Kizuna Ai fans have been buzzing with excitement as signs of her potential return emerge after nearly three years of hiatus. A countdown on her official channels suggests an announcement around February 24, 2025, reigniting hope for her reappearance.
Key Details:
- Countdown Announcement: Starting on November 30, 2024, a countdown began on Kizuna Ai’s official channels, with a specific event or reveal planned for 87 days later. A teaser video posted on December 1 features someone trying to wake Ai-chan, implying her return might align with the countdown’s conclusion.
- Hiatus Background: Kizuna Ai’s hiatus, described as “Ai-chan went to sleep,” began on February 26, 2022. While her channel has sporadically posted content, fans have been eagerly waiting for her active return.
- Voice Actor Speculation:
- Nozomi Kasuga, believed to be the original voice of Kizuna Ai, left Kizuna Ai Co., Ltd in March 2024 after her contract ended. While Kasuga has hinted at being the “voice model” for Ai, her involvement in a potential return remains unclear.
- The franchise might adopt a “Hatsune Miku approach,” leveraging AI or pre-recorded materials, or Kasuga herself could reprise the role.
- Anime and Legacy:
- Kizuna no Allele, an anime starring Kizuna Ai, aired in 2023 and is available on Crunchyroll. In promotional materials, Ai is credited as being voiced by “Kizuna Ai,” with no specific actor revealed.
- Ai’s pioneering efforts from 2016 to 2021 helped establish the vtuber movement, inspiring companies like Hololive and Nijisanji.
- Possibilities for the Announcement:
- The countdown could signify the end of her hiatus.
- Alternatively, it may announce a new project, such as another anime, collaboration, or merchandise.
Speculation and Hype
Kizuna Ai’s influence as one of the first mainstream vtubers cannot be overstated. While Ami Yamato and Barbie’s vlogs preceded her, Kizuna Ai popularized the term “vtuber” and set the stage for the industry’s explosive growth. Her return could mark a significant milestone, potentially rekindling interest in older fans while introducing her to newer audiences.
Fans will need to wait until February 2025 for confirmation, but the hints of her “waking up” are promising. Do you think Kizuna Ai will return to her original format, or could she evolve into something entirely new?