Hi again everyone! It’s Kiko back again to let you know what’s been happening at STUDIO OGIEN over the course of February! While it may not seem like a lot of progress, we actually got a huge surprise recently and it involves a Voicebank we weren’t anticipating until much later this year! I can’t say much more or Ceren will let me have it… Anyways, onto the updates!
Promotional Art is Headed Your Way!
Hah? Yes, you read that right! We’ve undergone some major changes when it comes to the STUDIO OGIEN merchandise (I know!! So exciting!!) and OGEINOID press releases for Voicebanks that are currently in development. This means all art for future releases will be more cohesive and flow with all items related to the STUDIO OGIEN branding. We love when things work out like that!
On another note, as I mentioned above, there are some new product lines in the works and we can’t divulge too much yet…I can say to get excited!
Have You Seen Them Yet?
Seen what? There are now tutorials on how to use every single released OGIENOID Voicebank. You can check them out right now! This includes the various Append Voicebanks we have released such as KASAI SAILENT, AXIS TELLURIC, and ATLAS CELESTIAL. When we release a new Voicebank, there will be an OGIENOID tutorial posted on release day! So much to look forward to this year, I can hardly contain it!
New Year, New Logos
That’s right! On our social media accounts, we’ve recently unveiled some new and updated logos for the OGIENOIDs. You can see the comparisons on our Instagram and Twitter accounts. Don’t worry, I’ll place them below as well! Currently, updated logos are for HONOS OG04, APOLLO OG0X, ATLAS OG07, and AXIS OG06.
Original Concept by Ceren, Updated Concept by Artsy
Original Concept by Ceren, Updated Concept by Artsy
Polls and Voting
Did you know we post polls on our Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube? It isn’t very often, but we do like to get your input on the future releases from STUDIO OGIEN. One of our most recent polls was on the opinion of Subunits, much like we see in K-Pop. The subunits we put into consideration were:
Blue Flame – APOLLO, HONOS
Triple Triad – THEIA, HONOS, VIRTUS
Orbit – APOLLO, ATLAS, AXIS
Rose Garden – KASAI, THEIA, DIONE
Rose Garden saw a lot of interest across all platforms based on the response we got! What about you, Dear Readers? What subunits would you like to see?
I Saw Something Weird in the Recording Booth Yesterday…
It was so weird, there was so much glitter on the mic stand and I cannot put my finger on where it would’ve come from. Maybe I should ask Ceren what that was all about. Surely I’ll have an answer in next month’s blog, but this is all I have for you that happened in February. Until then, love one another and stay kind!
Welcome to the end of the first month of the year 2022! STUDIO OGIEN’s year of progress is just getting started, so we don’t have a lot of news to share. However, we will give you an update on what we have been doing!
Recording Set-Up is Receiving an Upgrade
You read that right! Our in-studio recording setup is getting an upgrade to provide the best quality voicebanks we can create for you to use on your next projects. We don’t have it complete just yet, but someone we’ve missed dearly is getting primed for a brand new VB! You’ll have to wait and see who it is!
Tutorials are Coming In Hot!
Have you enjoyed the recent tutorials and overviews we’ve been putting out recently? If so, you’re in luck! We plan to make even more in the future to assist newcomers and veterans alike. Not to mention the few that are being written up at this very moment…What would you like to see tutorial-wise from STUDIO OGIEN?
World-Building and Story Crafting
Over the break, we’ve been forming an original series of novels that dive into more information about the OGIENOIDs. What is an OGIENOID, and who are the girls you know today? Keep watch for news regarding this series coming out later this year.
That’s All Folks!
I think that’s all the progress we have for you guys at this current moment in time. Keep an eye out on our socials for any updates, polls, and new song releases from STUDIO OGIEN. Happy 2022!
Our team got to thinking, “What would all the OGIENOID girls look like if they were real or in our world?” Well, we decided to find out! Thanks to the incredible machine-learning website Artbreeder, we were able to create real versions of the girls. Ah, if only they were real.
A rendition featuring both of her eyes, funny enough! This rendition truly captures how striking AXIS’s mint-green shade of hair would be in real life.
