Two idols, Tsubasa Kazanari and Kanade Amō, collectively known as Zwei Wing, battle against an alien race known as Noise using armor known as Symphogear, which uses the power of music to counteract the Noise's destructive capability. However, Kanade sacrifices herself to protect a girl named Hibiki Tachibana, who ends up with a piece of Kanade's Symphogear relic, Gungnir, embedded in her chest. Two years later, Hibiki awakens the power of the Gungnir relic inside her body, gaining the same Symphogear armor that Kanade had. Using the power of song, Hibiki and her fellow Symphogear wielders must fight to protect the innocent and defeat those who would use the Noise for evil.2
Collectively termed as Symphogear Adaptors, these are the main protagonist of the franchise. Each Candidate (適合者, Tekigōsha, lit. "suitable person") are armed with a ruby-like relic (聖遺物, Seiibutsu) shard, which can conjure a Symphogear (シンフォギア, Shinfogia), a hyper-advanced alchemic powered armor powered by one's Phonic Gain (フォニック ゲイン, Fonikku Gein), the user's harmonized melody. Symphogears, otherwise called as Gears (ギア, Gia), has an access to an Armed Gear (アームドギア, Āmudo Gia) weapon that was unique to them specifically, and multiple different forms that can be unlocked through various factors that bypass some of each gear's 301,655,722 locks, with its ultimate true form, X-Drive (エクスドライブ, Ekusu-Doraibu), can only be unlocked via a large amount of Phonic Gain. Furthermore, Symphogear users can access its Superb Song (絶唱, Zesshō), an extremely powerful attack that can normally be used in critical situations, though the damage inflicted by the Superb Song is determined by the compatibility coefficients, if the coefficient of compatibility is high, less damage will be done. In some worst cases, using a Superb Song while in a critical condition tends to lead to fatal feedback for the user, potentially killing them and/or their Symphogear in the process. Symphogears can only be used by compatible Candidates, though some characters can bypass the synchronization requirement, either through the use of a "LiNKER" (リンカ, Rinka) drug or by being fused with a relic.
On November 20, 2022, it was announced at the end of the "Symphogear Live 2020→2022" concert that a new project in the Symphogear franchise was being developed, to be released at an unannounced date.56
A manga accompaniment to the series, illustrated by Dan Yoshii, was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Newtype Ace magazine between November 2011 and April 2013.
See also: List of Symphogear episodes
The anime, produced by Satelight and Encourage Films, began airing in Japan on Tokyo MX between January 6, 2012, and March 30, 2012. Crunchyroll licensed the series for North America and simulcast the series on Nico Nico.7 The opening theme was "Synchrogazer" performed by Nana Mizuki, and the ending theme was "Meteor Light" performed by Ayahi Takagaki, with multiple character and insert songs performed by Aoi Yūki, Nana Mizuki, Ayahi Takagaki, Minami Takayama, and Yuka Iguchi used throughout the season. Discotek Media released this season on subtitled Blu-ray Disc in North America on October 27, 2020.8
On September 5, 2012, Thomas Romain, an animator on the series, wrote on Twitter "for the ones who liked Symphogear, there will be good news soon!",9 later revealing on October 6, 2012, that production on a second season has begun. The second season, titled Senki Zesshō Symphogear G, aired between July 4 and September 26, 2013.101112 The opening theme for the second season was "Vitalization" performed by Nana Mizuki, and the ending theme was "Next Destination" performed by Ayahi Takagaki, with multiple new character and insert songs performed by Aoi Yūki, Nana Mizuki, Ayahi Takagaki, Yōko Hikasa, Yoshino Nanjō, Ai Kayano, and Yuka Iguchi used throughout the season. Discotek Media released this season on subtitled Blu-ray Disc in North America on January 26, 2021.13
A third season,14 titled Senki Zessho Symphogear GX, aired in Japan between July 4, 2015, and September 25, 2015, and was simulcast by Chernin-owned Crunchyroll.1516 Crunchyroll also began streaming the first season from September 2, 2015,17 followed by Symphogear G on September 18, 2015.18 The opening theme for the third season was "Exterminate" performed by Nana Mizuki, and the ending theme was "Rebirth-day" performed by Ayahi Takagaki, with multiple new character and insert songs performed by Aoi Yūki, Nana Mizuki, Ayahi Takagaki, Yōko Hikasa, Yoshino Nanjō, Ai Kayano, Yuka Iguchi, and Inori Minase used throughout the season.
