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Hatsune Miku

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In this Japanese name, the family name is Hatsune.
Hatsune Miku (CV01)
Developer(s)Crypton Future Media [en], Sapporo
Initial release31 August 2007; 17 years ago (2007-08-31)
Stable release
Hatsune Miku NT V2 / 18 March 2025; 3 months ago (2025-03-18)
PlatformVocaloid[a]
Available in
  • Japanese
  • English
  • Chinese
TypeVocal synthesiser application
LicenceCC BY-NC (character design)
Websiteec.crypton.co.jp/pages/prod/virtualsinger/cv01_us

Hatsune Miku (Japanese: 初音ミク) is a Vocaloid software voicebank. It was developed by Crypton Future Media [en], and first released in 2007. The software's official mascot is shown and described as a 16-year-old girl with long, turquoise twintails.

Miku's character has been marketed as a virtual idol. Shortly after release, the software became a sales hit. Hatsune Miku is widely regarded as an icon of popular culture. Her popularity had made a significant impact on the internet and music culture. This resulted in several spin-off media being made.

Background

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Origins

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In 1995, Crypton Future Media [en] was founded by Japanese businessman Hiroyuki Ito. The company specialises in making and selling music-related content, such as sound generator software.[1]

In 2004, Crypton released Meiko, a female voice synthesiser. She was followed in 2006 by Kaito, a male software. Both voicebanks use the Vocaloid 1 software engine. They also feature character mascots on their box art. This was a marketing strategy by Crypton to explain that a character is behind the singing voice. Three thousand copies of the Meiko voicebank were sold within the year after release.[1] However, only less than 500 units of the Kaito software were sold in 2006. This was the lowest sale for a Japanese Vocaloid product on record.[2][3] Crypton realised that a female software is more popular than a male software.[3]

In 2007, Yamaha Corporation released the Vocaloid 2 engine. This version has vocals more smooth and natural to that of a human.[4] Crypton saw an opportunity to make a new product after Meiko and Kaito.[1]

Concept and development

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The task of coming up with Miku's image went to artist Kei Garo. Kei illustrated Miku's clothing and accessories based on Yamaha's DX series keyboard. He also drew the character as having turquoise twintails.[5] This resulted in Miku's design being more complex than Meiko and Kaito. Compared to Miku, Meiko and Kaito were of a more simple manga-style. Yuji Sone said that Miku's appearance fit more with Japanese audiences at the time.[1]

Crypton found that searching a voice sample hard. The company met about ten female singers. They all declined. The singers said they were too scared to have their voice copied everywhere.[6] Eventually, Crypton found Saki Fujita [en]. They found her voice to be "easy to understand and cute". Fujita's voice also fits Hatsune Miku's image as a futuristic idol. Crypton therefore chose to sample voices from Fujita.[1]

To give the feeling Miku's existence is "real", Crypton gave few details about her character. They also made sure to keep Miku a "blank canvas" (free to interpret). Hatsune Miku's age is said to be 16 years old. Her weight is specified at 42 kg (93 lb). She is described as 158 cm (5.18 ft) in height.[1][4]

Software

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For more background information on the software, see Vocaloid.
"Freely Tomorrow" by Mitchie M
Example of a song created using Vocaloid software with vocals by Hatsune Miku.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Hatsune Miku is based on the Vocaloid platform. The software allows users to string together phonemes in order. Once the composition is played, these notes will make a singing voice.[7] Pitch, speed, and volume can be changed to near-impossible levels. For example, the introduction to "The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku" clocks in at 240 BPM (beats per minute).[8]

On 30 April 2010, a new add-on for Vocaloid 2 called Hatsune Miku Append was released. It contains five different voice tones, including "Sweet", "Dark" and "Vivid".[9] On 31 August 2013, an English version of Miku was released, using the Vocaloid 3 engine. The Japanese version of Hatsune Miku V3 was released on 26 September 2013.[10]

