Unpopular Opinions

[mobius017]

On the contrary, I believe that we need to emphasize the electronic/tech/futuristic aspect, which is the whole point of the Hatsunia project.

There are so many people who want Japan to be futuristic and are frustrated with the outdated technology there like fax machines.

I totally get where this sentiment is coming from, but it did make me think...I have at least a love-hate relationship with fax machines. It's true, they can be slow (painfully...), but sometimes I find them to be the easiest way to get things where they need to be. Though that might have more to do with the convoluted processes surrounding the alternatives; if only we didn't have to worry about people stealing and stuff....

I'm kind of mixed on these opinions... Vocaloid and other vocal synths will always be associated with technology and the future because of their entire concepts, but at the same time I do wish the fandom would spread outside of anime, EDM and tech nerd circles. I just like variety in the vocal synth scene now, y'know?

Totally agree with this. I like EDM and the more classic-style vocal synth music, but I also enjoy when synths are used for older music genres. For instance, Mitchie-M has a jazzy song on the new Virtual Popstar album, and I just think that's really cool. Sometimes you just don't want to listen to EDM, and I think it's better for synth culture and its long-term welfare to embrace producers who make songs in other styles. That way, vocal synth music won't be seen as just a subset of EDM and will be more resistant to becoming stale.

 

[crtstatic]

I think one of the reasons that vocalsynths havent become mainstream (playing on the radio, being used in movies, etc.) is the licensing agreement that some Vocaloids and other synths have. I dont think a publishing company would want to pay another company just to use a vocal that can glitch out and sound uncanny sometimes, and the fact that as synths become more realistic (Cyber Diva, Eleanor Forte, etc.) it could end up costing some musicians, and the publishing companies as well

It makes sense that none of these are too mainstream

 

[___]

I think one of the reasons that vocalsynths havent become mainstream (playing on the radio, being used in movies, etc.) is the licensing agreement that some Vocaloids and other synths have. I dont think a publishing company would want to pay another company just to use a vocal that can glitch out and sound uncanny sometimes, and the fact that as synths become more realistic (Cyber Diva, Eleanor Forte, etc.) it could end up costing some musicians, and the publishing companies as well

It makes sense that none of these are too mainstream

For most vocaloids as long as you dont mention Vocaloid or use the character youre good to go, hence we have Oliver in Bee and Puppycat and Cyva in The Simpsons.

 

[Blue Of Mind]

I think one of the reasons that vocalsynths havent become mainstream (playing on the radio, being used in movies, etc.) is the licensing agreement that some Vocaloids and other synths have. I dont think a publishing company would want to pay another company just to use a vocal that can glitch out and sound uncanny sometimes, and the fact that as synths become more realistic (Cyber Diva, Eleanor Forte, etc.) it could end up costing some musicians, and the publishing companies as well

It makes sense that none of these are too mainstream

For most vocaloids as long as you dont mention Vocaloid or use the character youre good to go, hence we have Oliver in Bee and Puppycat and Cyva in The Simpsons.

Definitely true - some Vocaloids have been hurt by ToS agreements that make trying to use the VB for commercial stuff a pain in the ass. (I.e. Fukase.)

 

[Jisenku]

Didn't know this existed, so deleting (I honestly don't like the NT's design (Character Design)) that thread

I honestly don't like Miku's NT design

The only thing I have against it is the little details like the edges not being straight cuts, and the hair just feels a little too bulky to me. I would have expected a design that leans toward the Append design. To be honest, this seems like the first rendition of Miku, like this should have been her V2 design IMO. I'm not criticizing the artwork however, I mean the art is awesome (As always great with iXima) but I don't like the design of it, as I thought they would have a more straight and clean-cut design.

 

[morrysillusion]

just as i saw you were gonna move your comments to here i had finished my lengthy essay post in response kdfjghkdfg so i will share it here. i just dont wanna lose my commentary.

