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Two of the oldest and grandest forms of artistic expression – singing and dancing – come together on one stage in TV Asahi’s Song vs Dance, a thrilling head-to-head battle to answer the ultimate question: which is better, song or dance?

Name of the show:

Song vs Dance

Interviewee: 

Setsuko Yoda, Head of formats sales at TV Asahi

Running length/eps
60 minutes

Short logline:

Song vs Dance – which side are you on?

What is the elevator pitch for the show?

Song vs Dance is an innovative competition format where two of the biggest forms of artistic performance – singing and dancing – come together on one stage, establishing a new benchmark in competition television. Outstanding performers will compete in thrilling head-to-head battles in this video game-inspired format, leaving only one winner and answering the ultimate question: which is better, song or dance?

What makes it unique?

It’s a totally new type of talent competition format with video game, card game, and anime elements. For example, the coaches who lead Team Song and Team Dance, select a player by using cards with the performers ‘stats’ (genre and performance history) which is inspired by Pokémon cards and sports trading cards. There is a lot of strategy that the coaches use when choosing who they want to compete for their team. The unique set design with mouth and legs makes the show stand out and feel like a sports event. Audiences were captivated by the unique look and feel of the show as it combines the excitement of boxing style head-to-head matches with the visuals and musical storytelling of performance.

What are the auspices for the show, including key talent, writers, directors and producers?

This show is co-produced by TV Asahi and Emmy Award-winning producers Craig and Clara Plestis and their production company, Smart Dog Media. Key talents on the panel of judges include Naomi Watanabe, a globally rising comedian with an Instagram following of over 10 million.

What do you see as the audience for the show?

Song vs Dance is perfect for a wide audience. The show aired this March in Japan and claimed the No. 1 spot for key demographics for teens and men and women 50+, showcasing its broad appeal to multiple age groups.

What shows out there in the market might it provide a companion or replacement for?

This is a show with a simple yet sophisticated concept and a flexible format that lends itself to personalisation and customization, very much like The Masked Singer. We truly believe that this show can be a worldwide hit. It already feels like a legacy franchise. This show gamifies a performance/variety format and there is really nothing like it!

Does it have any digital components that could be used across platforms to promote or complement?

This show is perfect for social media, where clips from the show went viral on TikTok, amassing over 16 136 million impressions. Social media was buzzing with admiration for the performers’ incredible talent and high standards. This show encourages the audience to “play along” and choose who they think should win each battle. Twitter was buzzing with “team song won this round” and “team dance is my choice!” It also ranked fifth in Yahoo’s SNS trends and third in the Android search apps in Japan, underscoring its wide-reaching and diverse audience.

What is your ambition for the show?

The concept of Song vs Dance is completely new, has universal appeal and will resonate with audiences in the US, Europe and all other territories. There are incredible performers worldwide, and this show taps talent from all outlets of social media to compete. The format’s flexibility and the global love for music, dance and game play make it a perfect candidate for international success.

What else is important to mention in terms of the show?

TV Asahi was proud of the reception of this show and is looking to do more Song vs Dance in the coming year!