AstraLine, a new VTuber agency backed by Merryweather Media, is breaking storytelling norms with loremaster Merry leading the charge.
www.dexerto.com
"VTubers and lore go hand and hand. Some build entire universes around their model’s story. Others just leave it as a short aside. But there’s no doubt storytelling is a critical part of the medium, giving an extra leg to the designs fans fawn over."
Wouldn't really call it "critical" beyond the scope of a cheap marketing trick but okay, some autistic people do actually get way too into it so I guess it does help pander to morons.
"It’s only become more elaborate in 2023 too. Lore videos are commonplace at VTuber debuts."
Yeah and they've become so commonplace that people have long since gotten tired of the bullshit and begun despising them wherever they appear. The best ones are short and sweet and don't involve much amateur chuuni storytelling, the only thing people like about these is the visuals and sometimes marginally funny writing, the ones which try to be super serious are universally trashy.
"But what happens outside of the big reveals and they’re just sitting there streaming games? How can stories be weaved into these mundane events?
“VTuber agencies do not tend to prioritize fictional storytelling all that much,” Lucius Merryweather mused. “Many have commented on this disconnect between VTuber lore. Why is this VTuber’s lore about them being a powerful mythical god, when they just play Apex?"
Hmmmm
, it's almost like lore is not designed to matter and only serves as retard bait and disposable marketing? Some vtubers DO play into it but most are too lazy and/or different from their characters to keep it up long-term.
"“My opinion is that this disconnect is fun. It’s fun to watch a powerful mythical god play Apex Legends and talk about anime.”"
Their character honestly only plays a very small role in the experience, most vtubers are popular because of their actual personality, abilities, and stage persona, not some ridiculous disguise created by a boardroom of suits. This article is confounding lore with kayfabe; lore is simply flavour text, most people care about the persona the vtuber creates through their content creation journey and how they conduct themselves on stream, that persona can be influenced by the lore but is rarely if ever beholden to it, you can give a vtuber the bestest lore written by a pro writer and they could still be a complete bore if they don't actually make it their own and aren't genuinely good entertainers.
"Despite that enjoyable uncoupling, VTubing’s top loremaster wants to take storytelling in the virtual space even further. That was ultimately the inspiration behind his new project AstraLine.
“AstraLine is an agency with a focus on story events,” he continued. “An evolving storyline with villains, world-building, with every member getting their chance to shine both in their own storylines, and appearing in others storylines.”"
Holy corpospeak, bro they're just gonna be like everyone else fucking chill, this sounds like one of those hyperbolic pitches that only works on morons that have no idea what the product even IS.
"The five of them combined — given Lumi’s musical and cosplay lean, and Merry’s background in creative writing — bring a whole new skill set to VTuber storytelling. And if you chat to any one of them, they’re keen to break the rules and redefine what it means to be a virtual star.
"Vtuber storytelling" jesus talk about delusions of grandeur... I don't think creating stupid fanfics for your generic catboy model is gonna "REDEFINE VTUBING!", if you wanna make well fleshed-out characters and a compelling narrative then just write a book.
"“The average VTuber follower can boil what a VTuber is to a quick sentence or two — and that’s just not enough for us,” Nick Nocturne told Dexerto."
"Nick Nocturne"
Niji tier name right there boys, well done. Also how is lore going to change the fact that vtubers are online content creators who use virtual avatars to represent themselves? I don't think there's any part of that definition that can really be altered by merryfag and his band of nobodies, you ain't 2018 Nijisanji bro, sit down.
"“We’re about what can be done that breaks those run-of-the-mill expectations, doing new things with the medium and platforms, telling stories beyond just lore videos on debut.”"
So what Niji's Mayuzumi Kai and Holo's Hachaama already did? Make videos about the lore and play the part in extended multimedia stories? This isn't a new thing and it isn't going to revolutionize anything.
"Fredrik and Nick are big assets in that regard. The two have a combined following of two million subscribers on YouTube from this long-form timeless content. But streaming presents a new medium to share that craft, and weave new stories they couldn’t before.
“I came to terms with the intuition that I was missing a great opportunity to expand my abilities of content coverage and exploration by not streaming,” Nick admitted. “The few moments I [streamed] on YouTube for my channel, Night Mind, showed me there was definite value in it.”"
I don't think streaming benefits neither merry nor knudsen. Merry made VA'd versions of shitty webcomics in order to bait weebs and then latched onto whatever was popular when his e-fame began to wane (sadly that was vtubing). Knudsen made highly polished, GOOD, longform youtube documentaries. As I have said before, I fucking despise it when good youtubers begin streaming or doing podcasts, you trade in 1 great video every few months for a spam of shitty streams where the person just badly discusses a topic because they have no script or audiovisual accompaniment or they just become a generic streamer playing FOTM games. Knudsen has objectively gotten WORSE, and his content as a vtuber is hot garbage compared to his old videos.
