Camui Gackpo (神威がくぽ Kamui Gakupo), is a Japanese VOCALOID developed and distributed by Internet Co., Ltd. as Gackpoid (がくっぽいど Gakuppoido), which was initially released in July 2008 for the VOCALOID2 engine. There have been additional installments developed for the VOCALOID3 engine in July 2012 and for the VOCALOID4 engine in April 2015. His voice is provided by GACKT, a male Japanese singer, songwriter, actor, and musician.
Concept
Etymology
"Gackpo" is based on the pronunciation of the name "Gackt". The software name of "Gackpoid" also takes its name from Gackt's own. The "poid" on the end of the name is short for "like VOCALOID". Consequently, the full implied name of this product is "Gackt-like VOCALOID".
The romanization of his name is "Kamui Gakupo" (かむいがくぽ) but is officially stylized by Internet Co. as "Camui Gackpo".[1] "Kamui Gakupo" is the spelling overseas VOCALOIDs fans are accustomed to and frequently use. "Kamui Gakupo" can also be seen on the KARENT website. Other spellings of his name have also been witnessed from other sources.
Less experienced overseas fans mislabeled Gackpo as a "Gackpoid" rather than a "VOCALOID" and sometimes dismissed that he is a VOCALOID altogether. This is owed to the confusion over the separate name for both the VOCALOID and software package. The same issue occurs with GUMI and her software Megpoid.
Appearance
The avatar of the software was drawn by the illustrator Kentaro Miura (三浦健太郎 Miura Kentaro).[2] A note from Crypton Future Media's VOCALOIDs stated that they were using cyber-style clothes which can "melt into" our everyday lives as much as possible. From this concept, Internet co., Ltd drew up their own ideas on what makes VOCALOID popular. Gackpo's look was picked from several possible designs.[3]
Gackpo is one of the few VOCALOIDs to see his most popular meme make it into merchandise form. In keeping with the Item Wars, Gackpo has been associated with eggplants. An eggplant with stick-legs is an additional item included with his Nendoroid figurine.
Gackpo has a samurai aesthetic: the VOCALOID is dressed in traditional Japanese attire - a pair of pleated skirt-like trousers (hakama) and a short kimono-like jacket (haori). He also carries a katana which is named "Music katana, Miburi" (楽刀・美振 / Gakutou Miburi). The patterns on its blade make musical sounds when it is swung down. The sword exists because producers wanted a link to a musical instrument and there were no objections to the use of a weapon.
When considering the features of Gackpo, the producers informed the designers that they wanted the eyes to look like Gackt's and for his outfit to include a combination of cyber and traditional Japanese-styled clothing. The colors were picked to make him stand out from the other VOCALOIDs.[4]
The symbol on the back of both Gackpo's fan and shirt/jacket is a stylized version of the kanji character for "music" (楽). The kanji can be read as gaku using its on reading (the Chinese-based pronunciation of a kanji), which is most likely a pun on both Gackpo's name and "楽" meaning music (as in the word 音楽 ongaku, "music").
V3
For his VOCALOID3 update, Gackpo's design remained mostly the same save for the distinction in his suit's and shoulder piece's colors and the item he holds per voicebank. For "Native", he holds a fan, the center of his suit is lit with a red and yellow pattern, and while the front is not visible, the top of the shoulder piece is orange. For "Power", he holds his katana, the suit is lit red, and his shoulder piece is red. For "Whisper", he holds a parasol. His suit and shoulder piece are blue.
V4
Gackpo's VOCALOID4 update used the same voicebanks as VOCALOID3 with growl added and an enhancement to the Cross-Synthesis function, thus, the designs were exactly the same though the physical boxes had a black background rather than white.History
Marketing
The Gackpoid software was marketed as part of the bid to introduce professional singers to VOCALOID, allowing users access to the vocal of a famous professional singer. He was also marketed with a guide book on his usage, which could be purchased optionally with his software. He was promoted as 'the first male (masculine) VOCALOID' for VOCALOID2.
Originally, Gackpo songs were not allowed to be sold on KARENT. However, this was later allowed in 2009.
