ClariS

Name

ClariS is a portmanteau of the pseudonyms Clara and Alice, when the two were known as "Alice Clara" on Niconico, and was picked as a homage to the character Clarisse from the anime film The Castle of Cagliostro. As listed on their website, "ClariS" can also carry the meaning of the Latin word clarus, which means "clear" and "bright".

History

2009–2011: Formation, debut, and anisong success

On October 10, 2009, Clara and Alice submitted a cover of the Vocaloid song "Step to You" onto the Niconico website as "Alice Clara", marking their official debut. The two would then go on to release seven more covers later that year.

On April 24, 2010, the publisher Sony Magazines under Sony Music Entertainment Japan launched the anime music magazine LisAni! with an attached CD containing the original song "Drop" composed by Kz of Livetune and sung by ClariS. ClariS released five more covers for the year, ending with the song "Listen!!" from the anime K-On!! as their 13th cover submitted on June 5. On July 24, the second issue of LisAni! was released with another attached CD containing the original song "Kimi no Yume o Miyō", again composed by Kz and sung by ClariS. A single containing both songs was released exclusively at Comiket 78 on August 13. By September, ClariS had signed to SME Records, much to the duo's disbelief. AClariS released their major debut single "Irony" on October 20. Composed by Kz, "Irony" debuted at No. 7 on Oricon's weekly singles chart, and was used as the opening theme of the anime television series Oreimo. Good Smile Company would later release a Nendoroid Petit set of ClariS in January 2012 based on the illustrations by Hiro Kanzaki for "Irony".

On February 2, 2011, ClariS released their second single "Connect". "Connect" debuted at No. 5 on Oricon's weekly singles chart, and was used as the opening theme of the 2011 anime television series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. "Connect" was later awarded the Gold Disc by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) later in January 2012 for having exceeded 100,000 copies shipped in a single year. ClariS contributed the song "True Blue" on the Zone tribute album Zone Tribute: Kimi ga Kureta Mono released on August 10; "True Blue" is a cover of Zone's 2003 single. ClariS released their third single "Nexus" on September 14, and it debuted at No. 5 on Oricon's weekly singles chart. Again composed by Kz, "Nexus" was used as the opening theme of the Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Portable ga Tsuzuku Wake ga Nai video game, as well as the theme song for the ninth volume of the Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai light novels; ClariS make a cameo appearance in the same volume. The song "Don't Cry" on the "Nexus" single was used as the theme song for volume 0.5 of Shueisha's Aoharu magazine.

2012–2014: Debut album release, Alice's departure, and Karen's debut

ClariS released their fourth single "Naisho no Hanashi" on February 1, 2012, and it debuted at No. 2 on Oricon's weekly singles chart. "Naisho no Hanashi" was composed by Ryo of Supercell and is used as the ending theme of the 2012 anime television series Nisemonogatari. Clara and Alice graduated from junior high school in March 2012. ClariS released their debut studio album Birthday on April 11. The album was released in three editions: a regular CD edition, a limited edition bundled with a DVD, and another limited edition bundled with two Nendoroid Petit figures of ClariS based on the illustrations of Clara and Alice by Ume Aoki for "Connect", and a bonus CD with two Nendoroid theme songs. Birthday was awarded a Gold Disc by the RIAJ in May 2012. ClariS released their fifth single "Wake Up" on August 15; the song was used as the opening theme to the 2012 anime television series Moyashimon Returns. Their sixth single "Luminous" was released on October 10; the song was used as the opening theme to the first two Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime films. "Luminous" was awarded a Gold Disc by the RIAJ in December 2014.

ClariS's seventh single "Reunion", composed by Kz, was released on April 17, 2013, which was used for the opening theme to the 2013 anime television series Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai., the series' second season. ClariS released their second studio album Second Story on June 26. Their eighth single "Colorful" was released on October 30, which was used for the opening theme to the film Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion.

ClariS made their first live performance at Zepp Tokyo on January 5, 2014 where they performed "Reunion" at a sold-out event behind a curtain and only visible as silhouettes. Their ninth single "Click", composed by Kz, was released on January 29, which was used for the first opening theme to the 2014 anime television series Nisekoi. Their tenth single "Step", again composed by Kz, was released on April 16, which was used for the second opening theme to Nisekoi. ClariS released their third studio album Party Time on June 4, which was Alice's last contribution to ClariS.

