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SSS LLC.

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SSS LLC. (ＳＳＳ合同会社) is an entertainment company based in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan. They previously collaborated with AH-Software Co. Ltd. to create their first VOICEROID & VOCALOID product, Tohoku Zunko, and later, her sisters (Tohoku Kiritan and Tohoku Itako) for VOICEROID, both of whom received libraries for the UTAU, NEUTRINO, CeVIO AI, and VOICEPEAK voice synthesizers. Their focus is to design and promote Moe characters.

History[]

2010s[]

Their first VOICEROID+ vocal, Tohoku Zunko, was created to help revitalize the Tohoku region of Japan following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and assisted in raising funds for her creation via crowdfunding on September 28, 2012.[1][2] SSS LLC. would later hold another crowdfund for production of Zunko's VOCALOID3 voicebank on the same day.[3]. An update of Zunko for VOICEROID+ EX was released on October 30, 2014.[4]

SSS LLC. would have another crowdfunding event to produce UTAU singing libraries for Zunko's two sisters Tohoku Kiritan and Tohoku Itako.[5] In 2016, SSS. LLC would once again collaborate with AH-Software Ltd. to crowdfund a speaking VOICEROID+ EX library for Kiritan[6] and would release an upgrade for Zunko to the VOCALOID4 engine on October 27.[7]

Starting on June 12 that same year, a new crowdfund was announced to raise funds for the production of the Tohoku Zunko animated film Zunda Horizon (ずんだホライずん)[8]. After surpassing 226% of its initial ¥8,000,000 goal, new UTAU libraries for various Zunda Horizon characters were released on May 21, 2017 including the following:

  • Zundamon (ずんだもん)[9]
  • Shikoku Metan (四国めたん),[10] Kyushu Sora mk=II (九州そらmk=II), and Chugoku Usagi (中国うさぎ)[11]
  • Oedo Chanko (大江戸ちゃんこ), Chubu Tsurugi (中部つるぎ), and Kansai Shinobi (関西しのび)[12]
  • Hokkaido Melon (北海道めろん) and Okinawa Awamo (沖縄あわも)[13]

Later in December, a VOICEROID2 library for Tohoku Itako was also crowdfunded; it would be released on November 8, 2018.[14]

On September 4, 2018, Tohoku Zunko was revealed to be one of the beta vocals in CRIMSONTECHNOLOGY's in-progress voice changer, R.C. Voice.[15] A public showcase was held at the GakKi Fair AIMEI Seminar [16] This technology would later be used for CRIMSONTECHNOLOGY's new voice changer, Voidol, with Tohoku Zunko being included as part of its beta lineup, alongside DLE's Yoshida-kun announced January 22, 2019.[17] She would later see a proper commercial release on November 14, with Kiritan being announced to be joining around the same month.[18] Kiritan would later see a release on November 29.[19]

2020[]

Following the success of the VOICEROID libraries, SSS LLC. collaborated with SHACHI to produce a new AI singing voice for Kiritan for the NEUTRINO AI neural network voice synthesizer; AI Kiritan, as it was dubbed, released on February 22, 2020.[20] On May 7, Itako was crowdfunded for a new singing library for NEUTRINO as well;[21] its stretch goals also included talk voicebanks for Zundamon and Shikoku Metan for the upcoming VOICEVOX text-to-speech engine, which was then still under development. AI Itako released on September 20.[22]

On December 25, it was revealed by some producers that VOICEROID development had silently ceased due to conflicts between AH-Software Co. Ltd. and AI, Inc., developer of the AITalk software which VOICEROID was based on (and which also powers AI's new A.I.VOICE program, which AHS did not adopt).[23][24][25] This partly explains why development of an English version of VOICEROID2 (with Tohoku Zunko as its first voice, which would have been a crowdfunded project)[26] was put on hold, with no indication of whether it would be cancelled or moved to a different text-to-speech engine. Such version was initially announced by AHS on November 22, 2019 in a VOICEROID 10th Anniversary livestream.[27]

2021[]

On Feburary 12, 2021, SSS LLC. collaborated with AH-Software Co. Ltd. to create their first CeVIO AI library for Tohoku Kiritan. In May, a new crowdfund was launched for Tohoku Zunko to produce a new singing library also for the NEUTRINO voice synthesizer.[28] Recording for AI Zunko finished by April 17[29] and released early on June 21,[30] then officially on July 3.[31]

