Crypton Future Media, Inc.

Crypton Future Media, Inc. is an importer of sound devices based in Sapporo, Japan. The company is also known as the developer and distributor of VOCALOIDs such as Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin & Len, and Megurine Luka. It was the very first of the VOCALOID companies to produce a series.
==About==
Crypton Future Media, Inc. was established in 1995 as an importer and seller of music software. 
===Vocaloid===
Crypton joined the project in May 2002, Crypton's handling of the two Japanese Vocaloids were MEIKO (released in 2004) and KAITO (released in 2006), they also were the Japanese distributors for Leon, Lola and Miriam. Meiko and Kaito were developed by Yamaha with Crypton Future Media being used to get the product commercially released, similar to the role of Bplats, Inc. in regards to the releases of VY1 and VY2. They were not acknowledged as "Crypton Vocaloids" at the time since they belonged to Yamaha. According to Crypton themselves, they were also charged with recommending English studios for the English version of the software, these companies were Zero-G and PowerFX.
Crypton's role in the VOCALOID era was public relations, promotion, ditributor and potential recruiter of English companies for production of English voicebanks. They did not produce their own Vocaloids at this stage and would not do until early 2007 when Yamaha announced VOCALOID2. The company was small and mostly unheard of. 
===Vocaloid2 onwards===
Crypton Future Media began production on actual voicebanks in early 2007, after the announcement of VOCALOID2, originally planning only the Character Vocal Series with 3 members,which would later produce a trend of using 'avatars' or 'mascots' to represent the VOCALOID program. The success of this commercial strategy made Crypton the leading VOCALOID developer.
It was not until Hatsune Miku was released in August 2007 that Crypton, along with VOCALOID, became popular. The success of Miku lead to the Vocaloid craze in 2007 and 2008, which continued for many years afterwards. 
According to Crypton, because professional singers refused to provide singing data (because they feared that the software might create clones of their singing voices), Crypton changed their focus from imitating certain singers to creating characteristic vocals. This goal change led to them sampling the vocals of voice actors.2008 How Hatsune Miku was born: Interview with Crypton Future Media IT Media News, Feb 22, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-02-28
Yuu Asakawa noted that each recording for an update is a new recording. Pressure from rival companies cause systems and microphones to be updated regularly.https://www.crunchyroll.com/en-gb/anime-feature/2019/09/18/yuu-asakawa-on-learning-english-why-you-should-subscribe-to-her-channel
====Vocaloid what is it?====
Crypton's VOCALOID terms of use are as follows: Any rights or obligations arising from the vocals created by the software belong to the software user. Just like any music synthesizer, the software is treated as a musical instrument and the vocals as sound. Under the terms of license, the Character Vocal Series software can be used to create vocals for commercial or non-commercial use, as long as the vocals do not offend public policy. In other words, the user is bound under the terms of license with Crypton not to synthesize derogatory or disturbing lyrics. On the other hand, copyright of the mascot image and name belong to Crypton. Under the terms of license, a user cannot commercially distribute a vocal as a song sung by the character, nor use the mascot image on commercial products without Crypton's consent.
Crypton has also produced several voicebanks that are still in the developmental stage, to date only CV-4Cβ and Junger März_PROTOTYPE β are known. These voicebanks are intended for denominational and/or corporate purposes only; it is unknown how many such voicebanks Crypton has recorded, or if these voicebanks will later become commercial VOCALOIDs.
====PomPOm, Limited (since 2010)====
then in 2010 he bought PomPOm, Limited and PomPOm, Limited became the first information company
====New York Comic-Con, a U.S. store announced====
At the 2010 New York Comic-Con, a U.S. store was announced.
===Departure from VOCALOID===
On August 31, 2019, Miku received her first voicebank outside of VOCALOID, that being with her NT release. While Crypton is focusing on their own program, they are still in collaboration with YAMAHA and will continue to sell VOCALOID products in parallel to the Piapro Studio editions.https://blog.crypton.co.jp/l/2019/08/n1908311/https://twitter.com/labopton/status/1167698329389551616?s=19https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1912/25/news098.html In April 2023, Kasane Teto was announced and released for as an . Crypton was cited to have assisted in coordinating and organizing the project, but overall development was done by AH-Software Co. Ltd. in collaboration with . Production of Teto's Synthesizer V AI project began around 2022 when suggested that something interesting should be done for Teto's fifteenth anniversary though the ideas were vague. Companies they contacted for ideas included piapro and Crypton. The TWINDRILL team apologized to Crypton as Teto began as a sort of "Hatsune Miku rip-off" as a joke. In order to have Teto become a commercial product, Crypton's permission was a necessity as they served as a point of contact regarding her commercial use. If the company refused, then TWINDRILL needed to comply. Crypton gave the team their full support in commercializing Kasane Teto Synthesizer V AI.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-tMiZmwLvY"Synthesizer V AI Kasane Teto Announced by AHS and Twindrill" - a summary and translation of Kasane Teto's debut contents by MARUMAIN
===Key people===
	Hiroyuki Itoh (伊藤博之) is the President of Crypton Future Media.
