GUMI

GUMI (グミ) is a Japanese VOCALOID developed and distributed by Internet Co., Ltd. as Megpoid (メグッポイド), which was initially released June 2009 for the VOCALOID2 engine. There has since been three installments developed for the VOCALOID3 engine, one that includes an update of the VOCALOID2 voice bank. On October 6th, 2015, it was announced that GUMI would receive an update to the VOCALOID4 engine. Her voice is provided by Filipino-Japanese female singer and voice actress, Megumi Nakajima (中島 愛; Nakajima Megumi).

 days until VOCALOID4 release!

Concept
GUMI was the second VOCALOID to be released by the company Internet Co., Ltd and had a more retro-futuristic approach than Gackpo.

Etymology
The name Gumi is the voice provider Megumi Nakajima's nickname from her childhood. The software name, "Megpoid", was taken from the provider's name "Megumi." The second half, "ppoid", is a combination of "ppoi" (っぽい: resembling) and "loid": "like Vocaloid". the full implied name of this product is "Megumi-like Vocaloid."

Less experienced overseas fans often mislabel GUMI as a "Megpoid" rather than a "VOCALOID" and sometimes dismiss that she is a VOCALOID altogether. Another notable mistake is labeling her name as "Megpoid Gumi" or "Gumi Megpoid". The explanation for both these mistakes is the confusion over the naming of both software package and VOCALOID. The same issue occurs with Camui Gackpo and his software Gackpoid.

Appearance
The original avatar character of the software was drawn by the illustrator Masami Yuuki (ゆうきまさみ Yuuki Masami). Her design is often said to be influenced by 's character (one of the first roles done by Megumi Nakajima as seiyuu). Ranka Lee's main outfit (which she wears for the notable song Seikan Hikou) contains the colors green, yellow, and orange. This has never been officially confirmed, but is still a popular assumption with both Japanese and overseas VOCALOID fans.

Her belt buckle incorporates the Tenori-on device's design.

GUMI's Megpoid English illustration has a different direction to the past GUMI illustrations.

Concerning GUMI's age, during the Extend development, Noboru once tweeted that there was a rough age preferred for GUMI, set around the teenage years. However, no official age was ever given to GUMI in her various designs. When writing about the Extend, it was noted the voice could be considered 'extensions' of the age conceptualized for GUMI.

Marketing
GUMI originally did not have much marketing, but has since gained enough popularity for further possibilities. She is Internet co, Ltd's most successful VOCALOID and since the launch of VOCALOID3, has seen an increase in merchandise.

Originally, GUMI songs were not allowed to be sold on Karen-T, though this was later changed and INTERNET Co., gave permission for both her and Gackpo in 2009.

Her English version is aimed more at the English speaking market. This is the first English capable vocal to be purchasable from the VOCALOID shop itself, as well as the the developer's own website. Her vocal can be bought by anyone in the USA or the UK, however other English speaking countries still cannot purchase it directly.

Trivia

 * With 17 voicebanks in total, GUMI is currently the VOCALOID with the most voicebanks. With 10 vocals in the package, her V4 complete package also sports the most vocals released within a single package.
 * GUMI has proven to be quite a popular VOCALOID for MMD model makers and has several models, which is notably more compared to most other VOCALOIDs. One of them is ISAO's model, available by purchase from the Windows 100% magazine and MMD Starter Pack magazine.
 * The Megpoid English vocal was the 22nd product released for VOCALOID3; putting the total amount of VOCALOID3 releases on par with the number of VOCALOID2s.

Notable for...

 * First female VOCALOID from Internet Co. Ltd.
 * One of 3 voicebanks used by the robot HRP-4C.
 * First VOCALOID from Internet Co. Ltd to be upgraded to VOCALOID3.
 * First Internet Co. Ltd. VOCALOID to get an Extend.
 * First Internet Co. Ltd. VOCALOID to get an English voicebank.
 * First Internet Co. Ltd. VOCALOID to have a video game starring the VOCALOID itself.
 * One of the first VOCALOIDs to be upgraded to VOCALOID3 (along with VY1)
 * One of the first 4 VOCALOID3 vocals released for the engine