Biography
Anime Allstars (also known as “Digi-Singers” and “Masters of Animemusic”) are a German group from Gräfelfing and Munich, formed through the music label Arts of Toyco by Andy Knote. Starting in 1995, they specialized in German anime music, beginning with the cult song “Sag das Zauberwort” for the anime Sailor Moon.
Members of the Anime Allstars include:
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Frank Schindel, Fred Röttcher, Noel Pix, Alexander Wesselsky, Ron van Lankeren, Petra Scheeser, Tina Frank, Rickie Kinnen, Conny Kreitmeier, Ruth von Chelius, Barbi Schiller, and many other artists associated with Andy Knote.
The Anime Allstars recorded German opening and ending songs, as well as insert songs and original compositions for numerous anime. These include well-known titles such as Sailor Moon, Pokémon, Digimon, Dragon Ball Z, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Detective Conan, Beyblade, and Magical DoReMi, among others. All of these anime were broadcast on RTLZWEI, while Sailor Moon originally debuted on ZDF. Once a song was completed, it was sent to the respective dubbing studio, where it was synchronized with the anime footage.
Most songs were produced by Andy Knote and written by Andy Knote and Henk Flemming. Guitar contributions came from Noel Pix, Dieter Holesch, and Chris Limburg, while keyboards were handled by Andy Knote. Over time, the Anime Allstars created hundreds of songs.
They played a major role in popularizing anime music in Germany. Their translations and reinterpretations of many anime songs earned them a loyal fanbase.
The Beginning with Sailor Moon and Soundtrack Success
Everything started in 1995 with the maxi single “Sailor Moon,” created by Andy Knote and Manfred Schuster and released by Ultrapop. It featured the German opening song “Sag das Zauberwort” (originally just titled “Sailor Moon”), sung by Tina Bichlmeir, along with several variations including an English version and remixes. The anime first aired on October 13, 1995, on ZDF.
In 1997, Ultrapop released the first volume of “Sailor Moon – Die Superhits für Kids,” a compilation combining popular radio hits with Sailor Moon songs. These tracks, produced by Knote and Schuster, leaned heavily into Eurodance, Euro House, and Happy Hardcore.
Anime Soundtracks
The first full and most successful soundtrack was released in 1999: “Pokémon – Schnapp' sie dir alle!” It was the German adaptation of the American album “Pokémon – 2.B.A. Master” and included well-known songs like the Pokémon theme and PokéRAP. The album achieved multiple platinum and gold awards in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, even outperforming the English version in the U.S.
In 2000, the first Digimon soundtrack followed and reached gold status, leading to a total of five Digimon albums. In 2001, the Dragon Ball Z soundtrack also achieved gold with 150,000 copies sold, resulting in a second album.
Within seven years, sixteen full soundtracks and six “Anime Hits” compilations were released. The last soundtrack appeared in 2006 and was dedicated to Detective Conan.
Naming
From 2000 to 2004, the group was mainly known as Digi-Singers. After discussions within the Arts of Toyco community, the name Anime Allstars was officially chosen in 2004.
End of Anime Music Production at Toyco
In the late 2000s, production of German anime music came to an abrupt halt when RTLZWEI stopped commissioning new music from Arts of Toyco. The last production was “Auf dem Weg” in 2009. Petra Scheeser later described the sudden end as shocking and emotional.
TOGGO United Allstars
Under the name “TOGGO United Allstars,” the group also released the album “TOGGO United – Fußball-Hymnen für die Weltmeister von morgen” in 2006.
Fan Interaction
Arts of Toyco maintained strong interaction with fans through its website, sharing updates, song lyrics, and even unreleased tracks (until unauthorized distribution forced them to stop). In 2002, they also held an anime karaoke contest together with RTL II, where fans submitted recordings and a jury selected finalists. The winner, Ronja Sanders, got to record a song for an official soundtrack.
Anime Hits Compilations
Starting in 2002, the “Anime Hits @ RTL II” series compiled songs from various anime. Six volumes were released by 2007. In 2018, Sony Music reissued the albums digitally, followed by new editions and themed releases in later years.
In 2024, several classic soundtracks were re-released digitally under the Anime Hits branding, often with added EDM and Hardstyle remixes.
Mini Comeback (2017)
In 2017, the Anime Allstars briefly returned to record “Spiel dein Spiel” for the film One Piece Gold.
Streaming Success
“Leb deinen Traum,” the Digimon opening, became their most streamed track on Spotify with over 25 million streams. Other popular songs include openings for One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Pokémon.
Their non-anime track “Heller als Licht” from Winx Club also surpassed 10 million streams.
Petra Scheeser’s Anime Revival (2022)
In late 2022, Petra Scheeser sparked renewed interest by sharing anime-related content on social media. Her videos gained traction, leading to live performances at conventions such as DoKomi 2023, where demand exceeded venue capacity.
She later launched her own concert series, “Anime Songs in Concert,” beginning in Munich in April 2024, followed by additional shows in other cities.
Group Comeback (2024)
Since 2024, several members including Petra Scheeser, Conny Kreitmeier, Ron van Lankeren, Tina Frank, and Andy Knote have reunited for convention appearances and live performances.
They performed together at DoKomi 2024 and other events, singing both group and solo songs. Further appearances followed in 2025, including KokoroKon, where even retired members like Frank Schindel participated in Q&A sessions and surprise performances.
Ruth von Chelius also returned to the stage, performing her anime songs again for the first time in years.
Releases:
2000: Digimon – Digital Monsters (BMG/Ariola)
2001: Digimon – Digital Monsters Gold (BMG/Ariola)
2001: Dragonball Z – Der offizielle Soundtrack zur TV-Serie (BMG/Ariola)
2001: Digimon – Digital Monsters Vol. 2 (BMG/Ariola)
2001: Monster Rancher – TV Soundtrack (BMG/Ariola)
2002: Dragonball Z Vol. 2 – Der offizielle Soundtrack zur TV-Serie (BMG/Ariola)
2002: Hamtaro: Kleine Hamster, Große Abenteuer – Der offizielle Soundtrack zur RTL II TV-Serie (BMG/Ariola)
2003: Yu-Gi-Oh! – Die Besten Songs zur TV-Serie (BMG/Ariola)
2004: Beyblade V-Force – Der offizielle Soundtrack zur TV-Serie (BMG/Ariola)
2004: Digimon – Digital Monsters Season Four
2005: Pretty Cure – Der offizielle Soundtrack zur Serie (BMG/Ariola)
2006: Detektiv Conan – Der offizielle Soundtrack (BMG/Ariola)
2006: Toggo United – Fußball-Hymnen für die Weltmeister von Morgen (Sony BMG Music Entertainment/Toggo)
2024: ANIME HITS. Dragonball (Sony Music Catalog)
2025: Anime Hits (Sony Music)
2002: RTL II Anime Hits (BMG/Ariola)
2003: RTL II Anime Hits 2 (BMG/Ariola)
2004: RTL II Anime Hits 3 (BMG/Ariola)
2005: RTL II Anime Hits 4 (BMG/Ariola)
2006: RTL II Anime Hits 5 (BMG/Ariola)
2007: RTL II Anime Hits 6 (BMG/Ariola)
and more
http://www.toyco.de/
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.