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Name: (Romanized) Ritsu Namine
波音リツ
Age: Physical appearance is about 18-20
Chronologically [almost] 6 (October 31st, 2009)
Further information on the Wiki
Notes: Though Canon (the voice provider) has stated that Ritsu's true gender is open to interpretation, most sources still have Ritsu listed as an okama, a crossdressing male. My iteration of Ritsu will use female pronouns when speaking and in prose outside of the "history" section for the character.
Ritsu's backstory takes place in a version of Earth where android technology is far more advanced and common place by the 2000's era, pushed forward via the VOCALOID franchise. A sort of "artificial soul" was discovered around the 1990's at the height of the technology boom, but not really put in to use until the first VOCALOIDS were produced in England. After that the technology for both AI and artificial souls were perfected via the VOCALOIDS created in Japan and passed to other companies thus enabling these androids to have human-like emotions and reactions.
UTAU came along as a result of individual users wanting access to the technology, though it in turn created a sad string of abuses and abandonment by users who were unhappy with their "charity idols" and cheaper made versions.
Further "timeline" information up until Ritsu's release can be found here.
Character history-
It always seemed to start with a rumor. Jokes gone a little too far out of hand. The ideas presented by the 2Chan message board had a way of becoming eventual reality, even if they were meant to be nothing more than a little prank on the Vocaloid loving fan base.
By that point, the fans had come to expect these sorts of things from the charity idols that UTAU were, but it was exciting none the less. They had their own quirky charm that was adored by the public, and a chance for any country, not just Japan to make them.
With UTAUs being produced on the cheap in comparison to their Vocaloid cousins, it was easy enough for a Korean company to take the VIPPERS' little joke and run with it. Their creation and newest addition to the UTAU line would be the cross dressing, trap of a male UTAU, Ritsu Namine.
The plan was that he would be gifted with an feminine sounding male voice, like that of a younger boy, and be dressed in tactfully concealing gothic lolita style with long red hair and an androgynous face and body. While not immediately recognized as a cross dresser, especially with a noticeable bust line by means of padding, the hope was that once the idea caught on Ritsu's popularity would rise. Much like the J-Rockers of Japan, they were banking on playing off of his more feminine nature and what they had hoped would be a dead ringer for a J-Rocker's personality.
What they got was much, much different than what they were expecting.
Ritsu Namine was activated on October 12th, 2009 (with incorrectly released information, such as the note that she weighed 25 tons, which would have been physically impossible), and at first everything was alright. He seemed eager to perform, even as a charity idol, but it was obvious just how much he lavished in even the slightest bit of attention. The fans ate his status as a 'trap' up, loving that he would be so bold as to wear full gothic lolita wear on stage. The company had hoped, though, that it wouldn't go completely to his head.
It was a short lived hope. Within weeks he was demanding to be the headliner of all UTAU concerts (or at least second to Teto, who was pretty much his BFF), and wanted the same star treatment as the Vocaloids, even going so far as discrediting Miku Hatsune as a true artist.
The company tried to reel him in, to get him to behave, but Ritsu would have none of it. In his mind he was a star, a being to be loved and praised, and if they couldn't give him what he wanted, he wasn't going to stay. Ristu left the company that had created the UTAUs, convinced and determined he would find proper representation that would rocket him to super stardom and the recognition he thought he deserved.
It didn't last forever. Though Ritsu's personality only slightly tempered over the years when he only gained still a fraction of Miku and the other Vocaloids' popularity, much of that self-serving diva status remained. Eventual upgrades came with design changes and added vocal abilities, and Ritsu's popularity wavered up and down as new Vocaloids were released in rapid succession of one another.
But that wasn't to say that Ritsu wasn't popular at all. In fact he along with Teto and a handful of others were some of the most recognizable UTAU on the scene. While only Teto ever received guest billing on the Vocaloid series of video games titled Project Diva, Ritsu was at least elevated enough in his stardom that he was able to go on various tours around the country to nearly sold out stadiums.
Of course... these were almost always in conjunction with Vocaloid performers, which made him an absolute pill to work with and be around. On stage he was a shining star with a powerful vocal bank and a massive presence in spite of his small stature. Off stage?
