Vocaloid Animation: Panel

I was lucky enough to sit in on the Vocaloid panel with Toshihiro Fukuoka, Itto-Maru, and Nao as they discuss Hatsune Miku and her music. In this panel, they discussed the vision behind their own version of Hatsune Miku.

Toshihiro Fukuoka is an editor and professor who helped to create Hatsune Miku.  He has in the past produced traditional Japanese art and helped to create a new version of Hatsune Miku every year.  This year Toshihiro worked with other artists to create a more traditional style. He introduced Bunraku into the mixed coupled with traditional Chinese instruments like the Guzheng. Fukuoka learned to play traditional Chinese music to help create a new style for Miku.

ITTO-Maru has worked on several projects including a manga series and a musical. She is an illustrator as well as a production designer. She is known for her work on “Senbonzakura” also known as Thousand Cherry Blossoms”. ITTO-Maru has also worked on SEGA’s Project DIVA. ITTO-Maru dabbles in a little of everything. Her work speaks for itself.

Hatsune Miku is a worldwide phenomenon. There are several different versions of her. She is a very popular idol.  She has fan art, cosplay, video games and various other things created in her imagine.  ITTO-Maru and Toshihiro Fukuoka aren’t the ones who have taken part in her creation and worldwide domination.

There are also many fans who have created their own version of Hatsune Miku. For example, Nai who is a member of D.P.H., a Vocaloid fan group from Japan whose dreams of expanding the ideology of Vocaloid culture to the world. During the panel, Nao held a mini Hatsune Miku and played her most popular songs. It was interesting to see how they make a completely Vocaloid character come to life. Watching the mini performance made you feel as if you were actually in a Hatsune Miku Concert.

It was interesting to see how they brought a Vocaloid character life. It felt like you were watching Hatsune Miku live Concert.