*https://www.kawaiikakkoiisugoi.com/2016/02/12/interview-mr-hiroyuki-itoh-ceo-crypton-future-media/
	Wataru Sasaki (佐々木渉) is the developer of the Crypton VOCALOIDs. Better known as wat, he is the one responsible behind Hatsune Miku's creation. He often gives insight to the progress of VOCALOIDs in production using Twitter.
Wataru appears as a minor character in Maker Hikoushiki Hatsune Mix.
*http://www.performingarts.jp/E/art_interview/1803/1.html
==Voicebanks==
===Developed Voicebanks===
Voicebanks the company developed
====VOCALOID2====
Character Vocal Series (CV) 
Ofclboxart_cfm_Hatsune_Miku.jpg|Hatsune Miku|link=Hatsune Miku (VOCALOID2)
Ofclboxart_cfm_Kagamine_RinLen.png|Kagamine|link=Kagamine Rin & Len (VOCALOID2)
KagamineAct2.jpg|Kagamine act2|link=Kagamine act2
Ofclboxart_cfm_Megurine_Luka.jpg|Megurine Luka|link=Megurine Luka (VOCALOID2)
=====Append=====
Ofclboxart_cfm_Hatsune_Miku_Append.jpg|Miku Append|link=Hatsune Miku Append
Ofclboxart_cfm_Kagamine_RinLen_Append.jpg|Kagamine Append|link=Kagamine Rin & Len Append
====VOCALOID3====
V3_KAITO_boxart.jpg|KAITO V3|link=KAITO V3
Hatsune Miku V3 English boxart.jpg|Miku V3 English|link=Hatsune Miku V3 English
Box_mikuv3.png|Hatsune Miku V3|link=Hatsune Miku V3 
MeikoV3_box.png|MEIKO V3|link=MEIKO V3 
====VOCALOID4====
box_lukav4x.png|Megurine Luka V4X|link=Megurine Luka V4X
Box rnlnv4x.png|Kagamine V4X|link=Kagamine Rin & Len V4X
RINLENV4E.png|Kagamine V4 English|link=Kagamine Rin & Len V4 English
MIKUV4X_TRANS.png|Hatsune Miku V4X|link=Hatsune Miku V4X
miku4english.jpg|Hatsune Miku V4 English|link=Hatsune Miku V4 English
Miku chinese box.jpg|Hatsune Miku V4 Chinese|link=Hatsune Miku V4 Chinese
PIAPRO CHARACTERS SUPER PACK boxart.jpg|link=PIAPRO CHARACTERS SUPER PACK|PIAPRO CHARACTERS SUPER PACK
====VOCALOID6 (Announced)====
File:Software-icon.png|Hatsune Miku V6 AI
===Distributed Voicebanks===
Voicebanks the company did not develop, but distributed at some point.
====VOCALOID====
Ofclboxart zrog Leon.jpg|LEON|link=LEON (VOCALOID1)
Ofclboxart zrog Lola.jpg|LOLA|link=LOLA (VOCALOID1)
Ofclboxart zrog Miriam.jpg|MIRIAM|link=MIRIAM (VOCALOID1)
Ofclboxart cfm Meiko.jpg|MEIKO|link=MEIKO (VOCALOID1)
Ofclboxart cfm Kaito.jpeg|KAITO|link=KAITO (VOCALOID1)
====VOCALOID2====
Ofclboxart pwrfx Sweet Ann.jpg|Sweet ANN|link=Sweet ANN (VOCALOID2)
Ofclboxart_zrog_Prima.jpg|Prima|link=Prima (VOCALOID2)
Ofclboxart_zrog_Sonika2.jpg|SONiKA|link=SONiKA (VOCALOID2)
Ofclboxart_ahs_Kaai_Yuki.jpg|Kaai Yuki|link=Kaai Yuki (VOCALOID2)
Ofclboxart_ahs_Hiyama_Kiyoteru.jpg|Hiyama Kiyoteru|link=Hiyama Kiyoteru (VOCALOID2)
Ofclboxart_pwrfx_Big_Al.jpg|BIG AL|link=BIG AL (VOCALOID2)
Ofclboxart_zrog_Tonio.jpg|Tonio|link=Tonio (VOCALOID2)
====VOCALOID3====
Mew_box.png|Mew|link=Mew (VOCALOID3)
RION_boxart.png |Tone Rion|link=Tone Rion (VOCALOID3)
Oliverboxart.png|OLIVER|link=OLIVER (VOCALOID3)
YuzukiYukari_box.png|Yuzuki Yukari|link=Yuzuki Yukari (VOCALOID3)
IAboxart.png|IA|link=IA (VOCALOID3)
LAPIS boxart.png|Aoki Lapis |link=Aoki Lapis (VOCALOID3)
VY2V3 boxart.png|VY2v3|link=VY2v3 
Avannaboxart.jpg|AVANNA|link=AVANNA (VOCALOID3)
Englishmeg.png|Megpoid English|link=Megpoid English 
ZOLA_Project_Boxart.jpg|ZOLA PROJECT|link=ZOLA PROJECT (VOCALOID3)