On July 31, the first demo of Zundamon and Metan talking on VOICEVOX was published by Zunko;[32][33] the next day, VOICEVOX went live online, and Zunko encouraged her followers to give it a try and play with Metan and Zundamon's voices there.[34] On October 9, their VOICEVOX banks were announced to receive a major update soon.[35]

Tohoku Zunko and Itako were announced for CeVIO AI Song Voice library development through an AH-Software Co. Ltd. press release on October 27.[36][37] They both released on January 27, 2022.[38]

2022[]

On February 9, a crowdfund campaign for NEUTRINO Zundamon and a Whisper style for her VOICEVOX was launched;[39][40][41] its stretch goals included a Whisper style for VOICEVOX Shikoku Metan[42] and later a NEUTRINO voicebank for Metan.[43] After all these goals were met,[44] AI Zundamon and her VOICEVOX Whisper were released on August 1;[45][46] Metan's VOICEVOX Whisper released on October 25[47][48] while AI Metan released on November 1.[49] Crowdfund backers received Zundamon's NEUTRINO and VOICEVOX Whisper early on July 18 but were told to postpone publishing their works with them until the general public release date.[50]

On the same day as Zundamon's crowdfund, Zunko also revealed that they're using Kyushu Sora to help develop Zundamon and Metan's Whisper styles.[51] This is the first definite mention of Kyushu Sora receiving a VOICEVOX, which was first teased back in October 2021.[52][53][54] She released on March 16 alongside the Whisper style.[55]

MMVC voice-changer models for both Zundamon and Metan were released on May 1.[56]

On November 18, AH-Software announced a new character-themed lineup of voice libraries for VOICEPEAK, with Tohoku Zunko announced alongside Frimomen, Asumi Shuo and Ririse; they were originally expected to be released on December 15,[57] but staff illness delayed the release until January 13, 2023.[58][59] A VOICEPEAK library of Zundamon using one of her previously released corpus is bundled with Zunko's, and later on all future SSS LLC. releases. These VOICEPEAK libraries are being marketed in the same fashion as VOICEROID libraries and thus can be seen as the spiritual successors to VOICEROID.

A few days later on November 22, Itako and Zundamon were announced to be receiving Seiren Voices.[60] They released a week later on November 29.[61]

2023[]

On January 16, 2023, a crowdfund campaign for Tohoku Kiritan's VOICEPEAK talking library was announced.[62] After it became fully funded within less than an hour, stretch goals were announced which included:

  • VOICEVOX for Chugoku Usagi at 200%[63] which was met on January 17.[64] VOICEVOX Usagi released on May 29 as part of Generation 7.[65][66]
  • Seiren Voice for Kiritan at 300%[67] and Zunko at 367%[68] which were met on January 19[69] and 21[70] respectively. Both their Seiren Voices and V2 versions released on July 20.[71] Itako and Zundamon's V2s were released in conjunction on the same day.[72]
  • VOICEPEAK for Itako at 450%[73] which was met on February 1.[74] VOICEPEAK Itako released on October 5.[75]
  • MMVC for Kiritan at 550%[76] which was met on February 5.[77]
  • Additional VOICEVOX emotional styles for Zundamon at 600%[78] which was met on February 8.[79] It will be released on January 12, 2024.[80]

On October 27, Zunko's Twitter alerted that Chanko's voice provider for a new synthesized voice would have to be changed because SSS LLC. missed the timing to submit a request for a text-to-speech voice to Sashide Maria's talent agency, WITH LINE, Inc..[81] On December 25, Zunko wrote to her fans that as a result of discussions between SSS and WITH LINE, Chanko's voicer was to be changed and that the new voice provider would be announced during Zundamon's "ZunPARAdio Post Festival Review Live Broadcast" (ずんパラじお投稿祭振り返り生放送).[82]

On December 28, as part of the announcement of a crowdfund campaign for Chanko's VOICEPEAK (to begin in mid-January 2024), her new voice provider was announced to be Amano Rin.[83]

Voicebanks[]

Voicebanks that the company developed and/or distributed, sometimes in collaboration with other companies.