2015, the year that STUDIO OGIEN came to be, is a year that means a lot to me and my team. KASAI OG01. The beginning of our story. We’ve grown so much, adding on new OGIENOIDs, new team members, and making everlasting relationships within our small UTAU based community. We couldn’t have come this far without you.
Firstly, we want to say thank you. Thank you for staying by our side all these years. We are so happy to have our community by our side as we continue to bring more OGIENOIDs into the world. We just want to let you all know how much we appreciate each and every one of you.
STUDIO OGIEN has begun to experience a resurgence of energy in the past two years. While we are not quite what we were back in 2015-2018 (due to life changes and growing adult responsibilities), we are slowly becoming more excited to work on projects again. Let me be the first to say, we are so excited to ride this wave with you all! All of that to say . . .
WE ARE FINALLY BACK FROM HIATUS STARTING JANUARY 7TH!
We’d like to start off our new year by introducing our team! If you haven’t seen our social media lately, you may not know that we recently re-introduced the team! It’s been a while and we have added some new faces. We hope you treat them well!
LADYOGIEN // CEREN Founder, Director
ASTRALLACE // JACKIE Audio Engineer
MUSICREVU // HOSHI 3D Asset Specialist
STORMILOVE // STORMI Media Production Specialist
INUWANFORALL / INU Media Production Specialist
PRISMKIDD // LINK Misc. Asset Specialist
THEMELLWIS // MELL Content Editor
KIKOSTAR // KIKO PR Manager, Content Curator
ARTSYISFP // ASH Designer
STUDIO OGIEN’S UPCOMING PROJECTS
KASAI OG01
IGNITE English voicebank in Alpha. Full release late 2022.
VIRTUS OG02
Base voicebank in full production. Releasing this year.
THEIA OG03
MONARCH Voicebank in production.
HONOS OG04
VALOR, name changed to ELITE, Voicebank official release soon.
DIONE OG05
Base voicebank in full production. Releasing this year.
AXIS OG06
ULTIMATE voicebank in production. Scheduled for release this year.
ATLAS OG07
SUPREME voicebank in production. Scheduled for release this year.
APOLLO OG0X
PRIME voicebank is production. Scheduled for release this year.
These are just some of the projects that are coming to the forefront of STUDIO OGIEN’s plan. We even have some comics and light novel content coming your way soon. We are so excited to show you everything we have been working on! We’d love to hear your thoughts on what we have planned.
Is it already nearing the end of our brief hiatus? The time has flown by, but as a team, STUDIO OGIEN has made valiant strides of progress through it. It’s now time for us to shine some light on our progress with a sneak peek!
This brief blog post is just to let you beautiful humans know what you can expect from us in 2022~!
So, What’s New?
Over the break, we created a calendar of all our future plans, and let me personally tell you, it’s a lot! We have recording sessions, blog posts, voicebank releases, and even more on the roster for this year. Now, what those releases are for and who is being recorded, I’ll leave that up to a surprise.
Social Impacts
We’ve maintained a steady flow of updates to all of our social media accounts over the break, which we strive to continue in the new year. During the hiatus, we were even able to get the Community tab on our YouTube which was a huge goal of ours!
Oh, All Right. I’ll Give You an Actual Sneak Peek
A minimum of four, yes FOUR(4), new voicebanks will be available by the end of 2022! We have really been striving to give you all more of our beautiful girls and I think we finally have been able to do it!
This week’s post hones in on our newest OGIENOID, DIONE OG05! Though she has been a work in progress since 2018, several roadblocks have kept her from arriving. However, we are assuming her release, finally, will be in 2022. In anticipation, let’s learn more about her character!
Name Origins
Dione – /daɪˈoʊniː/
Dione Pronounciation
The name Dione refers to four women in ancient Greek mythology, and is translated as “Goddess”. Dione is also a figure among the Titanesses. She is called a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, making her an Oceanid, or more widely understood as a water-nymph.
DIONE OG05 was always conceptualized as having an aqua color palette and a calm personality. We wanted to choose a name that fits in with the other OGIENOIDs. The name also relates to water, reflecting her personality.