In July 2023, an official Twitter account for Gackpo was opened.[5]
Voicebanks
- Gackpoid - Native
- Internet intended to allow VOCALOID users to have access to professional singer vocals. Camui Gackpo's original vocal was the first of many of these releases and gave users access to a vocal with the traits of the male Japanese singer Gackt.
- Gackpoid (VOCALOID2), July 31, 2008
- V3 Gackpoid (VOCALOID3), July 13, 2012
- V3 Gackpoid (VOCALOID NEO), February 26, 2014
- Gackpoid V4 (VOCALOID4), April 30, 2015
- Misc. versions
- His voice was used for Mobile Phone Gackpo, though details on this version are vague. The voicebank itself was accessed via the NetVOCALOID database and was one of the few VOCALOIDs who allowed users to access the network.
- Gackpoid - Power
- Power is a natural tone change variant of the "Native" vocal and designed to put emphasis on high notes.
- V3 Gackpoid (VOCALOID3), July 13, 2012
- V3 Gackpoid (VOCALOID NEO), February 26, 2014
- Gackpoid V4 (VOCALOID4), April 30, 2015
- Gackpoid - Whisper
- The Whisper vocal is a natural sounding tone change of the "Native" vocal and designed to allow more expressive tones on the lower ranges.
- V3 Gackpoid (VOCALOID3), July 13, 2012
- V3 Gackpoid (VOCALOID NEO), February 26, 2014
- Gackpoid V4 (VOCALOID4), April 30, 2015
Music featuring Camui Gackpo
Translation | ダンシング☆サムライ (Dancing☆Samurai) |
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Featuring | Camui Gackpo
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Producers | |
Categories | Original song |
Description | Dancing☆Samurai is about the Samurai Gackpo's love for dancing, and how he will send all the competition away with his moves.
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Translation | Ggrks-ググれカス- (ggrks-Gugure Kasu-) |
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Featuring | Camui Gackpo, Megurine Luka
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Producers | |
Categories | Original song |
Description | A love song featuring Luka and Gackpo. Gackpo is in love with Luka and wants to know more about her, but Luka consistently replies to his questions with "Go Google It" (or absurd variations such as "Go Google it on Yahoo!").
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Translation | ヴェノマニア公の狂気 (Venomania-kou no Kyouki) |
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Featuring | Camui Gackpo
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Producers | |
Categories | Original song |
Description | The song is about a man, Duke Sateriasis Venomania (Gackpo), who, in his childhood, had been mocked and taunted by others due to a facial deformity he had. In adulthood, he made a deal with a demon obtain the power to charm women. He then began traveling the lands, abducting women and adding them to his harem.
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Featuring | Camui Gackpo, MEIKO
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Producers | |
Categories | Original song |
Description | The second duet written by MineK with Camui Gackpo and MEIKO.
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- "VOCALOID Camui Gackpo" on Niconico Video
- "VOCALOID Camui Gackpo" on YouTube
- "VOCALOID Camui Gackpo" on bilibili
- "VOCALOID Camui Gackpo" on SoundCloud
- "VOCALOID Kamui Gakupo" on Niconico Video
- "VOCALOID Kamui Gakupo" on YouTube
- "VOCALOID Kamui Gakupo" on bilibili
- "VOCALOID Kamui Gakupo" on SoundCloud
- "VOCALOID 神威がくぽ" on Niconico Video
- "VOCALOID 神威がくぽ" on YouTube
- "VOCALOID 神威がくぽ" on bilibili
- "VOCALOID 神威がくぽ" on SoundCloud
- "VOCALOID 神威樂步" on Niconico Video
- "VOCALOID 神威樂步" on YouTube
- "VOCALOID 神威樂步" on bilibili
- "VOCALOID 神威樂步" on SoundCloud
- "VOCALOID Gackpoid" on Niconico Video
- "VOCALOID Gackpoid" on YouTube
- "VOCALOID Gackpoid" on bilibili
- "VOCALOID Gackpoid" on SoundCloud
- "VOCALOID Gakupoid" on Niconico Video
- "VOCALOID Gakupoid" on YouTube
- "VOCALOID Gakupoid" on bilibili
