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Virtual Youtubers: New and refreshing entertainment

Thursday, January 30, 2020 / 3 Comments
Have you ever come across clips of Kizuna Ai while browsing Youtube late at night? Or have your friends showed you a clip of Kaguya Luna being irresistibly cute in her stream? What about hearing about the new trend of live streaming on the internet as an anime avatar? If your answer to any of these questions is a yes, then chances are that you have stumbled across Virtual Youtubers!


You're probably confused, wondering what even are Virtual Youtubers or VTubers, for short. Don't worry, by the time you finish reading this blog post, you'll be interested in finding out more or even watch some of them!


So what are VTubers?

If you've ever heard about Twitch or even Youtube, you're already somewhat familiar with the concept of VTubers. Essentially, VTubers are content creators just like any other, they upload videos, live stream themselves playing games or even just interact with their audience. However, a stark contrast between VTubers and normal content creators is that the former uses either an existing anime character or an original character as an avatar.

Nijisanji member Shizuka Rin, streaming Minecraft

So instead of using a webcam and showcasing your true identity, an anime-like character can be seen on-screen playing games. These avatars are usually 3D, with motion capture recording and displaying their movements live in real-time. There are even some that have different expressions for the right situations! 


Hololive member, Natsuiro Matsuri, playing Mario Kart Deluxe 

Kizuna Ai, in her recent video doing a skit

As you can see, many VTubers are playing different games or doing something else. Because of the recent skyrocket in popularity of VTubers since 2018, there have been many new and upcoming VTubers, so I'm sure there'll definitely be someone that will pique your interest!

Where can I find VTubers?

Virtual Youtubers... Where can I find them?

Here's a hint: Look at the name!

Okay, in all seriousness, VTubers can be found on Youtube itself! All you have to do is search VTuber and the results would pile up. However! Most of the VTubers here are from bigger corporations and companies such as 2434(Nijisanji) or Hololive. You can also find solo VTubers, though their audience is smaller because of lesser exposure. In addition, there can also be VTubers streaming on Twitch, though the market is smaller over there. Japan live-streaming as a whole has not really ventured into Twitch at the moment, but I do believe that moving forward, more and more VTubers will emerge, whether on Youtube, Twitch or any other website.



In short, there's always a certain VTuber that will be able to catch your interest!

If you are worried that you won't be able to understand what they're saying, don't fret! The VTubers community is really active in translating their favourite moments from a stream and uploading it with subtitles so that foreign audiences can still enjoy their favourite VTubers without having to learn Japanese!


An example of fan-translations, by Iyger

Furthermore, certain VTubers also stream in English sometimes. Some of these are Akai Haato, Kiryu 
Coco and many more! 

Akai Haato's archives, or VODs, a few of the streams are in English

So you don't have to worry and start enjoying their streams!

VTubers also interact with their fans off-stream through their social media as well! Yes, that's right! They have other forms of social media that they use. Examples include Twitter, Discord, etc. Most of them use these to talk and answer questions, but they do post some amusing and questionable updates sometimes!

Essentially, this new and refreshing form of Japanese media has been taking over the Internet by storm and many others, like me, have been swept into it too! From what I have experienced so far, there's never an uneventful stream or video that has been uploaded and it has been really enjoyable so far. From gaming streams to singing streams, or even streams where VTubers just sit down and talk to their audience about their day, every single one has been entertaining so far! You should definitely give it a try one day!

To end it off, I'll be linking some VTubers as well as their groups for anyone that is interested!

Independent VTubers and other smaller VTubers





Hololive



Natsuiro Matsuri

Nekomata Okayu

Murasaki Shion

Nakiri Ayame

Minato Aqua

Uruha Rushia

Sakura Miko


2434 (Nijisanji/にじさんじ)



Shizuka Rin

Ange Katrina

Sasaki Saku

Rindou Mikoto

Morinaka Kazaki

Tsukino Mito


Remember, these are only a drop in the ocean of the VTubers there are so be sure to explore and support them! I will also post spotlights of certain VTubers and highlights of them in the future so look forward to it!




