Episode.0

"Episode.0" is the thirty-ninth single released by Japanese solo artist Gackt. It was released on July 13, 2011 by HPQ.^[1] It became Gackt's thirty-ninth consecutive single to reach top ten on Oricon's singles chart, a male soloist record for most top 10 charts singles.^[2]

"Episode.0"
Single by Gackt
B-side	"Paranoid Doll"
Released	July 13, 2011
Recorded	2011
Genre	Rock
Length	18:08
Label	HPQ
Songwriter(s)	mathru, natsu
Producer(s)	Gackt
Gackt singles chronology
"Ever" (2010) "Episode.0" (2011) "Graffiti" (2011)
Music video
"Episode.0" on YouTube

Summary

See also: Gackpoid § Contest

"Episode.0" and "Paranoid Doll" are the two Gackpoid (Vocaloid) songs that were previously picked by Gackt in a Niconico Video fan video contest in 2009, with the initial prize being 10 million yen (US$120,000).^[3] Gackt said he would cover those songs if the staff were committed to making it a reality, and so after two years the songs were officially recorded and released.^[4] The final results have been announced during the "NicoNico Daikaigi 2011" event in Taiwan, and the ten prize winners were mathru/KanimisoP who won the Grand Prize for "Episode.0″, natsuP (SCL Project) won an Excellence Prize for "Paranoid Doll" which was also featured in the single, and eight other songs also won an Excellence Prize, including two by DonatakaP. KanimisoP received lowered prize of 300,000 yen (US$3,660) and the nine Excellence Prize winners received 100,000 yen (US$1,220).^[5]

Music video

The music video was an upscale version of the original Vocaloid video produced by the winner of the Niconico Video contest. It was entirely shot using a professional camera and the entire video is composed of thousands of pictures edited to make it seem like a moving image. Gackt himself said that shooting this video was a challenge because of the exact movements needed to achieve the desired effect. The video tells the story of a samurai who in the beginning was bloodthirsty and wanted nothing but fighting. Then as the video progresses it is revealed that he gets impaled by a katana and he starts dying. The lyrics reveal that towards the end of his life he feels remorse for what he has done and remembers a song that a little girl has sung. It reminds him that peace is greater than war and towards then end he dies. Before dying he says: "If I were able to take someone's burdens away as mine are taken now, Ah!" and dies. The whole video describes how peace is greater than war.

Track listings and formats

CD (YICQ-10083)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Episode.0"	4:36
2.	"Paranoid Doll"	4:24
3.	"Episode.0 (instrumental)"	5:14
4.	"Paranoid Doll (instrumental)"	4:26

All tracks are written by mathru (KanimisoP) and natsu (SCL Project); arrangement: Tatsuya Kurauchi (倉内達矢; onetrap)

CD + DVD (YICQ-10082/B)

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Episode.0 (Music Film)"

Charts

Oricon

Release	Provider(s)	Chart	Peak position	Sales total
July 13, 2011	Oricon	Weekly Singles	3[1]	28,643
		Monthly Singles	15	36,562

Billboard Japan

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Billboard Japan Hot 100[6]	6

References

1. ""Episode.0" on Oricon" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
2. "Gackt、男性ソロ1位の39作目TOP10 田原俊彦の記録を19年ぶり更新" (in Japanese). Oricon. 2011-07-19. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
3. がくっぽいどコンテスト [Gackpoid Contest] (in Japanese). Niwango. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
4. "Gackt Sings 2 Vocaloid Songs for July CD Single". Anime News Network. 2011-05-22. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
5. "Gackpoid Contest Grand Prix Winner: KanimisoP's "Episode.0" (Updated)". Vocaloidism. 2011-06-16. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
6. ""Episode.0" on Japan Hot 100 chart". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 10, 2015.