Giant is the second Japanese-language studio album and fifth overall by South Korean boy band Stray Kids. It was released through Epic Records Japan on November 13, 2024, following their EP "Social Path / Super Bowl (Japanese Ver.)" (2023). The album was supported by three singles: "Night" and "Falling Up", themes for the "Workshop Battle" arc of the second season of "Kami no Tō: Tower of God", and the title track. Commercially, "Giant" topped both Oricon Albums Chart and "Billboard Japan" Hot Albums with 335,000 copies, and received double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).
Background and release.
On September 30, 2024, the Stray Kids Japan official X account posted a mysterious image of throne with the text "King Giant". Shortly on the same day, the group announced their second Japanese-language studio album, titled "Giant", which would be released on November 13, 2024, a day before their first show in Tokyo, Japan of their third world tour Dominate World Tour. Pre-orders of the album began on the same day, coming in 11 versions: Limited A and B, standard, and eight-member solo covers. From October 1 to 3, 7 to 11, and 15 to 18 they posted series of "dark", "elegant" and "royalty" individual and group teaser images and each member's solo cover.
The dual lead singles from "Giant", "Night" and "Falling Up", were released on October 7 in three versions simultaneously: Japanese, English, and Korean, which the Japanese and English versions were included on the album. "Night" serves as the opening theme while "Falling Up" as ending theme for the second arc "Workshop Battle" of the second season of the anime series "Kami no Tō: Tower of God". On October 11, Stray Kids revealed each edition's cover artworks and track list for the album, which additionally included "Why?", a theme song for Japanese television drama "" (2024), and the Japanese version of "Chk Chk Boom". Alongside the album, an accompanying music video for the title track "Giant" premiered on November 13, while "Christmas Love" music video uploaded on December 9.
Promotion.
To commemorate the release of "Giant", Stray Kids partnered with several Japanese companies: Suntory, HEP Five, Shibuya Tsutaya, Tokyo Dome City, Spotify Japan and Miyashita Park, and for promotional campaign and pop-up stores between November and December 2024. The group also collaborated with Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) for special voice on Tokaido Shinkansen and advertisements at the stations between Tokyo and Shin-Ōsaka Stations. Stray Kids surprisingly paid a visit in Shibuya Tsutaya, Tower Records Japan, and Miyashita Park in Shibuya, Tokyo on November 13 for the album promotion.
In support of "Giant", Stray Kids embarked on their Dominate World Tour at Tokyo Dome and Kyocera Dome Osaka, Japan in November–December 2024, where they debuted the performance of "Giant". The group later performed the title track on music shows ' on November 30, and "2024 FNS Music Festival" on December 4. They also appeared on the variety show ', and gave interviews for news program "".
Commercial performance.
According to "Billboard Japan", "Giant" has sold 264,390 physical copies and 1,886 digital sales between November 11 to 13, 2024. Following the week ended on November 17, the album debuted at number one on the Hot Albums chart with 446,002 physical copies and 3,168 digital sales, which topped the Top Album Sales and reached number three on the Download Albums. Oricon reported that "Giant" was the best-selling album in Japan on November 12, 2024, the album's flying get date, with 185,409 copies. Later, the album debuted at number one on the Weekly Album Chart and Combined Albums Chart, the fourth album to so, selling 335,000 copies. As of January 2025, "Giant" was certified double platinum for shipment by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).
Credits and personnel.
Musicians
Technical
Locations