By Tony Wei, Scott Chen, Anita Chen, Elsie Chu
RenewLive, a Taiwanese Vtuber agency, has four new Vtubers to energize the Taiwan Vtuber industry. As second generation Vtubers, Yumebi Emu (夢寐愛姆), Nayuki Vivy (名雪薇薇), Makino Konin (牧乃柯寧), and Haru Momo (初春桃) premiered themselves on a marathon live streaming event on November 20.
New blood
RenewLive released the information of their second generation of Vtubers on the online live launch on October 30. The second generation Vtubers are Yumebi Emu, Nayuki Vivy, Makino Konin, and Haru Momo. During the almost one-and-a-half-hour long live, RenewLive not only releases the front images of four Vtubers but also responded to fans’ questions:
Q1: How are the images of the second generation Vtubers designed?
The host: “For the process of design this time, we try a new way. We find the person behind the virtual character first. Then, we design a unique image of a Vtuber based on that person’s characteristics. Despite that, the design still follows the company’s policy, so we do have conflicts with animators, but it is a happy collaboration.”
Q2: Is the timeline of each Vtuber’s live be released as well?
The host: “The timeline of live shows will be arranged depending on each Vtuber. The company does not ask our Vtubers to hand in the timeline or force them to do live at the time the company wants. It is all up to Vtubers themselves because we care about our talents’ physical and mental state much. We hope they are all physically and mentally healthy. Therefore, we do not know the dates and time they will do live. Please wait for each Vtuber to announce it.”
Q3: How soon will fans be able to interact with the second-generation Vtubers?
The host: “Actually, all the second-generation Vtubers have already been active on Discord groups. They are observing audiences in secret. Please wait for their debut in the following week.”
Q4: Do the first-generation Vtubers also have special events?”
The host: “Since the second generation is coming, Suda Yoruka (須多夜花), one of the first-generation Vtubers, also has new plans and will release a new cover song.”
Q5: Will the first and second generation do live together?
The host: “Live collaboration is possible, but the company needs to coordinate with them, and Vtubers also need to coordinate among themselves. As what is mentioned earlier, we care about our Vtubers’ health a lot. We do not force them to collaborate with each other.”
Debut
On November 20, four second generation Vtubers made a marathon live debut from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Each of them introduces themselves, for example, virtual characters’ ethics and what they like and do not like. Nayuki Vivy and Haru Momo mention their goals; one of which is to perform in the Taipei Arena by 3D projection. They also respond to what the audiences leave in the chat rooms and move around to show the different angles of their images.
Yumebi Emu prepares ten bottles to explain her hobbies and does ASMR. Nayuki Vivy prepares a 30-minute-long mini online concert. Makino Konin says, “I am a new try.” Since Vtubers mainly focus on doing live streaming, this time, RenewLive wants to try a new way to let a Vtuber focus on pre-recorded videos.
The future timelines of live streams go as RenewLive proclaims, “we care about our talents’ physical and mental state much.” Nayuki Vivy has the live streaming every day; Haru Momo only gives question marks on her timeline with only two days definite. The time is all up to Vtubers themselves. The company’s statement does correspond to its action.
Reflection and Expectations
The person in charge of RenewLive and the hosts express their thoughts after the long preparation of the second-generation Vtubers. Kuroko (哲平), one of the hosts, says, “[many] people think Taiwan’s Vtubers is here today and gone tomorrow, and it is really hard to promote Vtubers” Munin (老大), the person in charge, also confirms they “encountered difficulty during the planning of the second-generation Vtubers.” The company’s major concern is Vtubers’ uncertain future. Kuroko explains “Taiwan’s Vtubers work very hard, but they just need audiences.”
However, Kuroko says, “[when] I recall RenewLive’s events and the memories about Taiwan’s Vtubers, they are all wonderful.” Along with what Munin says about how “RenewLive now focuses on creating the memories of Taiwan Vtubers,” RenewLive’s positioning is to create memories belonging to Taiwan’s Vtubers and the company believes Taiwan’s Vtubers will bring more fun to entertain the fans and be the audiences’ support and motivation for life. Thus, the host is hopeful, saying “[there] will be no regret if RenewLive leaves some memories.”
Munin further talks about the current operation of RenewLive. After the establishment of RenewLive six months ago, the core value is still the same to grow up with Taiwan’s Vtubers and audiences step-by-step. Munin says, “[in] these six years, we have more and more members. The operation is also getting better.”
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