The VTubers of VSPO! (Virtual eSports Project) have been represented in animated trailers and music videos before, but a newly announced project will go further and showcase them through “long-form animation.”
The animation is described as having 12 episodes, and an advance screening event will present the first six.
That advance screening is one of the perks provided with STUDIO MEMBERS, an initiative that’s meant to allow fans in Japan to support the new animation for a 33,000 yen (~US$217) fee. Applications for STUDIO MEMBERS will run from November 1, 2024 JST to January 31, 2025 JST. Some of the other benefits from joining include receiving a collection of key animation and design sketches, getting featured in the credits, and getting limited-time access to a version of the anime that’s voiced by the VTubers.
Hiroki Hirano (Mushoku Tensei Season 2 Cour 1 director, Season 1 assistant director) is directing the new VSPO! anime at Pine Jam and spoke highly of the staff’s capabilities on X (formerly Twitter). Among that staff are Kota Mori (Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Episode 16 storyboard artist and director et al.) as assistant director and Hiroo Nagano (Fate/strange Fake Whispers of Dawn co-animation director) as character designer.
Hirano isn’t a stranger to working on VSPO!-related animation, having storyboarded and directed the also-Pine-Jam-produced “for Victory!” music video.
VSPO!’s first two VTubers, Kaga Sumire and Kaga Nazuna, made their debut in October 2018. The 21st and newest member Sendo Yuuhi, debuted in May 2024, not long after the March debut of VSPO! Research Student Program graduate Tsumugi Kokage. Other Japanese branch members include Ichinose Uruha, Kurumi Noah, Tosaki Mimi, Tachibana Hinano, Hanabusa Lisa, Kisaragi Ren, Kogara Toto, Asumi Sena, Kaminari Qpi, Yakumo Beni, Aizawa Ema, Shinomiya Runa, Nekota Tsuna, Shirana Ramune, Komori Met, Yano Kuromu, Yumeno Akari, and Tsumugi Kokage.
Aside from new members on the Japanese side, 2024 also saw the introductions of VSPO! EN and VSPO! CN.
Source: @Vspo77