Hatsune Miku was updated to the Vocaloid 4 engine on 31 August 2016. This version is known as Hatsune Miku V4X. It is available in both Japanese and English.[11] A Chinese version of Hatsune Miku V4X was released on 7 September 2017.[12] On 1 August 2024, Crypton announced they will release Hatsune Miku V6 AI sometime in 2025. This version is based on the Vocaloid 6 engine. Miku V6 AI also uses artificial intelligence for a wider range of voices.[13][14]

On 27 November 2020, Hatsune Miku NT[b] was released. Unlike previous versions, this software does not use the Vocaloid engine. Instead, Miku NT is available on Piapro Studio with an in-house voice synthesis engine.[15] An early-access launch of the second version of Hatsune Miku NT was released in October 2024. This version was officially launched on 18 March 2025.[16]

Reception

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Initial sales and popularity

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Hatsune Miku was initially released by Crypton on 31 August 2007. It was put on Amazon's website for ¥15,750 (equivalent to ¥16,438 in 2019). By 12 September 2007, orders rose to nearly 3,000 copies. According to ITmedia News, an average sale of a music software would be 200 to 300 copies. 1,000 copies would normally be said to be a sales hit.[6] Within the year of being released, more than 40,000 copies of the Hatsune Miku software were sold.[17]

At the same time, Hatsune Miku started to gain popularity through Nico Nico Douga [en]. This Japanese video-sharing site had started in 2006, a year before Miku's release.[18] Each day, users uploaded 100 to 200 songs that used Miku's vocals. By August 2008, Nikkei Business Online estimated that more than 100,000 Miku songs had been uploaded on Nico Nico Douga.[19]

Reviews and analysis

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Natasha Anderson assessed that Hatsune Miku has advantages over real idols. Real-life idols have strict, regulated lives to keep a certain image for their fans. These restrictions include food diet and relationships with other people. Anderson stated that virtual idols like Miku would never experience these issues. Their private life remains intact without having to maintain a strict lifestyle. This improve their lives without endangering their own.[20]

Ian DiOrio criticised Hatsune Miku as technological masterpiece that is fake. He compared Miku's existence to that of leprechauns and unicorns.[21] DiOrio also thought many people are attracted to Miku because she is immortal.[22]

Esther Chen wrote her essay in 2024. In her essay, Chen went into detail on how music culture is being deconstructed by Hatsune Miku's popularity. Chen used statistics as evidence to support her argument. These statistics include comparisons between American, Japanese and Vocaloid music.[23] Chen concluded that Miku and Vocaloid has allowed the spread of creative and cultural expressions between creators. She also stated that this came at the cost of mildly damaging the traditional music industry.[24]

Awards

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Hatsune Miku was nominated for the 2007 Internet Buzzword Awards. She ultimately came in sixth place.[25] In 2008, Hatsune Miku won the Excellence Award at the 13th AMD Awards. Alongside Miku, a few other candidates such as iPod Touch also received this award.[26] Miku would also win the Free Category of the 2008 Seiun Award.[27]

Cultural impact

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Cosplay of Hatsune Miku in Taiwan

Since Miku's release in 2007, other Vocaloids have been introduced over time. Even then, Hatsune Miku's popularity remained mostly unchallenged.[28] A survey conducted by iShare Co., Ltd. in 2008 showed that 60.6% of 540 selected people[c] knew Miku's name.[29] Music Awards Japan reported in its 2025 research that 58% of the global Vocaloid songs featured Hatsune Miku.[30]

Several mainstream Western musicians have utilised Vocaloids over the years. This includes Lady Gaga featuring Miku in her Artpop tour.[31]

In May 2011, Toyota adopted Hatsune Miku as the mascot for their new Corolla commercial campaign in the American market.[32][33] Miku has also been involved in collaborations with a few Western food chains in Japan. These include Domino's Pizza in 2013,[34] and McDonald's in 2025.[35]