Yohioloid_boxart_by_sartika3091-d7j9v9g.png|YOHIOloid|link=YOHIOloid (VOCALOID3)
Merlineobox.jpg|Merli|link=Merli (VOCALOID3)
AnoKanoBox.png|anon & kanon|link=anon & kanon (VOCALOID3)
V3_zunko_box_2t1.png|Tohoku Zunko|link=Tohoku Zunko (VOCALOID3)
IA-ROCKS package.png|IA ROCKS|link=IA ROCKS 
Galaco_jacket.png|galaco NEO|link=galaco (VOCALOID3)
====VOCALOID4====
VY1v4_Boxart.png|VY1v4|link=VY1v4
CYBER_DIVA_box.png|CYBER DIVA|link=CYBER DIVA (VOCALOID4)
Yukari v4 box.jpg|Yuzuki Yukari V4|link=Yuzuki Yukari V4
Gackpoidv4 Complete boxart.png|Gackpoid V4|link=Gackpoid V4
MikiNatural boxart.png|SF-A2 miki V4|link=SF-A2 miki V4
Iroha v4 box.jpg|Nekomura Iroha V4|link=Nekomura Iroha V4
Sachiko_V4_Box.png|Sachiko|link=Sachiko (VOCALOID4)
Ruby Vocaloid-1.jpg|RUBY|link=RUBY (VOCALOID4)
YukiNatural boxart.png|Kaai Yuki V4|link=Kaai Yuki V4
Kiyoteru package.jpg|Hiyama Kiyoteru|link=Hiyama Kiyoteru V4
GUMIV4Complete.png|Megpoid V4|link=Megpoid V4
dex transparent box.png|DEX|link=DEX (VOCALOID4)
Daina box.jpg|DAINA|link=DAINA (VOCALOID4)
RanaV4_300_boxart.png|Rana V4|link=Rana V4
Fukase box.png|Fukase|link=Fukase (VOCALOID4)
Una boxart.png|Otomachi Una|link=Otomachi Una (VOCALOID4)
zunko v4 box.png|Tohoku Zunko V4|link=Tohoku Zunko V4
V4_Nana_Complete_box.png|Macne Nana V4|link=Macne Nana V4
akari standalone.png|Kizuna Akari|link=Kizuna Akari (VOCALOID4)
====VOCALOID5====
Haruno Sora Complete.png|Haruno Sora|link=Haruno Sora (VOCALOID5)
==Promotional Involvement ==
===Figurines===
=== Literature===
===Games===
;Project DIVA Series
===Apps===
;Miku Flick
:Miscellaneous
=== Sites===
====Piapro ====
Crypton set up Piapro to clear up some problems related to copyright issues. Under the Japanese law code, which strictly preserves the original creator's right, secondary fan arts may be interpreted as copyright violation. However, the VOCALOID movement owed much to these fan creations, so in response, Crypton approved these productions in the licensePiapro Character License similar to Creative Commons (Note: Crypton is NOT a member of the association). Users are encouraged to post illustrations, music, and lyrics onto Piapro. The site authorizes the use of these fan-made creations for the non-commercial purposes automatically when posted. This arrangement is for the products distributed by and the derivatives adopted by Crypton only. The Chinese language collaboration website for Crypton's characters, similar to Piapro, is called Poppro.
====@Games/Tinier Me====
The Japanese avatar community @Games has collaborated with Crypton VOCALOIDs, involving a special (virtual) dispenser machine called "Tinier Gacha" TinierMe Gacha: Hatsune Miku which was also transferred to the English dubbed site Tinierme. This machine dispenses random limited edition items for members to equip, not available in the regular shops. The campaign started on July 20, 2010 and ended on November 30, 2010Tinier Me: Hatsune Miku Collab Line-up! with a full line-up of all Crypton VOCALOIDs. The ones that performed songs on an outdoor stage handed out album covers. Members were encouraged to listen to VOCALOID songs on KarenT,KAREN T an online entertainment site. The site gives musicians a place to feature their music.
