Sakura Minamoto of 'Zombieland Saga' Becomes SNS Trendsetter with 'Girls Band Cry' Crossover

Sakura Minamoto, the protagonist of the popular anime series Zombieland Saga, has become the subject of a major SNS trend thanks to a special collaboration with the equally acclaimed series Girls Band Cry. This unique project involved the two protagonists, Sakura Minamoto and Nina Iseri, re-dubbing the opening scenes of each other's anime, with the 'dialect swap' generating significant buzz.

In the collaboration video, the opening scene of Girls Band Cry was dubbed by Sakura Minamoto (voiced by Rina), while the opening scene of Zombieland Saga was handled by Nina Iseri (voiced by Kaede Hondo). This unconventional attempt, where the Karatsu dialect typically spoken by Sakura Minamoto and the Kumamoto dialect typically spoken by Nina Iseri were swapped, prompted an outpouring of surprise and praise on social media. Comments included: “This collab is too much of a mystery!” and “I feel a strong will that says, 'I’ll show you in 5 seconds what happens when a crazy one teams up with another crazy one.'”

Fans also lauded the voice actors’ performances. Many praised their masterful ability to portray the characters, with comments such as: “Kaede Hondo’s range has expanded!” and “Rina voicing Sakura Minamoto hit me with a double punch of skill and cuteness!” The fresh appeal created by their handling of dialects different from their usual character portrayals particularly captivated many viewers.

The collaboration also touched upon Sakura Minamoto's iconic "hit by a truck" scene from Zombieland Saga. Comments like “Sakura Minamoto (CV. Nina Iseri) has an increased country bumpkin feel and is cute” and “The theory that the driver of the kei truck that runs over Sakura Minamoto in the GaruKura x Zonsaga swapped dubbing is Momoka Kawaragii is too hot lol” show how fans engaged in humorous cross-over speculation, transcending the boundaries of the two works.

This collaboration is also expected to create a synergistic effect for both works, which have upcoming movie releases. The chemical reaction between the dialects and characters, woven together by two series set in Kyushu, proved to be an unforgettable surprise for anime fans. Attention is now focused on how this collaboration will usher in a new era for the anime industry.

The context

To fully appreciate this unique collaboration, some background information is helpful:

• Zombieland Saga: This popular anime (first season 2018, second season 2021) follows Sakura Minamoto, a high school girl who dies in a truck accident and is resurrected as a zombie idol. She and six other zombie girls form an idol group to revitalize Saga Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan. Sakura Minamoto's character is famously introduced by being hit by a truck. Her character typically speaks in the regional Karatsu dialect.
• Girls Band Cry: A newer anime series (2024) about Nina Iseri, a girl who drops out of high school and moves to Tokyo to start a band. Her character originates from Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu and speaks with a distinct Kumamoto dialect.
• The Collaboration's "Dialect Swap": The core humor and appeal of this event lies in the intricate voice actor and dialect swap. Typically, Kaede Hondo voices Sakura Minamoto (speaking Karatsu dialect), and Rina voices Nina Iseri (speaking Kumamoto dialect). In this special collaboration:
  • Rina (the original voice of Nina Iseri) took on the role of Sakura Minamoto. While voicing Sakura, she delivered lines from the Girls Band Cry opening, but she did so using the Kumamoto dialect (Nina's native dialect). Thus, Sakura Minamoto (normally a Karatsu speaker) was heard speaking Kumamoto dialect.
  • Kaede Hondo (the original voice of Sakura Minamoto) took on the role of Nina Iseri. While voicing Nina, she delivered lines from the Zombieland Saga opening, but she did so using the Karatsu dialect (Sakura's native dialect). Thus, Nina Iseri (normally a Kumamoto speaker) was heard speaking Karatsu dialect.
  This complex exchange of voice actors, characters, and dialects created a humorous and refreshing experience for fans familiar with both series and their regional linguistic nuances. Both series are set in the Kyushu region of Japan, making the interplay of their respective dialects a key cultural touchpoint for Japanese audiences.
• Upcoming Movies: Both Zombieland Saga and Girls Band Cry have feature films in development, making this collaboration a strategic promotional event.