Interest

Gachapin Mascot Gets Vocaloid2 Voice Synthesis Pack

At the Nico Nico Douga Daikaigi 2010 Summer: Egao no Chikara event, Yamaha, Fuji TV Kids, and the Internet Co. Ltd. music and software company announced that they would release a new voice pack for the Vocaloid2 singing simulation softare. The pack will be based on the Gachapin character from Hirake! Ponkikki, a popular Fuji TV kids' program which ran from 1973 to 1993. The "Gachapoid" Gachapin x Vocaloid voice pack CD will be released on October 8 with a special green case and a free six-month subscription to Nico Nico Douga's premium paid service.

Gachapin also has a second identity, "Gatchapin," which is the buck-toothed green dinosaur dressed up as a character from the 1972 Gatchaman anime. This version was later immortalized in figure form. Gachapin also made a cameo in the “Read My Mind” music video by the American rock band The Killers.

Numerous voices have been releasd for Vocaloid2, with Crypton Future Media's Hatsune Miku the most popular. In 2008 Internet Co., Ltd. announced the "Gackpoid" Vocaloid2 character sampled from actor/singer Gackt's voice, and in 2009 they released "Megpoid," using the voice of Megumi Nakajima (Macross Frontier's Ranka Lee).

Starting at the end of September, Nico Nico Douga will support HTML5, which will allow Apple's iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad devices to play the service's videos without special software. The official name and other details of Nico Nico Douga's next version will be announced at the Nico Nico Douga Daikaigi 2010 Fall event on October 28.

[Via Temple Knights]

Images © Yamaha / FujiTV Kids / Internet Co. Ltd.; Japan Licensing Information Center.