Following Alice's departure, Clara denied rumors that ClariS would disband. On November 8, volume 19 of M-ON! Entertainment's LisAni! magazine was released with an attached CD containing the original song "Clear Sky" sung by ClariS, now composed of Clara and Karen, who, like Clara, was still in high school at the time.

2015–2019: Subsequent album releases, label move, and continued success

On January 7, 2015, ClariS released their 11th single "Border", which was used for the ending theme to the 2014 anime series Tsukimonogatari. ClariS performed live at the LisAni! Live-5 concert on January 25 at the Nippon Budokan. ClariS released their first compilation album ClariS: Single Best 1st on April 15. ClariS released their 12th single "Anemone" on July 29, which was used for the ending theme to the 2015 anime series Classroom Crisis. ClariS performed live at Zepp Tokyo on July 31. ClariS released their 13th single "Prism" on November 25; the song was used to promote the 40th anniversary of Sanrio's mascots Kiki and Lala.

On March 2, 2016, ClariS released their first EP Spring Tracks: Haru no Uta. ClariS released their 14th single "Gravity" on July 27, which was used for the first ending theme to the 2016 anime series Qualidea Code. ClariS collaborated with Garnidelia in performing the song "Clever" released on September 14, which was used for the third ending theme to Qualidea Code. ClariS released their 15th single "Again" on November 30, which was used for the theme song of the video game Akiba's Beat.

On January 25, 2017, ClariS released their fourth studio album Fairy Castle. ClariS performed their first concert at Nippon Budokan on February 10. They then moved to the Sacra Music record label under Sony Music Entertainment Japan in April. They released their 16th single "Hitorigoto" on April 26, which was used for the opening theme to the 2017 anime series Eromanga Sensei. They released their 17th single "Shiori" on September 13, which was used for the ending theme to the second season of the anime series Owarimonogatari. They revealed their faces during their second concert in Pacifico Yokohama National Hall Convention on September 16, 2017. They also appeared at Animelo Summer Live 2017. They made their first appearance at a foreign anime convention at Anime Festival Asia in Singapore in November 2017.

On January 20, 2018, their 18th single "Primalove" was released digitally, receiving a physical release on February 28; the song became the ending theme of the 2018 anime series Beatless. They released their 19th single "CheerS" digitally on August 4, similarly receiving a physical release later on August 15, and used for the ending theme to the 2018 anime series Cells at Work!. They released their fifth studio album Fairy Party on November 21.

ClariS released their second EP Summer Tracks: Natsu no Uta on August 14, 2019.

2020–2024: 10th year anniversary, face reveals, and Karen's departure

They released their 20th single "Alethea / Signal" on March 4, 2020; "Alethea" is used as the ending theme to the 2020 anime series Magia Record. "Signal" was used as an image song for the Magia Record mobile game app; "Signal" was originally released digitally on August 13, 2019.

On February 17, 2021, their 21st single "Fight!!" was released, which was used for the ending theme to the second season of the anime series Cells at Work!.

On August 3, 2022, they released the single "Alive"; the title song was used as the opening theme to the anime series Lycoris Recoil.

On June 8, 2023, the duo released a cover of Wink's 1989 single "Samishii Nettaigyo", featuring an arrangement nearly identical to the original. The music video is structured as a segment on the 1980s music countdown television show The Best Ten, complete with presenters resembling Hiroshi Kume and Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. ClariS performed in Brazil at Anime Friends in July. On September 1, ClariS announced that Karen would leave the group following their "ClariS Autumn Tour 2024", which ran from October to November.

2025–present: Elly and Anna's debut

After Karen's departure in November 2024, ClariS restarted as a trio at the "LisAni! Live 2025" event on January 25, 2025 with two new members, Elly and Anna.

On July 11, ClariS released their 29th single, "Umitsuki", which was used as the opening theme for Rent-A-Girlfriend's fourth season. This marks ClariS's first single as a trio.

