If You Can See Kenshi Yonezu’s Concert in Theaters, Do It

The music of Kenshi Yonezu has captivated audiences across anime, film, television, and video games, for years, to say nothing of his discography beyond these pop culture properties. Last year, his tour, Fantasy, dazzled audiences across Japan, and starting this week, Crunchyroll is bringing the concert film to select theaters around the world – an event that demands to be seen.

KENSHI YONEZU 2023 TOUR / FANTASY invites audiences to witness the last concert of the titular tour, from July 2, 2023, filmed in Yokohama, Japan at the Yokohama Arena. The 23-song setlist includes “M87” from 2022’s Shin Ultraman, “KICK BACK” from 2022’s Chainsaw Man, and “Chikyuugi – Spinning Globe” from Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron, among other hits.

Theatrical Dates

Entering A Fantasy

There are many ways to interpret a theme such as “fantasy”, but with how the concert begins, the best way to describe it is “dreamlike.” A soft piano medley plays in conjunction with the blue and red lights that frame the stage where it all begins, as the band enters the stage and assumes their positions. It is a peaceful start that gradually builds as the first songs grace one’s ear, but the eyes are the first to be catered to.

As the heavenly white lights glow from behind the stage and cast silhouettes of Yonezu and the band behind him, it simultaneously illuminates the set itself. It is a skeleton of a structure – arguably plain at first glance, but a foundation nonetheless, upon which Yonezu’s music builds dreamscapes with ease. It’s when the backdrop turns from a skeleton to a canvas that the show truly begins.

The Staging and Directing Are Fantastic

The third track, “Kanden”, is where things get particularly fun. The jazzy instrumentals and the positively electric choreography of the dancers bring the fantasy out of the confines of the projections. Viewers of the film might wish they were there in person, but something about the camera work adds a whole dimension to the experience that might be lost otherwise.

Through director Daisuke Shimada’s vision, things like the dance choreography are timed perfectly to every sweeping shot, every zoom, and every canted angle. Shimada translates the atmosphere superbly, thus plunging the viewer even deeper into the fantasy, and the stage itself conspires to warp the space to fit wherever the dream may go next.

As the song “Machi” begins, the lights lower on the stage like a ceiling, bathing Yonezu and the band in a brighter light than ever. The staging creates the sense of a more confined and intimate atmosphere before the song’s crescendo forces the ceiling to rise once more. This show is at its best when the viewer is privileged to witness the instrumental swells playing off of the gorgeous lighting.

Fantasy Brings The Hits

“Lemon” is one of Yonezu’s most popular songs, and something about the strings that build up to the opening notes of the song makes its arrival that much grander. Not only that, but the arrangement in general sounds so much more triumphant than the already-fantastic track was normally. The cherry on top is the dancer, who bears her soul physically as much as Yonezu does audibly. All the dancers do an incredible job for that matter.

“M87” feels ethereal and cosmic, befitting the Ultraman film it was created for. By the time “Loser” kicks in right after it, the scaffolding behind the stage comes into play more actively, adding lots of elevation which Yonezu scales enthusiastically to play to an increasingly energetic crowd. The excitement is infectious, and the possibilities of where the show goes next seem limitless.

Chainsaw Man’s Theme Does NOT Disappoint

Yonezu’s performance of his Chainsaw Man opening theme, “KICK BACK”, is everything one could have asked for from a live rendition. The entire stage is bathed in red, as fire billows from the braziers that line the exterior of the stage. This dream suddenly turns into a nightmare, not that you’ll be eager to wake up. It is a descent into hell. In contrast, “Tsuki wo Miteita – Moongazing” from Final Fantasy XVI right afterward, is heavenly; a return to calm.

“Uma to Shika” serves as a spectacular climax to the concert. Yonezu walks the length of the stage with dancers in tow, who give the final number everything they have. It encapsulates everything great about the concert, and it’s only the prelude to a gleeful encore that follows, featuring “Chikyuugi” from The Boy and the Heron, followed by “Pop Song”, “Flamingo”, “Shunrai”, and “Lady”.

Fantasy’s Final Notes

If there is any gripe to be had with the film, it’s that it might outstay its welcome somewhat after an otherwise immaculate concert that finds such a solid conclusion in “Uma to Shika.” With that said, it is a mercifully minor gripe in a show that consistently offers such a diverse and enticing atmosphere thanks to excellent directing, incredible visual effects, and mesmerizing lighting. If you’re lucky enough to have the concert playing near you, it is a no-brainer.