Members cosplay as PriPara characters to promote "Chicken Line's" March 30 debut

The official website for the PriPara anime franchise announced on Wednesday that idol group SKE48 is performing the theme song for the PriPara Mi~nna no Akogare Let's Go PriPari (PriPara Eeeeveryone's Longing Let's Go PriPari) anime film. The song is titled "Chicken Line." The group will release the song on March 30 as their 19th single (and their first since "Maenomeri" seven months ago).

The group also unveiled a photo of SKE48 members Akane Takayanagi, Jurina Matsui, and Rara Gotō in costume as PriPara characters Dorothy, Laala, and Sophy, respectively.

Avex Pictures previously streamed a 60-second theatrical preview for the anime film.

The film will open in Japan on March 12.

The third film is the franchise's first to feature a completely new story. In the story, Falulu is far away in the heart of the PriPara world in Puransu. The sparkle is disappearing from the idol sacred ground PriPara, and Falulu sends an SOS message to Laala and her friends. If the sparkle doesn't return, the PriPara world itself will disappear. Laala and her friends try to help Falulu, and they work together to save the PriPara world.

The main cast members of the television anime series and previous films are reprising their roles. Dewi Sukarno (left photo in below picture), the widow of former Indonesian president Sukarno, plays the film-original character Ploria Ōkanda, headmistress of Paprika Private Academy and older sister of Gloria Ōkanda. This is Dewi Sukarno's voice acting debut. Rina Kawaei (right photo) plays Mini-Falulu.

Makoto Moriwaki is returning from the first film and television series to direct the new film at Tatsunoko Production. Kazuyuki Fudeyasu (Tantei Opera Milky Holmes, Monster Musume) is writing the script. Masafumi Sato is serving as assistant director and is in charge of continuity and production. Shoji Hara is the chief animation director and is again designing the characters. Kunio Okawara (Mobile Suit Gundam, Armored Trooper Votoms) is providing mechanical designs. Yoshihiro Otobe is returning from the previous films as CG director, and Yukio Nagasaki (One Piece Film Z, Asura ) is serving as sound director.

The first anime series inspired by SynSophia's arcade game for girls premiered in July 2014. The franchise's first film, Gekijō-ban PriPara Mi~nna Atsumare! Prism Tours, premiered in March 2015, and the second TV anime season premiered in April. The franchise is receiving a musical adaptation in February 2016. The second anime film, Tobidasu PriPara ~Miina de Mezase! Idol Grand Prix (Spring Out PriPara ~Aim for the Top, Eeeeveryone! Idol Grand Prix), premiered in both 2D and stereoscopic 3D versions in Japan in October. The anime's third season will premiere in April.

The story of the television anime revolves around Laala, an elementary school girl who wants to become an idol in PriPara, a sport that judges girls on their song, dance, and fashion. The invitation to the sport is through a PriPara ticket. Even though elementary school students at her school are not allowed to become PriPara idols, through many events, she passes the audition, and becomes an idol.

Source: Anime! Anime!