SSS LLC, the owners of Zunko, have officially crowd-funded enough money to help a character meant to help the ailing Tohoku region into a VOCALOID.
Starting off life as a mascot character and then becoming a VOICEROID, VOCALOID’s sister program for speech input, Tohoku Zunko’s call for a voice has been heard and answered. Because her design is free to use for businesses in the Tohoku area, she’s already received a wide array of goods in the region, from the specialty zunda mochi (soybean mochi) to a zenzai (boiled sweet red bean) dessert. Her design reflects the region itself, her headband being an edamame pod and her bow referencing it’s wealth of historical sites. The cherry blossoms in her design also reflect the late blooming ones in the north and are a major tourist draw. (Read more about VOCALOID here on SGCafe).
Using Anipipo, a crowdfunding site similar to KickStarter but designed only for use on projects related to animation, they managed to achieve 104% funding. This means fans that donated can look forward to receiving their Zunko goods in late August. Some of the donation goods, apart from the VOCALOID software when it’s released, include a banner and a set of large magnets with Zunko on them.
Her voice provider for the project will be the same as the VOICEROID release: Satomi Sato. The company to develop her will be AHS, who was previously responsible for Yuzuki Yukari. Of course, SSS is aiming big to help the Tohoku region. They aren’t just hoping for a VOCALOID of Zunko, but an anime of her high school adventures as well. PHP Inc, responsible for VOCALOID novels like Senbon Zakura and mothyP’s Kingdom of Evil series has also been recruited to release a set of stories focused on the mascot character.
With a variety of plans already in the works for Zunko, she could help restore the Tohoku region, which has been hurting for commerce since the 2011 earthquake and Fukushima disaster. When she joins the ranks of VOCALOID stars Hatsune Miku and Yuzuki Yukari in early 2014, fans will determine just how far she goes.
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Source: Anipipo
Tohoku Zunko set to become next VOCALOID
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