Written by Kai Yuichi











Kimaru Chan LUNAR NEW YEAR 2020 Whatsapp & Telegram Stickers

Monday, January 20, 2020 / No Comments
2020 is the year of the Rat. Since we have an OC Kimaru Chan which looks like a rat, we designed a pack of Lunar New Year stickers for Whatsapp and Telegram.



Kimaru Chan is a little elephant shrew which can be found in the forest of Africa. It has a long snout (nose) and large ears. They are very small in size, much like a hamster but runs like Usain Bolt! The long snout helps them to locate little prey and because they have large ears, they have excellent sense of hearing!

Elephant shrews are seldom heard of in Asia, their "anti-social" behaviour doesn't help. However, they are lovey-dovey rodents as they live in pairs. They leave their scents behind to attract their partners. Their diet includes small insects such as grasshoppers, fruits and leaves. They are curious by nature.


Kimaru Chan is a kawaii character of MILKCANANIME


This kawaii Kimaru Chan stickers are available free for Whatsapp and Telegram


Whatsapp

For Android Phone user

1) Download the free WhatSticker App in Google Play
2) In the top bar, search for "Milkcananime". Choose the pack "Kimaru Chan CNY 2020". Add to Android.


For iPhone user

1) Download the free Kotech Online App in Apple App Store
2) Use Safari and type whatsticker.online
3) In the top bar, search for "Milkcananime". Choose the pack "Kimaru Chan CNY 2020". Add to iPhone
4) Tap 'Open' when prompted to open in Kotech Online. Then save the stickers.

Note: Remember to use Safari to go to whatsticker.online, and not the app itself.


Telegram

Fans of Telegram fret not, we have also released the cute stickers here.

 
Designed by Max Wong and Shiriel


 

BanG Dream! Girls Band Party x Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka? Collaboration

Saturday, January 11, 2020 / No Comments
Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka (Is the Order a Rabbit)--Gochiusa in short is one of my favourite slice-of-life/cute-girls-doing-cute-things anime. In fact, it might even be one of my top few. Once I heard that Bandori will collaborate with Gochiusa, I was beyond excited. Like, I was internally screaming. I was just that happy, aha. It's also just in time for the third season that will be coming up in 2020! 

This might be a slightly delayed post, but I still had to talk about it because I simply loved this end-of-year collaboration last year. 
The outfits, the 'Rabbit House' cafe in the background and Bandori's version of 'Tippy' on top of Rimi's hair, it's all nostalgic~

Just like the collaboration with Hatsune Miku back then, the Gochiusa collaboration took place for a period of time, and the cover songs/costumes have been released over a span of 3 consecutive days. The first day began with Poppin' Party, with their cover of 'Daydream Cafe', the OP for the first season of Gochiusa. 

They even featured the work outfits from Gochiusa with the Poppin'Party members in the game!
From left to right: Chiya, Cocoa, Chino, Rize, Sharo in their work outfits.

Of course, Kasumi's outfit resembles Cocoa's, as they both share the role of main leads. 
Tae wears Chiya's outfit in the game, and I thought it was fitting as well as Tae and Chiya share lovable, yet smug characteristics. 
And of course, Rimi is the best fit for the adorable Chino, along with her own version of Tippy on her head. 

On the other hand, Saya and Arisa's outfits didn't quite seem to match Sharo and Rize's personalities respectively. However, I guess that's the best that the game could do, and both Saya and Arisa looks really nice in their outfits, especially Saya's loose, flowing hair. 


The game interface also changed a little for a limited time. We see the 'Rabbit House', the cafe in Gochiusa in the background, along with an added tap sound effect that reminds me of rabbits hopping. Definitely fitting for the theme!

The second day continues with Hello, Happy World! The members' outfits are a combination of working outfits in Gochiusa--Kokoro with Cocoa's Rabbit House attire, Kaoru and Michelle with Aoyoma's bartender outfit, Kanon with Chiya's sweet shop attire and finally, Hagumi with Sharo's maid outfit. 


Aoyoma's bartender outfit. 
Chiya's sweet shop attire.
Sharo's maid outfit. 

Hello, Happy World! covered 'No Poi!', Gochiusa's OP for the second season. Kokoro's voice definitely suits this cover well. 


And of course, we receive the costumes as well.

The next and last one features Pastel*Palettes, dressed in Chino's middle school uniform. They also added their own original touch with it in the form of the frills representing each member's colours. 

