hololive sixth fes—the newest version of the most important VTuber stay live performance on this planet—occurred earlier this month, from March eighth to the ninth. Watching it on-line, I got here away feeling that this occasion was doubtlessly a pivotal second for hololive and its abilities.
As an company, hololive has come a really great distance. What started because the off-shoot of a small tech start-up of round 10 staff named Cowl corp has turn out to be an enormous company of over 500, in addition to the primary identify in VTubing. In different phrases, loads has occurred, and the performances appeared to replicate the varied contrasts that include this transformation: the simplicity and instability of the previous versus the complexity and stability of the current, the benefits and downsides of enjoying it secure versus taking dangers, and searching again to recollect the nice occasions but in addition to indicate how far they’ve come.
Performances with Further Which means
Associated to this sense of historical past and the place it would lead, the largest story going into sixth fes occurred just a few days earlier: Murasaki Shion of hololive Japan’s 2nd technology introduced she can be graduating on the finish of April, that means this is able to be her final fes, and thus one final probability for the followers who gathered there stay to indicate her their appreciation.
Thus, Shion’s efficiency grew to become a significant point of interest for the entire occasion, the place she carried out her newest single: “Gomen ne Drugs.” The track’s lyrics speak about making an attempt to create a drugs to heal, that she’s sorry if it finally ends up doing extra hurt within the course of, and the way she’s not capable of correctly convey her gratitude—a message that hits otherwise in hindsight. Furthermore, she obtained one of many coveted spots within the live performance venue’s new middle stage contraption, placing her much more within the highlight. The outcome was a extremely emotional efficiency that was each a celebration of Shion’s 6.5 years at hololive and an acknowledgment that this was the start of the tip.
Kazama Iroha’s participation was additionally an enormous deal. with a psychological situation that prevented her from talking, she managed to search out her voice once more before her physician had anticipated, and she or he’s been progressively streaming once more. Nevertheless, Iroha’s speech has turn out to be a bit halting and noticeably totally different from the boisterous and rapid-fire fashion she as soon as had, so the query was how this would possibly have an effect on each her singing and doubtlessly her MCing. However she managed to carry out her unique track “Mahou Shoujo Magical GOZARU” with little bother, and whereas there was just a few moments of hesitation in her speaking, these have been solely minor hiccups
Iroha lately talked about that her look at sixth fes virtually didn’t occur. Now, she’s taking one other hiatus within the hopes of fixing her speech and stopping her present method of talking from changing into the usual.
The Heart Stage
I want to speak about that middle stage pod Shion (and others) used earlier than continuing additional.
hololive fes has gotten more and more big through the years, and now the Makuhari Messe conference area seems to be at capability for the way many individuals can attend the live shows. There additionally weren’t otherwise priced tickets, so having a stage on only one finish can be unfair to the folks sitting all the way in which within the again. Final yr, the answer they got here up with was to have three totally different phases in several spots, so the “entrance” of the viewers modified, relying on the efficiency.
This yr, they went with two phases and a pod in the midst of the area. The 2 phases have been just like fifth fes’s, however the pod was so uncommon that initially, I wasn’t certain what I used to be . Primarily, it was a three-sided construction that rotated constantly, with a single performer displayed on the screens and extra partitions blocking sure angles. I believe the concept was that it gave an opportunity for everybody within the 360 diploma area to get an honest view, however as a result of the stream view might solely ever see one display, I couldn’t inform if the opposite two have been exhibiting the performer at totally different angles (for a sort of pseudo-3D hologram view), however I’ve seen others on-line say that was the case.
On the one hand, I used to be a bit upset that this wasn’t a real 360-degree hologram like I assumed it is likely to be when hololive first shared the venue diagram. Then again, I recognize that they tried to enhance on fifth fes, even when their reply was a bit ridiculous.
Those who appeared on middle stage along with Shion have been Houshou Marine, Hoshimachi Suisei, Nekomata Okayu, Takane Lui, Sakura Miko, Tokino Sora, Ayunda Risu, Natsuiro Matsuri, and Moona Hoshinova (notice that I’ll have missed some). There isn’t a singular factor all of them have in widespread, however many are pillars of the corporate, recognized for his or her glorious vocals, and/or have latest (or upcoming) solo live shows/album releases.
sixth fes Debuts
This yr, two generations made their first hololive fes appearances: English’s Creation and DEV_IS’s ReGLOSS. The 2 are sort of like sister teams, even overlaying one another’s music. And whereas neither group has a protracted historical past with hololive (round a yr and a half for each), their group track decisions already appear to replicate barely totally different approaches.
