I'm not an Apple person, so let's get that out of the way.
Roughly half a year ago the first Bisei Tokei Apple app launched. To a minor seiyuu freak like myself it drew me like a moth to a flame. Thankfully reason got a hold of me so I didn't take a $200 plunge and got an iPod Touch just to satisfy the need of 12 seiyuu squeaking in my ear, on demand, any time.
What was weird wasn't so much my weird obsession, but that more than one person I knew enjoyed something like this--a clock application where every minute shows one of these voice actors holding a dry erase board with the time (in 24-hour format) on it. What's also weird was that Bisei Tokei was not region locked at all, so anyone with an iTunes account can purchase this application. Eight bucks was a lot for a joke app, but this app is clearly not marketed as a joke. And those of you made it possible...you know who they are.
For the more normal crowd, the Bijin Tokei series of apps are the apps that you want to get, which features just plain Japanese beauties (there's even a binan version, featuring dudes) in different settings, minus the rather-random character acting. Still, I knew more than one person enjoyed it because they just announced the full cast of the second Bisei Tokei. Click on and find out who gets to squeak in this new iteration of silly Apple app targeting serious otaku.
The second Bisei Tokei app features the following (with some signature roles):
- Yu Kobayashi (Satoshi from Higurashi, Kaere from Zetsubo-sensei, Nice from Baccano!)
- Hiromi Konno (Akira from Lucky Star, Il from Shugo Chara)
- Yuko Kaida (Ryoumou from Ikkitousen, Marida from Gundam UC)
- Marina Inoue (Yoko from Gurren Lagann, Kasahara from Library War, Kana from Minami-ke)
- Rie Tanaka (Chii from Chobits, Lacus from Gundam SEED, Yomi from Azumanga Daioh)
- Yuko Goto (Mikuru from Haruhi, Hiro from Hidamari Sketch, Kaede from Shuffle)
- Ayumi Fujimura (Cecily from Sacred Blacksmith, Niche from Letter Bee)
- Chiaki Takahashi (Azusa from Idolmaster, Ai Tanabe from Full Metal Panic)
- Saori Goto (Setsuna from NEEDLESS, Ink-chan from Toradora)
- Ami Koshimizu (Kallen from Code Geass, Horo from Spice & Wolf, Tenma from School Rumble)
- Kana Asumi (Yuno from Toradora!, Poplar from Working!!, Megumi from Persona - Trinity Soul)
- Asami Imai (Chihaya from Idolmaster, Yuzuki from KissxSis)
I think some of us might be giggling along with our Yoko dakimakura, imagining waking up to an alarm chime voiced by none other than Marina Inoue herself, or someone else you're feeling moe about. If that sounds like you, then I'm probably preaching to the choir.
The only thing left is hoping that Android phones get some popularity in Japan so all these juicy apps will make way to that platform too! For those of you with iPad, iPhone or the iPod Touch, you can look for it in mid July.
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