In China, Miku is considered to be the strongest in terms of sales. According to Eri Hatano,[d] this is partly because of China's large population. As of 2023, Miku has been ranked among the top Japanese intellectual properties distributed in China.[36] Miku's popularity in China led to the creation of the video-sharing site Mikufans in 2009. This site would later become Bilibili [en] in 2010.[37]

Multimedia development

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See the main article: Hatsune Miku media franchise [ja]

Hatsune Miku's popularity has resulted in many spin-off media being created. These include live concerts, video games, merchandise, and motorsports. Since August 2009, Miku has appeared in concerts in Japan and around the world.[38] These concerts operate using a three-dimensional projection of the characters on stage.[e][39] Vocaloid songwriters often team up with concert organisers to make a music playlist.[38]

A series of rhythm games starting from Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA [en] were made by Sega. These games feature Hatsune Miku and other Vocaloid characters. The songs featured in the games were made by producers of the Vocaloid community.[40] In 2020, a mobile gacha rhythm game called Project Sekai: Colorful Stage! was released. Outside Asia, this game is known as Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage! [en]. The game features Miku and other Crypton Vocaloids, as well as some original characters.[41]

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Notes

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  1. ↑ This does not include the NT and NT V2 versions.
  2. ↑ "NT" is short for "New Type".
  3. ↑ These people were aged in their 20s to 30s.
  4. ↑ A writer on Nikkei XTrend.
  5. ↑ Which includes Hatsune Miku and other Vocaloid characters.

