posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
Kizuna Ai releases new song with music video, with 10 songs coming throughout the year
VTuber Kizuna Ai‘s “A.I.Channel” YouTube channel unveiled a new music video and a re-introduction video for Kizuna Ai — marking her return from a three-year hiatus. The music video features a new song “kamone” (Could Be).
The below re-introduction video features English subtitles.
In the re-introduction video, Kizuna Ai mentions that she will focus on music activities first, and will release 10 songs throughout the year, with the second song coming on March 19. She also hints at a concert.
The Kizuna Ai YouTube channel “A.I.Channel” first launched in 2016. Since then, she has become the world’s most iconic virtual YouTuber and was on Newsweek Japan’s list of “globally respected Japanese people.” Her main channel has over 3 million subscribers, and her “A.I.Games” channel has over 1.51 million subscribers. She has since appeared in television programs and commercials, and performed as a musical artist.
In April 2020, Nozomi Kasuga signed on as an adviser at Kizuna Ai Co., Ltd. — thus formally confirming that she is the voice actress behind the character. The company was formed out of Activ8, the talent agency that managed Kizuna Ai and other virtual YouTuber talent.
Kizuna Ai voiced cameo roles in the Ingress and Magical Girl Site anime, and she also performed the theme song in the Laidbackers movie.
Kizuna Ai‘s staff billed the “Kizuna Ai The Last Live ‘hello, world 2022′” concert in February 2022 as her final concert before she goes on an indefinite hiatus. The staff cited an update to “future activities with the goal of further developing Kizuna Ai” as the reason for the hiatus. The concert also unveiled Kizuna (#KZN), an original singing CeVIO AI. #KZN is “serving as a hub to connect with everyone and [support] Kizuna Ai and creators while she is asleep.” (CeVIO is a suite of software that includes voice synthesis.) Kizuna Ai‘s original character designer En Morikura designed the AI with character concept art by Keigo Inoue.
Kizuna no Allele is an anime project for Kizuna Ai that premiered in April 2023 with Crunchyroll streaming. The anime had a second season that premiered in October 2023.
Source: A.I.Channel YouTube channel (link 2) via Hachima Kikō