Creation went with their debut quantity, “Revolt.” Nevertheless, in comparison with their preliminary recording and even their a number of earlier performances for his or her 3D showcase and the stay live performance Breaking Dimensions, Creation has improved noticeably. Nerissa Ravencroft and (precise) twin sisters FuwaMoco have been already robust singers, however Nerissa’s voice appeared extra steady and FuwaMoco’s harmonies sound great as ever. Shiori Novella continued to profit from switching to a decrease register the place she has extra management (versus the upper notes of the unique recording), and Koseki Bijou had extra power in her vocals. It’s the very best “Revolt” has ever sounded.
ReGLOSS, as a substitute of choosing their first track, went with their fourth: “Feelingradation.” To be honest, ReGLOSS simply has extra music they’ve finished as a bunch in comparison with Creation (and even most generations in hololive, for that matter), however I nonetheless suppose it was a noticeable determination to not select “Shunkan Heartbeat.” Very like Creation, nevertheless, their progress isn’t an phantasm. Todoroki Hajime continues to be an impeccable dancer (simply high 2 or 3 in hololive) and Otonose Kanade is the guts of the group together with her superb singing, however Hiodoshi Ao, Ichijou Ririka, and Juufuutei Raden all took steps to enhance their weaker areas for this efficiency. Listening to it, I’m reminded how a lot I really like their music; it’s precisely up my alley.
Keep in mind the Large Hits?
In comparison with each earlier yr, I felt that sixth fes emphasised how lengthy hololive has been round. It was like a mixture of nostalgia journey, a want to rejoice private legacies, and an try and capitalize on main successes. For instance, this yr noticed six medley performances—double what was at fifth fes.
In a live performance occasion that’s typically about mixing issues up, it’s additionally notable that three of the older and extra beloved pairings have been featured. Shirogane Noel and Shiranui Flare of JP’s third gen (from 2019) as soon as purchased matching rings. Shishiro Botan and Yukihana Lamy of JP’s fifth gen have been additionally an in depth duo after they first began in 2020. Nekomata Okayu and Inugami Korone have a friendship that really predates hololive, and their track of selection was “If…” by Da Pump, calling again to one in all their most viral karaoke moments from 4 years in the past. As if to indicate off how a lot they’ve improved, the 2 carried out the track straight as a substitute of breaking into giggles, Okayu overlaying the singing elements together with her buttery voice and Korone dealing with the rap parts whereas busting a transfer and actually doing cartwheels.
Moreover, this yr’s fourth live performance was referred to as the Creators’ Stage, and it was promoted as a spotlight of notable music makers who’ve labored with Hololive abilities. However in gentle of earlier years, which featured live shows selling full collaborative albums with teams like deco*27 and Honeyworks, the Creators’ Stage felt extra conservative. Probably the most uncommon factor was seeing what mixture of women sang collectively. Furthermore, the Creators’ featured three songs from Houshou Marine, and whereas she is one in all their most well-known members, it felt like both 1) a case of last-minute substitutions or 2) the corporate actually needed to get the favored songs in. One track was even carried out twice, particularly Marine and Kobo Kanaeru’s “III” (which I’ve discovered is pronounced “Ai-Ai-Ai” and never “Three”). Whereas repeating songs had the benefit of permitting folks to listen to these songs with out buying a number of tickets, I think this was not the primary motivating issue.
I don’t suppose enjoying it secure or referencing the previous is inherently unhealthy. The medleys can exist as a result of the person abilities have sufficient songs to make them attainable in any respect. All of it was additionally nonetheless very entertaining, and a few of these performances have been amongst my favorites of the weekend. Nonetheless, it got here throughout to me as a minimum of partly an train in warning.
The Dancers Develop Ever Stronger
The variety of expert dancers elevated and the established ones continued to enhance, treating us to some astounding performances.
Hakos Baelz coated Ado’s “Present,” and displayed the extraordinary power and talent that her followers have come to know and love. Whereas it didn’t have the putting actions of “GEKIRIN” at Breaking Dimensions or the daringness of the interpretive modern dance from fifth fes, one thing in regards to the routine felt prefer it was particularly designed to intensify her strongest attributes and to showcase enhancements she made up to now yr.
Later throughout an MC part, Bae revealed that she got here up together with her choreography for “Present” herself. In a post-event stream, she additionally talked about that her zombie-like rise from the ground (a transfer she discovered when she was 5!) was one thing she tried to place into final yr’s efficiency, however the know-how they used couldn’t deal with it. The woman actually pushed the bounds of what was attainable with Cowl’s movement monitoring and helped trigger it to enhance.
The rat wasn’t the one one to placed on a tremendous dance present. Todoroki Hajime’s clean confidence confirmed why she and Bae are seen as the perfect. I like Takanashi Kiara’s “Mirage,” and the diversifications she made to dancing a solo model labored properly. Vestia Zeta’s snappy hip and actions are etched into my reminiscence. Aki Rosenthal was initially often known as probably the very best dancer early on, appeared the very best she has in a very long time.