VOCALOID[]

VOCALOID3[]

VOCALOID4[]

VOICEROID[]

VOICEROID+[]

VOICEROID+ EX[]

VOICEROID2[]

UTAU[]

CeVIO/VoiSona[]

CeVIO AI Song Voice[]

VoiSona Song[]

NEUTRINO[]

Released[]

Upcoming[]

VOICEVOX[]

Released[]

Upcoming[]

Voidol[]

Seiren Voice[]

Version 1[]

Version 2[]

VOICEPEAK[]

Released[]

Upcoming[]

Other Characters[]

The Dark General[]

Ankoku illust

The Dark General

The Dark General (暗黒大将軍, Ankoku Daishogun), is an antagonist in Zunda Horizon. She is a warrior from the Kyoto Kurama mountains. She's described as manipulative and likes to pit rivals at conflict with each other. Her goal is to cause a great national divide based on people's taste for Anko. She wields a feather sword made out of Anko that she uses to sow suspicion and conflict in people's minds as well as a Great Fan of Autumn Leaves that she uses to generate a tremendous windstorm. She might be a Karasu Tengu based on her outfit and abilities.

In the anime "Zunda Horizon", her voice is provided by Toyoguchi Megumi (豊口めぐみ).

Tohoku Anko and Ankomon[]

Anko & Ankomon illust

Tohoku Anko and Ankomon

Tohoku Anko (東北あん子) and Ankomon (あんこもん) are semi-official derivatives of Tohoku Zunko and Zundamon from the Tohoku Zunko collaboration with the online MMORPG Onigiri (鬼斬).[84][85] They are variants of Zunko and Zundamon who have fallen to the dark side because of the Dark General, being more hostile and prone to attacking. Ankomon has the ability to turn into Ohagi Arrow (おはぎアロー), similar to Zundamon's ability to turn into the Zunda Arrow.

The "Zunko/Zunda" (Green soy-bean) in their names have been replaced with "Anko" (Red bean).

Promotional involvement[]

In 2021, SSS LLC. assisted with providing the GREEN FUNDING crowdfunding platform to raise funds for Tsuina-chan, Koharu Rikka, and ROSA's voice libraries.[86]

Anime[]

Zunda Horizon promo

Zunda Horizon promotional artwork

In June 2016, SSS LLC., in collaboration with WAO Corporation and Studio Live, applied for the young animator development project "Anime Tamago 2017"; they were selected as the commissioned production organization.[87] The film was animated under the title Zunda Horizon (ずんだホライずん).[88] As requested by the commissioning organization, it was produced in full animation, as were the other animations. It also introduced five singing songs –all made in vocal synthesizers like VOCALOID for Zunko and UTAU for all other singing characters–, some of which featured musical-style performances.[89]

On March 11, 2017, a completion announcement screening for Zunda Horizon was held at Ikebukuro HUMAX Cinemas along with three other films, followed by a late show screening at Theatre Shinjuku from April 22 to April 28, and an in-flight screening on JAL. The anime's cast of characters (which was previously tweeted a month before) was also revealed;[90]

  • Momokawa Rika (桃河りか) as Chugoku Usagi
  • Tanaka Koyuki (田中小雪) as Shikoku Metan
  • Nishida Nozomi (西田望見) as Kyushu Sora
  • Sashide Marie (指出毬亜) as Oedo Chanko
  • Hamaguchi Ayano (濱口綾乃) as Chubu Tsurugi
  • Imamura Ayaka (今村彩夏) as Kansai Shinobi
  • Koga Aoi (古賀葵) as Okinawa Awamo
  • Shimizu Ayaka (清水彩香) as Hokkaido Melon
  • Ittou Yuina (伊藤ゆいな) as Zundamon
  • Toyoguchi Megumi (豊口めぐみ) as The Dark General

The UTAU soundtrack recorded for the anime was also released along with demo songs for each character on NicoNico.[91][92]

On May 9, the anime was released on YouTube and NicoNico for free for a month, and the production story was broadcast on Studio Live's channel. A crowdfunding campaign was also conducted for this anime; if a certain percentage was to be achieved, then the next production would be considered.[93] The new UTAUs, produced under the direction of Higenashi (also known as Higeoex), were released as free downloads on May 21[94][95] along with new demo song videos, including YouTube uploads of already-published NicoNico demos.

