© Nanatoshi Shio Kazunoko/KADOKAWA/”Buiden” Production Committee
As they say, the legend has just begun. the last of the season VTuber legend It doesn’t end with any dramatic revelations or status quo shifts. It briefly teases that sort of thing, but ends up doing more to reinforce everything the series has done since its inception. It’s not even entirely focused on Po; instead, it looks at her through Hareru’s lens (and vice versa) to reflect on VTubing itself as an act of creativity. It puts its passion out there, trying to convey it to those who may have watched the anime but somehow still don’t fully “get” VTubing. It mostly works.
Hareru’s concert and Awa’s collaboration are the centerpiece of this episode, although it’s not a completely active event. Most of the show was simply skipped before the final team performance, with only Hareru’s special song conveying the spirit. This is probably for the best because VTuber legend Instead, be able to allocate space for that role and conceptual analysis. But the other choice diminishes the feel of the episode’s finale. They barely even charred the barn.
What was shown at the concert looked good, though. The animation’s ongoing artistic choices belie how “real” the show is to its venue – Hareru and Awa appear to be using screens, streaming virtual performances like many “real” Vtubers. This allowed them to use established elements of the medium, such as the invisible drink their character used to imitate pantomime, and draw humor from Po’s still-intact drinking habits. If you’ve ever seen an actual show like this, the jokes are pretty much on point. It’s great to see some of the VTubers on this show being “upgraded” to 3D models, another sign of the advancement of the medium.
However, this is all superficial nonsense – the essence of this material is to find out Hareru’s intentions and motivations for holding this concert with Awa in this way. The answer is perhaps not surprisingly simple, given what VTuber legend It’s always been about. Hareru may have initially intended this performance to be a swan song, announcing his “graduation” and passing the baton to the next generation, represented by Awa. However, as is customary with Awa’s influence, she re-instilled in Hareru the joy and appeal of VTubing. The performance and collaboration between streamer and audience is an attractive reward in itself.
What’s interesting about this anime’s take on the VTubing framework is that its respect for the medium comes from the perspective of the streamer themselves, rather than the perspective of the fans. There is still a sense of awe for VTuber was evident in the episode’s final moments, when a group of real-life streamers defined the new medium’s scene in its young history. But this appreciation is written through the eyes of other creatives, inspiring each other, lifting each other up, and building on their successes. The value of VTubing is reflected in the creative space it provides these people. It provides them with a community where they are supported and able to further develop their art – “art” being the act of being yourself, whatever “yourself” really happens to be at that moment.
Building and supporting this community is Hareru’s main motivation. The song’s flashbacks to the story of how she and others started Live-On are poignant, but it also reinforces the importance of the collaborative aspect, even at the beginning of this venture. There is a reason cooperate After all, this is the basic element of VTubing. This collaboration and inspiration mentors across generations, with Hareru confirming that the younger generation of Awa inspires her to continue streaming. Hareru actually tells Po that this is more important than its own recursive inspiration.
There are people in our craft who influence us and the creation of the craft, an influence they may never know lest we actually tell them. It’s easy for us to decide to give our careers a grand, final farewell and think of it as a legacy earned by those who influenced us. But the truth is, acknowledging what our colleagues do for us is much more powerful in the field. Let this continue to drive us creatively forward.
This force of mutual creativity is portrayed with sincerity, often injecting just enough rawness into what is an ostensibly very silly show. Ultimately, as Awa continues to gradually increase her profile and hone her craft while inspiring others, she herself will continue to be inspired. As the final montage shows, from Kizuna Ai to Sakura Aoi, VTuber’s lineage already covers a lot, even if it’s just getting started. I have no idea VTuber legend Suitable for everyone, especially if you have zero patience or interest in VTubing as an art form. But this is a lively watch that occasionally sparkles due to a genuine love of the material. I thought it was worth cracking open a cold glass of Strong Zero to raise a glass.
grade:
VTuber legend: How I became popular after forgetting to turn off my live broadcast Currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
Chris actually tried live streaming himself for a while. Things went as you’d expect. Since then he has given in to words and you can see more on his blog and watch his twitter For any ill-advised strong zero impact posts.
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation and the majority shareholder of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.
