Lucky Star (manga)
| Company type | Media franchise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manga, anime, video games |
| Founded | December 2003 |
| Founder | Kagami Yoshimizu |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Manga, anime television series, original video animation, light novels, video games, audio CDs |
{{Infobox animanga/Other | title = Additional manga |} {{Infobox animanga/Other | title = Additional light novels |} {{Infobox animanga/Other | title = Video games |}
is a Japanese yonkoma manga series created by Kagami Yoshimizu. It has been featured in Kadokawa Shoten's Comptiq magazine since December 2003, with occasional guest strips in various other periodicals. The storyline centers around the everyday experiences of four girls, focusing more on slice-of-life humor than a continuous plot.
An audio drama CD was issued in August 2005. From 2005 through 2009, four video game adaptations were released. The anime adaptation, produced by Kyoto Animation, aired 24 episodes from April to September 2007. In North America, Kadokawa Pictures licensed the series, and Bandai Entertainment distributed it across six DVD volumes between May 2008 and March 2009. An original video animation (OVA) episode debuted in September 2008 alongside a drama CD; Bandai Entertainment released the subtitled English OVA in August 2009. In 2014, Viz Media secured digital rights for the manga's publication.
A spin-off manga titled Miyakawa-ke no Kūfuku started serialization in January 2008 within Kadokawa Shoten's Comp H's magazine. Its anime adaptation, created by studios Ordet and Encourage Films, was streamed on Ustream beginning April 2013.
Synopsis
The plot of Lucky Star revolves around four Japanese high school girls, mainly set in Kuki, Saitama Prefecture. The central character, Konata Izumi, is depicted as intelligent and athletic but lazy, preferring to spend her time on anime, video games, and manga instead of academic pursuits.
The manga chronicles the characters from their first year—Konata Izumi, Kagami Hiiragi, Tsukasa Hiiragi, and Miyuki Takara—through to their third year. The anime begins during their second year and introduces new characters halfway through the series. The narrative frequently incorporates references to well-known manga, anime, and tokusatsu franchises.
The spin-off Miyakawa-ke no Kūfuku focuses on sisters Hinata and Hikage Miyakawa, exploring themes related to financial struggles caused by extravagant spending habits.
Manga
This four-panel comic strip manga commenced serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Comptiq magazine in January 2004 (cover date December 2003). The inaugural tankōbon volume was published on January 8, 2005; by October 26, 2013, ten volumes had been released. In addition to Comptiq, the series appeared in several Kadokawa publications such as Shōnen Ace, Newtype, and Comp Ace. After a break starting in 2014, it resumed regular serialization in Kadokawa's Mitaina! magazine as of November 10, 2022. The North American license was held by Bandai Entertainment, which released the first English volume in June 2009; only eight volumes were published before Bandai ceased operations. Licensing was subsequently transferred to Viz Media.
The spin-off Lucky Star Pocket Travelers, depicting the main characters miniaturized to doll size, ran in Comp Ace from January to August 2008; one volume was published on October 10, 2008.
Another derivative work inspired by the Lucky Star Moe Drill games, titled , began serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Comp H's magazine in January 2008 before relocating to Comp Ace in June 2009. It also appeared intermittently in Comptiq. The first volume was issued on June 26, 2012.
An official parody manga named , authored by Eretto, was serialized in Comp Ace between July 2008 and December 2009; a single volume was released on March 18, 2010.
Additionally, a spin-off titled , created by Tsubomi Hanabana with culinary supervision from Etsuko Ichise, was serialized in Comp Ace from November 2013 until May 2014; one volume came out on July 10, 2014.
In November 2022, following the manga’s return from hiatus, a new spin-off provisionally titled , set fifteen years after the original storyline, was announced.
Anime
The anime adaptation of Lucky Star, created by Kyoto Animation, was broadcast from April 8 to September 16, 2007, spanning twenty-four episodes. After the initial four episodes, director Yutaka Yamamoto was replaced by Yasuhiro Takemoto following the studio's judgment that Yamamoto did not fulfill their directing expectations.
Each episode ends with a segment titled , featuring hosts Akira Kogami and assistant Minoru Shiraishi. This portion is distinguished by its darker comedic elements and a more cynical approach, providing a stark contrast to the tone of the main series. The show also includes cameo appearances by voice actors such as Yuko Goto, Minori Chihara, Tomokazu Sugita, Daisuke Ono, and Aya Hirano, who appear as themselves.
