ClariS Makes a Triumphant Return with Two New Members and a New Song

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Summary

  • ClariS is making a comeback as a trio with new members Elly and Anna.
  • Their new song, “Colorful -season 03-,” will be released on February 24th, 2025.
  • ClariS continues their tradition of using anime personas to protect their identities.

ClariS, a well-known anisong (anime song) group, is returning with two new additions to their team. One of the original duo has departed, leaving just one original member behind. This marks the first time that ClariS will perform as a trio instead of a duet. The group rose to fame in Japan and beyond by providing captivating opening songs for anime, with “Connect” being one of their most recognized hits from 2012, which was used as the opening theme for Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica.

On Saturday, the Japanese pop culture news site Oricon published an article about the upcoming return of the music group ClariS. The same news was shared on the official X platform (previously Twitter) run by ClariS Staff members. Alongside the announcement, they posted a short video introducing the new band members and confirmed that their new song will debut on February 24th, 2025.

Who is ClariS?

The Story Behind the Mysterious Girl Group

Originally formed in 2009 as an anonymous pop duo, ClariS consists of members Clara and Alice who were still in junior high school at the time. To preserve their privacy, they’ve consistently used pseudonyms. Instead of revealing their actual faces, they represent themselves as anime-style avatars, even in music videos and promotional content. During live performances, they wear masks except for two instances: one in 2017 and another in 2020. In a 2022 music video titled “Connect,” they momentarily revealed their real faces.

Initially, ClariS started by sharing covers of well-known tracks on the Japanese video platform Niconico. Later in 2010, they secured a record deal with SME Records (and subsequently Sacra Music starting from 2017). Although they’ve produced numerous original songs since then, their music for anime has brought them widespread recognition. Some of the shows featuring ClariS tunes are “Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai”, “Nisemonogatari”, “Nisekoi”, and most notably, “Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica”.

Alice’s tenure with ClariS was brief, as she departed from the group in 2014. Following her exit, a fresh addition named Karen joined the team and continued until 2024. On September 1, 2024, ClariS announced that Karen would be leaving too. Alice and Karen wrapped up their journey together during the ClariS Autumn Tour 2024 in November. Then, on January 25, 2025, at the LisAni! Live 2025 event, it was disclosed that two new members, Elly and Anna, would be joining Alice to form a trio within ClariS. As with Karen, these names are pseudonyms to ensure their privacy.

ClariS 「Colorful -season 03-」

The First Song with the New Members

The announcement for ClariS’ comeback to the music industry revealed the title and launch date of their new track. Titled “カラフル -season 03-” (or “Colorful -season 03-“) in Japanese and English respectively, this new song is set to drop on February 24th, 2025. This will mark the first time ClariS releases a song as a trio rather than a duo, following Karen’s departure from the group towards the end of 2024.

With this latest update, ClariS shared a brief video presenting Elly and Anna. In line with ClariS’ established approach, they appeared as anime characters rather than their real selves, alongside Clara in the clip, to maintain privacy. The video also offers a sneak peek of “Colorful -season 03-“, providing an idea of what lies ahead. The sound and style remain characteristic of ClariS, ensuring fans will appreciate the new members’ contributions to the group’s music.

In light of ClariS’ impressive success within the anime song (anisong) community, having performed live at various anime events, both domestically in Japan and internationally, we eagerly anticipate a fresh anime series that features their latest lineup as its opening act. For now, it remains uncertain what lies ahead for the band as a trio; however, we can expect updates following their official debut next month, potentially bringing more exciting news within the coming year.

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2025-01-27 08:24