On January 16, 2023, one of the rewards for Kiritan's VOICEPEAK talking library crowdfund was announced.[96] For 11,000 yen, you could support the development of Kiritan's VOICEPEAK and get yourself a physical Blu-ray Disc version of Zunda Horizon.[97] The 11th milestone, announced February 9, promised that Zunda Horizon would be broadcasted live on television. The goal was reached 3 days later on February 12 and the anime would be aired around the end of the year.[98]

Literature[]

Tohoku Zunko 2013 book cover

Cover

Tohoku Zunko received a novel titled "Tohoku Zunko: "Muchimuchi" Jaarimasen! "Mochimochi" desu!" (東北ずん子 「むちむち」じゃありません! 「もちもち」です!) that was published in Japan in Summer 2013, published by PHP Institute Inc.. Her book contains stories from her Twitter, posted by, the voice provider of Zunko herself, Satomi Satō.

A 4-panel manga series called "Zun-chan to Isshou!" (ずんちゃんといっしょ！) by Umasa (卯匡) is published online weekly on Twitter and is compiled once a month on Nico Seiga. It details short stories about Zunko's daily life alongside the cast of Zunda Horizon.[99]

Apps[]

An Android smartphone widget was made for Tohoku Zunko. The widget stars a chibi version of Zunko, where users teach her archery skills.

Social Media[]

A Twitter account was made for Tohoku Zunko around July 2011. It was rebranded into a Tohoku Zunko and Zundamon account sometime late 2023. A twitter account was made for Oedo Chanko around March 2013 but only saw use until May 2014. There is also a narration account made for Zunda Horizon characters in June 2012 and saw use until June 2017.

Sites[]

Piapro[]

On December 21, 2012, Piapro announced that works involving Tohoku Zunko could now be added.[100] Zunko revealed that management went to Sapporo to get her participation approved.[101] On August 2, 2016 Tohoku Kiritan and Tohoku Itako were both added after they had both became UTAU.[102]

References[]

