It’s been a while since we last had an actual MMD post, but that doesn’t mean things have been happening. The freeware animation program had six updates in the interim, mainly dealing with problems with the MMDxShow.dll file. I don’t know the whole story, but I’m [...]]]>

"Over The Wall" by Joe Mello

It’s been a while since we last had an actual MMD post, but that doesn’t mean things have been happening. The freeware animation program had six updates in the interim, mainly dealing with problems with the MMDxShow.dll file. I don’t know the whole story, but I’m guessing that new problems arose as old ones were fixed. 5.08 is the current version, and since it was uploaded on the 9th, I think it’s safe to say it’s stable. You can pick it up on the VPVP site here.

And it would be remiss of me to not mention the MMD Cup Finals, since I’ve been doing so for the past 10 days. It opens at 9PM JST tonight, closing at 9 on the 21st, so get your MyLists ready to go. You can track the uploads with this nifty tag search.

Correction (8/15): This is the better search list. Happy hunting.

By now, you’re probably tired of V-ism’s coverage of the 3rd MikuMiku Dance Cup.  After all, we’ve previewed all three themes’ top entrants pretty extensively and got you aware of something you may not have initially known about.  You can’t think there’s anything else, right?

Well, you’re wrong.  46 of the 80+ entries [...]]]>

♪ by miz

By now, you’re probably tired of V-ism’s coverage of the 3rd MikuMiku Dance Cup.  After all, we’ve previewed all three themes’ top entrants pretty extensively and got you aware of something you may not have initially known about.  You can’t think there’s anything else, right?

Well, you’re wrong.  46 of the 80+ entries score got a perfect score.  We only looked at the top 15, and decided that some of those may not be as good as their MyList count suggests. So, now that I’m freed of arbitrary guidelines, I’m going to pick a few videos that interest me.  Naturally, I’ll be using the time-honored tradition of Random Clicking, but with over 30 perfect vids to choose from, I was sure I would find something.

And you know what? I did.

For sake of space conservation, I’m just going to link the songs as opposed to embed the Nico box thing I’ve done previously.  Yes, I’m lazy.

#20: Miku Miku ni Shite Ageru (mirai)

This is an interesting case, because we sort of know what to expect (or do we) and have another CG video to compare it to.  As a critic, my interest is definitely piqued, but the fact that there’s already a decent vid out there makes it too hard for me to get really psyched up.

Shitetan yo: 1 Leek

#23: Kunoichi Haruhi (raku)

Okay, never mind the subject matter (which rocks out loud, by the way).  This is one of the few vids I’ve watched that, if I didn’t know better, would wonder if this was actually an MMD work.  That’s high praise, and with the promise of full-bore period ninja action, the ceiling is practically non-existant.

Kunoichi Haruhi: 2 Leeks

If it lives up to the hype, the sole reason it will not win is because Miku isn’t in it.

#26: Hatsune Miku no Shoushitsu o Odotte Itadakimashita (kisetsu)

Never mind the excess kanji which I probably mistranslated.  This is a Shoushitu vid, pure and simple.  Like our first entry, it’s all going to depend on how close to the chest the video is going to play with its footage.  Unlike our first entry, I see more potential simply because of the fast parts.  If the video can keep up, there’s a bona fide hit to be had.  I’m not big on the song, but the visuals draw me in.

Shoushitsu: 2 Leeks

Having an opening conducive to teaser trailers never hurts, either.

#28: 10 years (mirai)

For whatever reason, I’m reminded of Daicon III, or at least the bits that were summarized before the Daicon IV footage started.  I am interested in putting these scenes into context, and the shots don’t look half bad.

10 years: 1 Leek

#42: Mambo No.3939 (mirai)

Dear reader, I encourage you to go to your favorite wiki and type in “The Gong Show.”  Why?  Because this is one of those acts.  Also, Lou Bega is officially off the hook (if he wasn’t already).

Mambo No.3939: No Leeks

#44: Defen’ ya self, sis! (mirai)

“Weird” is all I can say right now.  The song has a nice beat, and I can dance to it, but Luka’s dipping into the Uncanny Valley, and the American Kansai title leaves me a little confused.

Defen' ya self: 1 Leek

So that’s it.  The end.  I got nothing else to say.  Remember that the final round begins on August 14th and voting ends on the 21st.  See you then.

So far in our MMD Cup shenanigans, we looked at the seasons, we looked at the future, and now we’re gonna take it easy.  No, not in the above sense.  Honestly, I’m glad yukkuri isn’t one of the themes.  There’d be no originality whatsoever, just a bunch of floating [...]]]>

"Yukkuri shite ne!" (from the PV)

So far in our MMD Cup shenanigans, we looked at the seasons, we looked at the future, and now we’re gonna take it easy.  No, not in the above sense.  Honestly, I’m glad yukkuri isn’t one of the themes.  There’d be no originality whatsoever, just a bunch of floating heads.  Instead, we’re doing raku, which my online dictionary tells me is “comfort” or “ease”.

Of the three groups, this is the only one that whose Top 5 is outside the Overall Top 15, but exactly half of the 38 entries in the category score 100′s in the qualifying round.  So the product is consistently good, but not necessarily out-of-the-park great.  However, will that hold up to my standards? (air quotes for last word optional)

Lenders of the Lost Pantsu
MyList count: 488   Overall Rank: #3

Ooh, an Indiana Jones spoof.  Granted, this is essentially Sentou with style, so it should get the same grade, but I can’t.  See, even though I want to give this a 0, I’m grading on potential, and if somehow, someway, the climax of Raiders gets thrown into the final cut, I call the fight right there.  I know it’s never going to happen, but the possibility of ersatz-Nazi face-melting is just too enticing.

