For the first time, anime music fans in the Philippines got to experience the spectacle that is Animelo Summer Live, better known as Anisama, right in our backyard. Held at the New Frontier Theater on June 7, the Manila leg marked a historic debut for the world’s biggest anisong festival. 

For anime fans, Anisama is something of a holy grail. Born in 2005 and held annually in Saitama, it’s a gathering of some of the biggest artists behind the soundtracks that shaped entire generations of anime watchers. It’s a celebration of music, idol culture, video games, vocaloids, and the emotional worlds we attach to fictional characters.

All Together Now
The night opened and ended in ensemble fashion. Hiroshi Kitadani, voice actor and veteran anisong performer, led the full lineup in “We Are!”, the first One Piece opening theme and a sacred text for anime fans.

Midway, the crowd was treated to two more all-hands-on-deck moments— one featuring nobodyknows+’s hip-hop classic “Kokoro Odoru” from SD Gundam Force, and another when FLOW ignited the room with “GO!!!”, the iconic Naruto opening that never fails to send a crowd into overdrive.

Individual Highlights and Collabs That Surprised
The beauty of Anisama lies in its diversity of sound. Each act brought its own flavor and fandom.

Ave Mujica from the BanG Dream! Universe leaned into darkness and drama. They looked like anime come to life but meant business with their heavy riffs.


Mayu Maeshima, formerly of MYTH & ROID, owned the stage with her voice and a rockstar swagger.

Thai anisong darling MindaRyn radiated joy, professing her love for Jollibee, Chickenjoy, and adobo between songs. Alongside Kitadani, she surprised the audience with a rendition of the “Voltes V Theme,” a song deeply embedded into the Filipino anime psyche, prompting a singalong.


Toshiya Miyata of idol group Kis-My-Ft2 began his set with a slick dance break before teaming up with FLOW  for their version of “Butterfly” from Digimon Adventure.


Tokyo-based rockers ASH DA HERO  turned the dial up to eleven. Frontman ASH is a natural showman — handing fans the mic, even walking among the audience on the first floor. His call to stand up and jump wasn’t a suggestion—it was a command.


One of the night’s most satisfying sets came from hip-hop veterans nobodyknows+. When they launched into the opening bars of “Hero’s Comeback” from Naruto Shippuden, the theater rose on instinct. There were no gimmicks, just tight flow, magnetic stage presence, and contagious cool.



Kitadani and MindaRyn—who call themselves Team Blazer—joined forces for “Bokura no Spectra” from Ultraman Blazer, joined later by Maeshima for “Ahhh!” from One Piece. Kitadani’s voice reached the rafters, reminding everyone why he’s a pillar of the genre.

FLOW Brings It Home


No act loomed larger than FLOW. If Anisama had an unspoken headliner, it was them.
Returning to the Philippines for the first time since Ozine Fest 2016, the band lit up the stage with back-to-back bangers: “Cha-La Head-Cha-La” from Dragon Ball Z, “Sign” from Naruto Shippuden, and “Colors” from Code Geass. By the end of their set, the air was thick with sweat and serotonin.


Cameras Down, Hands Up
True to Japanese concert tradition, photography and videography were strictly prohibited. It forced the audience to engage viscerally, to shout and sweat rather than scroll. You had to remember, because you couldn’t replay.

Originally slated for the Araneta Coliseum, the event was moved to the more intimate New Frontier Theater. What it lacked in size, it made up for in soul. Every flick of a lightstick felt like a ritualistic transfer of energy. Some fans screamed, some sang, some jumped. Many did all three.

Since its inception in 2005, Anisama has been a cornerstone of Japan’s anime music scene, only rarely venturing abroad. The festival has only touched down in Shanghai (2011, 2024) and Taiwan (2024). This stop in Manila felt like a recognition that Filipino fans aren’t just passive consumers, but passionate contributors to the culture. For one night, Manila didn’t just host Anisama—it became part of its story.