Roads Much less Traveled
Often, La+ Darknesss is part of that record of dancers, and she or he did make for an excellent idol dance trio with Matsuri and Momosuzu Nene. Nevertheless, for her solo efficiency this yr, the chief of holoX eschewed a fancy choreography for a larger concentrate on singing. As a fan of hers, I discover this noteworthy as a result of La+’s voice has struggled some ever since sickness compelled her to vary the way in which she speaks and even laughs. However right here, singing “Tokyo Teddy Bear,” she sounded possibly the very best she has outdoors of a studio recording shortly. And whereas she didn’t have a totally structured routine, she introduced her attribute power and impeccable sense of poise when posing.
La+ wasn’t the one one to mess with expectations. Korone often picks an older obscure track (just like the opening to a Nineteen Nineties horse-racing anime), however this time, she really went with one in all her originals (and threw in a one-handed cartwheel). Matsuri jokingly refers to herself as “the pure one (seiso tantou)” when she’s extraordinarily upfront about her horniness, however her efficiency of her latest unique, “Love Letter,” might simply persuade listeners that she’s telling the reality about herself. Ouro Kronii—recognized for her mature, sardonic persona and her equally mature determine—was maybe the final individual anybody anticipated to sing “Loli Kami Requiem.”
Different performances noticed abilities go outdoors their consolation zones. Nanashi Mumei often focuses primarily on singing however this time danced a reasonably elaborate choreography. Kaela Kovalskia is among the least “stage”-oriented members of hololive, however her cowl of Digimon Journey’s “Courageous Coronary heart” was an actual crowd pleaser. On this method, there have been undoubtedly locations the place experimentation contrasted with the dependable strategy of the live performance as a complete.
“Acquainted” Doesn’t Imply Unhealthy
Whereas not everybody was about taking up wild new challenges, that doesn’t imply the extra anticipated ones have been by any means unhealthy or disappointing. In actual fact, numerous these “anticipated” performances have been amongst my favorites. IRyS sang “TwiLight,” which has turn out to be my favourite unique track of hers, and gave me precisely what I hoped for. Oozora Subaru overestimated the gang by means of her contagious power. Tokoyami’s deep voice continues to be a thrill to expertise. Airani Iofifteen went for one thing cute and poppy, and whereas her two genmates are higher recognized for his or her singing prowess, Iofi actually performed into her area of interest properly. Gawr Gura is already recognized for having a soothing singing voice, however her cowl of the sorrow-laden track “Dango Daikazoku” from Clannad left me with feelings welling up.
After which there’s Haachama, whose orthodoxy is being unorthodox. She got here in together with her new metal-influenced track titled “Who2” (a play on futsuu, or “regular”), and she or he expressed a chaotic fervor harking back to her duet with Kureiji Ollie from two years in the past. If it weren’t for the impression of her shock return at fifth fes, this is able to in all probability be my favourite exhibiting by her but.
The New Idol Uniforms
The very last thing I wish to speak about is the truth that virtually all hololive members at sixth fes obtained a brand new outfi (the exception is ReGLOSS, who have already got distinctive idol outfits). It was the primary in two years, and in contrast to at 4th fes, there’s one common template throughout all areas as a substitute of getting particular designs for Japan, Indonesia, and English branches. I believe the design each seems good and stands out as distinctive in comparison with all of the earlier idol outfits, and I notably benefit from the little features that particular person abilities can customise. The one disadvantage is one thing that has utilized to all of the shared outfits: The our bodies are sometimes generalized and don’t essentially seize the look and proportions of their unique fashions. I hope hololive could make that lodging sometime.
Remaining Ideas
hololive sixth fes felt like a victory lap that was additionally a cautious straddling between the outdated and the brand new. In final yr’s assessment, I discussed how the dramatic rise of hololive made the distinction between the older fes occasions and the latest ones very obvious. Six occasions in, we’re now firmly on the facet of “grand and polished”—maybe to such an extent that we are able to’t ignore its sheer weight as the largest VTuber firm on this planet.
When it begins up the engine, hololive has extra momentum than anybody else, however it may be onerous to vary course. On the identical time, having a various expertise pool every with their very own strengths signifies that even when the corporate as a complete can’t be as nimble, they’ll nonetheless create in-roads to different potentialities. I’m pretty optimistic that they’ll discover a first rate stability between the 2 whereas desirous about the long-term wellbeing of each the corporate and the folks working in it.
Subsequent yr will probably be Justice and FLOW GLOW’s turns to take the massive stage, and I’m excited to see how they shine. I get the sense that each teams are going to excel in 3D performances.
