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{{Infobox software
{{Infobox software
| name = Character Vocal Series 01<br/>Hatsune Miku
| name = Character Vocal Series 01<br/>Hatsune Miku

Revision as of 04:13, 2 October 2010

Character Vocal Series 01
Hatsune Miku
Developer(s)Crypton Future Media
Initial releaseAugust 31, 2007
Stable release
Hatsune Miku Append / April 30, 2010
Operating systemWindows XP / Vista / 7
Available inJapanese
TypeMusical Synthesizer Application
LicenseProprietary
Websitecrypton.co.jp...cv01.jsp

Hatsune Miku (初音ミク) is a singing synthesizer application and its female character, developed by Crypton Future Media. It uses Yamaha Corporation's Vocaloid synthesizing technology. Her voice is sampled from Japanese voice actress Saki Fujita.

Software history

Crypton released the first of their "Character Vocal Series", Hatsune Miku, on August 31, 2007.

On April 30, 2010, an updated version of Miku called Hatsune Miku Append was released containing a package of six different tones of Miku's voice: Soft (gentle, delicate voice), Sweet (young, chibi voice), Dark (mature, heartbroken-like voice), Vivid (bright, cheerful voice), Solid (loud, clear voice), and Light (innocent, heavenly voice).[1] This was the first time a Vocaloid has such a release and more Append are reported from Crypton Future Media at later dates.[2]

Marketing

Though developed by Yamaha, the marketing of each Vocaloid is left to the respective studios. Yamaha themselves do maintain a degree of promotional efforts in the actual Vocaloid software, as seen when the humanoid robot model HRP-4C was set up to react to three Vocaloids—Hatsune Miku, Megpoid and Crypton's noncommercial Vocaloid software "CV-4Cβ"—as part of promotions for both Yamaha and HRP-4C at CEATEC in 2009.[3][4] Japanese magazines such as DTM magazine are responsible for the promotion and introduction for many of the Japanese Vocaloids to Japanese Vocaloid fans. It has featured Vocaloids such as Miku, Kagamine Rin and Len, and Lily, printing some of the sketches by artist Kei and reporting the latest news on the Vocaloids.

Crypton has been involved with the marketing of their Vocal Series, particularly Hatsune Miku, has been actively involved in the GT300 class of the Super GT since 2008 with the support of Good Smile Racing (a branch of Good Smile Company, mainly in charge of car-related products, especially itasha (cars featuring illustrations of anime-styled characters) stickers). Although Good Smile Company was not the first to bring the anime and manga culture to Super GT, it departs from others by featuring itasha directly rather than colorings onto vehicles.

File:Studie GLAD BMW Z4 2008 Super GT qualifying.jpg
The Hatsune Miku Studie Glad BMW Z4 competed in the 2008 Super GT season.

Since the 2008 season, three different teams received their sponsorship under Good Smile Racing, and turned their cars to Vocaloid-related artwork:

  • Studie, which participated in the 2008 and 2009 seasonsand used a BMW Z4 E86. Their car was painted in official Hatsune Miku art, and fan-derivative versions of Hatsune Miku in some races in the 2009 season.[5][6]
  • Team COX, participating in the 2010 season, which uses a Porsche 996 GT3 RSR (and will use a Porsche 997 GT3-R). Their car uses Racing Miku (an official Hatsune Miku derivative, wearing an orange race queen suit) as their image.

As well as involvements with the GT series, Crypton also established the website Piapro.[7] A number of games starting from Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA were produced by Sega under license using Hatsune Miku and other Crypton Vocaloids, as well as "fan made" Vocaloids. TinierMe Gacha also made attire that looks like Miku for their services, allowing users to make their avatar resemble the Crypton Vocaloids.[8][9]

Cultural impact

Nico Nico Douga played a fundamental role in the recognition and popularity of the software. Soon after the release of the software, users of Nico Nico Douga started posting videos with songs created by the software. According to Crypton, a popular video with "Hachune Miku", a super deformed Miku, holding a leek and singing "Ievan Polkka", presented the varied potential of applying the software in multimedia content creation.[10] As the recognition and popularity of the software grew, Nico Nico Douga became a place for collaborative content creation. Popular original songs written by a user would generate illustrations, animation in 2D and 3D, and remixes by other users. Other creators would show their unfinished work and ask for ideas.[11]

