Kaleido Star: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|''"Some day, Layla, the whole world will come to see the performances of that little girl. I assure you."''|'''Kalos Eidos'''}}

The last clear memory that young [[Genki Girl|Sora Naegino]] has of her deceased parents is the time they took her to an extraordinary circus called the Kaleido Stage, a few months before their deaths in an accident. At age 16, Sora graduates from junior high and decides to try going to the auditions for the [[Cirque Du Soleil]] esque Kaleido Stage in <s>[[Where the Hell Is Springfield|San Francisco]]</s> Cape Mery, USA. So, with the reluctant blessing of her adoptive parents, she goes to America to seek for her dream...

The last clear memory that young [[Genki Girl|Sora Naegino]] has of her deceased parents is the time they took her to an extraordinary circus called the Kaleido Stage, a few months before their deaths in an accident. At age 16, Sora graduates from junior high and decides to try going to the auditions for the [[Cirque Du Soleil]] esque Kaleido Stage in <s>[[Where the Hell Is Springfield?|San Francisco]]</s> Cape Mery, USA. So, with the reluctant blessing of her adoptive parents, she goes to America to seek for her dream...

[[Break the Cutie|But it won't]] [[Training From Hell|be easy]]. After an incident involving the theft of her luggage, Sora arrives late to the audition and is told to go back home and wait for the next round -- a year later. However, when a performer is unexpectedly hurt, the owner [[Stern Teacher|Kalos Eido]] tells [[The Fool|Sora]] to cover for her. Main Kaleido Stage star [[Defrosting Ice Queen|Layla Hamilton]] wonders if Sora is ''really'' cut out for it and challenges her to either perform Layla's trademark move, the Golden Phoenix, or go back home; Sora trains hard with the help of two other recruits ([[Bifauxnen|Anna Heart]] and [[Badass Bookworm|Mia Guillem]]) and the company's stage manager ([[Non Action Guy|Kenneth "Ken" Robbins]]), and though she doesn't fully accomplish it, [[Plucky Girl|her determination]] convinces Layla to let her stay. Ever since then, Sora has to struggle extra hard to fulfill her dream: to become the Top Star of the Stage...

[[Break the Cutie|But it won't]] [[Training From Hell|be easy]]. After an incident involving the theft of her luggage, Sora arrives late to the audition and is told to go back home and wait for the next round -- a year later. However, when a performer is unexpectedly hurt, the owner [[Stern Teacher|Kalos Eido]] tells [[The Fool|Sora]] to cover for her. Main Kaleido Stage star [[Defrosting Ice Queen|Layla Hamilton]] wonders if Sora is ''really'' cut out for it and challenges her to either perform Layla's trademark move, the Golden Phoenix, or go back home; Sora trains hard with the help of two other recruits ([[Bifauxnen|Anna Heart]] and [[Badass Bookworm|Mia Guillem]]) and the company's stage manager ([[Non-Action Guy|Kenneth "Ken" Robbins]]), and though she doesn't fully accomplish it, [[Plucky Girl|her determination]] convinces Layla to let her stay. Ever since then, Sora has to struggle extra hard to fulfill her dream: to become the Top Star of the Stage...

''Kaleido Star'' (カレイドスター, ''Kareido Sutāa'') is an anime series co-produced by Japanese studio Gonzo Digimation Holding, Korean studio G&G Entertainment, and American distributor [[ADV Films]]. The series was created by Junichi Sato, who also directed the first season, and written by Reiko Yoshida. The second season, ''Kaleido Star: New Wings'', was directed by Yoshimasa Hiraike. Famed Japanese circus performer and Cirque du Soleil veteran Dio Kobayashi was a special adviser to the production; a character within the show was named "Dio" in his honor.

In short, take the [[Frills of Justice|sparkly costumes]] and [[Wide Eyed Idealist|cheery optimism]] of a [[Magical Girl]] series, remove a good part of the magic except for the [[Fairy Companion]] and have ''everyone'' try to [[Break the Cutie|break the spirit of the main character]] at some point and to different degrees. That's ''Kaleido Star''.