Image

Much focus was put on Clara and Alice being in junior high school at the time of their debut. From early on when they uploaded their covers onto Niconico, there was some disbelief whether the girls were actually in junior high school due to their adult-sounding voices. Despite this, Clara and Alice were described as simply normal junior high school girls; composer Kz felt much of their appeal came from them being in junior high school and felt their future potential played a part in it. Their original anonymity was also emphasized for this reason in order to place priority on their school work, with the two preserving such with pseudonyms, as well as donning mask whilst performing. Additionally, to further preserve said anonymity, the two had not told anyone they knew (aside from their families) that they had debuted as music artists. During their junior high and high school years, ClariS had not released photos of themselves to the public, instead employing illustrators to draw their likenesses.

The group is known for their fantastical image; when drawn, Clara is depicted wearing pastel pink items with a crescent moon used as a motif, and Alice is shown wearing blue items with a sun motif, stemming from their personal preferences. Karen was depicted wearing pastel green items, and images of stars were used to represent her. Following the debuts of Elly and Anna, the two were represented with the colors blue and orange.

ClariS made their first face reveal in a 2017 concert, at Pacific Yokohama. During their tenth year anniversary, Clara and Karen both unveiled their faces on their online 10th anniversary concert in 2020. Since then, the two have made appearances in-person, namely collaborating with THE FIRST TAKE in 2022 for "Connect" and "Alive", and in 2024 with "Hitorigoto".

Members

Originally a duo, ClariS was composed of Clara and Alice, who met at music school as classmates. With the latter departing in 2014 to focus on her studies, Karen, a friend of Clara's who was also a classmate at same music school, was nominated by Clara to become the second member of ClariS.

After 10 years, in 2024, Karen left the group, citing her desire to get married and raise a family. On January 25, 2025, members Elly and Anna debuted. Current members

• (2009–present)
• (2025–present)
• (2025–present) Former members
• (2009–2014)
• (2014–2024)

Timeline

PlotArea = left:115 bottom:70 top:05 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:10/10/2009 till: TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:3 start:2010 gridcolor:black Colors = id:a value:red legend:Active id:album value:blue legend:Studio_albums_and_EPs id:bars value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

BarData = bar:Clara text:"Clara"

bar:Alice text:"Alice"

bar:Karen text:"Karen"

bar:Elly text:"Elly"

bar:Anna text:"Anna"

PlotData = width:11 textcolor:black align:left bar:Clara from:start till:end color:a

bar:Alice from:start till:06/04/2014 color:a

bar:Karen from:11/08/2014 till:11/01/2024 color:a

bar:Elly from:01/25/2025 till:end color:a

bar:Anna from:01/25/2025 till:end color:a

LineData = color:album width:1 layer:back at:04/11/2012 at:06/26/2013 at:06/04/2014 at:01/25/2017 at:11/21/2018 at:04/06/2022 at:05/15/2024}}

Discography

Main article: ClariS discography

• Birthday (2012)
• Second Story (2013)
• Party Time (2014)
• Fairy Castle (2017)
• Fairy Party (2018)
• Parfaitone (2022)
• Iris (2024)

