How A Miku Who Can’t Sing Speaks Volumes

The viral rhythm game Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage! was released on September 30, 2020. It was an instant hit that has amassed ten million players as of today. Project Sekai is the most popular rhythm game in Japan, with the Japanese version having generated 15 million dollars in revenue. The success of the rhythm game has encouraged P.A. Works, a studio that has earned praise for its unique blend of artistic animation, storytelling, and community engagement, to release the movie COLORFUL STAGE! A Miku Who Can’t Sing (2025). While the gameplay involves challenging a player’s sense of rhythm, there’s also an intricate story woven in, which the movie is based on. It was released in Japan on January 17, 2025, and globally on April 17,  2025. It is the first movie regarding the popular Vocaloid (singing voice synthesizer software product) Hatsune Miku, so the expectations were high. Even with the high bar, the movie far surpassed industry expectations and was even ranked seventh domestically, which is a notable achievement. 

The movie starts in Shibuya, where we see the everyday lives of five musical teenage groups. They are supported with alternate-themed versions of Vocaloids, which are common across the city. The Vocaloids reside in their own Sekai, an alternate dimension made from the group members’ emotions. The teenagers are able to travel there using their phones or computers. Hatsune Miku, a gloomy and unwelcome version of herself, is traveling between the screens of Shibuya to look for help. The people whose feelings are based on her Sekai are experiencing depression and contemplating abandoning their ambitions due to the belief that they are unable to achieve them. She enlists the help of the musical groups to regain confidence in herself. The five groups realize the connection between depression in the real world and in their Sekais, and embark on a journey to bring back the Vocaloids by cheering up the people whose feelings formed Miku’s Sekai. Throughout the movie, the message of restoring hope through optimism is shown through song performances by the five groups, with the purpose of bringing back all vocaloids by saving Miku’s Sekai from despair, and reviving the ambition of the people whose feelings formed Miku’s Sekai.

Knowing Hatsune Miku game lore isn’t necessary to understand the movie, as the film still tells a compelling story without prior knowledge. The movie’s music is just phenomenal. DECO*27 is the producer of a majority of the film’s soundtrack, which succeeds in elevating the atmosphere. The pacing was also satisfactory, but it could have been better. The first half built up to the climax, which felt slightly rushed and underwhelming. There were many small plot holes in the story that left viewers questioning, such as the fact that this Miku is the only one to have the ability to travel to other Sekais. Despite all of this, the movie is still very enjoyable, as the animation is absolutely stunning. The filmmakers seem to have put more effort in setting the atmosphere in the scenes rather than perfecting small details, which improves the reception. 

However, there is one problem with the movie that cannot be overlooked: its target audience. The movie doesn't take any time to introduce all of its characters, so while it is not required to know the Project Sekai lore, it is better if you want to find more enjoyment in the film. Casual viewers may struggle to enjoy the film as much as diehard Project Sekai fans because of the small easter eggs and fan service scattered throughout the movie. While fans will cheer and exclaim at every little detail, casual viewers may overlook them and only watch from a surface level. 

 A casual viewer who is looking for a good time will certainly enjoy the movie, even if they have no prior knowledge of the game. They may not understand everything and will find some parts confusing, but most will still find entertainment within the movie. The movie has its flaws, but it is still considered a great leap for the Vocaloid industry; it has met high expectations from the Vocaloid fan base. In the end, a Miku movie now exists, which is a huge milestone in the music industry; it is a must-watch for Vocaloid and Project Sekai fans. It is Hatsune Miku on the big screen after all; it is impossible not to at least admire how far she has gone as a concept, from originally being just a voice synthesizer to being on the big screen.