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=== This show provides examples of: ===

* [[Abusive Parents]]: Leon and Sophie's step-parents

* [[The Ace]]: Deconstructed through May Wong (along with [[Tsundere Sue]]), just like Sora is a deconstruction of the [[Purity Sue]].

* [[All of the Other Reindeer]]: At the beginning, almost everyone thought Sora got her spot by sucking up to Kalos and treated her like crap.

* [[Anime Theme Song]]: And several, over the course of its two seasons.

* [[Armor Piercing Slap]]: Layla on Yuri, later May on Sora.

* [[Armor-Piercing Slap]]: Layla on Yuri, later May on Sora.

* [[Ascended Fanboy|Ascended Fangirls]]: Sora, Layla, May, Hannah and Barbara were Kaleido Stage fangirls before being recruited.

* [[The Atoner]]: {{spoiler|Kalos Eidos, who's blamed himself for the death of his old friend Aaron for years. Later, Yuri Killian, Aaron's son, who once tried to ruin Kalos's life out of revenge but saw the light [[Break the Haughty|very harshly]].}}

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** Also, May is the [[Cool Big Sis]] for her ''five'' little brothers and sisters.

* [[Crosscast Role]]: Anna often plays male roles.

* [[Dark Skinned Blond]]: Barbara from the second season.

* [[Dark-Skinned Blond]]: Barbara from the second season.

* [[Dead Little Sister]]: {{spoiler|Poor Sophie. She's basically the reason why Leon Oswald is... well, [[Jerkass|the]] [[Defrosting Ice Queen|way]] [[Jerk With a Heart of Gold|he]] [[The Comically Serious|is]].}}

* [[Deconstructed Trope]]: Sora deconstructs the concept of the typical [[Naive Everygirl]] shoujo heroine with traces of [[Purity Sue]], by facing borderline crippling losses and rejection from the beginning and having to work ''hard'' for both respect and technical prowess... ''without'' becoming cynical. That last bit is also a deconstruction of [[Jade Colored Glasses]], as the experiences she goes through would guarantee many people to go all disenchanted, but after rather understandable troubles... it ultimately makes Sora ''even pluckier''.

* [[Deconstructed Trope]]: Sora deconstructs the concept of the typical [[Naive Everygirl]] shoujo heroine with traces of [[Purity Sue]], by facing borderline crippling losses and rejection from the beginning and having to work ''hard'' for both respect and technical prowess... ''without'' becoming cynical. That last bit is also a deconstruction of [[Jade-Colored Glasses]], as the experiences she goes through would guarantee many people to go all disenchanted, but after rather understandable troubles... it ultimately makes Sora ''even pluckier''.

** At the same time, May Wong can be seen as a deconstruction of [[The Ace]] and [[Jerk Sue]]: she plays them straight at first, but she actually ''pays'' the price for her arrogance.

** A lesser example is the first time Fool reveals himself to Sora. Most magical girl characters react to the sight of their [[Fairy Companion]] with awe and acceptance, but Sora considers the talking doll in her hotel room to be a sign of her own [[Sanity Slippage]]. The fact that no one else can see him doesn't help.

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* [[Fan of Underdog]]: Ken, Mia, Anna, Jonathan (sorta) and Marion.

* [[Feminine Women Can Cook]]: A running gag from the second season is having Rosetta facing the woes of maintaining her place more or less in order without making anything explode. (Then again, Rosetta is at most thirteen or so and living on her own for the first time).

