Kizuna Ai’s Anticipated Return: What Fans Can Expect
Kizuna Ai, affectionately known to her fans as “Ai-chan,”may soon reappear on the digital stage after a lengthy hiatus. Her official channels have introduced a countdown, stirring excitement among her community. Since stepping back on February 26, 2022, Kizuna Ai has been noticeably absent, yet her channel sporadically uploaded videos without her presence.
According to reports from AniNewsAndFacts, a countdown was initiated on November 30, 2024, hinting at a significant announcement set for February 24, 2025—almost three years since her hiatus began:
Vtuber Kizuna Ai is teasing something to be revealed in 87 Days. She has been on hiatus for more than 2.5 Years Now. pic.twitter.com/95AtmTTV8y — Anime News And Facts (@AniNewsAndFacts) November 30, 2024
The excitement ramped up further on December 1, 2024, when a new video was released on her YouTube channel. In this clip, a character attempts to rouse her from sleep, but she playfully requests a few more moments of slumber, indicating that a significant announcement is indeed on the horizon:
Kizuna Ai’s Hiatus and Voice Actress Insights
Nozomi Kasuga has been the voice of Kizuna Ai since her inception. Recent speculation suggests that she transitioned to a business role within Kizuna Ai Co., Ltd., serving as an advisor until she left the company following the expiration of her contract in March 2024. Although there existed rumors during Kizuna Ai’s activity that Kasuga’s voice was no longer behind the character, these claims were never substantiated. In a January 2021 video, Kizuna Ai stated that there was “nothing wrong”with her voice:
In her departure announcement, Kasuga clarified that she had planned to step back even before the hiatus, emphasizing her role as Ai’s “voice model”but not the face behind Ai-chan. She asserted that “Ai-chan will always be Ai-chan, even when we are apart.”This statement leaves fans pondering whether Kasuga might return to the role or if the character will evolve, reminiscent of the trajectory taken by virtual pop icon Hatsune Miku, where AI technology allows for new expressions without a single voice actor.
Despite her absence from active YouTube content, Kizuna Ai has not been idle. She starred in her own animated series, Kizuna no Allele, which aired in 2023. Uniquely, the official casting information lists Kizuna Ai as voiced by “Kizuna Ai,”without identifying her voice actress, a move that adds another layer of intrigue to her future presence:
Kizuna Ai: A Pioneer in the Vtuber Movement
Established in 2016, Kizuna Ai’s channel rapidly gained popularity, solidifying her as a key figure in the vtuber phenomenon. Although she wasn’t the first virtual YouTuber (a title often attributed to Ami Yamato), her popularity contributed to the proliferation of platforms like Hololive and Nijisanji. Notably, she is credited with popularizing the term “vtuber,”an indication of her significant impact on this niche of online entertainment.
As we approach the countdown’s conclusion on February 24, 2025, the excitement surrounding Kizuna Ai’s potential return continues to captivate fans. In the meantime, her anime series, Kizuna no Allele, is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
Sources:
AniNewsandFacts ,
Kizuna Ai Co. ,
Nozomi Kasuga
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