long character design rambles

ok so character design is definitely a thing i am into as in, career and whatnot, so i have many thoughts about many vocaloid designs... and ill briefly give my miku nt since thats the topic

i'd argue the design is good by itself, but whether or not people feel it "fits" in context to previous ones is kind of subjective- mostly when people are so attached/used it them. i jump with joy when companies actually try to stray from the mold, even if its just by a hair- and i think miku's change to more round/soft angles shows her "change" very well. i agree angular = futuristic and im nostalgic for that type of look, but i think the intention of changing her this way makes sense and lets the character deviate from what she once was. and i can understand them going for that due to Miku being taken away from Vocaloid as a title.
honestly everything about the design is practically the same minus some clothing details? so im surprised anyone is that unhappy- but i guess i dont find myself as attached when i purely come in with interest to a design changing, from an analytical point of view... so in summary: i think the design is well executed and honestly fitting for the changes theyre making to miku, even if they contrast the old ones i think its good for them to 'move on' design wise.

however i will get on this- as it made me think of your impression on the hair and mentioning the art. as much as i think ixima is a good artist, the way miku is presented (in terms of composition/pose) i don't feel shows off the design in the best way it could be shown....which takes me to the hair- i realized it when i glanced at the Macne Nana art above- but theres no real flow to the pose or hair, and i always felt the hair looked 'off' in some way. it might seem hard to understand but, basically Miku's pose is straight/flat... theres no real contrast to what her bundles of hair is doing in comparison to her body. and i'd say this is honestly why the hair looks like a bit much/off/disproportionate. a better pose would've let this flow in a way that seemed more realistic/easier to understand.

ill put a lil sketchy thing here to visualize this. while i have Macne as an example i could point out *many* other designs, who have "ridiculous" hair but is ultimately complimented by their pose.

and miku

Miku's arms are doing the only contrast here... which doesnt mean much when her hair is going all sorts of ways. i can see they wanted to imply the curly/waviness but visually give a good composition for the design itself. on a model sheet, sure-- but for art displaying the design, it just doesnt look great imo. if the hair was drawn a certain way, to flow with a funky pose, it could've directed how the hair was presented. i think the hair "works" and its cute, just the way its presented on the art, doesn't direct it in the best way.

god sorry for the essay. i am passionate on my character design thoughts and i dont think youre incorrect for feeling like the hair looks off compared to other designs with wacky hair.

 

[crtstatic]

Even tho I like Zunko's design, her voice has this weird sound to it. It has like,,,,,,,,a strange filter on it. I dont know how to explain it, but it sounds slightly metallic-

 

[peaches2217]

Even tho I like Zunko's design, her voice has this weird sound to it. It has like,,,,,,,,a strange filter on it. I dont know how to explain it, but it sounds slightly metallic-

Yeah, of the three sisters, her voice is easily my least favorite. It’s a shame, because I adore her design.

 

[___]

Even tho I like Zunko's design, her voice has this weird sound to it. It has like,,,,,,,,a strange filter on it. I dont know how to explain it, but it sounds slightly metallic-

Probably has to do w her voice being breathy:o

 

[Rolo]

I’m curious if the reason the NT looks the way it is and even the pose is because Crypton wants to move away from the Android/robot angle. I feel like they used to really engage with that and fan headcanons about the vocaloids (like the character items being present in Diva and whatnot) but as Miku become more popular she’s not really that Virtual diva anymore Miku is like more of a symbol now so I don’t even think she is the first sound from the future anymore she’s just “Miku” now. I’ve noticed for awhile that they’ve seemed to try and humanize Miku moving away from more of the virtual diva angle to that of like a virtual human idol like girls from say love live or something. Those girls are fictional characters but they’re human fictional characters meanwhile Miku is specifically a computer program but that aspect seems to be going away. I’m getting kinda rambly but basically when I see the NT design and even Miku’s pose it reminds me of like a young woman going out on the town or something. It doesn’t seem like it’s trying to be dynamic or out there like other box art she seems very causal and normal like she’s just a regular girl.

 

[Jisenku]

just as i saw you were gonna move your comments to here i had finished my lengthy essay post in response kdfjghkdfg so i will share it here. i just dont wanna lose my commentary.

long character design rambles

ok so character design is definitely a thing i am into as in, career and whatnot, so i have many thoughts about many vocaloid designs... and ill briefly give my miku nt since thats the topic

i'd argue the design is good by itself, but whether or not people feel it "fits" in context to previous ones is kind of subjective- mostly when people are so attached/used it them. i jump with joy when companies actually try to stray from the mold, even if its just by a hair- and i think miku's change to more round/soft angles shows her "change" very well. i agree angular = futuristic and im nostalgic for that type of look, but i think the intention of changing her this way makes sense and lets the character deviate from what she once was. and i can understand them going for that due to Miku being taken away from Vocaloid as a title.
honestly everything about the design is practically the same minus some clothing details? so im surprised anyone is that unhappy- but i guess i dont find myself as attached when i purely come in with interest to a design changing, from an analytical point of view... so in summary: i think the design is well executed and honestly fitting for the changes theyre making to miku, even if they contrast the old ones i think its good for them to 'move on' design wise.