* [[Five Man Band]]:

* [[Five-Man Band]]:

** Sora Naegino, [[The Heroine]].

** Layla Hamilton, [[The Lancer]]. {{spoiler|Replaced later by Leon Oswald and May Wong.}}

** Anna Heart, [[The Big Guy]]. Sometimes Jerry the Policeman fits in, too.

** Mia Guillem, [[The Smart Guy]]. {{spoiler|Helped by Ken Robbins and later by Cathy Taymor.}}

** [[Non Action Guy|Ken Robbins]] and [[Team Mom|Sarah Dupont]], [[The Chick]].

** [[Non-Action Guy|Ken Robbins]] and [[Team Mom|Sarah Dupont]], [[The Chick]].

** Kalos Eido, [[Mentor Archetype]].

** Rosetta Passel, [[Sixth Ranger]]

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* [[Heel Face Turn]]: Mia and Anna start out as Sora's worst tormentors. Once she proves her determination, they quickly change their opinion of her and develop into her best friends.

** Charlotte and Julie also do this much later in the season {{spoiler|when Yuri fires them from his new Kaleido Stage}}. But given the circumstances, you have to wonder if they were sincere or just had no further options.

* [[Heroic Self Deprecation]]: Sora's lack of self-esteem about her own skills and her ''real'' goal.

* [[Heroic Self-Deprecation]]: Sora's lack of self-esteem about her own skills and her ''real'' goal.

* [[Hot Mom]]: Pamela the [[Cool Big Sis]] is a mother of two. Also, Sora's aunt and adoptive mother Midori Naegino is a Cute Shonen Mom.

** Marion's [[Missing Mom]] was incredibly pretty too.

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* [[Ill Boy]]: Ken can't be an acrobat because he has a weak heart, so he becomes a manager/trainer. {{spoiler|And in the second season he gets temporarily roped in as the [[Butt Monkey]] of Anna, Hannah and Barbara's routines.}}

* [[Important Haircut]]: {{spoiler|Layla is given one by Sora in an OVA in order to be "reborn" like a phoenix.}}

* [[~~Its~~ All About Me]]: When May walks into Kaleido Stage in the second season, she's amazed and pissed off that no one but her sees how wonderful and perfect she is and haven't handed her every lead role over the current star who worked for everything she has. [[Break the Haughty|She gets better]], but she'll really make you want to jam your thumbs in your eyes for about a dozen episodes.

* [[It's All About Me]]: When May walks into Kaleido Stage in the second season, she's amazed and pissed off that no one but her sees how wonderful and perfect she is and haven't handed her every lead role over the current star who worked for everything she has. [[Break the Haughty|She gets better]], but she'll really make you want to jam your thumbs in your eyes for about a dozen episodes.

** Leon is the same, in a subtler and colder way. He believes his skill makes him so important that he demands script changes and special treatment at the drop of a hat. {{spoiler|It turns out he even puts his costars out of commission when he decides they are not worthy of being his partner. If he deems them unworthy, there's no point in them ever continuing to perform.}}

* [[I Want My Beloved to Be Happy]]: {{spoiler|Kalos tries to pull this to let Sarah become a full-time [[Idol Singer]], but she says she's more than happy in the Kaleido Stage and stays. It doesn't help that the one giving her the chance was Kalos' old friend Andy, who as soon as he learns about the situation ''also'' steps aside so Sarah can stay.}}

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* [[Mood Whiplash]]: It often goes from drama to comedy without almost any warning.

* [[My Greatest Failure]]: {{spoiler|Kalos never forgave himself for Aaron's death in the Kaleido Stage.}}

* [[Non Action Guy]]: Kenneth Robbins.

* [[Non-Action Guy]]: Kenneth Robbins.

* [[No Sympathy]]: Kalos Eidos isn't a bad person ''per se'', but in regards to the Stage, he's incredibly (and borderline [[Kick the Dog]]-ish) harsh. Layla shows this type of behavior too, barring Sora from the tryouts since she was late -- ''because she was mugged on her way to the Stage and groped by Kalos''.

* [[Not Allowed to Grow Up]]: The whole cast, really, but it's most obvious with Marion, who stays about 10ish, and Jonathan, who remains a baby seal, for what appears to be about two years of elapsed time across the two seasons.

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* [[Parental Abandonment]]: Sora's natural parents are dead; her adoptive parents are supportive of her but stayed in Japan for a long time. Layla's mother died and her dad is good-hearted yet ''very'' workaholic. Leon is an orphan who abandoned his abusive adoptive relatives along with Sophie. And Yuri... [[You Killed My Father|well...]]