With the success of the first release, additional gacha were released, called Music Festa*(@Games)/Persona Gacha Vol*(Tinierme). These gacha were based upon popular outfits seen in animated PVs and artwork. The promotion for them ended in December 2010 on Tinierme, but is still on-going at @Games.
As of now, the Tinierme site is closed. Items obtained through Tinierme and account details were not transferred to @Games, so the old Tinierme members are required to make a new account if they wish to play on @Games.http://www.tinierne.com
=== HATSUNE MIKU EXPO SONG CONTEST ===
To promote the HATSUNE MIKU EXPO Japan Tour, Crypton Future Media hosted a song contest. The contest ran from August 26 to October 19. For the contest, a two week trial free trial of Hatsune Miku V3 English was released. For MIKUEXPO 2016 and 2018 U.S. and Mexico concerts, the MIKUEXPO Song contest was held again, one for each concert. For the song contest in 2018, Crypton offered a 39 day free trial of Hatsune Miku V4 English.https://mikuexpo.com/na2016/https://mikuexpo.com/usamx2018/
==Sponsorships==
===Robot Miku===
At CEATEC Japan 2009, Boffin (in joint with Yamaha), had the robot model HRP-4C react to VOCALOID software for demonstration purposes. She was dressed up to look like Hatsune Miku for the demo.新VOCALOID「CV-4Cβ」、CEATECで歌う　声は中村繪里子さん:The New Vocaloid "CV-4Cβ" Sings at CEATEC. The Vocal Comes from Eriko Nakamura. IT Media News,October 8, 2009
=== Toyota Corolla===
In May 2011 Toyota used Miku for two online adverts to promote their car, the Corolla. She is also displayed on the official Toyota page. On the May 7th, USAmazon placed a preview of Supercell's hit song "World is Mine" as a single. The entry was presented as "The World is Mine Feat. Hatsune Miku."
===Involvement in Super GT Series===
GTcar.jpg|Studie 2008
KagamineRacingcar.jpg|MOLA 2008
GTcar2009.png|Studie 2009
2010season.jpg|Porsche 2010
season2011.jpg|GSR & Studie with TeamUKYO 2011
The VOCALOID series, particularly Miku, has been actively involved in the GT300 class of the Super GT since 2008 Super GT season, with the support of Good Smile Racing (a branch of Good Smile company, mainly in charge of car-related products, especially itasha [which are cars featuring illustrations of anime-styled characters] stickers). Although Good Smile Company was not the first to bring the anime and manga culture to Super GT, it departs from others by featuring itasha directly rather than colorings onto vehicles.
==Snow Miku Sky Town==
In February 2010, Snow Miku and a Miku snow sculpture first appeared at the Sapporo Snow Festival as an official contributor,Sapporo City Office where Crypton Future Media is located, and a small Miku shop opened in New Chitose Airport temporarily during the festival. The Snow Miku project collaborated with the festival won popularity, so the Miku Shop was set up each winter since 2010. With the fame of Snow Miku in winter Hokkaido, Crypton established Snow Miku Sky Town in the airport on December 20, 2014, and Miku goods are purchasable year-round at this shop.
==Trivia ==
*Crypton Future Media has previously stated they would not be making an anime based on their VOCALOIDs.link However, in February 2021, they announced a collaboration with Graphic India and Carlin West Agency to create a new original series that included live-action, animation, music and comics related to Hatsune Miku. https://deadline.com/2021/02/crypton-future-media-developing-animated-series-based-on-virtual-popstar-hatsune-miku-1234700069/
**This wouldn't be the first time one of their characters have made a non-cameo appearance, as Hatsune Miku appeared as a supporter character on Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion THE ANIMATION written with a different kanji (発音ミク instead of 初音ミク) to differenciate between VOCALOID and Shinkansen character.https://twitter.com/shinkalion/status/945881958399266816
==References==
==External links==
*Official Site
*Official Site:Vocaloid Products
*Official Site:About Miku Hatsune(in English)
*Crypton Official YouTube presence
*Crypton Official Blog "Media phase"
*Crypton Future Media Twitter
*Crypton Twitter for VOCALOID2 CV Series: "vocaloid2_cv_cfm_wat"
*Crypton Twitter for "project if..." Series: "project_if_cfm"
*Piapro
*KarenT(in English)
*Crypton on Facebook
*Asashi.com News Special on Youtube
*Snow Miku Sky Town in New Chitose Airport
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Category:Crypton Future Media, Inc.
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