Niconico cover songs

References

References

1. (March 15, 2012). "ClariSの2人が中学校を卒業、これからは現役高校生ユニットに". Ota Suke.
2. (October 9, 2010). "ClariS、着うた（R）でいきなり1位の大金星". IT Media.
3. (October 27, 2010). "現役女子中学生ユニットが週間TOP10入り". [[Oricon]].
4. "ClariS {{!}} Biography". [[Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
5. "Clarus". [[University of Notre Dame]].
6. link. [[Niconico]]
7. (April 26, 2010). "Su-Gomori". Su-gomori.
8. "リスアニ!vol.1". Sony Magazines.
9. "リスアニ! Vol.02". Sony Magazines.
10. (August 6, 2010). "コミックマーケット78にてオリジナルＴシャツ & ｢アリス☆クララ｣CD 販売!". [[Aniplex]].
11. (September 10, 2010). link. Hotexpress Music Magazine. Plantech
12. "irony(通常盤)【初回限定仕様】". [[Sony Music Entertainment Japan]].
13. "Irony". [[Oricon]].
14. "音楽 {{!}} 「俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない」アニメ公式サイト". [[Aniplex]].
15. "Nendoroid Petite: ClariS Set – irony Ver.". [[Good Smile Company]].
16. "SonyMusicShop". [[Sony Music Entertainment Japan]].
17. link. [[Oricon]]
18. "OP & ED{{!}}魔法少女まどか☆マギカ". [[Aniplex]].
19. link. [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]]
20. (June 15, 2011). "Shokotan, Scandal, Sphere Make Zone Tribute Album". [[Anime News Network]].
21. "Nexus". [[Oricon]].
22. (May 2, 2012). "2nd ''Oreimo'' PSP Game's 3rd Promo Streamed". [[Anime News Network]].
23. (July 5, 2011). "Musical Duo ClariS to Make Cameo in ''Oreimo'' Novel". [[Anime News Network]].
24. (July 21, 2011). "Young Jump's Aoharu #0.5 Issue Gets ClariS Theme Song". [[Anime News Network]].
25. link. [[Oricon]]
26. (November 26, 2011). "''Nisemonogatari'' Anime's Ad with ClariS/Ryo Theme Posted". [[Anime News Network]].
27. "Birthday". [[Oricon]].
28. "Birthday (Regular Edition)". CD Japan.
29. "Birthday (w/ DVD, Limited Pressing)". CD Japan.
30. "Birthday (w/ Figure + 8cm CD, Limited Edition)". CD Japan.
31. link. [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]]
32. "Wake Up". [[Oricon]].
33. (June 26, 2012). "ClariS, Hiiragi Sing ''Moyashimon Returns'' Anime Themes". [[Anime News Network]].
34. link. [[Oricon]]
35. (August 25, 2012). "Madoka Magica Films' Ad Aired With New Theme by ClariS". [[Anime News Network]].
36. link. [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]]
37. (January 25, 2013). "ClariS to Perform ''Oreimo''{{'}}s 2nd Season Opening". [[Anime News Network]].
38. "Second Story". [[Oricon]].
39. "カラフル". [[Oricon]].
40. (July 5, 2013). "ClariS, Kalafina to Sing 3rd ''Madoka Magica'' Film's Theme Songs". [[Anime News Network]].
41. (January 7, 2014). "初のClariS企画イベント「2014 New Year's Festival 始まりの予感･･･」大成功! 公演ラストにはサプライズでClariSがシルエットで登場!?". [[Animate (retailer).
42. (December 4, 2013). "Musical Duo Claris to Perform Nisekoi Anime's Opening Theme". [[Anime News Network]].
43. "Step". [[Oricon]].
44. "Party Time". [[Oricon]].
45. (May 26, 2014). "Alice of Singing Duo ClariS Leaves Unit". [[Anime News Network]].
46. (May 26, 2014). "ClariSから大切なお知らせ". [[Sony Music Entertainment Japan]].
47. (June 16, 2014). "Clara: ClariS Will Not Disband". [[Anime News Network]].
48. (October 25, 2014). "ClariS' New Song with New Member will be Revealed Next Month". [[Crunchyroll]].
49. "リスアニ!Vol.19". M-ON! Entertainment.
50. "Biography {{!}} ClariS Official Site". [[Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
51. (November 8, 2014). "ClariS Sings Tsukimonogatari's Ending Song With New Member". [[Anime News Network]].
52. "リスアニ!LIVE-5". M-ON! Entertainment.
53. "ClariS: Single Best 1st". [[Oricon]].
54. (May 24, 2015). "TrySail, ClariS Perform Classroom Crisis Anime's Themes". [[Anime News Network]].
