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AKB48 are to follow Perfume into Hollywood by recording a song for the forthcoming Disney 3D computer-animated comedy film "Wreck-It Ralph."
In movie, the eponymous video game character goes on an adventure through video game history to prove that he is really a good guy after all. Ralph travels through worlds inspired by video games from the '80s up to the modern day. Each game world is characterized by its own era, location, visual style and music.
The movie's producer said music is another way to set the stage and make these worlds completely different.
Like girl group Perfume, who were included on the soundtrack of Pixar's "Cars 2" when the movie traveled to a neon-draped, digital reimagining of Tokyo, the filmmakers turned to J-pop icons AKB48 to provide the soundtrack for an anime-inspired section of the movie.
AKB48 will reportedly be featured in the "Sugar Rush" section of the movie, which is described as a world inspired by kart racing games.
According to a Disney press release, the Sugar Rush race is set on tracks made of candies, cookies, and other confectionery. There, Ralph meets Vanellope von Schweetz, one of the game's characters, who has learned that Ralph's actions have placed her game in jeopardy and that the entire arcade could be at risk if Ralph can't stop it.
Producer Clark Spencer added, “We’ve always thought of Sugar Rush - with its nod to anime - as a game that may have originated in Japan. So we went to Japan and got the hottest J-pop group to perform the song that really sets the tone for the '90s-era cart-racing game.”
AKB48’s new song for the film, titled “Sugar Rush,” will also reportedly be used as the movie's ending theme.
© Japan Today
7 Comments
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RowanM
@Michael If you read the article, it mentioned that Disney has already used a song from Perfume in the soundtrack to Cars 2. AKB isn't even the first Jpop for Disney.
HonestDictator
Oh boy, this should be amusing.
ppokkiya
Even though I'm not an admirer of AKB48, I must agree with KariHaruka. Plus, it's not just the pop girl bands that get spots on soundtracks. If rock is more your thing, Dir en grey and X Japan have songs on soundtracks for the Saw movies. Some good bands don't get chances for things like this, but they can make their names known through other ways. : )
oberst
Kawaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, LOL Thank you, JT for the latest update
KariHaruka
Look at it from a marketing and business sense of view. Why not have the biggest jpop group currently going?
Micheal Willis
Of all the groups to introduce the world (at large) to Jpop, why does it have to be AKB48 ;_;. There are legitimately good bands there
dialogtus
Japan's new generation should not waste time with such odds! Wake up Japan!!!