Xperia feat. HATSUNE MIKU

A bit of an old news by now, but Sony recently released Xperia feat. HATSUNE MIKU (nicknamed "Mikuperia"), a special variant of Xperia A smartphone featuring voice synthesiser program mascot (and virtual idol) Hatsune Miku.


The phone's outward appearance has a black and teal green colour theme, together with one of Miku's twin tail on the back side. The artwork is done by iXima, whose image is used for the PlayStation Vita Project Diva f skin and also a base image for the upcoming Dollfie Dream doll.


Software-wise, The Xperia feat. HATSUNE MIKU runs a customised Android 4.2 OS specifically for the phone. This is true even with the start-up animation.


Custom tailored Miku-themed applications such as the music player (Voicaloid-sung songs included), downloader, and weather forecast can be found. It even has an app called "Find Creative News", where you can keep updated with new Vocaloid-related works on Pixiv and NicoNico video! Widgets such as battery and alarm are also custom made for the phone.


In case you want other characters other than Miku, custom palettes and wallpapers for other Vocaloid character such as Kaito and Megurine Luka are also available.

There are also many Miku wallpapers drawn by various artists, songs, voice tones etc for you to customise further on phone.


To promote the phone, advertisment banners can be seen in Tokyo. This one from twitter is seen in JR Shibuya station.

The quantity is limited to 39000 units. Originally it was only available via pre-order, but one can still buy it from docomo's network web store as of today. That said, a phone network contract with docomo will be required as part of the payment for the phone.

There are increasingly more products featuring collaborations with Miku recently. After the Miku glasses and Miku Domino Pizza, we now have an official Miku smartphone. There are a lot to offer, which is pretty ideal for big fans with lots of customisation to offer. While it's supposed to be limited to Japan only, those who are willing to get over with the contract part and possibly the proxy can actually go for it.

EDIT: My friend Yui got one recently as well. You can check his review here!

Website:
http://dx39.net/sp/
Read More!

Volks Dollfie Dream Hatsune Miku announced

There has been a lot of rumours surrounding this for a long time, but it's real and here it is: Volks has officially announced Dollfie Dream Hatsune Miku.


Miku in her default costume as seen in Magical Mirai event
Image from Volk's 40th anniversary twitter account

The approximately 60cm tall Dollfie Dream (aka DD) is revealed in the Magical Mirai 2013 event, which is a one-day "art festival" featuring concerts, gallery, and goods / exhibitor booths. Volks is known to be one of the exhibitors for the event, and many speculated whether it would be a figure, a garage kit, or even a doll. Turns out it really is a doll (though there are tale-tell signs from even before the event).

The doll's design is supervised by iXima, who is known for designing Miku's appearance for PS Vita cover.


Miku in Senbonzakura (千本桜) costume, which is based on the song of the same name.
Image from Volk's 40th anniversary twitter account


A closer look of the face from the pamphlet.
Image from twitter user えびきんぐ

Pre-orders will be available from 28th September 2013 to 1st December 2013. Release date is going to be somewhere in Autumn 2014. The price will be at 62,000 Yen (65,100 Yen with 5% sales tax) without shipping.

There are several custom and personalised versions of Miku from various enthusiasts. I personally like Yui's version pretty well, which uses a standard but painted DDH-06 head as seen below:

Original blog post here. You can also have a look at his Snow Miku 2012 and 2013 version, which are also very popular among Dollfie Dream collectors.

I don't listen much to Miku's songs, but I am fond of her character design. Now the big question is: Do I want her? Gotta say I am tempted, but there is time for me to decide. I am still waiting on someone to actually make a custom DD WRS for me, which I mentioned way back in Spring last year. Two tailors stood me up already, and I'm hoping one that a friend of mine knows can take up the task. Maybe once my dream for WRS is fulfilled, I can look into the DD Miku pre-order. One thing at a time... Hopefully...

Website:
http://www.volks.co.jp/miku/en/
Read More!

Hatsune Miku Collaboration Glasses

Sega's Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F rhythm game for PS3 is collaborating with Japanese glasses maker Washin to create original Hatsune Miku theme glasses. :o




Full rim glasses, with black arms (sides) and clear blue accents, mimicking Miku's sleeves.
Lens diameter is 55mm.




Under rim glasses, with greater emphasis on the clear blue, as well as a twist on the sides and a hint of pink near the joints.
Lens diameter is 52mm.



The two pairs worn. I somehow feel that the half rim pair would go better on the girl, and vice versa ^^;


Both pairs will be available for pre-order on Washin web shop for 13900 Yen (14595 Yen with sales tax). The web shop, which is known as Washin-palette, has a website but is not available for order at the moment; pre-order should be available in mid-March, with release date to occur sometime in April.

