A good friend of mine had an open invite to join the advanced premiere of Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing last Saturday, April 12.
Before this, I have recognized Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage! through memes which land on my news feed. My main point of entry in Colorful Stage! was either Wonderhoy! or (spoilers!) Mizuki Akiyama's 5th focus event.
That said, I took the chance to watch it before the Philippine premiere (Saturday, April 19). I simply have little to no idea what I'm going to witness, as if I was jumping into the air head first.
What I understand: This film was first released in Japanese theaters last January. I assumed it's an adaptation of the game which can be played on Android and iOS worldwide (It isn't–it's another story).
This film features members from all 5 groups: Leo/need, Wonderlands x Showtime, More More Jump!, Vivid Bad Squad, and Nightcord at 25:00.
Plot
Background
The game's five groups met an unusual Miku who "can't sing," quite different from the one they got used to meeting to.
- So who was this Miku who can't sing? We saw her first roaming around Shibuya, crossing from one screen to another, as if she's lost.
- Can this Miku really NOT sing? She can, except she's shut out by the audience she want her voice to reach out to.
- Is this Miku singing to the wrong target market? No, she wants her song to reach out to those who are facing life's challenges.
- Does her audience need help? Yes, and so does this Miku; so she wandered around and sought help. That's where she found the band members.
We are then introduced to the groups' members and their respective activities:
- Leo/need is a band of reunited childhood friends,
- Wonderlands x Showtime are theater kids performing at a theme park,
- More More Jump! is composed of 3 former idols plus an aspiring one who brought them together,
- Vivid Bad Squad are street performers who hang out at a hip cafe–a merger of two performance units,
- and Nightcord at 25:00 meets on Discord at 1:00am.
You can learn more about them once you play the story mode on Colorful Stage!.
Conflict
You see, this Miku is facing the challenge of reaching out to people and giving them hope, all by herself. Anyone can motivate a person to do something, inspire through words or songs, but we go back to the hanging questions:
- Is it an easy thing to do?
- Are they willing to listen? or,
- Was 'something' interfering between them?
The Miku who can't sing learns from the teens who can (and the Mikus who guide them). Would this Miku be able to catch up from the impending doom she's about to face as she continues to face rejection?
Climax
If the Miku who "can't sing" cannot reach out to the troubled, what if these human performers reach out to them instead? Would that make a difference in saving both this Miku and the ones she want to reach out to?
Serving as an introduction to the game, the movie featured new tracks composed by DECO*27 (say, Deko-Nina). These songs aptly represent each group.
Personal Thoughts
A Miku Who Can't Sing felt like a love letter addressed to the VOCALOID culture–a long, overdue one. We've seen Miku in several media like Manga, TV anime, and cosplay. But it was only through this movie we see a different, dramatic side of Miku.
In this movie, Miku showed showing the audience a Miku who 'gave up'. I trust in my heart that's the one some fans are waiting to see on the big screen, given the sometimes dark nature of VOCALOID MVs.
In contrast with her appearance on Dropkick on My Devil, this Miku (as well as the other VOCALOIDs / VIRTUAL SINGERs) has 'leveled-up her acting skills'. I have never seen or heard Kagamine Rin cry in any media either, so I felt my heart tugged when she did.
Animation-wise, I'm happy P.A.Works animated the film. I know they have a track record of producing tearjerkers. (Said studio animated True Tears, Angel Beats!, Hanasaku Iroha, Tari Tari, and Charlotte.)
I agree with what Anime News Network's Richard Eisenbeis said in his review: It has a straightforward plot.
You can set aside the many characters, as well as the deep the VOCALOID lore, and focus on that one Miku who can't sing. Why can't she "sing," and how would she end up being able to sing a song that resonates with everyone's hearts?
All of the songs featured in the movie, including the opening and ending themes, are fantastic. I felt no single moment of boredom, and I was bopping listening to each song.
Sure, it's an entry point for non-players to play the game, but I can't get to that point yet. (I'm gonna a bit hooked on playing beginner-style Maimai now and for the foreseeable future.) I can just get stuck with Emu Otori saying 'Wonderhoy!', no problem at all.
Connecting this Film with Japan's Emerging VTuber Culture
I recall seeing VOCALOID tracks when I was a decade younger, such as:
- LamazeP's Triple Baka (2008), or
- Kz (Livetune)'s Tell Your World (2012)–This was first featured on a 2011 Japanese Google Chrome ad.
When Kanaria released KING (2020), we were months into the pandemic, lockdowns and all. That's also a time when VTubing became a trend. Lots of VTubers covered that song, which was first released using GUMI's voice. DECO*27 released The Vampire featuring Hatsune Miku a year after, to similar reception.
It felt amusing to me that we have a movie about "a Miku who can't sing," when Miku in fact sang for the many composers who at first "can't sing." Some of these composers would end up creating today's hits, including:
- Ayase, who as YOASOBI created the Music Awards Japan-nominated hit IDOL with Ikura,
- and DECO*27 who collaborated with several hololive stars two years ago.
Heck, even Music Awards Japan has a separate list of nominees for the Best VOCALOID Culture Song!
I gained a peculiar appreciation of the VTuber industry by watching this movie. In a time where a part of the entertainment industry seems to rely on AI, we still have songs made by humans.
It shouldn't matter if the VOCALOIDs are (authorized) synthesized voice banks. It's the thought in each song composed with them that counts.
A Miku Who Can't Sing is a required watch for VTubers and the creative industry in general. You don't get to learn the VOCALOID culture in a single sitting as a stranger, but this is a great start.
Several film distributors worldwide are screening the film. GKIDS is showing the film in the US & Canada. MediaLink (Ani-One) distributes the film in the Philippines. Check your local screening times.
Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing
Starring VIRTUAL SINGER (Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, KAITO, MEIKO) and a stellar voice cast including Daisuke Hirose, Yui Ogura, Ruriko Noguchi, Akina, Tomori Kusunoki.
Hololive Realm
ISEGYE IDOL Realm
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