eXtend, Toy Box, and Karakuri-ism have recently announced on X (formerly Twitter) the theme song, opening, and ending song for the upcoming visual novel Side Kicks! beyond. All three songs feature lyrics written by Showtaro Morikubo, who is known in the anime sphere as the Japanese voice of Caster in Fate Strange/Fake and in the gaming sphere as the Japanese voice of Yosuke from Persona 4 Golden.
Side Kicks! beyond launches on June 5, 2025 for Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS in Japan, and pre-orders are open. The enhanced port of the 2017 PS Vita title will feature new episodes in the main story, including a crossover with Bustafellows, which takes place in the same world.
Below is a translated comment of Showtaro Morikubo in regards to the production of the three songs:
Showtaro Morikubo Speaks on Side Kicks! beyond
“For the opening theme song, TRUTH, I wanted to portray it from the perspective of Shisui, the character I play [in Side Kicks!]. Both the bird’s-eye view of the city from a corner of a skyscraper in Sakrada City and the image of looking at the invisible ‘truth’ are the main things I had in my mind when I started writing the lyrics and music.
“As for the ending song, Canvas, I wrote the song with the intention of bringing the characters and the audience into the game. I made a demo of the song on an acoustic guitar, but I think I was able to get closer to the Side Kicks! world during the arrangement process. The verse before the song’s chorus is inspired on the image of looking back at the journey of the characters, while the chorus is a hope for the future. A desire to come back to Sakrada City. A world where we can continue to color the blank canvas together.
“For the theme song unique to Side Kicks! beyond, Breathing, I wanted to express the stylishness and more bewitching and chaotic nature of the game, so I decided to go with a more digital sound. In regards to the lyrics, I connected a kind of darkness that modern society is facing with a kind of darkness happening in Sakrada City. The keyword ‘truth’ is still there, and in today’s world, the “truth” is buried in the noise, and those who hold the truth may feel suffocated. I wrote this piece with the theme of seeking salvation.”