"“Historically, I’ve never found success doing what other people are doing,” Fredrik added. “AstraLine shares a lot of the same language and conventions of a typical VTubing agency, but our roster allows us to do things very differently.
“Even as a totally indie VTuber, I was rather unique in my content in the way I would dive into and share peculiar topics that interested me. But in this new context, I think we’ll stand out even more. We’ll discover niches that people didn’t even know existed by creating the content that we want to see but nobody is making.”"
What the fuck does this even mean?!? How are you doing ANYTHING differently? You're just a shittier, more obscure vshojo; a group of e-friend creators that got together to pretend to be a real agency. "Creating the content that we want to see but nobody is making" I feel like i'm in the launch conference for the new iphone ngl.
""Nick spoke at length about this “unfiction” element that exists in VTubing. There’s already a suspension of disbelief and reality built into the virtual world via the models streamers use. Why not take that a bit further?
There are ways to build these stories across platforms, and ultimately across mediums. It brings the viewers right into the action — you’re not just watching along, but immersed in the universe and encouraged to interact. You can explore niche topics and tropes with intrigue and curiosity. And while if you dig you can read between the lines, where’s the fun in that?""
So many words just to say "Kayfabe is fun", also this fucking journo HATES idolshit when Holo does it but now he's fellating this crap when these normie femboys sell it? Talk about le irony.
"AstraLine is a way to fully utilize the medium’s potential in that regard and give fans something they didn’t know they wanted.
“[There was] a sincere feeling of a need to present VTubers who are delivering more than just performances for streams and a few recorded audio works,” he continued.
“We want our viewers [to be] inspired to… have niche interests and love them freely. The very idea of what we can do to assist the community in discovering what they can find in themselves, I think, compels us just as strongly, if not more, than the spirit of sheer entertainment or comfort.”"
Absolute meaningless corpospeak.
“AstraLine talent have the unique ability to work alongside our in-house art talent, and create projects with them, rather than being dependent on commissioning outside creators.”
I didn't know you needed special abilities to tell "RedHeartBlackFur#666" in the company discord to stop jacking it to furry porn and finish the fucking MV but I guess these guys are specially qualified G.I.s with training in dealing with degeneracy.
"The studio is already known for its mega-popular Webtoon comics and existing VTuber lore projects for VShojo, NIJISANJI, and more. But they have hired more managers and staff to give AstraLine the tools to succeed in its own world-building mission."
Nice to know that Hololive is now known as "more", fuck you too ducky. "World-building" implies some kind of lengthy, story-expanding process, not just "Oh here's le SUPER RULE OF COOL (but incredibly generic) story about how this rando demon guy came to be that nobody will even remember".
"“It is, to my knowledge, the first time an art studio itself has launched a VTuber agency! And all of our art team is incredibly excited to work alongside VTubers, whose success will also bring many benefits to our artists."
That success is not guaranteed my guy, IF they succeed, they MAY make the artists more popular or known, those are a lot of BIG maybes.
“You see many VTuber groups and you can feel the warmth from them so we wanted something like that too. A family.”
I love my
Niji- I mean, Astraline Family!
""And, as Nick Nocturne put it: “What’s not exciting about a group of diverse creators who bring new things to the table instead of just filling a role and playing some games for a while?”"
Yeheah boyssss, we wuz differenz n' sheit, not like those BORING, OPPRESSIVE, OUTDATED nips! My nigga merry be changin' this crib! He settin' new rulez in da industry! Really...? How many fucking times are we gonna have people blabbing on and on about "we're gonna change everythinngggg!!!1", last time I checked people who actually shake things up don't feel the need to brag about it like they're trying to sell you a happy meal.
"Yes, they’re all tied to the eccentric Danish dog in some way. They were handpicked to join this project, nearly a year in the making, for a reason.
“He has been a close friend for the majority of my professional career, and we’ve leaned on each other frequently,” Fredrik stated. “Every time I’ve worked on something with him, it’s been an absolute joy.""
Nepotism at its finest! Surely mixing friends and business won't go terribly wrong when money's on the line and everyone begins to show their true colors!
"“Personally I never felt like I would fit into any idol group and I’ve hovered from friend group to friend group. The topics I talk about are sometimes quite niche. To be offered a place in a group where I could just continue being myself, build on top of that, being given more chances to do cool things, and hang out with my friends felt amazing.”"
Talent Freedom Family>>>>>CORPO IDOLSHIT, who needs rules or managers when you're all buds and GET each other, bros who really get that shit don't need no reminder to stream often!
"“We get to enjoy this beautiful genre of entertainment with more friends we trust and vibe with. And of course, now we’re halfway to filling up an Among Us lobby,” he laughed."
"“And since our managers all have VTuber avatars themselves,"
Oh so you DO have managers! Why do they need avatars though? Are these actual payrolled guys in an office in Copenhagen or some shit or just merry's buds on discord making spreadsheets?
In conclusion: Fuck Lore, Fuck Ducky and Fucky Merryfaggot.