Tohoku Zunko (東北ずん子) is a Japanese VOICEROID+ voicebank by AH-Software Co. Ltd. in collaboration with SSS LLC.. She is capable of speaking and singing (as a VOCALOID only). She was released September 28th, 2012. Her software was later upgraded to VOICEROID+ EX on October 30th, 2014.
On November 22nd, 2019, in a VOICEROID 10th Anniversary livestream, AH-Software announced an English version of VOICEROID, and revealed Zunko as the first English voice. Zunko's Twitter confirmed on the same day that it would be a crowdfunded project.[1][2] The status of this project is now on hold after conflicts between AH-Software and AI, Inc. (developer of AITalk, the text-to-speech engine that powers VOICEROID) led to the silent suspension of further VOICEROID development by AHS;[3][4][5] with Zunko now released as a voicebank on VOICEPEAK (a new text-to-speech software co-developed by AHS and Dreamtonics Co., Ltd., succeeding VOICEROID) since January 2023, there is a chance that she might get her English voicebank under the new engine, although no word has been officially published about this since that 2019 livestream.
Her voice provider is Satomi Satō (佐藤聡美; Satō Satomi).
Concept[]
She was originally created to help promote the recovery of the Tohoku region, which was the region devastated on March 11, 2011, by a major earthquake and tsunami.
Zunko is a high school student in her 2nd year. Her special ability is "Zunda Arrow" which transforms any kind of mochi into zunda-mochi after being struck by thunder. Her hobbies are archery and making cakes, particularly zunda-mochi. Her dream is to own her own "Zunda Café" in Tokyo as well as a "Zunda Shop" in Akihabara. This was mentioned in a short bio that was included in her strap.
Her character birthday is October 27.
Etymology[]
Her family name, "Tohoku", comes from the Tohoku region in which she was made to support after a tsunami struck the area in 2011. Her first name, "Zunko", is derived from "zunda" mochi.
Appearance[]
Zunko's clothing is based off of zunda-mochi, a type of Japanese rice cake with sweetened green soybean paste. It is a local specialty in the Tōhoku region.
Relations[]
- Family - Includes her younger sister Kiritan and eldest sister, Itako.
- Companions - A mascot named Zundamon.
History[]
She can also be purchased with the Movie Pro MX software.[6]
Compared to previous VOICEROID+ software, Zunko is much improved with upgrades on the UI. The ability to adjust strength of intonation has been added, as well as the ability to insert pauses directly into the tuning screen. Users can also directly use ruby pronunciation markers in the text. It also reads text up to 4x fast and can output 22.1kHz sample-rate audio files.[7]
A fundraising campaign was in effect with the goal of creating a VOCALOID voicebank for Zunko if the required funds (¥5,000,000) were met by July 20th.[8] Since then, the campaign was successful and her VOCALOID was released in June 2014.
On November 22nd, 2019, an English version of VOICEROID was announced by AH-Software, with Zunko being the first announced voice that would be funded via a new crowdfunding campaign. On March 26th, 2020, Zunko's Twitter announced that the beginning of the campaign was delayed due to Zunko's English voice provider having too busy of a schedule to work around, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic making scheduling difficult.[9]
Tohoku Zunko was announced for development of a CeVIO AI Song Voice library through an AH-Software Co. Ltd. press release on October 27th, 2021.[10] She released there on January 27, 2022.[11]
She received a VOICEPEAK talking voicebank (bundled with Zundamon and Frimomen as bonuses) on January 13, 2023,[12][13] after her original December 15, 2022 release date[14] was pushed back due to staff illness.
Marketing[]
Zunko has a basic terms of use policy. After registering with the owners, Tōhoku region based companies can use her for advertisements and doujin works.
She has had several polyester straps made for her manufactured by the company S･O･F･T.
Android Smartphone Widget[]
There has been a Android smartphone widget created for Zunko. The widget is simply training a chibi Zunko in her archery skills, gaining experience points to earn new levels where, on a certain level players can unlock wallpapers for their phone. After a certain amount of training Zunko will grow tired, and players have the option to replenish her energy by giving her a break and her energy goes back to normal over time, or they can prepare and give her Zunda Mochi to heal her. It is available in the Android Marketplace but only in Japanese.[15]
iOS App[]
An iOS app is currently under development for Zunko. The game is set to be released around the end of October and will be completely free of charge.[16]
Voicebanks[]
- Tohoku Zunko
- Zunko's voice was designed to have a warm feeling to it.
- Tohoku Zunko (VOICEROID+), September 28, 2012
- Tohoku Zunko (VOCALOID3), June 5, 2014
- Tohoku Zunko (VOICEROID+ EX), October 30, 2014
- Tohoku Zunko V4 (VOCALOID4), October 27, 2016
- Tohoku Zunko (Voidol), November 13, 2019
- AI Zunko (NEUTRINO), July 3, 2021
- Tohoku Zunko Song Voice (CeVIO AI Song), January 27, 2022
- Tohoku Zunko (VOICEPEAK), expected January 13, 2023
Demonstrations[]
- 1st Sample: YouTube Broadcast
Gallery[]
- For CeVIO specific illustrations, see Tohoku Zunko/Gallery (CeVIO Wiki).
- For VOCALOID specific illustrations, see Tohoku Zunko/Gallery (VOCALOID Wiki).
- For Voidol, NEUTRINO, or VOICEPEAK specific illustrations, see Tohoku Zunko/Gallery (Vocal Synthesizer Wiki).
Character[]
Merchandise[]
Reputation[]
Status
| Google Trends |
| Reaction |
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Tohoku Zunko's VOCALOID software began development after a successful crowdfunding campaign. 2 similar events occurred for her sisters Itako and Kiritan to be released for VOICEROID, both were also successful. |
| Trivia |
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| Achievements |
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Polls
References[]
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsaGMnAzh9I
- ↑ https://twitter.com/t_zunko/status/1197836222497878016/
- ↑ Bumpy tweet 1
- ↑ Bumpy tweet 2
- ↑ Amanokei's tweet
- ↑ http://www.ah-soft.com/press/voiceroid/zunko.html
- ↑ vocaloidism
- ↑ anipipo
- ↑ https://twitter.com/t_zunko/status/1243130348772319233
- ↑ https://www.ah-soft.com/press/cevio/zunko.html
- ↑ https://www.ah-soft.com/press/synth-v/20211223.html
- ↑ https://twitter.com/dreamtonics_jp/status/1599646739111505920
- ↑ https://twitter.com/ahsoft/status/1599646153079132160
- ↑ https://twitter.com/ahsoft/status/1593076410675257344
- ↑ tabroid
- ↑ https://twitter.com/megamarsun/status/251719690961973248
External links[]
- Merchandise:
[]
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