however i will get on this- as it made me think of your impression on the hair and mentioning the art. as much as i think ixima is a good artist, the way miku is presented (in terms of composition/pose) i don't feel shows off the design in the best way it could be shown....which takes me to the hair- i realized it when i glanced at the Macne Nana art above- but theres no real flow to the pose or hair, and i always felt the hair looked 'off' in some way. it might seem hard to understand but, basically Miku's pose is straight/flat... theres no real contrast to what her bundles of hair is doing in comparison to her body. and i'd say this is honestly why the hair looks like a bit much/off/disproportionate. a better pose would've let this flow in a way that seemed more realistic/easier to understand.

ill put a lil sketchy thing here to visualize this. while i have Macne as an example i could point out *many* other designs, who have "ridiculous" hair but is ultimately complimented by their pose.

and miku

Miku's arms are doing the only contrast here... which doesnt mean much when her hair is going all sorts of ways. i can see they wanted to imply the curly/waviness but visually give a good composition for the design itself. on a model sheet, sure-- but for art displaying the design, it just doesnt look great imo. if the hair was drawn a certain way, to flow with a funky pose, it could've directed how the hair was presented. i think the hair "works" and its cute, just the way its presented on the art, doesn't direct it in the best way.

god sorry for the essay. i am passionate on my character design thoughts and i dont think youre incorrect for feeling like the hair looks off compared to other designs with wacky hair.

HAH TOLD YOU GUYS SHE LOOKED WACK

Ok that's some really good analysis for one, and I completely agree with you

I’m curious if the reason the NT looks the way it is and even the pose is because Crypton wants to move away from the Android/robot angle. I feel like they used to really engage with that and fan headcanons about the vocaloids (like the character items being present in Diva and whatnot) but as Miku become more popular she’s not really that Virtual diva anymore Miku is like more of a symbol now so I don’t even think she is the first sound from the future anymore she’s just “Miku” now. I’ve noticed for awhile that they’ve seemed to try and humanize Miku moving away from more of the virtual diva angle to that of like a virtual human idol like girls from say love live or something. Those girls are fictional characters but they’re human fictional characters meanwhile Miku is specifically a computer program but that aspect seems to be going away. I’m getting kinda rambly but basically when I see the NT design and even Miku’s pose it reminds me of like a young woman going out on the town or something. It doesn’t seem like it’s trying to be dynamic or out there like other box art she seems very causal and normal like she’s just a regular girl.

Fair point, but I feel like Crypton should still maintain the idea that this is a synthesizer. And also, when you say that she doesn't seem to be going for a dynamic look, I feel like that's something Crypton lost out on.

 

[ruffe]

Even tho I like Zunko's design, her voice has this weird sound to it. It has like,,,,,,,,a strange filter on it. I dont know how to explain it, but it sounds slightly metallic-

I'm really hoping this will be rectified in her Neutrino bank if it happens! The VOCALOID engine seems to hate breathiness to a degree (Zunko, Yuki, Iroha_Soft & Aoki Lapis on certain phonemes), and Zunko is literally so precious - from the design to the original reason she was created.

 

[morrysillusion]

I’m curious if the reason the NT looks the way it is and even the pose is because Crypton wants to move away from the Android/robot angle. I feel like they used to really engage with that and fan headcanons about the vocaloids (like the character items being present in Diva and whatnot) but as Miku become more popular she’s not really that Virtual diva anymore Miku is like more of a symbol now so I don’t even think she is the first sound from the future anymore she’s just “Miku” now. I’ve noticed for awhile that they’ve seemed to try and humanize Miku moving away from more of the virtual diva angle to that of like a virtual human idol like girls from say love live or something. Those girls are fictional characters but they’re human fictional characters meanwhile Miku is specifically a computer program but that aspect seems to be going away. I’m getting kinda rambly but basically when I see the NT design and even Miku’s pose it reminds me of like a young woman going out on the town or something. It doesn’t seem like it’s trying to be dynamic or out there like other box art she seems very causal and normal like she’s just a regular girl.

i agree with this very much in terms of detaching her from what she was. its hard to say if their intentions really are to make her less seen a futuristic robot star and more like a human/icon with no attachment to such an idea- but i think the new design voices that disconnect well, whether intentionally or not. my impression of Miku NT was stepping away from what she was under Vocaloid and i think her new design does it well without destroying the character people love to see. my character design brain would've loved to see something even more out there if i'm honest lol. but i know they played it well with the design they made, for the fans.