With that said, the song cover is going to be none other than 'TokiMeki Poporon', the ED of Gochiusa's second season. 

This is my most anticipated cover, because the song is just too cute. Here's the original from Gochiusa just because it's THAT CUTE.


Here's my first try on the song! You really gotta hear it with the limited tapping sound effects, it's just too cute. (Oh, I would have used PasuPare members for this live, but I was too excited and forgot to change it so I played it with Afterglow, as there is also an ongoing Afterglow-based event in the game as well). 

Speaking of Afterglow, it would have been interesting to hear them cover a Gochiusa song, even though it's a little bit out of their rock-like style. Besides, fun fact: Cocoa's VA Sakura Ayane also voices Mitake Ran from Afterglow. 


And that's it for the Bandori x Gochiusa collaboration! It's definitely the best collab ever--melts my slice-of-life heart. Oh, just another thing to plug in, because it's the Christmas season, the game interface also changed to the Christmas interface! It's another thing to look forward to for this year's Christmas, though it might be a bit too early to talk about it... 


There's also an extra area in the game called the "Tsurumaki Party Hall", which is rather exquisite-looking. Seriously, how rich is Kokoro? There are extra interactions between the Bandori girls, especially between those who are rarely seen together which is quite interesting. 


Christmas and a lovely collab--It was definitely a wonderful time to be in the Bandori fandom. Hakanai~ 


Written by kimizomi



MILKCANANIME Exhibitor Booth at Singapore Comic Con 2019

Sunday, January 5, 2020 / No Comments
It was my first time to hold an exhibition booth. And we are privileged to be able to showcase our artworks and merchandise at our favourite event, Singapore Comic Con 2019 (They are one of the nicest organisers for anime events).

Three months prior to SGCC, we also took on the challenge to design a pack of messaging stickers for WhatsApp and Telegram. It is a collaboration between SGCC and MILKCANANME and we decided to use one of our OCs Miwa Haruka and their new OC, Red Robot. We turned the Robot into a chibi to create a touch of playfulness. So as Miwa Haruka meets Red Robot, we combine the elements of Japanese Sub-Culture and Western Pop-Culture into one.


This was taken on Friday evening, where only Exhibitors were permitted to move in to do set-up.

 We prepared a stack of flyers and some Miwa Haruka stickers. 


 The designs for the 24 messaging stickers.

To avoid Copyright issues, we decided to take out "Wonder Women". It was later replaced by our OC, Amami Kisa aka Queen Bee



To download this pack of stickers, click here.

 My buddy BT and wife Angela were there to help me set-up on Saturday morning.

Our pink-hair mascot Miwa Haruka (cosplayed by Hani Hashiya) later dropped by our booth at TS24 to help.









A portion of our artworks include these four illustrations which we work with KidZania Singapore. As an artist for their Variable Programmes, we draw using our OCs and according to the theme for their event which takes place on a certain period. We then make another black-and-white Colouring Sheets for the kids to colour. 
More info on this Singapore Bicentennial Artwork here






The sweet Miwa Haruka and her Shiba plush. Miwa Haruka loves animals and her best friend is Moo Chan.

 Our vivacious blogger Devi dropped by our booth. She wrote a lot of travel guides for us in Japan.


Met our 'MIA' blogger J.Fluffysheep. Remember reading those "A Letter to XXX" posts? They are all written by him. Heard he had created his own blog which focuses on manga. You should check it out here. I told him that he is welcomed to return to writing for MILKCANANIME. He smiled sheepishly. 

 Some of our merch on display includes our Character LED watches, enamel pins, acrylic standees and plushes. We were there solely to showcase our merch. It was funny when people started asking us if they could buy on the spot. We asked them to visit our online shop




 Jack Sparrow and his Pirates of the Caribbean's crew hailed from the Philippines. Long travel by sea, Captain.








We enjoyed the two days convention in Singapore Comic Con and wish to thank everyone who dropped by our booth and chatted with us. Special thanks to my Resident Illustrators Shiriel Corda and Kim Gaby as well as Pearl and Amanda from Reed Exhibitions who worked alongside with me on this project.

We also put up a short video here. Enjoy! ^_*

Credits to our videographer BT

Written by Max Wong