There does appear to be more and more Miku merchandise or collaboration project these days! Anyone interested in these Miku glasses? I don't wear glasses these days, but if you ask me to choose, it can be hard for me to decide... I think I prefer the more conservative look on the full rim glasses.


Official website:
http://washin-palette.jp/

Pictures from Netorabo and Hachima Kikou
Read More!

Volks Hobby Tengoku Photo Shoot

During the trip in Tokyo I managed to make contact with Haku-san from Yokohama and meet up together in Akihabara. After learning from him that my trip would coincide with the local doll event, I decided to bring my Black★Rock Shooter doll with me, and we had a photo shoot together in Volk's "Hobby Tengoku".


So here it is: My Black★Rock Shooter on the left and Haku-san's Sora cosplaying as Nagisa from Phantasy Star Portable 2 on the right.


While I've participated a couple of doll photo shoots outdoor before, this was my first time doing one indoor. The top floor of Volk's "Hobby Tengoku" in Akihabara is all dedicated to dolls, which also offers several photo booths in its shop for people to bring their dolls and take pictures. It's free to use the booths, but one must first ask the staff at the desk to book sessions, which are 30 minutes each. We had no one using the booths that afternoon, so we took our time taking pictures of the dolls.


Sora...


... And Black★Rock Shooter


I like Haku-san's attention to details on the decorations, such as the ribbon bars and badges


The booth also has a DDS Akira in one corner, though this one is for display only, and we did not take photos of her.


Closer up of the two together


Sora sitting on the chair with Black★Rock Shooter standing behind her



Reading Volks News together~ ^^





It was only when I was taking these photos I realised that both of the girls have their left eyes covered, and can only read with their right eyes ^^;




The tea cups and plates that the booth has are of quite delicate and detailed, like the real things but shrunk in size.


We also changed to another booth for a few more shots, but my point-and-shoot camera seems to struggle with the lighting there, so there aren't so many photos for this one





The armchair got in the way for Sora's sword, so my B★RS took her turn to sit this time.

As my B★RS uses the older unmodified DD2 body frame, she cannot cross her arms like Sora can with her newer body, so I decided to just do a hair brushing pose as a compromise.


Afterwards Haku-san showed me around the 2 doll accessory shops he often visits when he goes to Akihabara. Unlike the usual popular shopping area centred around the Chuo-dori at the west of the AKihabara station, the two shops are situated at the east and south of the station, which I would have never thought of coming across them myself due to their rather obscure locations. Nevertheless they do provide nice wigs, eyes, shoes and accessories.

It has been a great time meeting Haku-san in person, and I thank him for coming out to see me despite being really busy recently. I do hope I will get to see him again in the future!


Album: Volks Hobby Tengoku Doll Photoshoot

http://www.flickr.com/photos/quentinlau/sets/72157632289352199/
Read More!

Mikudayo

Hatsune Miku is liked by many with her appearance and the songs she sings. She's now very popular that many variations are created via different means, but a recent one from this year becomes popular not for the same reason, but perhaps for something else.


Mikudayo (ミクダヨー) is the moniker given to the kigurumi of nendoroid Miku originally for promoting the 3DS game Hatsune Miku and Future Stars: Project Mirai.


While the costumed Miku is supposed to resemble nendoroid Miku, the overall appearance looks... Slightly different. Be it the relatively stout appearance, those "flappy twin tails", the looks of the eyes, Mikudayo simply gives off a different aura than the one we are usually familiar with...

Then all sorts of parodies come in thanks to the fascinating creativity from the Internet communities. Here is a snall selection of them:


The Gaijin 4koma / Reaction Guys Miku Dayo edition


A doctored image of Iran's missile launches, although this is not the most used image for editing.


Char stabbed the GM in the famous scene in Mobile Suit: Gundam? No. Mikudayo did it (image from pixiv).


The Shining. Heck, it now even looks creepier than the original cover.


GM II got owned by Gumako and Mikudayo (scene from episode 4 of Gundam UC OVA)


Gohan couldn't stand a chance with her







What's more, Good Smile Company even announces the nendoroid of Mikudayo, which is set to release in March 2013 for 3000 Yen. It is now available for pre-order via its web shop, as well as other online shops such as Hobby Search, AmiAmi, and HLJ.


Miku kick! The GM action figure in question is Banpresto's S.C.M. EX line, known for slim proportions and great articulations.


Look at the poor GM orzing in the background... Terrified with his pride lost, it's unlikely that he will get back up anytime soon.


So, anyone interested in getting this nendoroid?

Just be careful and make sure you take full alert of your surroundings; she may be just around the corner, ready to take you down by surprise... ^^;


Image sources:
http://ameblo.jp/gsc-mikatan/entry-11394129634.html
http://blog.livedoor.jp/insidears/archives/52547203.html
http://blog.livedoor.jp/netagazou_okiba/archives/6845010.html
Read More!