Licensing for the anime was secured by Kadokawa Pictures USA and Bandai Entertainment, with the first four English DVD volumes released between May and November 2008. Volumes five and six arrived in early 2009; however, limited edition versions were discontinued due to poor sales performance. In April 2010, Bandai released a comprehensive six-disc DVD box set under their Anime Legends banner. The English voice cast was selected to align closely with the Japanese actors from related series to maintain character consistency. European distribution rights were obtained by Beez Entertainment, which issued the TV series and OVA in two separate half-season collections. Following Bandai Entertainment's shutdown in 2012, licensing passed to Funimation Entertainment (now part of Crunchyroll), which released the series on Blu-ray and DVD in July 2016.
An original video animation (OVA) for Lucky Star was announced in Kadokawa Shoten's Comptiq magazine and eventually released on September 26, 2008, after several delays. This OVA features six stories involving the main characters, including scenarios such as an MMORPG adventure and a suggestive dream sequence. The Lucky Channel segment is presented in live-action format. The ending theme, , is performed by Uchōten (Hiromi Konno and Minoru Shiraishi), originally known from Fist of the North Star. Bandai Entertainment licensed the OVA for North American release, issuing a subtitled DVD version in August 2009; Funimation later acquired re-licensing rights.
A spin-off anime based on Miyakawa-ke no Kūfuku, produced jointly by Ordet and Encourage Films, was streamed on Ustream from April 29 through July 1, 2013. The opening theme "Kachigumi" is performed by Konata Izumi (Hirano) alongside Kagami Hiiragi (Emiri Katō), while the ending theme "Makegumi" is sung by Hinata and Hikage Miyakawa (Maina Shimagata and Koto Kawasaki). An insert song titled , performed by Hiromi Konno, appears in episode one.
Books
Kadokawa Shoten published five light novels inspired by the series under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint. The first three novels—Lucky Star: Lucky Star Murder Case (September 1, 2007), Lucky Star Online (March 1, 2008), and Lucky Star Super Dōwa Taisen (October 1, 2008)—were authored by Tōka Takei with illustrations from original creator Kagami Yoshimizu. The fourth novel, titled Lucky Star: Yuruyuru Days (April 1, 2009), was written by Touko Machida with artwork by Yukiko Horiguchi. The fifth installment, Lucky Star: Hitome Konata ni (February 1, 2012), was penned by Heisei Izu and Kei Tanaka featuring Yoshimizu’s illustrations. Additionally, a spin-off light novel tied to the Miyakawa-ke no Kūfuku anime was released in 2014, written by Machida with illustrations provided by Harapeko and Tsubomi Hanabana. An original novel authored by Osamu Kudō was also offered as a pre-order bonus for Shin Lucky Star Moe Drill: Tabidachi: DX Pack.
Beyond fiction works, educational chemistry texts incorporating characters from the series were issued by Chukei Publishing: a theoretical chemistry volume in 2010 and an organic chemistry book in 2013, both illustrated by Yoshimizu and written by Takashi Matsubara. In addition, Kadokawa Chukei Publishing released an inorganic chemistry book in 2013 authored by Masashi Inutsuka featuring illustrations from Yoshimizu and Sayoi.
Video games
The series ventured into the gaming market with the release of Lucky Star Moe Drill on December 1, 2005, for the Nintendo DS. A special "DX Pack" edition provided extra features. Its follow-up, Shin Lucky Star Moe Drill: Tabidachi, debuted on May 24, 2007. Both titles blend quiz-style challenges spanning multiple topics with light adventure gameplay situated in Akihabara. According to a 2007 poll conducted by Dengeki G's Magazine, the sequel secured the 17th spot among readers’ favorite bishōjo game titles.
Players can engage in two solo modes—"Hitasura Drill" and "Drama Mode"—alongside a multiplayer link mode that enables use of developed characters and activation of unique battle abilities through microphone input. The games feature five distinct drill types and include cameo appearances from popular mascot characters representing major anime retailers such as Broccoli's Di Gi Charat, Animate's Anime Tencho, and Toranoana's Miko.
In addition, Kadokawa Shoten released a visual novel called Lucky Star: Ryōō Gakuen Ōtōsai for the PlayStation 2 on January 24, 2008, later ported to the PlayStation Portable on December 23, 2010. Kadokawa also launched an SLG title titled Lucky Star: Net Idol Meister for PSP on December 24, 2009, which centers around idol simulation mechanics.