A fourth and fifth season were announced on February 28, 2016, at the Symphogear Live 2016 event in Japan.19 The fourth season, titled Symphogear AXZ (pronounced "axis"), began airing between July 1, 2017, and September 30, 2017.20 The opening theme is "Testament" performed by Nana Mizuki, and the ending theme is "Futurism" performed by Ayahi Takagaki, with multiple new character and insert songs performed by Aoi Yūki, Nana Mizuki, Ayahi Takagaki, Yōko Hikasa, Yoshino Nanjō, Ai Kayano, Minako Kotobuki, Shōta Aoi, and Rina Hidaka.
The fifth and final season, titled Symphogear XV, was originally scheduled to premiere in April 2019,21 but the airdate was pushed back to July 2019 in order to further refine the anime before its release.22 The fifth season aired between July 6, 2019, and September 28, 2019. The opening theme is "Metanoia" performed by Nana Mizuki, and the ending theme is "Lasting Song" performed by Ayahi Takagaki.23 Medialink licensed the fifth and final season in South and Southeast Asia and streamed the anime in their YouTube channel.24
The Zwei Wing duo, Tsubasa and Kanade, made a paper cameo in Genshiken Second Season episode KOIBANA3, created by Manabu Kuchiki for a cosplay idea.
Characters from Symphogear appear in Super Heroine Chronicle, a role-playing game developed by Namco Bandai Games for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita and released in Japan on February 6, 2014.25
A smartphone game, Senki Zesshō Symphogear XD Unlimited, developed by Bushiroad, was released in Japan on June 26, 2017.26 An English version of the smartphone game was released by Pokelabo on February 14, 2020. However, quite possibly due to mismanagement and the likely lack of a large playerbase needed to maintain the game in the long run, the English version was shut down on July 31 of the same year, with all information about it purged from all official sites. The Japanese version of the game ended service on January 31, 2024.27
In the 2019 Anime UK News Readers' Choice Awards, Symphogear XV won the category for "Best TV Anime". Symphogear won the category for "Most Wanted Anime License", and was runner-up for the category of "Most Wanted Manga License". Hibiki and Miku were runner-up for the category of "Best Couple".28
"Senhime Zesshō Symphogear Music Battle TV Anime to Air". Anime News Network. October 6, 2011. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2011. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-10-06/senhime-zessho-symphogear-music-battle-tv-anime-to-air ↩
"Symphogear Music Battle TV Anime's 1st Promo Streamed". Anime News Network. 2011-12-28. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2012-10-07. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-12-28/symphogear-music-battle-tv-anime-1st-promo-streamed ↩
Transcription from season two's opening. ↩
Also known as Yewfelle, a holy bow from Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War /wiki/Fire_Emblem:_Genealogy_of_the_Holy_War ↩
"New Symphogear Project to Launch in '20XX'". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2022-11-20. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-11-20/new-symphogear-project-to-launch-in-20xx/.192107 ↩
Harding, Daryl. "Magical Girl Mecha Anime Franchise Symphogear Teases New Project". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2022-11-20. https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/11/20/magical-girl-mecha-anime-franchise-symphogear-teases-new-project ↩
"Niconico to Stream High School DxD, Symphogear, Milky Holmes 2". Anime News Network. 2012-01-23. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2012-10-07. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-23/niconico-to-stream-high-school-dxd-symphogear-milky-holmes-2 ↩
"Discotek Licenses Symphogear, Dokuro-chan, Medabots, Cleopatra, Battery, Great Passage, More Anime". Archived from the original on 2019-07-28. Retrieved 2019-07-28. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-07-28/discotek-licenses-symphogear-dokuro-chan-medabots-cleopatra-battery-great-passage-more-anime/.149456 ↩
"Symphogear Artist: Good News for Fans Soon". Anime News Network. 2012-09-04. Archived from the original on 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2012-10-07. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-09-04/symphogear-artist/good-for-fans-soon ↩
"Symphogear Anime Gets New Season in 2013". Anime News Network. 2012-10-06. Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2012-10-07. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-10-06/symphogear-anime-gets-new-season-in-2013 ↩