References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Sone 2017, p. 141.
  2. ↑ 航空工业出版社 2014, p. 184.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Le 2013, p. 3.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 St. Michel, Patrick. "The Making of Vocaloid". Red Bull Music Academy. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2025. – archived via archive.today.
  5. ↑ 航空工业出版社 2014, p. 186.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Okada, Yuka (12 September 2007). "異例の売れ行き「初音ミク」　「ニコ動」で広がる音楽作りのすそ野" [Unprecedented sales of "Hatsune Miku" and "Nico Nico Douga" expand the horizons of music makers]. ITmedia News (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  7. ↑ Galbraith & Karlin 2016, p. 206.
  8. ↑ Anderson 2021, p. 43.
  9. ↑ "初音ミクAppend、4月30日発売" [Hatsune Miku Append to be released on April 30th]. ITmedia News (in Japanese). 2 April 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  10. ↑ Matsuo, Kimiya (10 August 2013). "初音ミク英語版は8月31日発売　「クリエイターが世界で活躍できるパスポートに」" [Hatsune Miku English version to be released on August 31st "A passport for creators to be active on the world stage"]. Netlab, ITmedia News (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  11. ↑ "「初音ミク」新バージョン「V4X」発売　シャウトからささやきまで表現豊かに" [New version of "Hatsune Miku" "V4X" released, with rich expressions from shouts to whispers]. ITmedia News (in Japanese). 31 August 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  12. ↑ Yamaguchi, Keisuke (7 September 2017). "中国語で歌う「初音ミク」登場　日本からも購入可能" ["Hatsune Miku" sings in Chinese and can be purchased from Japan]. ITmedia News (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "『初音ミク V6 AI』2024年内リリースの延期を発表「開発上の理由」「2025年中を目標として開発を進めております」" ["Hatsune Miku V6 AI" release postponed to 2024 "Due to development reasons" "Development is progressing with the goal of 2025"]. Oricon News (in Japanese). 26 December 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  14. ↑ "「初音ミク V6 AI」年内発売へ　AIで歌声の幅広げた「VOCALOID6」採用" ["Hatsune Miku V6 AI" to be released this year, adopting "VOCALOID6" which expands the range of singing voices with AI]. ITmedia News (in Japanese). 1 August 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  15. ↑ Tanii, Masato (27 November 2020). "VOCALOIDじゃない「初音ミク NT」、きょう正式発売　音源の一部は後日提供" ["Hatsune Miku NT," not a VOCALOID, officially launched today. Some of the sound sources will be provided at a later date.]. ITmedia News (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  16. ↑ Koizumi, Kiyomizu (19 March 2025). "初音ミク NTバージョン2がリリース。複数のエンジンでクリエイターの思いを存分に反映できる環境を" [Hatsune Miku NT version 2 has been released. Creating an environment where creators can fully express their ideas with multiple engines.]. DTM Station (Interview) (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  17. ↑ Sone 2017, p. 142.
  18. ↑ Sone 2017, pp. 142–143.
  19. ↑ Noyasu, Yukio (8 August 2008). "ユーザー作成コンテンツがひっくり返す、商売の常識 ～初音ミクが巻き起こした革命とは？～" [User-Generated Content is Upending Business Conventions: What revolution has Hatsune Miku sparked?]. Nikkei Business Online (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 14 December 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  20. ↑ Anderson 2021, p. 7 (44).
  21. ↑ DiOrio 2014, pp. 99–100.
  22. ↑ DiOrio 2014, pp. 100–101.
  23. ↑ Chen 2024, pp. 4–5.
  24. ↑ Chen 2024, p. 7.
  25. ↑ "2007年ネット流行語大賞、栄えある第1位は「アサヒる」に決定" ["Asahiru" wins the prestigious 1st place in the 2007 Internet Buzzword Awards]. Gigazine (in Japanese). 14 December 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  26. ↑ "AMDアワード大賞は「Wii Fit」。「iPod touch」「初音ミク」なども受賞" [The AMD Award Grand Prize went to "Wii Fit." Other winners included "iPod touch" and "Hatsune Miku."]. BB Watch (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  27. ↑ "星雲賞：長編部門に「図書館戦争」　「初音ミク」「20世紀少年」なども受賞" [Seiun Award: Winners in the feature-length category include "Library Wars," "Hatsune Miku," and "20th Century Boys"]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 25 August 2008. Archived from the original on 29 August 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  28. ↑ Le 2013, p. 5.
  29. ↑ "みくみくにしてあげる♪ 初音ミクの認知度は全体で6割超え" [I'll make you Miku Miku♪ Hatsune Miku is more well-known than other characters.]. CNET Japan (in Japanese). 17 October 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  30. ↑ "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN's Best Vocaloid Culture Song Entries Highlight Different Domestic & International Trends". Billboard. 22 April 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  31. ↑ Anderson 2021, p. 10 (47).
  32. ↑ Kobayashi & Taguchi 2018, p. 7.
  33. ↑ Le 2013, p. 7.
  34. ↑ Green, Scott (6 March 2013). "Hatsune Miku Helps You Order Domino's Pizza with New App". Crunchyroll. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  35. ↑ Iikura-Gross, Ken (11 March 2025). "McDonald's Rolls Out Hatsune Miku Collaboration". Anime News Network. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  36. ↑ Hatano, Eri (25 December 2023). "ヒットIP研究「初音ミク」、『プロセカ』で韓国ファン増加（後編）" [Hit IP research: "Hatsune Miku" and "Project Sekai" increase Korean fans (Part 2)]. Nikkei XTrend (in Japanese). Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  37. ↑ Lou, Xiaojing (30 April 2012). "哔哩哔哩吐槽动漫" [Bilibili Talks About Anime & Manga Industry]. CBN Weekly (in Chinese). 16. Shanghai Media Group. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Galbraith & Karlin 2016, p. 212.
  39. ↑ Anderson 2021, p. 9 (46).
  40. ↑ Le 2013, pp. 7–8.
  41. ↑ Romano, Sal (22 August 2020). "Project SEKAI: COLORFUL STAGE! feat. Hatsune Miku launches September 30 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved 23 June 2025.

Sources

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Other websites

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