From the article:
The popular Spice and Wolf anime character Holo will make her VTuber debut on April 3, 2024, on the TOHO Animation Channel (YouTube) and the Spice and Wolf anime official TikTok.
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I couldn’t figure out whether the anime VA will also be doing the VTuber duties, or if they have somebody else performing as VTuber Holo. Finally, here is the preview image for her avatar:
Yeah, I wasn’t sure what to make of this tbh. I don’t really follow the VTuber scene at all, but it is hard to deny its growing influence within the Japanese media landscape, including whole anime based off of VTubing (is that a word?).
It’s a word.
I find it’s a pretty healthy development in what is basically a branch of the idol industry.
It has enabled indies, and the people doing it have a way better chance at maintaining a healthy work/life balance than idols of old. They can literally “unplug” and live a personal life that they can make as separate or involved as they like.
There’s no bullshit about physical appearances like fashion, weight watching, age…
And it’s been a delight to see the biggest player, hololive, actually allowing talent to take care of themselves when push come to shove, rather than going through humans like they’re some kind of consumable.
But this, taking an IP with established fictional characters, and having them become vtubers? This feels weird.
I’m not sure what it adds? People stick with vtubers because as “unreal” as they are, we genuinely like the people behind the avatars.
Yes, it’s acting and performing, but also not. I’m not sure how “hello I’m a character from that franchise you like” would work.
As a big fan of Holo, I’m kinda worried, and annoyed that they’d risk it, that this will affect the character. I don’t want to see a fantasy goddess try and fit into the real world, and I’m a little scared of what the real world might turn her into.
“POGGERS” - Holo soon
What… What is this?
I made a similar comment elsewhere but I think it will depend on the seiyuu. If they’re good at improv and understand their character it could be very cool. I imagine there are lots of fans who would love to be messed with by the wise wolf.
I’m just not sure how they will address the disparity between the story’s setting and the reality of talking to thousands of people on a computer. I’m assuming they’ll just make an effort to avoid any mention of the technology or situation, being very picky about what things they respond to.