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Kanako Itou Previews Full Version of Steins;Gate 0 OP at AnimeJapan 2018

Kanako Itou performed the full version of the Steins;Gate 0 OP theme “Fatima” for the first time at a stage event last month at AnimeJapan2018. A preview of the music video was also screened at the stage event; the single will be released on April 25.

You can hear a part of the song in the second PV, which was also unveiled at the stage event. Kadokawa has since posted the video on their YouTube channel:

After the performance, the voice actors of Rintaro Okabe (Mamoru Miyano), Daru (Tomokazu Seki), Kurisu Makise (Asami Imai), and Maho Hiyajo (Sayuri Yahagi) appeared on stage to greet the audience and discuss the new anime.

The show began with a summary of the story of Steins;Gate 0, which is based off an alternate route from the original Steins;Gate visual novel where Okabe failed to save Kurisu. The returning cast then talked about their feelings toward the Steins;Gate 0 story and its corresponding anime. Miyano said that it was nostalgic to play Okabe again, even if the character is more depressed this time around. Imai said that she was also looking forward to playing Kurisu in a different kind of role than what she had in the original anime.

Seki said that it was weird going back to Steins;Gate 0 after a long break from the franchise because in the interim he was mainly just playing the wacky Whisper from Yōkai Watch. He mused aloud if his performance as Daru has been influenced by his role as Whisper and tried talking as Whisper to compare. The other voice actors laughed and said that they do sound similar.

Afterward, Itou appeared back on the stage to talk about the making of “Fatima”. She said that she intended the lyrics as a continuation of the themes from “Hacking to the Gate”, the OP of the first Steins;Gate anime. She commented that it was pointless to stick key words from the story together without any regard for how they fit into the themes and world. Another important aspect of the song is the fast pace and energy in the rhythm line, which she tried to make as exhilarating as possible.

From left to right: Sayuri Yahagi, Asami Imai, Mamoru Miyano, Tomokazu Seki, and Kanako Itou.

At the end of the event, Itou performed “Hacking to the Gate” as a nostalgic throwback to the first season. The fans brought out their glow sticks and waved them along to the song. The show ended with everyone reiterating their excitement to be working on another Steins;Gate anime and expressing their hope that everyone will enjoy the show when it comes out in April.