What ILLIT Released on September 21
ILLIT (아일릿) dropped “Swingin’ Magic” at 12 a.m. JST on September 21. It is the group’s fourth Japanese digital single. The release includes two tracks, both running 2 minutes and 57 seconds: “Swingin’ Magic” and “Swingin’ Magic (Korean Ver.).” Fans can stream either version depending on which language they prefer.
Why “Swingin’ Magic” Is an Anime Release
“Swingin’ Magic” is the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime “Magical Sisters LuluttoLilly.” The second cour begins broadcasting on October 4. This is not ILLIT’s first tie-in with the show. Their earlier song “Bubee” served as the opening theme for the anime’s first broadcast segment. The new single continues that same partnership into the show’s next arc.
Album Credits: New Jack Swing and a Returning Collaborator
“Swingin’ Magic” is built on a New Jack Swing sound. Kanata Okajima worked on the song’s lyrics and composition. This marks his second time writing for ILLIT. He previously contributed to “I Got Your Back.” The pairing of a returning songwriter with a second anime tie-in points to continuity across ILLIT’s Japanese releases, which is our reading rather than a statement from the label.
Release Times for Global Fans
The 12 a.m. JST drop landed at different local times outside Japan on September 20.
- Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore: 11 p.m.
- Thailand, Vietnam, western Indonesia: 10 p.m.
- North America: 11 a.m. EDT / 8 a.m. PDT
- Mexico City: 9 a.m.
- Colombia, Peru: 10 a.m.
- Brazil, Argentina: noon
Fans in Southeast Asia got the single before midnight, while listeners in Brazil and Argentina had to wait until midday for the same drop.
The Numbers Behind ILLIT’s Momentum
ILLIT’s earlier 2026 track “It’s Me” passed 103,803,825 total streams on Oricon through September 13. The song added 5,092,722 plays during the September 7–13 tracking week alone. “It’s Me” is now ILLIT’s third song to cross 100 million Oricon streams, joining “Magnetic” and “Almond Chocolate.” On Billboard’s global charts, “It’s Me” has stayed on Billboard’s Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts for 18 consecutive weeks.
What Comes Next
ILLIT will hold “PRESS START♥︎” encore concerts at Inspire Arena in Incheon on October 17 and 18. No additional international tour dates have been confirmed at this time. Fans in Latin America and North America looking for local show announcements will need to wait for further updates from the group’s official channels.
Editor’s Take
“Swingin’ Magic” is a two-track Japanese digital single with a clear anime tie-in, the second for ILLIT after “Bubee.” The momentum figures in this post belong to the earlier song “It’s Me,” which passed 103.8 million Oricon streams, and the sources report no first-week numbers for the new single. The October 17 and 18 encore concerts are in Incheon, with no international dates confirmed. This is our reading of the figures cited above.
Sources
- ChosunBiz · 2026-09-21
- Apple Music
- KtownPost · 2026-09-04
- エンタメOVO · 2026-09-21
- Medcom.id
- ORICON NEWS · 2026-09-16
- K-POPIT · 2026-09-15
- My Idol Today · date unknown