  1. ↑ Tohoku Zunko VOICEROID+ Crowdfunding Page (Archive)
  2. ↑ https://zunko.jp/con_aboutus.html
  3. ↑ Tohoku Zunko's VOCALOID3 Anipopo Crowdfunding Page (Archive)
  4. ↑ https://www.ah-soft.com/press/voiceroid/voiceroid_ex.html
  5. ↑ UTAU Tohoku Kiritan/Tohoku Itako crowdfunder.
  6. ↑ VOICEROID+ EX Tohoku Kiritan Crowdfunder
  7. ↑ https://x.com/ahsoft/status/781328734968246273
  8. ↑ Zunda Horizon Crowdfunder
  9. ↑ https://zunko.jp/con_voice.html#02_neu_zm
  10. ↑ https://zunko.jp/con_voice.html#02_neu_sm
  11. ↑ https://zunko.jp/con_voice.html#02_utau_01
  12. ↑ https://zunko.jp/con_voice.html#02_utau_02
  13. ↑ https://zunko.jp/con_voice.html#02_utau_03
  14. ↑ VOICEROID+ EX Tohoku Itako Crowdfunder
  15. ↑ https://crimsontech.jp/rcvoice/rcvoice_pv/
  16. ↑ https://crimsontech.jp/crimson_news/gk_fair/
  17. ↑ https://crimsontech.jp/rcvoice/20190122pressrelease/
  18. ↑ https://crimsontech.jp/rcvoice/voicemodel2019/
  19. ↑ https://crimsontech.jp/rcvoice/2019voicemodel2/
  20. ↑ https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/nl/articles/2002/26/news101.html
  21. ↑ NEUTRINO Tohoku Itako AI Crowdfunder
  22. ↑ https://x.com/SHACHI_NEUTRINO/status/1303996638722060289
  23. ↑ Bumpy tweet 1
  24. ↑ Bumpy tweet 2
  25. ↑ Amanokei's tweet (deleted; archive)
  26. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1197836222497878016/
  27. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsaGMnAzh9I
  28. ↑ NEUTRINO Tohoku Zunko AI Crowdfunder
  29. ↑ https://x.com/SHACHI_NEUTRINO/status/1383280017220665344
  30. ↑ https://x.com/SHACHI_NEUTRINO/status/1406799858367750144
  31. ↑ https://x.com/SHACHI_NEUTRINO/status/1411701501429387267
  32. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1421473758615728132
  33. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1421485817319546884
  34. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1421797261227421701
  35. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1446813693476425734
  36. ↑ https://www.ah-soft.com/press/cevio/zunko.html
  37. ↑ https://x.com/ahsoft/status/1453194967497674752
  38. ↑ https://www.ah-soft.com/press/synth-v/20211223.html
  39. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1488397021912260608
  40. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1488504502688759808
  41. ↑ NEUTRINO Zundamon's crowdfund campaign page
  42. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1493553041643274243
  43. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1495353263751053313
  44. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1498229017886871554
  45. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1545435871775969282
  46. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1553621024683749377
  47. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1583476238110560256
  48. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1584413552777232385
  49. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1587317864578834432
  50. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1548810245677678594
  51. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1491365817568481281
  52. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1448670967480274945
  53. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1449056169335537670
  54. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1454365535056007174
  55. ↑ https://x.com/voicevox_pj/status/1503883747107688453
  56. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1520683182429204480
  57. ↑ https://x.com/ahsoft/status/1593076410675257344
  58. ↑ https://x.com/dreamtonics_jp/status/1599646739111505920
  59. ↑ https://x.com/ahsoft/status/1599646153079132160
  60. ↑ https://x.com/seiren_voice_25/status/1590936795721928704
  61. ↑ https://x.com/seiren_voice_25/status/1597455733510967296
  62. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1614477747577040896
  63. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1615304150325297153
  64. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1615330314376859648
  65. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1662801866286338048
  66. ↑ https://x.com/voicevox_pj/status/1662836195414671361
  67. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1615332355769774080
  68. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1616381775248519169
  69. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1615686325826629632
  70. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1616749456069906432
  71. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1681684795615776769
  72. ↑ https://x.com/hiho_karuta/status/1681855404731670528
  73. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1616381775248519169
  74. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1620727141683068928
  75. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1709969720844386814
  76. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1620771599703228416
  77. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1622096644841029632
  78. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1622151135003021312
  79. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1623271415884697600
  80. ↑ https://x.com/voicevox_pj/status/1741021305007489030
  81. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1717771373639242121
  82. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1739257414707503227
  83. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1740353622368739781
  84. ↑ https://onigiri.cyberstep.jp/info/topic/update/40180
  85. ↑ https://onigiri.cyberstep.jp/info/topic/update/41133
  86. ↑ https://greenfunding.jp/pub/projects/search
  87. ↑ http://animetamago.jp/2016/article/2287/
  88. ↑ https://myanimelist.net/anime/33390/Zunda_Horizon
  89. ↑ https://vocadb.net/T/6313/zunda-horizon
  90. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/830322085800972289
  91. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/840552180692144130 re: Oedo Chanko
  92. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/840795623523729408 re: Zundamon
  93. ↑ https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/nl/articles/1706/13/news097.html
  94. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/866156602189119488 Zundamon UTAU release
  95. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/866156602604240896 Oedo Chanko, Chubu Tsurugi, & Kansai Shinobi UTAU release
  96. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1614477747577040896
  97. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1614819944683933696
  98. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/1624555138693369857
  99. ↑ https://seiga.nicovideo.jp/comic/35365
  100. ↑ https://blog.piapro.net/2012/12/post-613.html
  101. ↑ https://x.com/t_zunko/status/282125251851214848
  102. ↑ https://blog.piapro.net/2016/08/p1608031-1.html

External links[]

Articles[]

Navigation[]

v • e
SSS LLC.
Vocals
Tohoku Zunko • Tohoku Kiritan • Tohoku Itako • Zundamon • Shikoku Metan • Kyushu Sora MK=II • Chugoku Usagi • Oedo Chanko • Chubu Tsurugi • Kansai Shinobi • Hokkaido Melon • Okinawa Awamo
VOICEROID+
VOICEROID+ EX
VOICEROID2
VOCALOID3
VOCALOID4
UTAU
CeVIO AI
VoiSona
NEUTRINO
AI Kiritan • AI Itako • AI Zunko • AI Zundamon • AI Metan — Announced: AI Chanko
VOICEVOX
Voidol
Seiren Voice
VOICEPEAK
Tohoku Zunko • Zundamon (Inclusion only) • Tohoku Kiritan • Tohoku Itako — Announced: Oedo Chanko
Concept
Ankoku the Great General • Ankomon
Miscellaneous
Affiliates
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
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