In September 2009, three figurines based on the derivative character "Hachune Miku" were launched in a rocket from the United States state of Nevada's Black Rock Desert, though it did not reach outer space.[12][13] In late November 2009, a petition was launched in order to get a custom made Hatsune Miku aluminum plate (8 cm x 12 cm, 3.1" x 4.7") made that would be used as a balancing weight for the Japanese Venus spacecraft explorer Akatsuki.[14] Started by Hatsune Miku fan Sumio Morioka that goes by chodenzi-P, this project has received the backing of Dr. Seiichi Sakamoto of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. On December 22, 2009, the petition exceeded the needed 10,000 signatures necessary to have the plates made. An original deadline of December 20, 2009 had been set to send in the petition, but due to a couple of delays in the Akatsuki project, a new deadline of January 6, 2010 was set; by this deadline, over 14,000 signatures had been received. On May 21, 2010 at 06:58:22 (JST), Akatsuki was launched, having three plates depicting Hatsune Miku.[15][16]

The Vocaloid software has also had a great influence on the character Black Rock Shooter, which looks like Hatsune Miku but is not linked to her by design. The character was made famous by the song "Black Rock Shooter",[17] and a number of figurines have been made. An original video animation made by Ordet is set to be streamed for free as part of a promotional campaign running from June 25 to August 31, 2010.[18]

Software development

To aid in the production of 3D animations, the program MikuMikuDance was developed as a independent program. The freeware software allowed a boom in fan-made and derivative characters to be developed, as well as acted in a boost for the promoting of the Vocaloid songs themselves.[19] Another Vocaloid tool that was developed was VocaListener, a software package that allows for realistic Vocaloid songs to be produced.[20][21]

One of the Vocaloid compilations, Exit Tunes Presents Vocalogenesis feat. Hatsune Miku, debuted at number-one on the Japanese weekly Oricon album charts dated May 31, 2010, becoming the first Vocaloid album ever to top the charts.[22] Another album, Supercell, by the group Supercell[23] also features a number of songs using Vocaloids. Other albums, such as 19's Sound Factory's First Sound Story[24] and Livetune's Re:package, and Re:Mikus[25][26] also feature Miku's voice. Other uses of Miku include the albums Sakura no Ame (桜ノ雨) by Absorb andMiku no Kanzume (みくのかんづめ) by OSTER-project. Kagamine Len and Rin's songs were covered by Asami Shimoda in the album Prism credited to "Kagamine Rin/Len feat. Asami Shimoda".[27]

As a virtual idol, Hatsune Miku performed her first "live" concert during Animelo Summer Live at the Saitama Super Arena on August 22, 2009.[28][29] Miku also performed her first overseas live concert on November 21, 2009, during Anime Festival Asia (AFA) in Singapore.[30][31] On March 9, 2010, Miku's first solo live performance titled "Miku no Hi Kanshasai 39's Giving Day" was opened at the Zepp Tokyo in Odaiba, Tokyo.[32][33]

A young female prototype used for the "project if..." series was used in Sound Horizon's musical work "Ido e Itaru Mori e Itaru Ido", labeled as the "prologue maxi". The prototype sang alongside Miku for their music and is known only by the name "Junger März_Prototype β".[34][35]

Appearances in other media

Miku's popularity has seen various references to her in anime. During an episode of Zoku Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei, Miku is seen auditioning for the voice of Meru Otanashi (Rin and Len Kagamine are referenced in the same episode). Miku's voice is used in one of the ending themes for the anime series Akikan!. In the Lucky Star OVA, Kagami Hiragii gets magically transformed into Miku cosplay. Outside of Japan, Hachune Miku's Llevan Polka video is referenced briefly by Isabella in the Phineas and Ferb episode, "Summer Belongs to You!".

In video games, Miku appears as a playable character in the Japanese version of PangYa, as a downloadable costume for Sophie in Tales of Graces and is seen during a stage in the game 13-sai no Hellowork DS. Miku also appears in Phantasy Star Portable 2 as a costume for the player's female character, as well as her hairstyle and leek-themed weapons.