 

[mobius017]

Regarding the new NT design, granted that I've been in the fandom for only...3 years now, I think?...I honestly don't really perceive the "android" part of Miku's backstory in any of her designs. Maybe it's because while I've been around, I haven't seen CFM refer to her as a robot at any point. I guess they must have originally, but if you look at the V4X/NT product pages, they reference the future and a synthesized voice, but they don't call her an android anywhere.

One of the tweets from CFM (or one of the articles they wrote?) about her NT design said it was supposed to contain references to waves, like sound waves. I think you could easily take it a little further than that, though. If you look near the toes of her shoes, those really look like WiFi symbols to me. And if you look at some of the things they've said about Expo Online 2021 (specifically how it's letting her come to her fans in a way that's only possible for her), it really emphasizes her ties to the Internet.

Given all that, I think she's being more positioned as a "digital" being of her own kind, a being who looks human and is humanly approachable and relatable to her fans, but who can simultaneously be expressed as acoustic sound waves that go through the air, radio waves, WiFi transmission waves, light waves, or even the oscillations of alternating current (the AC in your house).

 

[___]

I don't find Gumi eng's design elegant at all, she looks like she's ready to get her ass to a Halloween party.

edit:


Yea look at her go! She even took her shoes off to do some sick dance moves. Good for her.

 

[ruffe]

Yea look at her go! She even took her shoes off to do some sick dance moves. Good for her.

LMAO! Patuk's edits remain superior.

I can't say I dislike that design, but I find it SO plain! It's easily one of the most unremarkable Vocaloid designs out there.

 

[crtstatic]

but I find it SO plain! It's easily one of the most unremarkable Vocaloid designs out there.

I agree. Compared to her other designs (even her V2) it doesnt stick out very much. (And why make a separate design for her English bank anyways? Its not on the box, so it just doesnt make sense-)

 

[Stardust]

While on the topic of design poses, I have to confess that the pose does not mean a lot to me in regards to a design. This is not in regards to Miku, but to any design. I suppose it is the design itself that really matters to me, since an artist can draw them in a different pose for a PV or for fanart.
(Now that I think about it, I wonder if companies do not focus on poses so much and make a more basic pose is so artists do not have trouble with referencing the art for fanart? I know in the past I have had trouble referencing art for non-synth characters because they chose a pose for the character that made it difficult to see the design fully.)

 

[mobius017]

While on the topic of design poses, I have to confess that the pose does not mean a lot to me in regards to a design. This is not in regards to Miku, but to any design. I suppose it is the design itself that really matters to me, since an artist can draw them in a different pose for a PV or for fanart.
(Now that I think about it, I wonder if companies do not focus on poses so much and make a more basic pose is so artists do not have trouble with referencing the art for fanart? I know in the past I have had trouble referencing art for non-synth characters because they chose a pose for the character that made it difficult to see the design fully.)

I'd tend to agree with that. I'd consider the pose to be part of the official art, but not really part of the design. I mean, you can change how the character is positioned/standing, and you'd still say they're in their XYZ design/form, right?

 

[ruffe]

While on the topic of design poses, I have to confess that the pose does not mean a lot to me in regards to a design. This is not in regards to Miku, but to any design. I suppose it is the design itself that really matters to me, since an artist can draw them in a different pose for a PV or for fanart.
(Now that I think about it, I wonder if companies do not focus on poses so much and make a more basic pose is so artists do not have trouble with referencing the art for fanart? I know in the past I have had trouble referencing art for non-synth characters because they chose a pose for the character that made it difficult to see the design fully.)

I agree, for the most part. Most characters tend to come with character design sheet showing the front/back & minor details so you can easily see all facets of their design anyways (or they're a quick google search away). I mean, having an extravagant pose is cool 'n all, but it doesn't really bother me when a character isn't doing much.

Example of a character sheet in case I wasn't clear