Nekomura Iroha (猫村いろは) is a Japanese VOCALOID developed and distributed by AH-Software Co. Ltd., and was created in collaboration with SANRIO and the Hello Kitty to Issho! Project. She was initially released in October 2010 for the VOCALOID2 engine. She was updated to the VOCALOID4 engine in June 2015.[3] Her voice provider was initially unrevealed,[4] but was eventually confirmed to be utaite and Showa-style singer Kyounosuke Yoshitate on June 18, 2015.[5]
Concept
Etymology
"Iroha" is the old Japanese variant of "ABC" (as seen in the Japanese iroha poem) and "I, Ro, Ha" means "A(La), B(Si), C(Do)" of seven-note scale.[6] "Nekomura", her surname, means "Cat Village".
Appearance
Nekomura Iroha is illustrated by okama, a Japanese manga artist and illustrator.[7]
The speakers encasing Iroha's hands are called "Dynamic-Phonon Busters". The other set of speakers are called Chorus-speakers. Each of these move around, supporting her. The floating microphone collects her voice, and Announce Booth, which is on her head, works as an amplifier that divides sounds into three classes for the speakers according to ranges: the sound frequencies for tweeters, mid-range speaker, and woofers.[8]
Natural
INFORMATION PENDING
Soft
INFORMATION PENDINGOfficial profile
- Main article: How Nekomura Iroha became a Platinum Kitty
Iroha is canonically a "Kittyler": someone who loves the Sanrio character Hello Kitty. She joined the Hello Kitty to Issho! Project in early August 2010.[9][10] According to her official profile on the Hello Kitty to Issho! page, she is interested in Hello Kitty and wants to become a "Platinum Kitty".[11] A story about how she became a Kittyler was included.
History
Marketing
She was originally designed by Sanrio for Comiket (Comic Market) in 2009.[12] Iroha was released as a part of a promotional tie-in with a VOCALOID x Hello Kitty promotion.
A CD was released with two songs ("Tsubasa" and "ABBEY FLY") featuring her along with VSQ files. She owes much of her early use to being supplied as a trial version. The offer for the free trial ended on September 30, 2010.[13]
FuRyu produced a model of Lily and Iroha that was released as a prize for UFO catchers. Since they are prize models, they are not commercial sale models and this can limited their availability for purchase outside of the UFO machines.
Until late May 2011, no AH-Software VOCALOIDs could be used for works sold via KARENT. However, Iroha remained under ban until late January 2012 due to AH-Software's joint ownership of her with Sanrio.
Voicebanks
- Nekomura Iroha - Natural
- The original Iroha vocal is meant to represent a lower toned female and has powerful tones representing a more child-like or teenage girl. It is tomboyish and was a tie-in promotional with Sanrio co., Ltd.
- Nekomura Iroha (VOCALOID2), October 22, 2010
- Nekomura Iroha V4 (VOCALOID4), June 18, 2015
- Nekomura Iroha - Soft
- A more feminine sounding vocal compared to the original "Natural" voice, it has a softer tone and looser pronounications for more expression. In comparison to Iroha "Natural" as well, it is an adult and not a child.
- Nekomura Iroha V4 (VOCALOID4), June 18, 2015
Music featuring Nekomura Iroha
Translation | 扉の向こう (Tobira no Mukou) |
---|---|
Featuring | Nekomura Iroha
|
Producers | |
Categories | Original song |
Translation | P.a.r.a.l.y.z.e. |
---|---|
Featuring | Nekomura Iroha
|
Producers | |
Categories | Original song |
Translation | 爾今の洋洋この蛍光にあり (Jikon no Youyou Kono Keikou ni Ari) |
---|---|
Featuring | Nekomura Iroha feat. VY2
|
Producers | |
Categories | Original song |
Translation | トゥインクル・スマイル (Twinkle Smile) |
---|---|
Featuring | Nekomura Iroha
|
Producers | |
Categories | Original song |
- "VOCALOID Nekomura Iroha" on Niconico Video
- "VOCALOID Nekomura Iroha" on YouTube
- "VOCALOID Nekomura Iroha" on bilibili
- "VOCALOID Nekomura Iroha" on SoundCloud
- "VOCALOID 猫村いろは" on Niconico Video
- "VOCALOID 猫村いろは" on YouTube
- "VOCALOID 猫村いろは" on bilibili
- "VOCALOID 猫村いろは" on SoundCloud
- "VOCALOID 貓村伊呂波" on Niconico Video
- "VOCALOID 貓村伊呂波" on YouTube
- "VOCALOID 貓村伊呂波" on bilibili
- "VOCALOID 貓村伊呂波" on SoundCloud
Reputation
Status
Google Trends |
Reaction |
Overall, Iroha was well received by both Japanese and Western fans. The Western fans especially praised her vocal capabilities and she was amongst the fan favorites of the 2010 releases. This was an improved reaction from the previous VOCALOIDs released by AH-Software and Iroha did not endure the same struggle to gain popularity as her predecessors. |
Misc |
An independent search on Niconico Video revealed that most VOCALOIDs had less than 1,000 videos uploaded in 2011 between July 1 and December 15. Iroha fell into this category.[14] |
Trivia |
|
Achievements |
|
References
- ↑ "Nekomura Iroha 17-Year-Old Idol Diary" (猫村いろは17歳アイドル日記。), an official manga serialized in VOCALOID Plus since 2012. See her NicoNicoPedia entry (in Japanese) for more details.
- ↑ http://vocaloid.blog120.fc2.com/blog-date-20120515.html
- ↑ https://twitter.com/ahsoft/status/535606633712197633
- ↑ IT Media News - サンリオが夏コミに「超キティラー」グッズ販売で「新市場開拓したい」 (Sanrio Comiket Summer Goods, "Super Kittyler", branching into a new market)
- ↑ https://twitter.com/ahsoft/status/611369842151571456
- ↑ 篠笛ManiaX -「音名」一覧:ドレミとイロハとABC
- ↑ With-Kitty.com - Characters
- ↑ AH-Soft.com - 新VOCALOID登場!『VOCALOID2 猫村いろは』2010年10月22日(金)発売
- ↑ Sanriowave.co.jp
- ↑ With-Kitty.com - Nekomura Iroha
- ↑ With-Kitty.com - Nekomura Iroha page excerpt
- ↑ IT Media News - サンリオが夏コミに「超キティラー」グッズ販売で「新市場開拓したい」 (Sanrio Comiket Summer Goods, "Super Kittyler", branching into a new market)
- ↑ Sekise Blog - Limited trial starts for Iroha Nekomura
- ↑ Vocaloidism - The harsh realities of Vocaloid on Nico
- ↑ Vocaloid Blog - サンリオブースで新ボカロ(リオ?)の音声が公開されているらしい件 (Sanrio Booth: New VOCALOID Rio?)
- ↑ With-Kitty.com - Rio
- ↑ AH-Soft.com - VOCALOID2 猫村いろは - 変わるわよ!
- ↑ Vocaloid Blog - 出た!「猫村いろは」の公式変身動画が公開 (The official transformation animation of "Nekomura Iroha" opened to the public)
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvLZqVaCCCk
External links
Language | Description | Site |
---|---|---|
Japanese | AH-Software official homepage | Link |
Japanese | VOCALOID Iroha product page | Link |
Japanese | Kittyler 1 The official webpage for Kittyler Nekomura Iroha | Link |
Japanese | AHSoftware The official YouTube channel | Link |
English | deviantArt , art and media community | Link |
Japanese | Pixiv , art and media community | Link |
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