Sunshine!! counterparts, following a star system approach. Some songs are provided by Aqours, marking the first time a Love Live! group has officially contributed music to a different project within the franchise.
Development
Since 2022, the series has expanded into multiple formats, including a manga serialization.
On April 1, 2022, an anime PV was released on the official YouTube channel as an April Fools' joke.
Later, on June 26, 2022, during Aqours 6th LoveLive! ~KU-RU-KU-RU Rock 'n' Roll TOUR~ Windy Stage Day 2 at Tokyo Dome, the official anime adaptation was announced, with narration by Sumi Shimamoto.
A reader-participation project was launched, regularly collecting character ideas and rumors. (The 10th round of submissions is currently ongoing.)
Since the theatrical release in 2019, Love Live! Sunshine!! anime productions were mostly short-form MV animation parts, still-frame live intermission animations, or Today's Aqours clips. Despite being a spin-off with an entirely new world, Genjitsu no Yohane marks the first time in four years that the cast has recorded full-length voice acting for an animated series.
If this project were considered part of Sunshine!!'s TV anime lineup, it would be the first-ever third season in Love Live! history. (Nijigasaki’s second season ended before Nijiyon Animation aired, but Nijiyon was a short-form anime.)
On November 16, 2023, the 2D action game Genjitsu no Yohane - BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE - was released, followed by the card battle game Genjitsu no Yohane - NUMAZU in the MIRAGE - on February 22, 2024.
Story
The girl they all know, the story they don't.
"Numazu" - a scenic port town surrounded by the mountains and the sea.
Yohane, a girl who has struggled to fit in with her surroundings since childhood, spends her day avoiding people in the city.
What she wants to do, what her true whereabouts are—
The mysterious world that we all know, with the girl that can't be true to herself.
"Yohane the Parhelion -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR-"
What has just appeared is another kind of sun.
Characters
Characters in Sunshine!! who share the same name and appearance as their counterparts in Genjitsu no Yohane are voiced by the same seiyuu. Like their original Sunshine!! counterparts, each of the characters retain their original birth date and voice actress. However, the backstories each character has differs from their original counterparts but still stays true to their original personality.
Many supporting and background characters are unique to this series.
Interestingly, this is the first Love Live! installment to feature a male voice actor in a supporting role. (Although Shigeru Chiba narrated CYaZALEA ☆ Kiss as part of an April Fools’ project, that was a special event rather than a regular feature.)
- Yohane's Mother (ヨハネの母) CV: Hekiru Shiina (椎名へきる) A scholar who is often away from Numazu for work.
- Million Dollar (ミリオンダラー) A mysterious organization operating in the shadows of Numazu (ヌマヅ). Their true identity remains shrouded in secrecy…
- Shima (シマ) CV: Kana Asumi (阿澄佳奈) Chika’s eldest sister. She has a gentle demeanor, but is said to be frightening when angered.
- Mito (ミト) CV: Kanae Itō (伊藤かな恵) Chika’s second eldest sister. She has a bold and energetic personality.
- Chika’s Mother (チカの母) CV: Rie Kugimiya (釘宮理恵) Manages an inn with her daughters. In this series, she is explicitly stated to be the inn's proprietress.
- Tsuki (ツキ) CV: Tomoyo Kurosawa (黒沢ともよ) The owner of the photography shop Tsuki Photography Studio and You's cousin.
- Nami & Miki (ナミ & ミキ) CV: Misaki Kuno (久野美咲) Twin sisters who are Tsuki’s younger siblings and You’s cousins. Nami has a ponytail, while Miki wears twin tails.
- Lew・Setsu・Rahn (リュウ・セツ・ラン) A group of three close friends who live near Yohane’s house.
- Kohaku (コハク) CV: M·A·O A young assistant to Dia in the Numazu Administrative Bureau. Calm and composed, she is Dia’s trusted partner. She is related to Dia and Ruby’s family and has known them since childhood.
- Shishinoshin (シシノシン) CV: Masaaki Yano (矢野正明) A large boar-like beast kept by Hanamaru.