Well there was a reason he and Teto were known as the UTAU Terrors.
That certainly didn't stop the bookings and the albums and the press, and even five years later Ritsu was still eating up whatever attention he could get.
And then the darkness came...
Character personality-
Ritsu is basically three things - spoiled, stuck up, and immature. Though like Teto he is very good at hiding these traits when need be (usually in front of the higher up studio execs or in front of fans), but it's not something he's perfected to an exact science, and often times little comments or the wrong phrase will make him fly off the handle for whatever reason. Sadly, as much as he'd like to believe he is, Ritsu is not the brightest UTAU of the bunch, and he often mistakes what a person is saying as an insult or a jibe at him.
When he doesn't get his way, Ritsu tends to throw epic tantrums - pouting, flailing, the whole nine yards. He'll rarely cry outright as his emotion is more based in his arrogance and immature attitude than any sort of true upset. He's convinced that the world loves him, and telling him otherwise will likely result in some sort of ranting insult or, at the very most, a screaming fit about how he is truly the best.
When it comes right down to it, there's very few people Ritsu likes. Teto is one of them. He can tolerate his other UTAUs, and shares an appreciation of Ruka and Taya for being similar to him, but he can't the other Vocaloids. Even Neru gets on his nerves. This also ties in with a particular dislike of Japan, being partial to Korea as that was where he was created. He loathes Miku, though like Teto he will try to keep up appearances by acting nice to her.
If Ritsu has a softer side, it's pretty well hidden, and primarily used for his truly adoring fans. He is not a kind individual, but luckily he is not violent in his hatred. In fact he's kind of a pansy, and he's actually scared of the other male Vocaloids (he knows the male UTAUs well enough to not be scared of them), including Kaito. He knows most of them are protective of Miku, once again inciting reason to act nicely towards her so as not to anger them. He's completely unaware that most of them are about as violent as a kitten.
Basically. He's a diva.
Have fun dealing with that.
Character abilities-
Ritsu really has nothing in the way of ability aside from singing, musical talent, having a computer for a brain (not that it seems to help him much), and being an overall pain in the ass.
波音リツ
Age: Physical appearance is about 18-20
Chronologically [almost] 6 (October 31st, 2009)
Further information on the Wiki
Notes: Though Canon (the voice provider) has stated that Ritsu's true gender is open to interpretation, most sources still have Ritsu listed as an okama, a crossdressing male. My iteration of Ritsu will use female pronouns when speaking and in prose outside of the "history" section for the character.
Ritsu's backstory takes place in a version of Earth where android technology is far more advanced and common place by the 2000's era, pushed forward via the VOCALOID franchise. A sort of "artificial soul" was discovered around the 1990's at the height of the technology boom, but not really put in to use until the first VOCALOIDS were produced in England. After that the technology for both AI and artificial souls were perfected via the VOCALOIDS created in Japan and passed to other companies thus enabling these androids to have human-like emotions and reactions.
UTAU came along as a result of individual users wanting access to the technology, though it in turn created a sad string of abuses and abandonment by users who were unhappy with their "charity idols" and cheaper made versions.
Further "timeline" information up until Ritsu's release can be found here.
Character history-
It always seemed to start with a rumor. Jokes gone a little too far out of hand. The ideas presented by the 2Chan message board had a way of becoming eventual reality, even if they were meant to be nothing more than a little prank on the Vocaloid loving fan base.
By that point, the fans had come to expect these sorts of things from the charity idols that UTAU were, but it was exciting none the less. They had their own quirky charm that was adored by the public, and a chance for any country, not just Japan to make them.
With UTAUs being produced on the cheap in comparison to their Vocaloid cousins, it was easy enough for a Korean company to take the VIPPERS' little joke and run with it. Their creation and newest addition to the UTAU line would be the cross dressing, trap of a male UTAU, Ritsu Namine.
The plan was that he would be gifted with an feminine sounding male voice, like that of a younger boy, and be dressed in tactfully concealing gothic lolita style with long red hair and an androgynous face and body. While not immediately recognized as a cross dresser, especially with a noticeable bust line by means of padding, the hope was that once the idea caught on Ritsu's popularity would rise. Much like the J-Rockers of Japan, they were banking on playing off of his more feminine nature and what they had hoped would be a dead ringer for a J-Rocker's personality.
