From the article:
The popular Spice and Wolf anime character Holo will make her VTuber debut on April 3, 2024, on the TOHO Animation Channel (YouTube) and the Spice and Wolf anime official TikTok.
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I couldn’t figure out whether the anime VA will also be doing the VTuber duties, or if they have somebody else performing as VTuber Holo. Finally, here is the preview image for her avatar:
Regardless of the actor, the Spice & Wolf IP doesn’t naturally lend itself to having a crossover marketing event as a VTuber, as compared to something like Serial Experiments Lain.
It would be like having a Twitch account for Aragorn as a marketing stunt for The Lord of the Rings. It would be funny or whatever, but it would not feel appropriate to the property like a Twitch avcount for Neo from the Matrix would feel appropriate to that property.
Bro Lain as a vtuber would be based
Wasn’t there recently that interactive event for the anniversary of Lain?
To me, that’s what makes it fun and interesting.
If I wanted to interact with a character from Cyberpunk The Matrix there are plenty of accounts out there already doing stuff with that vibe.
I get that it feels “out of place” but I guess it’s all just fantasy to me anyway so I’m cool giving it the chance to see what someone can do with it.
Spice & Wolf isn’t a series like SAO or Shield Hero where the players were put into a fantasy MMORPG game world, its literally just straight up fantasy. Same with Goblin Slayer or DanMachi. A Vtuber marketing event just feels inappropriate to the setting.
Obviously the IP rights holders can do whatever they want with it, Im just saying it feels wrong to me. I just think there are lots of other ways they could market Spice & Wolf that would probably be more cost efficient. I doubt that this vtuber will be raking in the massive superchat profits other vtubers make. And thats honestly why I believe they are doing a vtuber - they saw vtuber profits and wanted in. Its understandable, but to me they could have been more successful doing it with a different property.
The horror!
What about them? That they’re fantasy?
To each their own. I’m not saying you have to feel the same as I do. I’m just saying I’ll probably check it out because it’s interesting to me. And if it sucks, oh well, I just won’t tune in. No skin off my nose
For what it’s worth, I expect it’s not about making money off the vtuber account but driving traffic for the show, novels, and merchandise. The bulk of the anime industry is built around pushing traffic elsewhere; it’s why you see so many shows that never finish. Once they stop publishing the source material (manga, novel) there’s not much point to making the show anymore. Obviously there are exceptions for outrageously popular stuff, and shows that are fully original, but the majority is made specifically to sell other stuff
So my guess is they think they can get people who watch vtubers interested in the franchise this way, and that’s the driving force