When Miku Expo announced that they would tour North America to commemorate its 10th anniversary, fans were thrilled to not only see Hatsune Miku, the legendary virtual idol herself, but also see an impressive show befitting the milestone. What ended up becoming the focal point of discussions on social media was the widespread disappointment that Miku was slated to perform the entire tour on an LED screen, which was not explicitly stated in concert information. Fans felt mislead and expected to see the virtual idol perform as a hologram, as she’s done multiple times in the past, including the first ever Miku Expo tour in 2014.
Even from the perspective of a Miku Expo first-timer, the visual experience at the San Jose stop fell short of expectations for the tour’s 10th anniversary. Framed by large multi-color lighting structures, an LED screen, which was about one-thirds length of the stage, sat at the center. While the stage setup aesthetically came together to create a simple cyberpunk city-esque look, Miku and her fellow virtual idols appeared small on the screen, which was already hard to see from the crowded and flat floor. Also, the farther the view was from center angle-wise, Miku looked increasingly two dimensional. The small LED screen made it very clear that Miku couldn’t move beyond its borders, which took away from the illusion that she was really in the venue roaming the entire span of the stage. This isn’t to say that LED screens are ineffective at showcasing virtual idols; however, changes to the stage setup, including a larger central screen and more screens, could help make the experience more visually immersive.
While the immersive visual component of the show was lacking, what really had the audience going was Miku’s high energy discography heightened by the live band. Crowd favorites like “Miku,” “World Is Mine,” and “M@GICAL☆CURE! LOVE ♥ SHOT!” had concertgoers particularly hyped, but that may not be all that noteworthy considering that enthusiastic fans passionately waved their lightsticks in sync the entire show through. The special thing about being at a Miku show is the fandom; the audience was the definition of good vibes only. The excitement in the venue was at an all-time high, palpable, and infectious; it was only natural to feel electrified by the energy in the venue and join in the crowd’s fervor as they sang and danced the night away to relentlessly vigorous melodies and Miku’s cute and cheerful synthesized voice.
Although the spirited band and lively crowd elevated the concert experience, the visual aspects made it challenging for Miku to be the true star of her own show, especially on what was supposed to be the tour’s 10th anniversary.
Photo Credit: © CFM / © SEGA
