Overview
コネクト (connect) is the second single by the vocal duo ClariS, written and composed by Shou Watanabe (渡辺翔). It serves as the opening theme for the acclaimed 2011 anime television series 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ (Puella Magi Madoka Magica), a show that subverted the magical-girl genre and became a cultural phenomenon. The song's lyrics, themes of hope, resolution, and pressing forward despite despair, mirror the narrative arc of the series protagonist, Madoka Kaname.
コネクト was one of the tracks available at the launch of the original maimai arcade cabinet on July 11, 2012, and it remained playable for nearly a decade. During its tenure, the track received multiple jacket redesigns, first for maimai でらっくす, then again for maimai でらっくす Splash, and gained DX charts (including a Re:Master difficulty) on July 31, 2020. コネクト was ultimately removed from all maimai versions starting March 24, 2022, making it one of the longest-running launch tracks in the game's history.
Beyond maimai, コネクト has appeared in numerous other music games including CHUNITHM, オンゲキ, jubeat, DanceDanceRevolution, pop'n music, and 太鼓の達人, and has been remixed in both orchestral and dance-instrumental forms.
Videos
Charts
DX
BASIC
3(3)
103 notesDesigner: -|Tap 69Hold 11Slide 3Touch 16Break 4
ADVANCED
6(6)
229 notesDesigner: -|Tap 184Hold 18Slide 11Touch 14Break 2
EXPERT
8+(8.6)
320 notesDesigner: はっぴー|Tap 226Hold 29Slide 20Touch 37Break 8
MASTER
11(11)
409 notesDesigner: はっぴー|Tap 285Hold 46Slide 68Touch 5Break 5
Re:MASTER
12+(12.6)
552 notesDesigner: チャン@DP皆伝|Tap 367Hold 21Slide 128Touch 33Break 3
Trivia
- コネクト was ClariS's second single, released in February 2011, before being added to maimai as a launch title in July 2012. It later appeared on ClariS's debut album BIRTHDAY.
- In the anime's sixth episode, character Kyoko Sakura is shown playing the dance instrumental version of the song (コネクト -ゲームインスト-) on a fictional DanceDanceRevolution-like arcade machine called 'Dog Drug Reinforcement.'
- The song's jacket art changed three times across maimai versions: an original silhouette design of a female dancer in the original maimai, a new illustrated jacket in maimai でらっくす, and a third version in maimai でらっくす Splash based on the single's cover art.
- The in-game background video was originally an animation of a silhouetted female dancer; in maimai でらっくす it was replaced with a static image of the new jacket art.
- DX charts for コネクト were added to the Asian English version of maimai でらっくす PLUS before the Japanese version received them, one of the first times an international release led the Japanese release for new chart additions.
- Players can earn several in-game titles from コネクト's DX charts, including quotes from the anime such as 'あたしって、ほんとバカ' (I'm such an idiot), 'もう何も怖くない' (I'm not afraid of anything anymore), and '奇跡も、魔法も、あるんだよ' (Miracles and magic are real).
- An orchestral remix, コネクト -Orchestra ver.- (short EDIT), appears on the limited anime edition of ClariS's Luminous single.
- A dance instrumental remix by NIHILISTICA, コネクト -ゲームインスト-, was bundled with the limited-edition Blu-ray/DVD of the anime's sixth volume and later included in the Puella Magi Madoka Magica Music Collection album.
- In Asian English versions of maimai, the song is romanized as 'connect' with the artist listed as 'ClariS "PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA".' In the Chinese 舞萌 version, the title is also 'connect' with the artist as 'ClariS /《魔法少女 小☆圆》.'
- コネクト was also used as an insert song in the second film of the Puella Magi Madoka Magica movie trilogy, Gekijouban Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (Kouhen): Eien no Monogatari.
FAQ
- Who composed コネクト (connect)?
- コネクト was composed, arranged, and written by Shou Watanabe (渡辺翔), and performed by the vocal duo ClariS.
- What anime is コネクト from?
- コネクト is the opening theme song for the 2011 anime series 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ (Puella Magi Madoka Magica), and was later used as an insert song in the series' second compilation film.
- When was コネクト added to maimai?
- コネクト was available at the launch of the original maimai arcade cabinet on July 11, 2012.
- When was コネクト removed from maimai?
- コネクト and its charts were removed from all maimai versions on March 24, 2022, after nearly ten years in the game.
- What level is コネクト's Master chart in maimai?
- The DX Master chart is level 11 (constant 11.0), the Standard Master chart is level 12 (constant 12.0), and a DX Re:Master chart exists at level 12+ (constant 12.6).
- Who designed the charts for コネクト in maimai?
- はっぴー designed the DX Expert and Master charts, チャン@DP皆伝 designed the DX Re:Master and Standard Master charts, and maimai TEAM designed the Standard Expert chart.
- What other rhythm games feature コネクト?
- Beyond maimai, コネクト has appeared in CHUNITHM, オンゲキ R.E.D., jubeat, DanceDanceRevolution X3 vs 2ndMix, pop'n music 20 fantasia, and 太鼓の達人.
- Did コネクト's jacket artwork change over time in maimai?
- Yes. The original maimai used a silhouette design; maimai でらっくす introduced a new illustrated jacket; and maimai でらっくす Splash updated it again to match the single's cover art.