"Senki Zesshō Symphogear G Anime Season to Premiere in July". Anime News Network. 2013-10-22. Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2013-10-26. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-03-28/senki-zessho-symphogear-g-anime-season-to-premiere-in-july ↩
"Senki Zesshō Symphogear G Anime's New Character Designs Posted". Anime News Network. 2013-10-22. Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2013-10-26. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-06-03/senki-zessho-symphogear-g-anime-new-character-designs-posted ↩
"Discotek Licenses Rose of Versailles, Hajime no Ippo, Project A-Ko Anime". September 14, 2020. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-09-14/discotek-licenses-rose-of-versailles-hajime-no-ippo-project-a-ko-anime/.163988 ↩
"Senki Zesshō Symphogear Anime Gets 3rd Season". Anime News Network. 2012-12-14. Archived from the original on 2013-12-14. Retrieved 2012-12-14. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-12-14/senki-zessho-symphogear-anime-gets-3rd-season ↩
"Symphogear Season 3's Title, July Premiere, Cast, Staff, Visual Unveiled". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2019-04-26. Retrieved 2019-05-30. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2015-03-15/symphogear-season-3-title-july-premiere-cast-staff-visual-unveiled/.85997 ↩
Luster, Joseph. "Crunchyroll Starts Streaming "Symphogear GX" Today". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2019-05-30. https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/07/17/crunchyroll-starts-streaming-symphogear-gx-today ↩
"Crunchyroll Adds To Love-Ru Anime, Symphogear Season 1". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2019-05-30. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2015-09-03/crunchyroll-adds-to-love-ru-anime-symphogear-season-1/.92455 ↩
"New Catalog Title: SYMPHOGEAR G, DearS, and Gunbuster 2!". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on 2019-05-30. Retrieved 2019-05-30. https://www.crunchyroll.com/forumtopic-919429/new-catalog-title-symphogear-g-dears-and-gunbuster-2 ↩
"Symphogear Anime Gets Both 4th & 5th Seasons With Game in Production". Anime News Network. February 28, 2016. Archived from the original on February 29, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2016. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-02-28/symphogear-anime-gets-both-4th-and-5th-seasons-with-game-in-production/.99161 ↩
"4th Symphogear Anime Reveals Title, July Premiere in Video". Anime News Network. March 31, 2017. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2021. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-03-31/4th-symphogear-anime-reveals-title-july-premiere-in-video/.114181 ↩
"Symphogear's 5th TV Anime Season Slated for April 2019". Anime News Network. March 3, 2018. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2018. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2018-03-03/symphogear-5th-tv-anime-season-slated-for-april-2019/.128514 ↩
"Symphogear TV Anime Season 5 Delayed From April to July 2019". Anime News Network. December 10, 2018. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-12-10/symphogear-tv-anime-season-5-delayed-from-april-to-july-2019/.140613 ↩
"Senki Zesshō Symphogear XV TV Anime's Promo Video Reveals July 6 Premiere". Anime News Network. June 7, 2019. Archived from the original on June 7, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2019. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-07/senki-zessho-symphogear-xv-tv-anime-promo-video-reveals-july-6-premiere/.147600 ↩
"《Senki Zesshou Symphogear XV》". YouTube. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxSscENEp7Jhu13GzbNI9r-MmwvNI_ez_ ↩
"Super Heroine Chronicle Game Unites SD Characters from 10 Anime". Anime News Network. 2013-10-22. Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2013-10-26. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-05-29/super-heroine-chronicle-game-unites-sd-characters-from-10-anime ↩
"2017年配信開始「戦姫絶唱シンフォギアXD UNLIMITED」第1弾PV". September 14, 2016. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016 – via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjMd0xQkQMc ↩
「戦姫絶唱シンフォギアXD UNLIMITED」のサービスが2024年1月31日14:00をもって終了。スマホ向けオフライン版の提供も発表. 4gamer.net (in Japanese). November 30, 2023. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024. 「戦姫絶唱シンフォギアXD UNLIMITED」のサービスが2024年1月31日14:00をもって終了。スマホ向けオフライン版の提供も発表 ↩
Stevens, Josh A.; et al. (20 March 2020). "Announcing the Anime UK News Readers' Choice Awards 2019 Winners!". Anime UK News. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020. https://animeuknews.net/2020/03/announcing-the-anime-uk-news-readers-choice-awards-2019-winners/ ↩