So, I finally watched THIS, after all this messing around, FINALLY did, and here’s what I’ve got to say-

(No spoilers btw) Obviously, needless to say, the movie has *nothing* to do with Vocaloid itself, has *absolutely* nothing at all about it OTHER than, obviously, fan favourite songs playing roles. But that alone is enough for me to believe, I must let my fellow Vocafans know; it is *here*, and it is *waiting*.

So to cover as much ground in as little time- obviously, visually, this movie is a SPECTACLE MIRACLE, has a bit of everything, FROM its more comedic SOL gag animations, to fight scenes worth a theatrical budget, to the dance performances, the cgi setpieces, everything. A ‘bit of everything’ is actually a pretty good running theme, as it HAS all of those types of SCENES of course, battles, games, streams, songs, lesbionics, spectacle- allat, yet succeeds at all feeing like the same movie/story despite it. And the characters, while I wasn’t sure what to think IMMEDIATELY off the bat, won me over so well, and the three main poster-childs are going on my collage of the characters that made the biggest impact on me this year I plan to draw at the end for sure. With that more general movie-itself stuff covered,

Obviously, this movie caught this communities attention for, as one facet of it anyway, being somewhat of a love letter to what Vocaloid *is,* in the hearts of those it means a lot to, and though music is far from ALL there is to the story, I defo saw that here. Idk if I knew for sure EVERY Voca song from ones that weren’t (since obviously if I didn’t know a song I wouldn’t know it IS one), but Happy Synthesizer came on about halfway through and I was just…. I mean this is when things are FINALLY starting to feel alright for Iroha, aint it? Thus, perfect. And Id already heard both of Ryo’s remixes BEFORE watching, and was waiting impatiently… and they did WIM, and though I don’t know the lyrics myself…. I found myself, for the first time, actively trying to karaoke sing along with it (thanks to the romanisation fortunately appearing with the subs). But, BUT easily,

the best moment of all, came when the credits arrived, and the second it was time for it, I thought ’okay well I HAVNT heard Melt in the movie itself (sadly) so obviously THATS what they’ve been saving it for, obviously we’ll hear it now….. and then what do I get and recognise all too soon?

Ray

Not even my own personal FAV Voca song ever, and yet, I think is OBJECTIVELY one of the most emotional, heart-clutching and beautiful ever, come on we all know it. And apart from it never, never ever NOT being a treat just to hear it, for me, this was extra special because, it’s one Id never actually known the lyrics’ translation before. Mighta subconsciously *avoided* it, outta kinda wanting the mystery of it to stay since the song alone ALREADY makes you just feel so much just as a song… So THIS, this was the first time Id ever known what the lyrics mean… and it was…. look, despite everything, EVERYTHING about how emotional the movie itself gets, I didn’t ever get to a point Id feel I was gonna cry. But the moment that finally got me CLOSE, was Ray, as it already had some times before granted, but tho I still never actually dripped, it was close, because- reading it then and there the first time? I was GLAD i had to wait for Melt, because there couldn’t POSSIBLY have been a better one to go WITH this movie, as it’s just so ABOUT it so perfectly. …and then even AFTER Melt, we STILL get one more MV with it AGAIN and… didn’t feel old at all. I coulda gone for another.

It’s for all of THIS, that I gotta get this word out now, since I’d inevitably have not gotten it quite so from the heart if Id slept now and let these feelings quell, so- I implore every one who like Vocaloid to give it a try, sure, because its got some revered songs and artists featured in it, but that alone couldn’t be it. Because (while by no means does the general plot itself be particularly resembling of what experiencing vocaloid is like), the FEELINGS, the emotions and what this kinda music can do for people- THATS all there, less overtly and more personal-to-the-characters-themselves than with the Project SEKAI movie, but it’s there, and ya get a helluva watch to boot with it.

One more prop I just wanna give this movie,

(Very very sliiiightly spoilery here btw, but no major twists or plot points or anything, just more about the NATURE itself)

for something it did- it was it JUST, KEPT toying with me about how it was gonna ‘end’- many a time, one hits a thing that has ya like ‘ok, NOW thats how it really ends’, and it WORKS, because the FIRST of those times…. I was pretty unsatisfied, but even then still ready to accept it, cus yah maybe this has just gotta be more bittersweet than I bargained for, however, *each one* of these times, I was a little bit happier with how I thought it ended… and this MUSTA all been deliberate btw, cus literally the THING in this act was all about not wanting to let this be how it ends… and so it all works to SUCH great of its own effect. This is all me desperately not tryna be spoilery ofc, but I’ll just say, I definitely WAS satisfied by the proper end.

And this movie…. I think just makes me feel a lot better honestly btw. I honestly wish this HAD been a more theatrical release-thing, cus it is WORTHY of Cinema, and absolutely woulda moved more in people in such a setting…. but I really hope yall’ll give it a go.