- Shiitake (しいたけ) CV: Anna Mugiho (麦穂あんな) Chika’s beloved dog, and the mascot of Tochiman Inn.
- Tonosama (トノサマ) CV: Nobuaki Tobita (飛田展男) An autonomous frog robot created by Kanan using materials she found at sea. Strong and reliable, he is Kanan’s trusted companion.
- Pellapie (ペラピー) A highly skilled familiar who serves Mari.
- Ariana (アリアナ) A character submitted by readers, one of the assistants to Chief Administrator Dia. She appears in both the manga and anime (without dialogue in the anime). In the manga, she takes orders from Kohaku, suggesting she ranks below her among the assistants.
- Himepoyo (ひめぽよ) / Kamiikehime (神池姫) A mermaid who resides in Ose’s sacred pond. Appears in the manga and speaks in a flamboyant, trendy manner.
- Kanan’s Great-Grandfather (カナンの曾祖父) The chief priest of Ose’s shrine. Appears in the manga as a short elderly man with a rich beard.
- Motorcycle-riding Girls (バイク乗りの2人組の少女) CV: None Briefly appear in the final episode of the anime: One with a side-tail hairstyle making a phone call, the other with twin tails holding a helmet and drinking a frappuccino. They are presumed to be the alternate versions of two familiar characters. Their two-person motorcycle ride is likely a self-homage to a certain song. Even before the broadcast, this person’s Instagram story indicated they were not involved. However, their silent appearance suggests a potential setup for Season 2.
Terminology
- Numazu (ヌマヅ) The setting of the story and Yohane’s hometown, a port town. The southern Uchiira (ウチーラ) district is home to long-standing inns like Tochiman (トチマン). Based on Numazu City.
- Tokai (トカイ) A major metropolis located to the east. A city of neon lights and electric billboards, at the forefront of modern culture. Yohane's destination in the anime when she moves to the city. Based on Tokyo.
- Madokana Script (マドカナ文字) The official language, consisting of circular and linear symbols. An original artificial script created for this work, which fans had mostly deciphered even before an official reference chart was released. The system replaces the vowels and consonants of the Hiragana syllabary with symbols, but there is no equivalent Katakana representation. Some characters resemble Kanji and the Latin alphabet; the Latin alphabet is written in a continuous stroke, and Kanji are slightly altered from their original form by removing a few lines. Arabic numerals and standard symbols remain unchanged.
Books
- LoveLive! Days currently features both an illustrated story and a manga serialization.
Illustration Story
- Character Design: Taira Akitsu (秋津たいら)
- Consists of two-page illustrations paired with short text-based stories.
- A compilation book, Genjitsu no Yohane -SUNSHINE in the MIRROR- FIRST ART BOOK, was scheduled for release in summer 2023.
Manga Version
- Title: Genjitsu no Yohane -Unpolarized Reflexion-
- Artist: Kouta Matsuda (まつだこうた)
- Scenario Writer: Toshiya Ono (大野敏哉)
- Character Design: Taira Akitsu (秋津たいら)
- The series was developed into a continuous story-based manga.
- A total of three volumes were released.
The story follows Yohane’s daily life as a fortune teller and her interactions with friends, incorporating lighthearted elements. At the same time, it includes battle sequences dealing with the phenomenon of animals becoming increasingly aggressive. Overall, the tone remains comedic and lighthearted.
TV Anime
Starting July 2, 2023, the anime aired on TOKYO MX, BS11, Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, TV Aichi, and SBS until September 24, 2023. Additionally, Abema offered early streaming from June 25 to September 17, ahead of the terrestrial broadcast. Animation production was handled by Sunrise, as with the main series.
This adaptation features a completely new storyline, distinct from the serialized version. Compared to the manga, it has a more serious and mysterious tone. Being part of the Love Live! franchise, it also incorporates musical elements, with several singing performances woven into the narrative.
The story begins when Yohane abandons her dream of becoming a singer and reluctantly returns to Numazu, a place she does not wish to return to.
In November 2024, a compilation film summarizing key moments from the anime (a digest version) was released in theaters.
