A few days ago, I felt the urge to write an essay dedicated to Amelia Watson. It’s something I’ve been doing for all of my favorite VTubers over the past few years—using my humble platform to celebrate the talented individuals I’ve grown to love. However, between Breaking Dimensions, Anime NYC, a bunch of big events happening in September, and just being generally busy, I decided to wait.
I mistakenly thought I could take my sweet time writing a post dedicated to an active and ongoing career.
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Today, Amelia (Ame to fans) announced that she will be ending her streaming, participating in events, and periodically releasing merchandise. Although it sounds like a graduation (i.e. an idol/VTuber leaves the company on relatively good terms), it is not actually a graduation. In fact, Ame herself mentioned in a Youtube comment that she may still appear occasionally, although this does not count as transitioning to being an employee.
So here we are.
Mythical story
Rewind to September 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and when many people around the world were staying home to prevent the spread of the virus. It was in this environment that the Japanese VTuber agency hololive announced their first English generation: Myth. At a time when so many people were locked down at home and in need of a little joy, when the possibility of seeing other human beings in person was a real threat to one’s life, Myth breathed life into people. The success they achieved may forever be unmatched.
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Four of those first generation ENs were said to carry ancient and supernatural motifs—the death god Calliope Mori, the phoenix Takanashi Kiara, the old priestess Ninomae Ina'nis, and the Atlantean shark Gawr Gura. The fifth was Amelia Watson, a “mere” human detective investigating the others. Not only did she stand out in the theme, but she was also the last to officially debut. And from the start, it was clear that she was bringing something unorthodox. Whether it was starting with a hilarious joke about actually being British but needing to speak with a “fake” accent, or her causing “hallucinations” in the audience through injections of “Watson’s Concoction,” Ame’s wit and imagination were on display.
The AmeWay
Ame didn’t reveal her entire character concept at launch: She was not only a detective, but also a time traveler. During the severe mitigation of the global pandemic, she began to express this side of herself by experimenting with 3D models, VRChat, and other fun software and technology. As Ame’s fan art flooded in, she commissioned artists to create variations of her: a chibi (which later became the hololive mascot “Smol Ame”), a bee, a mountain of muscles, and even recently a hand puppet.
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Ame is often called “creative,” and while that’s certainly true, a better description would be that she pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in whatever space she’s in through a combination of out-of-the-box thinking and sheer stubbornness. Sometimes it’s through her approach to video games. Just yesterday, she started playing on hololive’s Grand Theft Auto Online server, where she successfully overcame a barrier on her unicycle by riding downhill to gain momentum and crash through. In Part 1 of the all-new Minecraft role-playing event “Mysterious Memories,” she can be seen trying to hack block mechanics to create shortcuts for herself, while also being one half of the wild romance “Jyonathan and Gonathan” with Gigi Murin that has captivated fans. Other times, it’s through her exploration of the technical aspects of VTubing. Fans call this the “AmeWay” and it speaks to the notion that if two paths split in the woods, Ame will go through the trees in between.
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During those dark times when Japan was under lockdown and travel into the country was impossible, Ame found a way to give her and the other Legendary girls their own “3D event” through VRChat and by giving everyone a model of their own “Smol” to pilot.
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Even later, as the world opened up, Ame continued to push the envelope. To celebrate Myth's 2nd anniversary, Ame set up a special 360-degree view where fans could move their phones around to explore the 3D space with her and the other girls.
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One of Ame's strengths is her love of technology—even building her own 3D studio at home—and she's provided a lot of behind-the-scenes support for her fellow talents, both peers and the next generation. It's not uncommon to hear other EN members mention her for computer tips or advice on what gear to buy, or to catch a glimpse of her playing cameraman in VRChat streams. Even when she's not on screen, her presence is felt.
The Road to Becoming an Idol Ame
If there's one thing I really missed during that time at home during the pandemic was being able to go to karaoke. So when I started seeing VTubers hosting their own karaoke sessions, I followed. I don't know if Ame was the first one, but it's the one that sticks in my memory.
During that first karaoke livestream, one thing was clear: In a generation of VTubers filled with musically inclined peers, Ame was by far the weakest singer. Constantly off-key and out of tune, Ame couldn't carry a single melody.
