Yao Luniang

Yao Luniang (妖 鹿娘) was a potential Chinese VOCALOID4 that was to be developed by Shanghai Wangcheng Information Technology Co. Ltd. in collaboration with NetEase Comics. Information about her production stalled since 2017. Due to Shanghai Wangcheng's accounts and websites becoming inactive, it is assumed that Luniang's production was cancelled.
Her voice provider was never announced.
==Concept==
Yao Luniang served as a mascot for NetEase Comics since 2015. She came from the Yaolu Mountains, a place that was said to be beautiful. However, since Yaolu Mountains was too large, people lose their way and may enter in different dimensions. It was said that there was a school in the mountains, and those who read the manhua may earn titles such as "Dr. Yaolu" (deer yao), "Master Yaohu" (fox yao), or "Bachelor Yaomao" (cat yao). Yaolu Mountains (妖鹿山; Yāolùshān) is a near-homophone of NetEase's domain name "163" (Yāoliùsān).
Luniang has an unpredictable girlish heart and she seems to have a forgetful or careless nature but will sometimes show her true sly or devilish personality. Her skills are listed as anime, acting cute, brushing hair, suddenly becoming mean, and Japanese. Her likes include anime, furry stuff, and consumer electronics.https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%B9%BF%E5%A8%98/20143162
Her bio was changed a little on August 4, 2017. She is a tough girl who sticks up for her friends and she works as a customer service representative for NetEase Comics. She is good at coloring manhua, singing, and being an eSports player who abandons herself in manhua. She enjoys cleaning, electronic music, Yangsheng, and all deer-related items. Her official birthday is August 8 and her character color is orange-red.http://weibo.com/6327345611/Ffz9yfoQC
===Etymology===
For her given name, Lù (鹿) means "deer" while Niáng (娘) can refer to a woman, particularly a "young girl". 
Regarding the "surname", title, or concept of "Yāo" (妖), it's usually a word attached to "" (妖怪; Yāoguài; "monster" or "strange creature"), "Yaogui" (妖鬼; Yāoguǐ; "strange ghost"), "Yaomo" (妖魔; Yāomó; "daemon"), or "Yaojing" (妖精; Yāojīng; "sprite" or "faerie"). Alone, it can means "strange", "abnormal", or "bizarre", but also "demon", "monster", or "goblin", as well as "evil" or "fraudulent". In the context of Luniang's concept, it likely means "strange" or "monster"/"goblin".https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/妖#Definitions This is likely in reference to later terminology of the word, referring to natural objects (such as animals, plants, or rocks) acquiring sentience or spiritual awareness, and gaining the ability to assume human or near-human forms. They may have supernatural powers and the ability to cultivate in order to achieve immortality or transcendence. Though they may be referred to as "monsters" or "demons", not all Yao are necessarily evil and may rather behave benevolently or mischievously to humans instead.
Together, Luniang's name would mean "Deer Girl Yao". However, it is very common within the Chinese community and her official content to omit "Yao" and refer to her as "Luniang".
===Appearance===
Luniang's original appearance was of a girl with long purple hair, furry ears, and gray antlers. In late 2015, she was given long red hair, lost the furry ears, and her antlers became brown. She was given new clothes: a sleeveless top with a short sky blue necktie, long detached sleeves, a red skirt, long thigh-high socks, and loafers. She also had a black headband with bows on the sides. On the headband, "NETEASE" was printed across the top in the middle.
In 2016, she received some changes. Her purple eyes were changed to red, her antlers became more rounded and orange, and "NETEASE" was missing from her headband. The linings of her top and sleeves changed in thickness and in design. Her skirt was no longer red, but black. The ribbons on her shoes were removed.
Taking in the concept of Yao, Luniang's appearance takes on "near-human" as she still retained her deer antlers in her designs.
==History==
After NetEase Comics was established in August 2015, Yao Luniang was said to become the mascot for this branch around October. Luniang’s appearance changed in December, which adjusted her hair color, her ears, her antlers, and her clothing. Her clothes were changed again in January 2016. She had also made appearances in MMD videos, with her model designed by REMmaple. Luniang was featured in two called "Lùniáng Days" ("鹿娘Days") and "Suísuíbiànbiàn de Yāolùshān Rìcháng" ("随随便便的妖鹿山日常").
===2017===
On August 1, 2017, Shanghai Wangcheng Information Technology Co. Ltd. announced that Luniang’s production as a VOCALOID started.http://weibo.com/5611031032/Ff3tomXc5 Her voice provider audition began on August 7 and fans were able to vote for which participant they liked best.http://weibo.com/5611031032/FfXPx6vxC
Her voice provider contest ended on August 25 with a total of 69 participants. The six finalists were confirmed. Belonging to the "popular picks" group, 47, Yuzi (玉子; Yùzi), and Lu Ye (鹿靥; Lù Yè) were chosen. In the preferred group, Fengsharuowu (枫刹若舞; Fēngshāruòwǔ), Wen Ya (文涯; Wén Yá), and Yike Mei Shu de You (一颗没熟的柚; Yīkē Méi Shú de Yòu) were chosen.http://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404144691728770894#_0
===2018===
Luniang's official Weibo account ceased activity since July 2018, with the latest status posted on the 23rd. In December, NetEase sold their comic business to their rival bilibili, though retained some rights. As Yao Luniang was the mascot of the comics branch, her appearances ceased.https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/2177815/chinese-gaming-giant-netease-sells-comics-business-rival-bilibili Regarding her VOCALOID production, no statement was made about continued or ceased development.
===2020===
On June 12, 2020, it was declared by GobouP, one of the authorized users of Zhang Chuchu and Yuecheng, that the pair would no longer be available due to the serial codes ceasing distribution.https://twitter.com/GobouP/status/1271367405529268224 In addition, it was discovered that Shanghai Wangcheng's websites and accounts were no longer active, leaving Luniang's production to be assumed cancelled.
It was also unknown if she was intended to be an exclusive vocal like Chuchu and Yuecheng, or if she was meant to have a commercial release. However, given the intention of her being a vocal, it was very likely she would have been distributed exclusively to select users.
===Marketing===
Luniang was originally a mascot for NetEase Comics and received two different manhuas. Through Shanghai Wangcheng’s B2B methods, she received a VOCALOID counterpart.
In her VOCALOID announcement article, it was confirmed that she would be featured as a character in "Butterfly", a manhua that also features Zhang Chuchu, Yuecheng, and Xin Hua.
In January 2018, a music video was released to promote NetEase's Manhua app. The song, "Hey！小鹿" ("Hey! Xiǎolù" / "Hello The Deer"), featured Shaonian Shuang singing as Luniang, however, it is unknown if she was meant to be the voice provider or not.https://weibo.com/6327345611/G02hhBlgn It was later featured in an album called "Lù Míng". The album consisted of five original songs and five instrumentals, with Shaonian Shuang returning as the vocalist.
==Reputation== 
==References==
==External links==
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==Navigation==
Category:Shanghai Wangcheng Information Technology Co. Ltd.
Category:VOCALOID
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