Episode List
- Hajimari no Uta (はじまりのうた) – The Song of Beginnings
- Watashi no Oshigoto (わたしのおしごと) – My Job
- Danketsu Are you Ready? (団結Are you Ready?) – Solidarity: Are You Ready?
- Sora to Umi no Aida (空と海のあいだ) – Between the Sky and Sea
- Maou no Himitsu (まおうのひみつ) – The Demon Lord’s Secret
- Hitomishiri no Harmony (ひとみしりのハーモニー) – The Harmony of the Shy
- Joshikai tte Naani? (女子会ってなぁに?) – What's a Girls' Night?
- Todoke! Sea Breeze (届け!Sea breeze) – Reach them! Sea Breeze
- Lailaps wo Sagase (ライラプスをさがせ) – Find Lailaps
- Itterasshai Yohane-chan! (いってらっしゃいヨハネちゃん!) – See You Soon, Yohane-chan!
- Yohane no Mahou (ヨハネのまほう) – Yohane's Magic
- Sayonara Lailaps (さよならライラプス) – Farewell, Lailaps
- Soshite Kyou mo (そして今日も) – Once Again Today
Theme Songs
- Opening Theme: Genjitsu Mysterium (幻日ミステリウム) (Used in all episodes except 3 and 13; in episode 1, it was used as the ending but treated as the OP theme.)
- Ending Theme: Kimi no Tame Boku no Tame (キミノタメボクノタメ) (Episode 13 featured a special ending theme.)
Insert Songs
- Episode 1: Far far away
- Episode 3: Be as one!!!
- Episode 4: R・E・P
- Episode 6: Hey, dear my friends
- Episode 7: GIRLS!!
- Episode 8: Wonder sea breeze
- Episode 12: Forever U & I
- Episode 13: La la Yuuki no Uta (La la 勇気のうた)
Live Events
With the start of the anime broadcast, a live event was announced.
While some songs performed were credited under the Aqours name, this was not an Aqours live concert.
Genjitsu no Yohane - The Story of the Sound of Heart -
Dates:
- December 15, 2023 (Friday)
- December 16, 2023 (Saturday)
- December 17, 2023 (Sunday)
Venue:
Musashino Forest Sport Plaza - Main Arena
Performers:
- Aika Kobayashi (小林愛香) as Yohane
- Kanako Takatsuki (高槻かなこ) as Hanamaru
- Arisa Komiya (小宮有紗) as Dia
- Ai Furihata (降幡 愛) as Ruby
- Anju Inami (伊波杏樹) as Chika
- Shuka Saito (斉藤朱夏) as You
- Nanaka Suwa (諏訪ななか) as Kanan
- Rikako Aida (逢田梨香子) as Riko
- Aina Suzuki (鈴木愛奈) as Mari
Guest Performer (Day 3 Only):
- Yoko Hikasa (日笠陽子) as Lailaps
Related Videos
Genjitsu no Yohane Kokeiki SCENE.01
Genjitsu no Yohane - BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE -
Staff
| Original Story | Hajime Yatate |
|---|---|
| Original Plan | Sakurako Kimino |
| Director | Asami Nakatani |
| Series Composition | Toshiya Ono |
| Serialized Illustration/Concept Design | Taira Akitsu |
| Character Design | Yumiko Yamamoto |
| Assistant Director | Katsuya Asano |
| Design Works | Mebachi |
| Art Director | Masaki Mayuzumi |
| Concept Art | Kazuhiro Inoue |
| Color Design | Misako Akama |
| CG Director | Go Kurosaki |
| Director of Photography | Hidenori Manaka |
| Editor | Mai Hasegawa |
| Sound Director | Yuichi Morita |
| Music | Tatsuya Kato |
| Music Production | Lantis |
| Animation Production | SUNRISE (Bandai Namco Filmworks) |
| Presented by | PROJECT YOHANE
|
Links
- Official website
- Official Twitter account (@GJ_Yohane)
- April Fools' Day 2022 announcement (subtitled by Team ONIBE)
- Official announcement (subtitled by Team ONIBE)