55. (January 25, 2015). "遂に!ClariS待望の初ワンマンライブ決定!". [[Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
56. "Spring Tracks -春のうた-". [[Oricon]].
57. "Spring Tracks －春のうた－". [[Sony Music Entertainment Japan]].
58. (May 4, 2016). "ClariS、話題のアニメED曲表題は「Gravity」". [[Natalie (website).
59. (August 6, 2016). "ClariS, GARNiDELiA Collaborate on 3rd Qualidea Code Anime Ending Theme". [[Anime News Network]].
60. (June 2, 2016). "Akiba's Beat Game's Concept Video Previews Combat, Story, ClariS Song". [[Anime News Network]].
61. "Fairy Castle". [[Oricon]].
62. (September 20, 2016). "ClariS to Hold Their First Budokan Concert in February 2017". [[Crunchyroll]].
63. (December 13, 2016). "Musical Duo ClariS' 1st Live Telephone Broadcast Gets 25,000 Viewers". [[Anime News Network]].
64. (February 11, 2017). "ClariS 初の武道館コンサート大成功! 初めて仮面を脱いだClariS、大声援をもらい新たなスタートを切った!". Entameclip.
65. (January 6, 2017). "ソニー、新レーベル『SACRA MUSIC』4月発足 Kalafina、ClariSら擁し海外展開". [[Oricon]].
66. (February 10, 2017). "ClariS Performs Eromanga Sensei TV Anime's Opening Song". [[Anime News Network]].
67. (June 30, 2017). "Owarimonogatari Anime Special Previewed in Video". [[Anime News Network]].
68. "ClariS初の映像作品「ClariS 1st 武道館コンサート ～2つの仮面と失われた太陽～」7月12日に発売決定！ さらに9月16日(土)パシフィコ横浜ライブのタイトル発表！". ClariS.
69. (September 17, 2017). "Pop Duo ClariS Unmask at Pacifico Yokohama Concert".
70. (June 3, 2017). "「Animelo Summer Live 2017 -THE CARD-」第4弾アーティスト発表 !8/25(金)ClariS、8/26(土)東山奈央、8/27(日)黒崎真音が出演決定！". LisAni.
71. (September 12, 2017). "C3 AFA Singapore Announces 1st Wave of Musical Guests". [[Anime News Network]].
72. (November 10, 2017). "GARNiDELiA, ClariS Perform Theme Songs for Beatless Anime".
73. (May 3, 2018). "ClariS Performs Cells at Work! TV Anime's Ending Song".
74. "Fairy Party". [[Oricon]].
75. "Summer Tracks -夏のうた-". [[Oricon]].
76. "Summer Tracks －春のうた－". [[Sony Music Entertainment Japan]].
77. Hodgkins, Crystalyn. (November 30, 2019). "Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story Anime's 2nd Promo Video Reveals January 4 Debut".
78. "Alethea/Signal - EP by ClariS". Apple.
79. (August 13, 2019). "Signal - Single". Apple.
80. "冬アニメ『はたらく細胞!!』×ClariSが歌うEDテーマ『Fight!!』コラボムービー公開！ {{!}} アニメイトタイムズ".
81. (June 24, 2022). "Lycoris Recoil Anime's Short Video Reveals, Previews ClariS' Opening Theme". [[Anime News Network]].
82. Queiroz, Talles. (2024-04-03). "Anime Friends 2024 contará com show da dupla ClariS".
83. link. [[Natalie (website). Natalie]]
84. (January 25, 2025). "Female Singing Unit ClariS Restarts Activities With 2 New Members". [[Anime News Network]].
85. (2025-06-26). "ClariS、『彼女、お借りします』OP曲シングルリリース＆先行配信 楽曲使用の本PV公開、WEBラジオ開始も".
86. "ClariS 『コネクト』インタビュー". Plantech.
87. (December 27, 2010). "リスアニ!から見た「ClariS」". Asianbeat.
88. (December 27, 2010). "kzから見た「ClariS」". Asianbeat.
89. Arimoto, Kazuki. (September 10, 2010). "異例づくめ!現役女子中学生2人組「ClariS（クラリス）」が『俺の妹が…』OP曲でデビュー". NEC Biglobe.
90. "ClariS 『irony』インタビュー". Plantech.
91. "ClariS". RunTime Music Entertainment.
92. "ClariS 『コネクト』インタビュー". Plantech.
93. "ClariS". RunTime Music Entertainment.
94. (October 21, 2020). "Musical Duo ClariS Reveal Their Faces in Online Concert". [[Anime News Network]].
95. Morrissy, Kim. (March 7, 2022). "Musical Duo ClariS Releases 1st Music Video Without Masks".
96. "ClariS 『irony』インタビュー". Plantech.
97. (November 8, 2014). "ClariS 再び"はじまるこのメロディー"". M-ON! Entertainment.
98. (September 1, 2024). "Karen of Singing Duo ClariS to Leave Unit". [[Anime News Network]].