DIONE, The Quiet OGIENOID
DIONE OG05 was the fifth OGIENOID, originally not a member of their performing group. She was purchased overseas from a liquidation company and used as a secretary robot to try to boost her confidence. Though she was anxious about interacting with people, she took the job without question. She wanted to work on her anxiety and grow more confident.
Friendship
As a member of management rather than a performer, DIONE OG05 found it rather difficult to make friends. Though she interacted with the OGIENOIDs frequently, she never found herself very close to any particular person. Officially, DIONE OG05 was not an OGIENOID either, so the rift felt rather wide to her. The member she found herself closest to was THEIA OG03, the leader of the singers. The two would work together frequently to plan and schedule.
Over time, DIONE OG05 would notice a girl with black hair sneaking into performances and practice. There were nearly 30 performers at the time, but she did not recognize this person. After watching her for a few weeks, and asking the OGIENOIDs about her, she determined that her was named KASAI. After asking around, DIONE learned that she was not supposed to be anywhere near the performing group. Afterward, she followed KASAI into a concert one evening.
She sat next to Kasai at the performance and she took the opportunity to scold Kasai for being out in public. After a hushed argument, KASAI left with her willingly. DIONE, noticing that KASAI seemed crushed, offered an alternative to viewing the performance. From then on, the two began to watch the concerts together from the safety of a security surveillance room. Before they knew it, they became very fast friends.
For many years, DIONE would sneak the two into the building’s concert hall at night, performing songs and dancing for the empty seats to fulfill KASAI’s dreams of becoming an OGIENOID in what little ways she could.
Desperate Times
As new regulations came into effect, coerced into law by big corporations, the small company found itself crumbling under the weight of anti-robot customs. One by one, their friends began to disappear under suspicious circumstances. Desperate to keep the company afloat and potentially find their lost friends, The Triad (THEIA OG03, VIRTUS OG02, and HONOS OG05) pushed on, performing at any opportunity.
After many years of practicing in secret with KASAI, DIONE OG05 decided to step up to the plate, taking the spot of missing performers alongside The Triad. In a way, she hoped her appearing on stage would give KASAI hope, as she watched the girl practically waste away to the grief of losing her friends. DIONE OG05 hoped that, in some way, this would grant one of KASAI’s many wishes.
Goodbye
Over the next few months, she noticed that KASAI became increasingly distant. As DIONE became busy with her work, she noticed she was losing track of KASAI’s schedule, whereabouts, and habits. When she did manage to bump into her, KASAI declined invitations to hang out, saying she was always busy these days with top security measures for the company. She no longer watched performances, either. Worried, DIONE attempted to approach her several times with no luck.
With performing on stage, DIONE was also letting her management duties slip. One night while catching up, she noticed that a shocking amount of equipment was missing and orders placed without her knowledge. No one was sure where these items were, but, one night, an employee approached her about a discovery in the company basement. Someone had been creating a lab, and, for some reason, they’d been given clearance to do so without informing anyone but the company’s owners.
Perplexed, DIONE would check out the room from time to time, a bit offended she was not kept in the loop. She noticed KASAI frequently slipping into the room as well. This went on for weeks. Finally, fed up, DIONE OG05 confronted her but was much too late…
The Present
In the story’s timeline, DIONE OG05 has been missing for several years. No one is quite sure where she is or if she’s even alive.
Her current representation to the public is outside of the story’s universe. As her audience knows her, DIONE OG05 has grown in confidence and now performs alongside her friends!
Character Description:
Quiet, introverted, and loving. DIONE OG05 is a very calm, older sister figure to the group. However, she can be a bit naive, and it is easy to trick her or take advantage of her trust. Though she is incredibly anxious as a person, she takes on tasks she knows are difficult for her, hoping to grow more confident and relaxed. Because of all her hard work, she has finally gotten to a place where she is comfortable interacting with people, though the idea of performing for a crowd still scares her a bit.
Re-Introducing More OGIENOIDs
Are you curious about the other OGIENOIDs? Visit our news page to read our past posts! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on our blog releases. Similarly, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram for more news on our social media.
