Earlier this year, we told you about our obsession with the Japanese idol group Atarashii Gakko!. The talented foursome — Mizyu “the Sleeping Kitten”, Suzuka “The Wildcard”, Kanon “The Graceful One”, and Rin “the Nice and Funky One” — are like your school’s theatre weirdos if said weirdos had quickly risen to fame after graduating and racked up over 4 million views on their debut music video (“NAINAINAI”) alone. Since its release in January 2021, Atarashii Gakko! have continued to serve up hyperactive bilingual hits on 88rising — perfect for the self-choreographed, high-energy dances they share with their 3.2 million followers on TikTok.
On their new single “Pineapple Kryptonite”, creepy melodies are punctuated by sword clashes and juxtaposed with a near-angelic chorus reminiscent of t.A.T.u. But what does it mean? Deep in the Californian desert (where they embrace their imagined American alter-egos) Atarashii Gakko! battle an intergalactic villain with alien superpowers. “Charged with 100% Seishun Power and insane fight choreography,” reads the music video’s synopsis, “they are determined to win the battle and save humanity! And doggos! But will they succeed? The outcome largely depends on whether they figure out what the alien’s kryptonite is!” Spoiler alert: it’s pineapples.
You can hear “Pineapple Kryptonite” in all its glory at the top end of Atarashii Gakko!’s very special i-D playlist. Still very much obsessed, we asked Mizyu, Suzuka, Kanon and Rin to channel their inner creep and curate the ultimate soundtrack for October 31st. “The playlist is for getting into the spooky Halloween mood!” they say. As well as their new single, the playlist features music from The Nightmare Before Christmas and the discographies of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Beastie Boys, BIGBANG and Lady Gaga. The ideal mix of fun and spooky.
Hit play and read on as Atarashii Gakko! share their favourite horror movies and tips for surviving a zombie apocalypse in Tokyo.
Hi AG! What are your Halloween plans for this year?
We will be performing at a Halloween online festival! Our costumes will be our usual Japanese school uniform.
Tell us your top 3 favourite scary movies.
1. THE RING (リング)
2. Ju-On (呪怨)
3. ONE CUT OF THE DEAD(カメラを止めるな)
You battled an alien in the video for Pineapple Kryptonite. Do you believe in them?
Yes, definitely. They exist!
And have you ever seen a ghost? Or experienced something supernatural?
Three out of the four of us have!
You’re in Tokyo and the undead begin to walk to earth. What’s your zombie apocalypse survival plan?
Kanon: Pretend to be dead.
Suzuka: Get an axe, chop zombies in half.
Atarashii Gakko! are in a horror movie and only one of you can survive. Who does and why?
That would be Kanon. We know this from when we were actually in a short horror movie once. Kanon was the sole survivor.