Audio CDs
The drama CD named Drama CD Lucky Star was issued by Frontier Works on August 24, 2005. Following this, the soundtrack for the video game titled Lucky Star vocal mini album was released on December 22, 2005. The anime’s opening theme single, Motteke! Sailor Fuku, came out on May 23, 2007. On July 11 of the same year, Lantis unveiled the Lucky Star Ending Theme Collection, compiling the first twelve ending songs. A maxi single called Aimai Net Darling, featuring performances by Hiromi Konno (as Akira Kogami) and Minoru Shiraishi (as himself), was released on July 25, 2007. Additionally, a remix single of Motteke! Sailor Fuku was issued by Lantis on August 8, 2007.
Two albums were made available on August 29, 2007: Misoji Misaki by Hiromi Konno and Cosplay It! Oh My Honey performed by Aya Hirano (Konata) alongside Nozomi Sasaki (Patricia). On October 10, 2007, the album Shiraishi Minoru no Otoko no Rarabai, featuring ending themes sung by Minoru Shiraishi from episode thirteen onwards, was released.
Character song CDs constituted a major segment of the product offerings: four were launched on September 5, 2007, spotlighting voice actresses Aya Hirano (Konata), Emiri Katō (Kagami), Kaori Fukuhara (Tsukasa), and Aya Endo (Miyuki). Another set of four followed on September 26 featuring Shizuka Hasegawa (Yutaka), Minori Chihara (Minami), Kaori Shimizu (Hiyori), and Nozomi Sasaki (Patricia). Two additional character CDs appeared on October 24: one duet by Kaoru Mizuhara (Misao Kusakabe) and Mai Aizawa (Ayano Minegishi), and a trio performed by Aya Hirano, Shizuka Hasegawa, and Minori Chihara as Konata, Yutaka, and Minami respectively. November 21 saw the release of two duet CDs with Hirokazu Hiramatsu (Sōjirō Izumi) paired with Sumi Shimamoto (Kanata Izumi), plus Saori Nishihara (Yui Narumi) alongside Konomi Maeda (Nanako Kuroi). A thirteenth character CD by Kaoru Mizuhara was published on March 26, 2008.
Lantis also included background music and radio drama albums as bonuses with anime DVD volumes. The initial release titled Lucky Star BGM & Radio Bangumi "Lucky Channel" no Digest o Shūroku Shita Special CD 1 arrived on June 22, 2007; it featured background compositions by Satoru Kōsaki along with original audio dramas starring Hiromi Konno and Minoru Shiraishi. Further volumes accompanied each DVD issue through December 21, 2007, broadening the franchise’s audio content collection.
Live performance and stage musical
On March 29, 2009, a live concert entitled Lucky Star in Budokan: Anata no Tame dakara took place at the Budokan, spanning nearly five hours with a duration of 4 hours and 40 minutes. The event showcased the anime’s voice cast and was presented by hosts Hiromi Konno and Minoru Shiraishi. Subsequently, a DVD set was issued on December 25, 2009, comprising two discs accompanied by a 24-page booklet.
The series also inspired a theatrical musical adaptation called Lucky Star ≈ On Stage, which was performed from September 20 to 30, 2012 at Tokyo Dome City Attractions’ "Theatre G-Rosso." This production featured a complete ensemble portraying the characters from the anime.
Reception
Prior to the anime’s debut, manga creator Kagami Yoshimizu remarked in a June 2005 interview that his personality aligned well with four-panel comic strips and that he found enjoyment in developing Lucky Star. The initial volume of the manga quickly sold out, prompting Kadokawa Shoten to issue an immediate reprint. By April 2008, cumulative sales for the first five volumes had surpassed 1.8 million copies.
Lucky Star rapidly established a devoted fanbase within Japan’s anime community. Analyst John Oppliger credited its popularity to parallels with Kyoto Animation’s previous success The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, while highlighting its distinctive otaku-centric humor and fan service elements.
The Special First Edition of the first DVD volume, released on June 22, 2007, experienced swift sellouts throughout Japan. Amazon Japan exhausted its inventory rapidly, and numerous retailers in Akihabara also depleted their stock. The series is recognized for its content tailored specifically toward otaku culture.
The anime’s success translated into tangible economic effects as enthusiasts began visiting real-life locations depicted in the show starting in April 2007. Washinomiya Shrine emerged as a notable pilgrimage destination for fans and cosplayers alike, stimulating considerable local interest and commercial activity. Although residents had mixed feelings about this surge in visitors, official events featuring both the author and voice actors attracted thousands of participants.
Owing to the franchise’s impact, the fictional Hiiragi family was officially registered as residents of Washimiya. By mid-2008, sales of Lucky Star merchandise had injected roughly ¥42 million (approximately $390,000) into the local economy, offering some financial relief amid Japan’s extended economic difficulties.
Notes and references
- Footnotes
- General
- Specific