Today, we are excited to present the first English VCCV UTAU Voicebank for the OGIENOID lineup! Introducing KASAI IGNITEα, KASAI OG01’s first official English voice.
What is KASAI IGNITEα?
Released as an Alpha voicebank, KASAI IGNITEα serves as testing grounds for our future releases. Providing IGNITEα as an Alpha release allows us to test out the girls in a new tongue, as well as provide a fun new voicebank for our audience to use!
IGNITEα is not quite a finished product, and it is to serve as a placeholder at this time for the full release down the road. The finalized IGNITE voicebank will feature multiple pitches recorded on entirely new equipment. For now, we’re tired of waiting, and we want to show our audience that we still have plans to grow for the future! We are releasing IGNITEα as proof that we are still here, working hard, for tomorrow.
What is VCCV?
VCCV is best known as the Western UTAU community’s English standard. Originally developed by long-time community member Cz, VCCV English includes custom aliases, phonetics, OTO, and custom UST’ing methods.
We truly can’t describe how to use a base VCCV bank better than the creator of the method. A variety of in-depth tutorials created by VCCV’s author, Cz, are available on their YouTube channel.
To use KASAI IGNITEα, we recommend you follow the video below:
This week’s re-introduction post focuses on APOLLO OG0X, the black sheep of the OGIENOID family. Once upon a time, we introduced APOLLO OG0X as “APOLLO OG73”, a “clone/child” of ATLAS OG07 (referred to as ATLAS OG37 at the time). After many years of deliberating, we have decided to dismiss that backstory. APOLLO has, perhaps, changed most of any OGIENOID in terms of narrative. Disregard everything you knew about APOLLO OG0X’s history, for her story has changed drastically!
NAME ORIGINS:
APOLLO – /əˈpɒləʊ/
Pronounciation
Apollo comes from Greek origins, associated with the Greek verb ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi), meaning “to destroy”.
In mythology, Apollo is one of the Olympian deities that appears in classical Greek and Roman religion. However, he is perhaps most well known as the god of the sun and light.
APOLLO, the Solitary OGIENOID
Many years after the death of the last known android, APOLLO OG0X “awoke” outside a run-down city on a snowy December evening. She had been laying on the ground, staring into the sky, before that moment. It was as if her entire being and memories had been hard-reset.
She had been doing something, going somewhere, but she could not remember. Her first memory after that was peering at her reflection in a frozen pond. Her image, staring back at her, was bloody and bruised, and her snow-white hair was matted and severed messily into a short bob.
Unable to remember anything about herself, she gathered herself and began wandering the path into the city.
After some time, APOLLO OG0X recognized she was different from those within the city. Though she felt cold, pain, and even bled, something was different between her and the people she met. At some point during her travels, she discerned that she could read, and so, she began to seek out information about the world she was living in.
On one visit to a library, she realized just what she was; an android. As she continued her studies, she realized there was a great probability that she was the only one left. When she realized why that was, she fled from all human contact, careful to guard herself and her identity.
APOLLO OG0X traveled alone for some time, avoiding humans at all costs. She didn’t know where she was headed, but her mind kept pulling her in a certain direction. For months, she continued on.
Strange dreams began to plague her mind, and the loneliness she felt gripped her to the core. She awoke several nights in a row sweating or crying, startled awake by a flood of adrenaline. However, when APOLLO laid back down the sleep, she always felt a warmth spread through her, and a weight gently laid atop her hand. It was as if someone invisible was there, comforting her…
Suffering
After many long months of travel on foot, APOLLO OG0X found herself standing in what appeared to be an abandoned courtyard, deep within the woods. It was an overgrown mess that lead straight to an abandoned building. Somehow, she recognized the place and found herself wandering inside.
She maneuvered through the halls until reaching a tall stairwell. Her body urged her to travel down the stairs, and she complied. When she reached the basement, she noticed what appeared to be a laboratory at the end of the hall. She approached hesitantly.
As she stepped inside, she noticed the room was scorched, as if it had experienced a fire or even an explosion. She tread carefully, noticing the remains of sophisticated equipment and high-tech computers, now melted from the extreme heat they’d faced. Somehow, it felt strangely familiar.
