Hatsune Miku: Her Best Fan-Generated Videos

By Liz Ohanesian Wed., Nov. 9 2011 at 8:36 AM

Shannon Cottrell

Hatsune Miku on stage in Los Angeles

See also:
*Live review of Hatsune Miku in Los Angeles
*More photos of Hatsune Miku live in L.A.
*Hatsune Miku/Hello Kitty collaboration, Miku-Kitty, appears at Anime Expo.
*Local musicians Stephanie Yanez and Polo collaborate with Hatsune Miku.

Hatsune Miku isn't a conventional pop star. She's a computer-generated character that comes to life when someone uses the Vocaloid synthesizer application that bears her name and voice. Established acts like Japanese indie pop group The Aprils have recorded tracks with her. Scores of people dress up as her at anime conventions. She performed on stage at Nokia Theatre in July. Tomorrow night her live concert performance in Sapporo screens at the Rave 18 movie theater in Westchester.

Miku software has spawned a DIY music and art phenomenon. (Sadly, it's not yet available in the U.S.) Bedroom producers give Miku her songs, and artists from across the globe have fine-tuned her look and given her stories. The results are spread far and wide through video sharing services. And so, below, we've counted down five of the coolest Miku projects to arise from the fan community.

5. "Ultimate Miku World"

"Ultimate Miku World" is a duet between Miku and Stephanie Yanez, who performs frequently at L.A. clubs and at anime conventions across the country. The video is from a concert event place inside the virtual world TinierMe. Both the human and synthesized singers appear as Selfy characters -- the avatars that TinierMe users adopt when they enter -- for this promotional event.

"Ultimate Miku World" shows how you can work with both live and programmed vocals to create music. Earlier this year, I talked to both Yanez and guitarist/producer Polo about the evolution of the track and the difficulties involved with working with Vocaloid software.

4. "Alice in Musicland"

"Alice in Musicland" is a 12-minute Vocaloid opera based on Alice in Wonderland. It was created by OSTER-project, whose work with the software has become quite popular. Though Miku is the star of this video, it features several other Vocaloid characters, making it a good way to familiarize yourself with the range of voices that are available to use. There's another version of the same video on Niconico.com, the U.S. version of Nico Nico Douga. Watch that if you want to see the reaction from fans.

Tags:

Fan Videos, Hatsune Miku, Vocaloid

We Recommend

Asdasdasd

"Ryo" of Supercell, not "Ryu". Otherwise, reasonable choices. A local interest choice (since this is an LA publication...) and four very popular songs. The Rolling Girl video always amazeas me.

Domo_Cookies

Cute!

PockyLucky;]

Nice~! *O*If You (Stephanie Yanez) and Miku Hatsune do some more duets that`ll be awesome to :).Go Steph! ^_^R i c e b a l l- from TM ;)

Kayla Vargas

I love all of the videos, but the Stephanie Yanez and Hatsune Miku one best <3

dede

OMG! i love vocaloid songs!! i especially like that Levan Polka song and the Ultimate Miku world.. ! i hope someday i can come to one of the concert and hear it live! :)

Awesome some recognition to TM!!!

Lolikko

I wasn't a fan of Miku before, but after a friend introduced me to her catchy songs, I fell in love! By far my most favorite song would have to be Stephanie's duet with her, Ultimate Miku World. I listen to it all the time (especially when drawing). Really cool stuff, considering regular people made them!! :D

randomgirl

hyperventilating from awesomeness....=w=

Simone Saint-Albin

Really epic read! ^^

Soranowoto

Yay Stephanie<3They should do more duets, It sounds great~Soranowoto from tinierme

Blacktryst

This is so cute

May254

Nice~! ^-^

Rrrita413

:DD Awesome! I've been a Voca fan for about.....two years now, not that long compared to others, but I ADORE Miku and all the Vocaloids! And Ms. Yanez is amazing! I admire her so much! She isn't afraid to have fun!

. Satoshi .

Awesome~! I love Ultimate Miku World :3

. Satoshi .

Starxlucky

Go Stephanie!!!!! :Dstar lucky from tinierme :3

emily chan

this is my personal favorite :)

Starxlucky

Levan Polka i really like ^^ Though i love World is Mine.Ultimate Miku World Is Awesome Too!!!!! :D

MomokoStar

Miku and Stephanie should have more duets or Stephanie sing with another vocaloid. :D

Angie

love the first!! haha

Childish Games

Ultimate Miku World is adorable! It's one of my favorite Miku songs.

Catherine

:O SWEETTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT i love it so much why isnt number 5 number 1 D:<

Tatumflangdon

Yayyy! <3 Go stephanie! -Milk Tea Time! from tinierme

lilinette

Woah so cool i love this ^^

Amu sama

Stephanie Yanez and Miku should have more duets~

Vivian He

this is number 1 my favorite :)

Bubblylily

//loves listening to Vocaloid songs

Claudia Castaneda

I think Rolling Girl should have been number 1 the video and art is just amazing <3But llevan Polka makes me giggle, I can see why its number one :)

Areth Dunlop

Yay! Rolling Girl made the top two :DI am pleased with this development.

Blair Booth-Simoneau

Ievan Polka?? Really?? This article should be renamed to her most successful works, not her Best. As World is Mine and Melt are so much better than Ievan Polka, although honestly even calling it that would be inaccurate as Melt is even more successful. Hell, even PoPiPo would have been better than Ievan Polka.

Anthony-Jacob Rosales

Love number one! Although my personal favorite, Magnet, isn't listed I can realize the other videos. ^^

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