Music videos

Title Artists Release date
"Nebula" Tripshots June 3, 2009
"VOiCE・PV" Lovely P / Nyohoho July 16, 2010
"Kasōkyoku" No.D / Yūjin Ueno
"Suteneko Russian Blue" SHUN P

References

Template:Translation/Ref

  1. ^ "初音ミク・アペンド（Miku Append）" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved April 30, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Crypton's Twitter page" (in Japanese). Twitter. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  3. ^ "Diginfoビデオレポート：歌声合成ソフト「VOCALOID」を使った 歌を歌うロボット" (in Japanese). Japan Corporate News Network. October 18, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "新VOCALOID「CV-4Cβ」、CEATECで歌う　声は中村繪里子さん" (in Japanese). IT Media. October 8, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "The Rumored No. 808 Hatsune Miku Studie Glad BMW Z4 Latest News" (in Japanese). Super GT.net. August 18, 2008. Retrieved August 21, 2008.
  6. ^ "Itasha storm in Super GT. Report of Final Race at Mt. Fuji (Page 3)" (in Japanese). ASCII. November 11, 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  7. ^ "PIAPRO(ピアプロ)|CGM型コンテンツ投稿サイト" (in Japanese). Crypton Future Media. Retrieved July 11, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Hatsune Miku x TineirMe Gacha". Gcrest Entertainment. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  9. ^ "Hatsune Miku to Appear in American MMO TinierMe". Anime News Network. July 21, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  10. ^ "How Hatsune Miku opened the creative mind: Interview with Crypton Future Media" (in Japanese). IT Media. February 25, 2008. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  11. ^ "DTM in the boom again: How anonymous creators are discovered by Hatsune Miku" (in Japanese). IT Media. September 28, 2007. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  12. ^ "Hachune Miku Figure to Ride Rocket from Nevada This Month". Anime News Network. September 8, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  13. ^ "「あなたも宇宙開発を」　"初音ミク衛星"打ち上げ目指す「SOMESAT」" (in Japanese). IT Media. October 8, 2009. p. 1. Retrieved July 14, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "金星探査機「あかつき」に初音ミク絵を搭載する署名" (in Japanese). Google. Retrieved December 18, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "初音ミク搭乗の「あかつき」、打ち上げに再チャレンジ" (in Japanese). IT Media. May 20, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "初音ミクついに宇宙へ！　「あかつき」打ち上げ成功" (in Japanese). IT Media. May 21, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "ブラック★ロックシューター :: supercell" (in Japanese). Supercell. Retrieved July 8, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "Black Rock Shooter Anime to Be Streamed for Free". Anime News Network. March 23, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  19. ^ "Vocaloid Promotion Video Project". MikuMikuDance. Geocities. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  20. ^ "VocaListener" (in Japanese). Tomoyasu Nakano and Masataka Goto. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  21. ^ "Online VocaListener". Vocaloidism. May 3, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  22. ^ "初音ミク"ボーカロイドアルバム"が徳永を押さえ、初首位". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. May 25, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "supercell feat.初音ミク 1st Album "supercell" Special WEB" (in Japanese). Supercell. Retrieved March 24, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "First Sound Story" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  25. ^ "livetune feat.初音ミク specialsite" (in Japanese). Victor Entertainment. Retrieved July 8, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Re: Mikus" (in Japanese). Livetune. Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  27. ^ "下田麻美「Prism/鏡音リン・レン feat. 下田麻美」の収録曲が明らかに". Mycom Journal (in Japanese). Mainichi Communications. May 22, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "Hatsune Miku Virtual Idol Performs 'Live' Before 25,000". Anime News Network. August 23, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  29. ^ "影山、堀江、初音ミクも！「アニサマ」出演者追加". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. August 6, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ "Virtual Idol "Hatsune Miku" to perform overseas at "I LOVE anisong" stage!". Anime Festival Asia. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  31. ^ "「電子の歌姫」初音ミクが海外初公演" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. November 21, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ "Hatsune Miku Virtual Idol to Hold 1st Solo Concert". Anime News Network. December 10, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  33. ^ "初音ミクによるソロコンサートが開催、39個の秘密も明らかに" (in Japanese). Famitsu. March 10, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "「イドへ至る森へ至るイド」 Vocals & Voices の発表!!" (in Japanese). Sound Horizon. June 7, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ "Project if...Crypton". Crypton Future Media (in Japanese). Twitter. June 7, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
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