This next collaboration is completely unexpected. Theyâve had sodas, ice cream, and a few deals with eye drops and such, but thatâs all to be expected.
A collaboration with their supposed rival group is completely baffling.
Three episodes of the web series chronicling them came out at once, detailing what went in behind the scenes and just how well the two groups got along together.
âWeâre a bit nervous,â Osomatsu admits sheepishly. âTheyâve been at the whole idol thing for longer than us, and theyâre observing while weâre doing everything! Not just them, either. Pretty sure Choromatsuâs gonna die today.â
Thereâs a jump cut to Choromatsu in the recording studio, unnecessary glasses perched on his nose, nearly glowing crimson, staring down at his sheet music, as the camera shifts past his face to show a certain miss Nyaa Hashimoto outside the room with his audio engineer friends beaming like mad.
âYou can do it, Chororin!â she says with a giggle. He collapses instantly. When filmed in private to comment in the situation, there is much stammering before they cut to what is presumably several minutes later.
âIâm trying to be better about the whole idol thing now that Iâm on the receiving end of the deal, itâs all about changing whatâs awful, and I know I need to be calm and composed, but⌠itâs Nyaa-chan! She spoke to me! She was watching me and she didnât think I was gross! How am I supposed to stay composed around that information?! I canât, I just canât.â
When asked about the collaboration, Totokoâs typical fiery screaming about Nyaa and GELATO! is replaced with an almost eerie calm. âI have no problem with them collaborating with my loser virgins! Maybe theyâll learn from each other and Nyaa can stop bragging, right?â She titters and observes her manicure. Usually, sheâs hollering up a storm by now. Should the boys be worried? Ehh, probably not, right? A calm Totoko is a happy Totoko, right?!
Theyâre all split into two teams: Heaven and Hell in this video seem to operate more like the Sharks and Jets.
On the Hell side, Osomatsu is in the middle of the formation, flanked by Ichimatsu and Todomatsu, with Aida and Sacchi bringing up the front and trying to keep the rose-colored ones from stealing their thunder. Their clothes are dark and well tailored, all reds, browns, violets and dark dyed jeans, each with minute horns and tails.
Up in heaven, Homura and Hanako lead, dressed in yellow and green with a Matsu to match, Karamatsu in the middle. Small wings, halos, and crowns of flowers and vines soften them to contrast the darker side, pastels and lighter, floatier fabrics with looser draping and fuller skirts.
The choreography is filmed six times: a storytelling video about the odd celestial dance battle, two dance shots for each side, and a 360° video filmed outside to be rotated as one pleases. (You could tip it up to stare at the sky and occasional flailing hands if you really wanted, but why would you?)
Karakoâs training is intense, but all of the boys see it as an actual contest, and theyâll do anything to win⌠much to the amusement of the girls as they sit in the front of the room and watch. The boys yelling and toppling over when they throw themselves into it makes for prime slapstick, and the girls canât contain their glee. Homura, for one, laughs until she nearly faints. Itâs horrendously adorable, and is made into at least fourteen gifs by the next day.
Remember when Choromatsu was in the studio? The dance practices were to a demo recording. (Much to Todomatsuâs dismay, twodiefour did the vocal arranging, and they couldnât just use his version.) Now comes the time to lay down the vocals.
Each side would get a version where theyâre leading on vocals, and one combined where the boys and girls trade off. When theyâre not leading the charge, theyâre backing their teammates, and the boys are all under the watchful eye of someone while they record.
Osomatsu had his favorite vocal coach, Ichiko, keeping him in line; Karamatsu chattered away with Hanako between takes; Choromatsu was doing his best to make Nyaa proud; Ichimatsu tried to be less terrifying around Sacchi; Jyuushimatsu made Homura laugh herself breathless through the window; and Todomatsu dealt with seeing Aida on her own for once. (âItâs like your parents divorcing, y’know?â)
The result is magnificent,
and youâll see it soon!