Jun 062015
 

mamama_miku_01

Previously teased as a garage kit at previous Wonder Festival events, then recently announced for a future release, the Mamama ver. Appearance Miku (aka, ApiMiku) figure will finally be available in a week’s time, sometime around mid-June 2015.

Based on the highly cute and popular ApiMiku model for MikuMikuDance, this figure stands at 18cm tall, somewhere around 1/8 scale in size. The figure was picked up for production and distribution by TAITO, and you can expect to see this figure in prize machines at entertainment centers across Japan, likely of the SEGA UFO Prize Catcher variety.

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Can’t go to Japan to get one? See if a friend can win one for you, or grab one when winners start reselling them later this month (usually quite inexpensively, too).

Via Piapro Blog

Apr 302015
 


Official release image by Digitrevx

It’s not often you see a Hatsune Miku model for MikuMikuDance that is so high quality, you’d think it was official. The 3D modeler Digtrevx from Deviantart has created an MMD model based on Racing Miku 2015 that impressively matches what we’ve seen from official illustrations and figures.

The first official demo video was uploaded only yesterday, and today the model is now available for free download. If you plan to use the model, please kindly read the creator’s terms of use. Thanks! You can enjoy the demo video below, featuring the song Decorator by kz.livetune.

Model download: http://digitrevx.deviantart.com/art/Princess-Knight-Racing-Miku-2015-MMD-530215264

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0AB28HzJUc

Mar 302015
 

YYB Type Imoko’s Sakura Miku in dazzling scenery via Nico Seiga

The popular Chinese MMD artist “YYB” has made yet another astounding appearance upon the completion of YYB Type Imoko’s Sakura Miku model. The model is based on the popular Sakura Miku design by Imoko on pixiv, and is available for download online via Nico Seiga(password free).

Download + Header Image: http://seiga.nicovideo.jp/seiga/im4781868

YYB’s previous works include the YYB Type Hatsune Miku and her Swimsuit Ver. Full details on both models can be found in our previous article. Below are images from her earlier development stages.

Feb 232015
 

7 years ago on February 24th, a software programmer by the name of Higuchi released a 3D choreography tool named MikuMikuDance, inspired of course by Hatsune Miku herself. The program was an instant success, and saw a release with an English interface less than a month later.

After working on the project for a few years, Higuchi felt satisfied enough with the program’s progress, and ended development in 2011 with version 7.39. Things were quiet for a while, with a new alternative program popping up by the name of MikuMikuMoving, which worked to improve upon MMD’s capabilities and add the features that MMD was lacking.

Higuchi made a surprise return in 2013 to begin development for the application once again, with the current version now on 9.26. There is also a 64bit version available. Downloads available here: [Link]

MMD also inspired the start of a bi-yearly animation competition known as the MikuMikuDance Cup, where animators submit their works to compete for the top rank under various genres. The 14th competition is currently underway.

Near the end of 2014, MMD was released on Steam through Sekai Project, with the help of community support, to help allow more potential creators to discover the tool.

One of MMD’s most impressive feats has been its adoption in the anime industry, with the anime “Straight Title Robot Anime” being fully animated with the tool.

MMD has been used to create nearly countless animations of all kinds by Vocaloid fans (and even non-Vocaloid fans) around the world, and continues to be the go-to-tool for most 3DPV animators in the Vocaloid community. Congratulations to MMD for celebrating its 7th anniversary, and still standing strong for creators!

Picture by 龍海さん from Nico Seiga.

 

Dec 272014
 


 
Recently, the highly popular 3D choreography tool MikuMikuDance has appeared on Steam Greenlight, to begin the voting stage to be approved to the Steam store. The software was published to Steam Greenlight by Sekai Project, a company also known for licensing the release of visual novels on the Steam store.

“But isn’t MikuMikuDance already free?”, you’re probably wondering. The answer is yes, and the Steam release will remain free. The steam release has been approved by the creator himself, Higuchi, and it will serve as another distribution portal for the software, while also hopefully attracting new and curious users.

>> Click Here To Vote! <<

Of course, this is only the beginning of Sekai Project’s plans. Currently, the MMD communities are scattered across various wikis, blogs and deviantarts. Sekai Project hopes to turn this into a more collaborative and organized community, much like Piapro.

The software and respective models must continue to follow all creators guidelines (of course), and it will be up to the community to help teach the newcomers proper Vocaloid etiquette. Go forth and vote to show your support!

EDIT: It’s been successfully greenlit!