It's beautiful.
For those who don’t sing karaoke, one thing that can be confusing is that singing ability doesn’t matter much—at least not when you’re around good people. It’s about finding songs you like, doing your best even if you sound like an asshole (speaking from personal experience here), and just having a good time with other people. And if someone has a pipe, that’s great too—karaoke isn’t about hating. What Ame brought to that genre and all that followed was a “karaoke with friends” energy. And in 2020, that energy is even stronger.
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That spirit alone would have made me a fan, but then she hit me in the heart with “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer, a childhood favorite of mine. That it’s become one of her signature songs over the past four years is something I’m grateful for. And if that was where Ame’s musical journey ended, I’d be satisfied. But that’s not the whole story.
Ame kept singing for years and years, and little by little, something happened. She started hitting those notes a little clearer. Her voice wouldn't crackle as much. She was actually improving! And although Ame created the ear-bleeding emoji as a self-deprecating joke, fans eventually stopped using it altogether.
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A lot has happened since that first karaoke session. Ame made her official 3D debut on the big stage at the 3rd festival, wearing the memorable cover of the cute and quirky “Puru Puru Pururin” from Welcome to the NHK! She released her own original song, “Chiku Taku” (which was accompanied by a video game based on the song), and then performed it at two separate live events, including her first EN concert. The latter was even a ska performance reflecting her own musical tastes, accompanied by her skateboarding on stage. She had her official 3D showcase, where she got to showcase her detective agency, perform acrobatics, and collaborate live with Japanese hololive members Haachama and Yozora Mel. At the 5th festival, Ame also improved her dancing game.
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Just recently, her duet with Gura, “IDOL,” was one of the highlights of last month’s Breaking Dimensions concert. And in their recent online concert celebrating their 4th anniversary, she was able to keep up with other powerhouse singers of her generation, helping “The Show Goes On” become Myth’s best song to date. Every step is a testament to her progress as a performer, and while she has never been in the limelight, that’s why she embodies the “idol journey” so thoroughly.
The Hiccup>
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I just wanted to mention this one quick thing, unrelated to her accomplishments and interests but integral to Ame’s story. There are many things that are unique to her, but perhaps none are more iconic than the chronic hiccups that are often seen on her streams. It’s unclear exactly whether it’s a glitch or something else, but whatever it is, the result is something that is identifiable as Ame. Furthermore, unlike a specific way of speaking or laughing, it’s virtually impossible to replicate. Even in this simple way, there will never be another Amelia Watson.
End of a chapter
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While hololive isn’t a work of fiction in the traditional sense, Amelia Watson is often positioned in fanworks and mainstream titles as the “main character” of Mythos and possibly the entire EN. Much of that has to do with her trope of being a fully human (albeit untime-bound) detective, but I think it’s also because she seems very human in other ways too. She’s nowhere near the best singer or dancer, she doesn’t have the gift of non-stop chatter that others might have, and while she’s certainly one of the strongest gamers, that’s not her main focus either. But Ame has the dexterity, and in a way, she’s like the Batman of hololive.
I tend to like creative people, VTubers or otherwise, who experiment and push the boundaries of what is considered “possible.” That’s where Ame thrives, and why I love her so much, and countless others do too. It’s hard to overstate how much of an impact her tinkering and ideas have had on the VTubing scene, especially in the English space. There’s an outpouring of love from fellow VTubers, many of whom cite her as a true inspiration—especially for those who want to do something different from the established norm.
Personally, I find the timing of Ame's announcement funny. Up until last month, I didn't own much of her merch. Now, as she's starting to retreat from the spotlight, I find myself with more than I ever expected: a table mat, figurines, keychains, etc. I even just uploaded a video of her to my YouTube—one of only two VTuber clips on my entire channel.
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One thing I haven't done is try to draw her. After all, I figured I'd have plenty of time to work on it. Maybe I need to change that.
In a way, our Teammate and Investigator are lucky. Not only do we get to have four years that are some of the best they've ever had, but the fact that this isn't a full-blown graduation means there will be a chance to reunite with her in this familiar form. And no matter what, what really matters is that the person behind the virtual avatar can find happiness in whatever form it takes.
(And there's always the possibility we could see her without her jacket in 3D.)