Asep Darmawan
The landscape of modern entertainment is undergoing a seismic shift as the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds continue to dissolve. At the forefront of this revolution is KAF, a virtual singer who has transcended the niche confines of YouTube to become a multidisciplinary powerhouse. Following a landmark interview in October 2024, the artistic collective at KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO has reached a new milestone with the global release of the anime KAMITSUBAKI CITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION on Crunchyroll.
In a comprehensive follow-up interview, KAF reflects on her transition from a vocalist to a voice actor, the technical challenges of bilingual musicality, and the profound emotional resonance of collaborating with childhood idols. This evolution marks not just a personal victory for the artist, but a pivotal moment for the "Virtual Singer" industry as it integrates into the mainstream global anime market.
Main Facts: The Multi-Media Expansion of KAMITSUBAKI CITY
The release of KAMITSUBAKI CITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION represents the culmination of years of world-building by KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO. Originally conceived as a narrative-driven project involving music, mystery-solving games, and light novels, the anime adaptation serves as the definitive entry point for a global audience.
Key Milestones:
- Global Distribution: The series is now streaming on Crunchyroll, marking a significant step in making Japanese virtual IP accessible to Western audiences.
- Voice Acting Debut: KAF and her fellow V.W.P (Virtual Witch Phenomenon) members—Himehina, RIM, Harusaruhi, and Isekaijoucho—have transitioned into voice acting, portraying characters that mirror their virtual personas.
- Musical Innovation: The project has spawned new musical directions, including "Chase the Day," an entirely English-language track that signals an aggressive push toward international markets.
- Collaborative Synergy: Beyond the anime, KAF has released her fourth remix album, Fable γ, featuring 13 different artists, and a high-profile collaboration with the legendary singer CHiCO.
Chronology: From October 2024 to the Summer of 2025
To understand the weight of KAF’s current success, one must look at the rapid progression of her career over the last year. In late 2024, KAF expressed a burgeoning desire to bridge the gap between her virtual existence and the "real" world through more complex media projects.
Late 2024: The Foundation
In October 2024, KAF discussed her ambitions to master English and expand her reach. At this stage, KAMITSUBAKI CITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION was a highly anticipated but mysterious project within the studio’s pipeline.
Early 2025: Production and Vocal Training
The early months of 2025 were defined by intensive recording sessions. Unlike the solitary nature of recording music in a studio booth, the anime required ensemble voice acting. KAF and the V.W.P members underwent rigorous training to adapt their vocal techniques from singing to character acting.
August 2025: The Launch
The anime’s debut on Crunchyroll in August 2025 was met with immediate acclaim from the "Observation Group" (the dedicated fanbase of KAMITSUBAKI). This period also saw the release of Fable γ, reinforcing KAF’s roots in the Vocaloid and remix culture while the anime pushed her into the mainstream spotlight.
November 2025 (Upcoming): KAMITSUBAKI FES 2025
The year is set to conclude with a massive label-wide event, KAMITSUBAKI FES 2025, which will serve as a celebration of the anime’s success and a showcase for the studio’s entire roster.
Supporting Data: The Technicality of Virtual Performance
The transition from a virtual singer to a voice actor is not merely a change in title; it involves a fundamental shift in how an artist perceives their own voice. KAF noted that conveying specific emotions, particularly "joy," proved to be an unexpected hurdle.
The Challenge of "Natural" Emotion
In the interview, KAF revealed that while she is comfortable expressing melancholy or intensity through song, the nuances of casual conversation in an anime setting required a different psychological approach. "It was honestly difficult for me to convey the emotion of ‘joy’ in a natural way," she admitted. This highlights a common challenge for virtual artists: the need to breathe life into a character (Kafu) that is an extension of themselves, yet exists within a scripted narrative framework.
The Shift to Group Dynamics
Furthermore, the production process for KAMITSUBAKI CITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION broke the traditional "virtual" workflow. Most virtual content is produced in isolation or through digital layers. However, the anime’s voice recordings were conducted in a group setting. This "one-shot" environment created a sense of camaraderie and pressure that KAF described as "nerve-wracking" but ultimately "rewarding."