"LOST PANTSU" Score: 2 Leeks

Never has my praise felt so undeserved.

Isogashi no dame no: Kamen Rider V3
MyList: 407 Rank: #5

I’m always up for some tokusatsu, but I’m not sure if this is the kind I want. There are certainly a lot of baddies to be beaten up, so that’s encouraging, and the flock of Kokonoe seem to flow smoothly, so that’s a plus, too. Here’s hoping there’s more action and less ero.

"KAMEN RIDER" Score: 1 Leek

Torraku (Truck)
MyList: 210 Rank: #10

Hm. I honestly cannot say what this is about. Is it a drama about truckers? An ad for a truck driving company? When the camera shows the cab from the outside, is that Miku figure still inside the windshield? I have no clue whatsoever, so it’s probably a de facto 2, but there’s no real sign of greatness (save for the so-bad-it’s-good title pun), so it’ll get docked.

"TORRAKU" Score: 1 Leek

Meiko Band (kari) “ok! Midori wa Teki da”
MyList: 187 Rank: #14

I think there was a pun opportunity missed in the title, but whatever. Anyway, tension is always good, but I fear that the pace was so rapid and the attempts to shoehorn in multiple kinds of funny will cause me to be lost and the plot to collapse upon itself. I’d really prefer if that didn’t happen.

"MEIKO BAND" Score: 1 Leek

Kagura [MMD Drama]
MyList: 161 Rank: #18

Miku still can’t act. Kaito wasn’t much better. Iku was the only one that displayed emotion, and it seemed inappropriate. I know it’s an MMD competition, but if you’re going to throw in vocals, make them decent vocals. I don’t think that’s a big demand.

"KAGURA" Score: No Leeks

So that ends our theme-by-theme look at the Top MMD Cup videos. Remember that the finals start August 14th. HOWEVER, we’re not done! (Who said we were done?) There’s still 31 other Perfect Scores out there, and we’ll be looking at those the next time we meet.

As we move closer to August 14th, Vocaloidism will preview some of the top vids from the 3rd MMD Cup Qualifying and see if they’re up to snuff.  With over half of the 86 entries earning a perfect score, leave it to V-ism to sort the trash from the treasure.

In our [...]]]>

whiteboard courtesy of paperguitar.com

As we move closer to August 14th, Vocaloidism will preview some of the top vids from the 3rd MMD Cup Qualifying and see if they’re up to snuff.  With over half of the 86 entries earning a perfect score, leave it to V-ism to sort the trash from the treasure.

In our last installment, the process and scoring system were broken down.  Today we look at the entries using the first theme: kisetsu, or season.  13 of the 22 previews hit the 100 point maximum in qualifying, so how good are the Top 5?  Read on to find out.

Vocaloid On Ice ～ Miku no ICE☆SHOW
MyList (as of writing): 882   Overall Rank: 1

There’s no two ways about it, this is Miku’s figure skating debut (at least to a mainstream audience). It’s clear that the creator is a fan of the sport–either that or he’s great at winging it–as Miku’s triple axles fly effortlessly around the rink.  My only knock is that it’s figure skating, which tends to be a little repetitive and dull.  Luckily, it’s just one run, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I found myself checking my watch part-way though.

SCORE: 1 Leek

Big thanks to Miku to help display the score.  It’s definitely more engaging than text, no?

Sentou
MyList: 640 Overall Rank: 2

This feels like a follow-up to one of last contest’s entries, the one where Len went into Miku’s pantsu drawer and then got pelted with weaponry of increasing ridculousness.  I wasn’t that enthused before, and the joke hasn’t gotten funnier since.  The ceiling doesn’t get much higher for this one.

SCORE: No Leeks

K-On! + Vocalo zenin + α de Sooran
MyList: 254 Overall Rank: 7

The premise is lost on a “typical” American like myself who also avoids K-On.  While I’m sure it’s a thrilling number (enough to get 250 ML’s) it’s a strike against it to this reviewer.  Another thing is that all the flowing hair is a distraction.  This is more the fault of the program than the user, though.  Hair in MMD doesn’t seem to react inutitively to gravity, which is a problem for vids like these.  Uninteresting + quality issues = no thank you.

SCORE: No Leeks

Hissatsu Hatsune-san
MyList: 196 Overall Rank: 12

I’m a sucker for old Japanese TV show music, so it gets points for that.  The clip is just mysterious enough that you want to watch the final version to see what will happen, so it gets points for that, too.  The ending is abrupt, so it gets points off for that.  Overall, I like it.

SCORE: 1 Leek

Basuke de hajimaru Kimi to Boku to…
MyList: 184 Overall Rank: 13

The fact that the video uses a Chibi Miku-san pairing amuses me.  Otherwise, it’s a solid Next Episode preview, with the exception of strange idiosyncracies with Len’s basketball skills.  I really don’t think the right hand is supposed to be that way when you shoot.  Then again, it’s been a few years since I played, so maybe it’s just me.

SCORE: 1 Leek

Anyway, that wraps up our look at the Kisetsu group.  Vocaloid on Ice looks to be the prohibitive favorite to take the whole thing, but it wasn’t appointment viewing.  Luckily, the closest in-group competitors looked a whole lot worse.  In our next installment, we’ll see if a look into the future proves fruitful with our 2nd group.