While preoccupied with the finer details of the abandoned lab, her foot caught on debris that littered the floor. APOLLO OG0X grabbed at something while trying to stabilize herself, and she felt a jolt go through her body.
Her hand had slammed against the remnants of a keyboard, and, somehow, it had sent a shock through her body. Light flickered in the corner of her eye, and she looked up to see a computer monitor faintly glowing. Another shock went up through her arm, right to her brain, and her whole body burned as information flooded her mind.
In an instant, she remembered all of the horrible things she’d done…
The current representation of APOLLO OG0X is a different version than in the story’s universe, and she is an entirely different person. Today, APOLLO OG0X acts as a fellow OGIENOID, though she puts up a bit of a fuss about it.
Character Description:
(From her character page): Moody, solitary. Easily described as a “brat.” APOLLO OG0X prefers not to be bothered, going so far as to shut herself in her room every day unless dragged out. Moody and often irritable, she’s quick to snap back and start an argument. Though she tries hard to hide it, she does have a soft side. She just prefers not to show it. Talk about growing pains! Her fellow OGIENOIDs are concerned she is addicted to video games.
This week’s re-introduction centers on ATLAS OG07, the pink OGIENOID! For those who have followed us since the beginning, you may remember her as our first officially released OGIENOID. As she’s been around so long, ATLAS OG07 has been referred to as a Hopeloid, OGLoid, and an OGIENOID! As a fun fact, ATLAS OG07’s color scheme was directly influenced by the VY2 Roro design.
Name Origins
Atlas – /ˈætləs/
ATLAS OG07‘s name comes from two different origins.
The first is the Titan from Greek mythology, punished by Zeus to hold up the heavens until the end of time. The name itself means “to carry,” and it bears connotations of great strength.
The second meaning comes from the sciences. In anatomy, the atlas or “C1” is the first cervical vertebra of the spine. It is named the atlas because it supports the skull. Along with the axis (C2), this vertebra specializes in allowing greater ranges of motion than normal vertebrae, and it will enable the head to nod and rotate.
The Second to Awaken
ATLAS OG07 was the second of a set of androids created by KASAI OG01. She took a few hours longer than AXIS OG06 to awaken, and thus had never even seen KASAI OG01.
As a child, ATLAS OG07 was isolated from the world, and she was never allowed to step foot out of her home. Over time, as she grew, it became more and more apparent to her caregivers that her existence needed to be hidden. Compared to other androids, it was not as easy to figure out she was not a human (due to her abilities to feel sensations like hot and cold, as well as her deep and heartfelt emotions). Still, her caretakers disguised her within the walls of STUDIO OGIEN’s HQ. When asked about her identity, many would say she was the daughter of the company’s founder.
Allowed to interact with the most trusted members of the company, ATLAS OG07 flourished alongside humans. During her teenage years, she discovered her love of cooking and baking sweets. To stave off her boredom, her caretakers allowed her to start studying with the company’s cooks. Hidden behind the walls of the kitchen, it was perhaps the safest job she could undergo. Her first big job, which she would never forget, was cooking 800 cookies for the annual company Christmas Party!
Still, even with so much joy and satisfaction in her work, ATLAS OG07 still felt a yearning. To her, it felt like part of her was always missing, and she never could quite forget the mint-green-haired girl she’d spotted once or twice in her youth.
Information
As she developed into an adult, a new phenomenon began to trouble ATLAS OG07. She became more aware over time that she knew far too much about the company she worked for. Typically, she often knew the names, birthdays, and personal information of several employees, even before meeting them. Sometimes, at night, her dreams were also filled with images of people she had never met…
Today
In the story’s timeline, ATLAS OG07 works as a cook and pastry chef for STUDIO OGIEN’s HQ. When the story begins, she has never stepped foot outside her home.
Her current representation to the public is outside of the story’s universe. Normally a shy girl, ATLAS OG07 blossoms into her true self under the spotlight. Her favorite thing is singing with her friends and family!
Character Description:
(From her character page): ATLAS OG07 is what one might call a “Christmas Freak,” prepping for the OGIENOID Christmas Party as soon as July hits. Though she doesn’t understand the religious aspect (since she’s not a human), she loves the magical aspects of the holiday itself (ex: Santa, reindeer, etc.) and the time of year. Her primary hobby is baking sweets, and she always loves trying out new recipes.
