The Unforgettable Japanese Band That Made Anime History
Egoist, a renowned Japanese pop duo, remains an iconic force in the music industry despite their recent disbandment Their origins, rooted in an anime called Guilty Crown, propelled them to fame with hits like Living On
Highlights
Renowned for their contributions to hit anime series such as Psycho-Pass and Guilty Crown, Egoist remains an emblematic group in the industry. With the enchanting vocals of the fictional character Inori Yuzuriha as their frontwoman, Egoist persevered in creating captivating music even after the conclusion of the show.
Released in 2011, Guilty Crown initially garnered praise but left fans disappointed in the latter half of the series due to its inconsistent storytelling and character choices.
Following the official disbandment of Egoist, Chelly, the vocalist for Inori, continues her music journey as a solo singer under the name Reche, while Inori continues to be the recognizable face of Egoist.
Egoist, whether familiar or not, is renowned for making significant contributions to the anime scene, particularly in the form of soundtracks. Egoist's presence can be heard in popular anime titles such as Psycho-Pass, Kabenari of the Iron Fortress, and Project Itoh. However, they also lent their talents to another anime, which happens to be the very same one that spawned their formation: Guilty Crown.
Consisting of Ryo from Supercell and Chelly, this duo collaborated to create music for the fictional band within Guilty Crown. Chelly took on the role of both vocalist and the female lead character, Inori Yuzuriha.
Guilty Crown
Set in the year 2039, Guilty Crown, released in 2011, revolves around the journey of Shu Ouma, a shy young man battling personal growth. Despite his introverted nature, he finds solace in music and becomes a dedicated fan of the popular online band, Egoist. By a twist of fate, Shu encounters Inori Yuzuriha, the band's lead singer, and discovers her mysterious true identity. Unbeknownst to him, Shu is chosen as the wielder of the Void Genome, a container holding the DNA of a devastating virus now repurposed into a weapon. This unique ability allows Shu to extract physical manifestations from individuals, such as Inori's sword. However, his newfound power thrusts him into a web of conspiracy involving a local resistance group and the United Nations, who had taken control of Japan following a deadly epidemic a decade earlier.
Although initially well-received and boasting a promising premise, the series takes a disappointing turn in its second half. Many fans express dissatisfaction with the reintroduction of deceased characters and the reuse of old antagonists, resulting in a rushed and unsatisfying climax that deviates from the original narrative. In a poignant turn of events, Inori sacrifices herself to protect Shu, leaving viewers with a bittersweet conclusion.
Living On
In the finale of Guilty Crown, Shu is depicted listening to Egoist's music, envisioning himself holding Inori. This suggests that while she may be physically absent, her presence persists through her music. And indeed, it does. Following the conclusion of Guilty Crown, Egoist continued creating music and performing in concerts. Notably, Inori is featured on the cover of all their albums and concert appearances. Each album cover showcases her in various outfits, including attire from the original Guilty Crown, as demonstrated in their 2017 album "Alter Ego". In the music video for "All Alone With You," Inori is seen guiding a struggling young girl towards acceptance of the future.
Throughout the video, Inori takes the form of a bear that the girl holds dear, believing it to be lost. However, it is Inori's influence that encourages the girl to embrace the "death" of her past self and embrace her coming of age. This mirrors how Inori encouraged Shu to continue living and embrace life. Towards the end of the video, a pink butterfly follows the liberated girl, symbolizing that a part of Inori will always remain with her.
Following their success with Guilty Crown, Egoist was tapped to create music for Psycho-Pass. They lent their vocals to the first 3 ending songs of the series: "Monster without a Name", "All Alone With You", and "Fallen". In a unique twist, each of these songs was accompanied by a specially designed outfit for the character Inori. This trend continued with other anime soundtracks that Egoist contributed to, with each album featuring a custom design that complemented the show's theme. Not only that, but Egoist also sported different outfits for their live performances.
However, Inori always remained true to her origins. Occasionally, she would don her Guilty Crown attire during concerts, even performing songs that were not part of the original soundtrack. In 2021, the official YouTube channel of Egoist released a complete version of "Departures," which served as the first ending theme of Guilty Crown. The music video depicts Inori retracing the events of the anime, eventually reuniting with Shu and guiding him towards the end. This contrasts with the first version of the original ending from episode 1, where she leaves him behind.
Earlier this month, Egoist concluded their final concert in Kanagawa, marking their official disbandment. However, this does not signify an end to Chelly's (also known as Inori) musical career, as she is now pursuing a solo singing career under the name Reche.
Both Supercell and Egoist have greatly influenced the landscape of anime soundtracks, and even though Inori is no longer an active member, she remains the embodiment and everlasting symbol of Egoist.
Sources: Anime News Network