Linguistic Expansion: "Chase the Day"
The song "Chase the Day," the ending theme for Episode 0, represents a technical milestone. Performed entirely in English, the track required KAF to balance phonetic accuracy with emotional delivery. Her approach was to find a middle ground between "Japanese-English" and standard English to ensure the "smoothness" of the ballad was maintained. This effort reflects a broader trend of J-Pop and virtual artists seeking to lower the barrier of entry for non-Japanese speakers.
Official Responses: KAF on Creative Growth and Collaboration
During the interview, KAF provided deep insights into her personal connection to her work and her aspirations for the future. Her responses paint a picture of an artist who is deeply grateful for her roots while being unafraid to experiment.
On the Emotional Core of the Series
When asked about her favorite musical moment in the anime, KAF pointed to the a cappella performance of "Closing one’s eyes." She described the scene as a "mysterious bond between the Familier and the witch’s daughter," emphasizing that the simplicity of the song showcases a "warm, loving, and precious relationship." This focus on the "mysterious bond" is a central theme of the KAMITSUBAKI lore, where digital entities and human emotions intertwine.
On the Remix Album Fable γ
The release of her fourth remix album allowed KAF to reconnect with the Vocaloid producers who influenced her early career. She highlighted KAIRUI’s remix of "Replaceable Goodbye" as a standout, noting how the addition of ambient rain sounds transformed a "dazzling sunrise" of a song into something lonelier yet equally beautiful. "I think you’ll see a different side to the songs from the original versions," she remarked.
On Collaborating with CHiCO
Perhaps the most emotional revelation was her collaboration with CHiCO on the song "Break Out." KAF revealed that she has been a fan of CHiCO and HoneyWorks since elementary school. "I wish I could tell my 10-year-old self, but I don’t think she’d believe me," she said. She praised the song’s writer, Ryuto Seiri, for creating a sound that makes the listener "want to dance from the soul."
Implications: The Future of the Virtual-Real Synergy
KAF’s journey from a digital avatar to a mainstream anime star carries significant implications for the entertainment industry at large.
1. The Blurring of "Real" and "Virtual"
KAF’s stance on collaboration is clear: "It doesn’t matter if it’s real or virtual!" She advocates for a future where the limitations and advantages of both worlds are utilized to create "synergy." This suggests that the novelty of being a "virtual" artist is fading, replaced by a demand for high-quality, multi-platform storytelling where the medium is secondary to the message.
2. Global Accessibility via Streaming
By partnering with Crunchyroll, KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO is testing the viability of "Virtual Idol" IP in the West. If KAMITSUBAKI CITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION finds a foothold, it could pave the way for other virtual groups (such as those from Hololive or NIJISANJI) to develop high-budget narrative anime, moving beyond the "variety show" format typical of VTuber content.
3. The Ambition for Physical Presence
Despite her virtual nature, KAF’s ultimate dream is rooted in the physical world. Her desire to perform at an outdoor live event—"under a blue sky, or even in the rain"—indicates a push for more advanced augmented reality (AR) and projection technology. This ambition challenges the industry to develop better ways to integrate virtual performers into physical spaces, potentially revolutionizing the festival circuit.
4. Longevity in the Digital Age
KAF’s commitment to "working diligently on each and every task" reflects a desire for sustainability. In an industry often criticized for its "burnout" culture and fleeting trends, KAF and KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO are focused on long-term world-building. By diversifying into voice acting, remixing, and international collaborations, KAF is ensuring that her "virtual" career has a very real and lasting impact.
As the "KAMITSUBAKI CITY" continues to be "under construction," the blueprints for the future of entertainment are being drawn. With KAF as its muse, the project is proving that virtual artists are no longer just voices behind an avatar—they are the architects of a new cultural era.
Basiran
Evan Lee Salim