What they got was much, much different than what they were expecting.
Ritsu Namine was activated on October 12th, 2009 (with incorrectly released information, such as the note that she weighed 25 tons, which would have been physically impossible), and at first everything was alright. He seemed eager to perform, even as a charity idol, but it was obvious just how much he lavished in even the slightest bit of attention. The fans ate his status as a 'trap' up, loving that he would be so bold as to wear full gothic lolita wear on stage. The company had hoped, though, that it wouldn't go completely to his head.
It was a short lived hope. Within weeks he was demanding to be the headliner of all UTAU concerts (or at least second to Teto, who was pretty much his BFF), and wanted the same star treatment as the Vocaloids, even going so far as discrediting Miku Hatsune as a true artist.
The company tried to reel him in, to get him to behave, but Ritsu would have none of it. In his mind he was a star, a being to be loved and praised, and if they couldn't give him what he wanted, he wasn't going to stay. Ristu left the company that had created the UTAUs, convinced and determined he would find proper representation that would rocket him to super stardom and the recognition he thought he deserved.
It didn't last forever. Though Ritsu's personality only slightly tempered over the years when he only gained still a fraction of Miku and the other Vocaloids' popularity, much of that self-serving diva status remained. Eventual upgrades came with design changes and added vocal abilities, and Ritsu's popularity wavered up and down as new Vocaloids were released in rapid succession of one another.
But that wasn't to say that Ritsu wasn't popular at all. In fact he along with Teto and a handful of others were some of the most recognizable UTAU on the scene. While only Teto ever received guest billing on the Vocaloid series of video games titled Project Diva, Ritsu was at least elevated enough in his stardom that he was able to go on various tours around the country to nearly sold out stadiums.
Of course... these were almost always in conjunction with Vocaloid performers, which made him an absolute pill to work with and be around. On stage he was a shining star with a powerful vocal bank and a massive presence in spite of his small stature. Off stage?
Well there was a reason he and Teto were known as the UTAU Terrors.
That certainly didn't stop the bookings and the albums and the press, and even five years later Ritsu was still eating up whatever attention he could get.
And then the darkness came...
Character personality-
Ritsu is basically three things - spoiled, stuck up, and immature. Though like Teto he is very good at hiding these traits when need be (usually in front of the higher up studio execs or in front of fans), but it's not something he's perfected to an exact science, and often times little comments or the wrong phrase will make him fly off the handle for whatever reason. Sadly, as much as he'd like to believe he is, Ritsu is not the brightest UTAU of the bunch, and he often mistakes what a person is saying as an insult or a jibe at him.
When he doesn't get his way, Ritsu tends to throw epic tantrums - pouting, flailing, the whole nine yards. He'll rarely cry outright as his emotion is more based in his arrogance and immature attitude than any sort of true upset. He's convinced that the world loves him, and telling him otherwise will likely result in some sort of ranting insult or, at the very most, a screaming fit about how he is truly the best.
When it comes right down to it, there's very few people Ritsu likes. Teto is one of them. He can tolerate his other UTAUs, and shares an appreciation of Ruka and Taya for being similar to him, but he can't the other Vocaloids. Even Neru gets on his nerves. This also ties in with a particular dislike of Japan, being partial to Korea as that was where he was created. He loathes Miku, though like Teto he will try to keep up appearances by acting nice to her.
If Ritsu has a softer side, it's pretty well hidden, and primarily used for his truly adoring fans. He is not a kind individual, but luckily he is not violent in his hatred. In fact he's kind of a pansy, and he's actually scared of the other male Vocaloids (he knows the male UTAUs well enough to not be scared of them), including Kaito. He knows most of them are protective of Miku, once again inciting reason to act nicely towards her so as not to anger them. He's completely unaware that most of them are about as violent as a kitten.
Basically. He's a diva.
Have fun dealing with that.
Character abilities-
Ritsu really has nothing in the way of ability aside from singing, musical talent, having a computer for a brain (not that it seems to help him much), and being an overall pain in the ass.