- "VOCALOID Gakupoid" on SoundCloud
- "VOCALOID がくっぽいど" on Niconico Video
- "VOCALOID がくっぽいど" on YouTube
- "VOCALOID がくっぽいど" on bilibili
- "VOCALOID がくっぽいど" on SoundCloud
Reputation
Status
Google Trends |
Reaction |
In the Japanese fandom, he was slow to gain popularity due to a lack of demand for male vocals at the time of his release despite the high profile of his provider. Eventually, Gackpo gained popularity due to an increased interest for male vocals and Gackt's fame. Male VOCALOIDs had not been developed for a long time, indicated by the failure of KAITO's release early on in VOCALOID's life circle. In mid-2010, he was reported to be on par with Crypton Future Media in terms of popularity. However, GUMI had overtaken him. Though he has always been among the most popular VOCALOIDs, post-VOCALOID2 vocals have overtaken his popularity. In VOCALOID3, he was often among the top 10 VOCALOIDs and is more often in the latter half (position 6-10). At times, he failed to make it into the top but still managed to maintain a popularity within the top 15. He still is considered among the most popular Internet Co., Ltd VOCALOIDs, often the second most popular regardless of his stance with other studio-made vocals. This is most notable as he and Lily were the only other VOCALOIDs known to be considered for an English update when Noboru was asked. |
Impact |
Though Gackpo maintains a relatively high popularity, during the VOCALOID3 era, GUMI became much more popular. As a consequence, her updates became more prioritized over his. In terms of contributions to VOCALOID history, Camui Gackpo's voice provider, Gackt, noted that the creation of Gackpo and GUMI allowed for the possibility of other providers being used for VOCALOID. VOCALOID was no longer just Hatsune Miku and the Kagamines. This influenced voice providers such as Madoka Yonezawa, who during the early era of the software wanted to one day make a VOCALOID. This was later achieved with Kizuna Akari who was both a VOCALOID and a VOICEROID product. Yonezawa noted that at the time, the field of voice acting was narrow with limited job choices and VOCALOID added another possibility to the career path.[6] |
Misc |
A independent search on Nico Nico Douga revealed that most VOCALOIDs had less than 1,000 videos uploaded on Nico Nico Douga in 2011 between July 1 and December 15. Gackpo, however, managed to be the 4th most popular VOCALOID when a mean count was calculated with 375 views and 17 mylists.[7] In 2015, a survey was done based on the popularity of VOCALOIDs on Nico Video. For the year 2014, Gackpo was the 10th most popular VOCALOID.[8] |
Trivia |
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Achievements |
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References
- ↑ https://vocalotracks.ssw.co.jp/index.asp can be read here as "Camui Gackpo"
- ↑ INTERNET Co.,Ltd - Gackpoid illustrations
- ↑ http://www.ssw.co.jp/products/vocal/gackpoid/infomation/episode2.html#
- ↑ http://www.ssw.co.jp/products/vocal/gackpoid/infomation/episode2.html
- ↑ https://x.com/GackpoOfficial
- ↑ https://www.dtmstation.com/archives/22442.html
- ↑ http://www.vocaloidism.com/2012/01/04/the-harsh-realities-of-vocaloid-on-nico/
- ↑ http://ch.nicovideo.jp/kadotanimitsuru/blomaga/ar699704
- ↑ [1] INTERNET Watch - クリプトン・フューチャー・メディア社長 伊藤博之氏(前編) (Crypton Future Media president Hiroyuki Itō (part one)
External links
Language | Description | Site |
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Japanese | 神威がくぽ official Twitter account | Link |
Japanese | SingerSongWriter Jp official homepage | Link |
Japanese | VOCALOID2 Gackpoid product page | Link |
Japanese | VOCALOID3 Gackpoid product page for GV3 | Link |
Japanese | VOCALOID4 Gackpoid product page for GV4 | Link |
Japanese | SingerSongWriterjp The official YouTube channel | Link |
English | deviantArt , art and media community | Link |
Japanese | Pixiv , art and media community | Link |
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