Honestly, if you told someone ten years ago that Sanrio—the company behind Hello Kitty and My Melody—would produce a high-octane, guitar-shredding anime about a shy girl trapped in a music-themed metaverse, they’d probably think you were joking. But here we are. Cyan Show by Rock is more than just a character design; she's the literal heartbeat of a franchise that bridged the gap between "kawaii" culture and hardcore rhythm gaming.
She's a cat. She wears a dark, frilly dress. She carries a legendary guitar named Strawberry Heart.
But why does she still matter in 2026? It's not just the aesthetic. Cyan Hijirikawa represents a specific kind of wish fulfillment for the socially anxious. When we first meet her in the Show by Rock!! anime (produced by the legendary Studio Bones), she’s a high schooler too scared to join the school music club. Then, she gets sucked into Sound World. Suddenly, she’s the lead guitarist for Plasmagica.
The Origin of Cyan Show by Rock and the Sanrio Evolution
Sanrio took a massive gamble with this one. Before the 2013 mobile game launch, Sanrio was mostly known for static characters that looked good on stationery. Cyan changed that. Developed by Geechs, the original mobile game was a "rhythm-action" experience that felt way more aggressive than anything featuring Little Twin Stars.
Cyan isn't your typical protagonist. She’s a Myumon. Specifically, a white cat girl with navy blue hair that looks like it was plucked straight from a Victorian dollhouse. Her design is a masterclass in the "Gothic Lolita" style, featuring that iconic headdress and a striped skirt that shouldn't work with a giant guitar, but somehow does.
Why the "Strawberry Heart" Guitar is Iconic
You can’t talk about Cyan without talking about her gear. Strawberry Heart isn't just a prop; it’s a sentient legendary instrument that talks to her. It’s voiced by Miyano Mamoru in the Japanese version, adding a layer of comedic absurdity to the show.
In the lore of Sound World, the quality of a band's music is literally a power source. Cyan’s ability to "purify" Dark Monsters with her riffs turned the series from a standard slice-of-life musical into a magical girl battle shonen hybrid. People came for the cute cat ears; they stayed for the surprisingly high-stakes interdimensional battles.
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Breaking Down the Plasmagica Dynamic
Cyan doesn't work alone. The chemistry within her band, Plasmagica, is what keeps the story grounded. You have Chuchu, the ambitious bunny who actually runs the logistics; Retoree, the shy golden retriever who spends most of her time on her smartphone; and Moa, the alien sheep who says "pyuru" at the end of every sentence.
Retoree’s crush on Cyan is one of the most discussed aspects of the fandom. It’s handled with a surprising amount of tenderness for a franchise designed to sell merchandise. The "Cyan Show by Rock" phenomenon grew because these characters felt like real friends, not just avatars in a gacha game.
They reside in Midi City. It’s a neon-soaked metropolis where everything is powered by "Melodisian." If your heart is corrupted, your Melodisian turns black. Cyan’s role is basically a musical exorcist. It sounds wild because it is.
The Studio Bones Impact: Why the Anime Looked So Good
Most mascot-driven anime are cheaply made. They’re essentially long commercials. But for Show by Rock!!, Sanrio partnered with Studio Bones—the same studio behind Fullmetal Alchemist and My Hero Academia.
This was a game-changer.
The animation quality for the musical performances used a mix of traditional 2D for the "humanoid" forms and CG for the "chibi" Myumon forms. It was polarizing at first. Some fans hated the 3D bobble-head look. However, the fluid action sequences and the vibrant color palette eventually won everyone over. When Cyan performs "Seishun wa Non-Stop!", the energy is infectious. It doesn't feel like a cynical cash grab. It feels like a genuine love letter to Japanese indie rock and band culture.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Cyan
A common misconception is that Cyan is just another "moe" character designed to be cute. If you actually watch the series or play the games, she’s surprisingly resilient. She deals with extreme imposter syndrome.
Imagine being a teenager who can't even speak to her classmates, and suddenly you're told you're the chosen one who has to save a musical dimension from a corporate overlord named Dagger Morse. That's a lot of pressure for a cat.
Another mistake? Thinking the show is just for kids. While it's rated for a general audience, the humor is often surreal, and the music—composed by actual Japanese rock artists—is legitimately sophisticated. The "Cyan Show by Rock" brand leans heavily into the "Bandmen" subculture in Japan, which has a massive adult following.
The Legacy of the 2013-2021 Era
The franchise has seen several iterations:
- The original 2013 mobile game (RIP).
- The 2015 anime series.
- Show by Rock!! Short!! (bite-sized comedy).
- Show by Rock!!# (the second season).
- Show by Rock!! Mashumairesh!! (a soft reboot).
- Show by Rock!! Stars!! (the ultimate crossover).
Throughout all of this, Cyan remained the face of the series. Even when the focus shifted to new bands like Mashumairesh!!, the fans kept demanding more Cyan. Her influence is so strong that she consistently ranks high in the annual Sanrio Character Ranking, often beating out "legacy" characters that have been around since the 70s.
It’s worth noting that the music isn't just "pop." You have subgenres ranging from visual kei (Shingankiims) to enka-infused rock (Tsurezurenaru Ayatsuri Mugendan). Cyan acts as the entry point for viewers to explore this massive sonic landscape.
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Real-World Impact: Live Events and Merch
Cyan has appeared in "real" concerts. Using projection technology, Sanrio has hosted live events where the fictional bands perform for a screaming crowd of thousands. It’s a precursor to the Vtuber explosion we see today.
If you're looking for Cyan merch today, you're looking at a secondary market that is absolutely thriving. From Nendoroids to high-end scales, her 1/7th scale figures are notoriously hard to find at retail prices. The "Strawberry Heart" guitar has even been produced as a functional instrument for die-hard collectors.
How to Get Into Cyan’s Story Today
Since the original mobile games have mostly shut down or transitioned to new versions like Fes A Live (which also ended service), the best way to experience Cyan is through the anime.
Start with the 2015 season. Don't skip the "purification" scenes. They’re visually stunning. Pay attention to the lyrics; they often mirror Cyan’s internal growth from a girl who hides in her room to a frontwoman who can command a stage.
If you’re a fan of rhythm games, keep an eye on collab events. Cyan frequently pops up in other mobile titles. She’s the character that refuses to stay in the past.
Actionable Steps for New Fans
- Watch the original Season 1: It’s the purest distillation of Cyan’s journey. The pacing is tight, and the "fish out of water" trope is handled perfectly.
- Listen to the Plasmagica Discography: Tracks like "My Resolution" and "Meteorite" are genuine J-Rock bangers that hold up even without the anime context.
- Follow the Sanrio Character Ranking: Voting usually happens in the spring. If you want more Cyan content, this is the only way to show Sanrio that the demand is still there.
- Explore the "Midi City" Lore: There are several manga adaptations and side stories that flesh out the world beyond what's shown in the 20-minute episodes.
The story of Cyan Show by Rock is essentially a story about finding your voice through art. It’s loud, it’s chaotic, and it involves a lot of cat puns, but the heart behind it is remarkably real. Whether you're a fan of the Gothic Lolita aesthetic or you just like good music, Cyan is a character that proves Sanrio is capable of much more than just "cute." They can rock.