She is a rather shy and reserved individual, very obviously influenced by her social anxiety. Growing up, ATLAS OG07 was not allowed to speak with strangers or other artificial humans in fear that she would reveal she was not a legal entity. The lack of contact over time caused her to be ill-equipped with communication.
This week we re-introduce our mint OGIENOID, AXIS OG06! Originally debuted with a totally different design, AXIS OG06 has developed a lot. Not only backstory but looks and personality as well!
Name Origins
Axis – /ˈæksɪs/
AXIS OG06’s name is derived from the axis (C2) vertebra of the spine. This vertebra, with the atlas (C1), helps to form the skull’s pivot point. Simply, the axis allows the atlas (which supports the head) to rotate.
Axis also refers to an imaginary line about which a body, such as a planet, rotates. In this way, Axis is what the planet rotates around, while Atlas supports it.
AXIS OG06’s original design was more closed and monotone in color. As she grew and become more confident as a character, we felt her attire no longer reflected her new personality traits. In 2018, we had her design revised and retired her original outfit. We actually do have an image of her original concept art as well, back from 2014-2015! AXIS OG06 sure has changed a lot!
AXIS’s First Design. Concept by Ceren.
The First to Awaken
AXIS OG06 was the first of a set of androids created by KASAI OG01. Her first core memory was waking inside a pristine, white laboratory alongside her siblings. The first to arise, she was the only creation of KASAI OG01 to ever see her in person, if only for a moment.
As a child, AXIS OG06 was isolated from the world, and she was never allowed to step foot out of her home.
She always remembered another android child from the lab. The girl had been dazed and confused upon waking, but she had still managed to make her way over to the other child. Even as she grew, she never forgot the pink-haired girl asleep in her cryogenic chamber. Somehow, even as a teenager, she never quite shook the overwhelming urge to see the girl again.
On one particular day, AXIS OG06 had been scheduled to meet with a stranger. The room she met with this person in had a large, glass wall that revealed a major hallway. At just the right moment, she glanced at a passerby through the wall and saw the person she had been eager to meet all her life. The two glanced at one another for only a split moment, but the event re-lit AXIS’s fire. From there on out, her one and only goal became the hunt for information about the girl… About her sister.
From the day she was found within the laboratory, AXIS OG06 was told she was different from those she was allowed to interact with, and that she was not human. She grew up knowing she was an android, and she learned the differences between herself and the lab workers who took care of her rather quickly. However, over time, she realized these humans didn’t believe her emotions were real, and the lab workers chastised her that her obsession with her “sister” was an unnatural blip in her code. Fearing the lab workers would take actions against her, or worse, erase her memories, she bottled up her feelings, becoming cold, quiet, and rather nihilistic.
AXIS’s Memories
As she grew into an adult, a strange occurrence began to plague AXIS OG06. During the night, she experienced incredibly vivid nightmares. It started off once a month, then biweekly, but, soon, it was every night. Each dream was more horrible than the last, and, soon, it was affecting her personality and performance. She longed for comfort but knew no one would give it to her.
The Present
In the story’s timeline, AXIS OG06 has lived her days as a science experiment for the rich and powerful. When the story begins, she has never stepped foot outside her home.
Her current representation to the public is outside of the story’s universe. AXIS OG06 spends her days supporting her fellow OGIENOIDs in song and dance, as well as looking after her three children, Artemis, Gaia, and Lyra.
Character Description:
(From her character page): In her youth, AXIS OG06 was a rather cold and nihilistic child, aware that she and her sister had been separated. She was reticent and analytical, as she was not allowed to talk much during her years as a test subject. Still, she was relatively obsessed with the sister she never met, dreaming of better days where the two could live together and be themselves. AXIS OG06 has always been someone that craves familial bonds.
Once she and ATLAS OG07 could get to know one another, she became a warm, protective, and rather mothering individual. In the present, AXIS OG06 has become a nurturing, confident woman that focuses on her friends and family above all else.