* [[Parents As People]]: Layla's father is this to a T.

* [[Pimped Out Dress]]: At least half the costumes.

* [[Pimped-Out Dress]]: At least half the costumes.

* [[Plucky Girl]]: Sora, May, Layla.

* [[Poisonous Friend]]: Manami seems to be one of those in the beginning, but soon we're proved wrong.

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* [[Promotion to Parent]]: Leon, in regards to Sophie.

* [[Recycled in Space]]: A sequel, ''Kaleido Star 2'', was planned and featured in a 2005 issue of ''Newtype USA''. It eschewed the circus setting of the main series and starred Rosetta as a [[Magical Girl]] in space. However, given the time since it was announced and its non-existence on [[The Other Wiki]], I guess we can safely say that ''KS2'' is missing and presumed dead. (It may have been remade into the chibi (second) OVA "Good dayo! Goooooooood!")

* [[Red Oni Blue Oni]]: The emotional Sora and the collected Layla. Later, Sora and the childish May, this one bordering on [[Shadow Archetype]].

* [[Red Oni, Blue Oni]]: The emotional Sora and the collected Layla. Later, Sora and the childish May, this one bordering on [[Shadow Archetype]].

* [[Ridiculously Cute Critter]]: Jonathan the baby seal.

* [[The Rival]]: Sora and Layla; Sora and May; Leon and Yuri.

* [[Romantic False Lead]]: Andy, in regards to Sarah and Kalos. He's ''nicer'' than the stereotypical False Lead, though.

* [[Romantic Two Girl Friendship]]: Sora and Rosetta, to a degree.

* [[Romantic Two-Girl Friendship]]: Sora and Rosetta, to a degree.

* [[Roof Hopping]]: Sora manages a version of this ''in roller blades'', bouncing from awning to awning, while chasing the thief who stole her luggage in the first episode.

* [[Ryo Hirohashi]]: Sora

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* [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]]: You have three chances to guess which side this series firmly sits on, and the first two don't count.

* [[Smug Snake]]: {{spoiler|Yuri Killian, in the first season.}}

* [[Spell My Name With an S]]: Carlos, who became "Kalos." In the dubbers' defense, "カロス" (KAROSU) isn't the most typical transliteration for Carlos; "カルロス" (KARUROSU) and "カーロス" (KAAROSU) would probably be used more often.

* [[Spell My Name With an "S"]]: Carlos, who became "Kalos." In the dubbers' defense, "カロス" (KAROSU) isn't the most typical transliteration for Carlos; "カルロス" (KARUROSU) and "カーロス" (KAAROSU) would probably be used more often.

** Ironically, "Kalos" sounds like ''callous'', which describes him pretty well when he's at his worst.

** It of course serves the "Kalos Eido"/"Kaleido" pun better this way as well. Yes, Kalos apparently named his circus after himself.

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* [[Tsundere]]: May Wong is a ''very'' exaggerated (in the beginning) Type A (tsuntsun, aka "mostly cranky"). She mellows out a bit, but is still quite volatile.

* [[Victorious Childhood Friend]]: {{spoiler|Jerry the Policeman, since he manages to ''marry'' his childhood friend Kate the doctor.}}

* [[Well Done Son Guy]]: Layla is a female version of this.

* [["Well Done, Son" Guy]]: Layla is a female version of this.

* [[Whip It Good]]: Dio

* [[White Haired Pretty Boy]]: Leon Oswald.

* [[White-Haired Pretty Boy]]: Leon Oswald.

* [[Wide Eyed Idealist]]: Boy, does Sora get called out for being one of these...

* [[You Gotta Have Blue Hair]]: Sora, with her raspberry-hued locks, is almost the only character in the show with an unrealistic hair color. (Although Leon's silver/platinum hair comes close. Also, the dance captain has lavender hair, but he also seems to be a [[Camp Gay]], so it may be dyed).