
PRISM Project was a Japan-based English Virtual YouTuber agency based in Tokyo. Their mission is to create a world where all people on Earth can find something they love and feel happiness every single day[1].
The PRISM Project members are special agents from the year 2120, which has been sent back to the past to prevent the threat of humans losing interest and passion for others.[2]
From 1 May 2022 until its dissolution, the agency was partnering with Sony Music Entertainment Japan.[3] The company was founded and previously led by YU, who was referred by the members as Captain.[4]
History[]
Background[]
The agency unveiled itself on 12 January 2021 on their Twitter account.[5] The following day, the members of the 1st Generation were revealed: Hoshifuri Iku, Tokimori Aoi and Ibuki Meno.[6][7][8] The agency got some attention after their talents character designers announced their new work on Twitter and their VTubers posts in the r/VirtualYoutubers subreddit.[9][10][11][12][13][14] The 1st Generation members have debuted on 30 and 31 January.[15][16][17]
2021[]
On 7 March, at the end of the collaboration stream over at Meno's channel, a time anomaly was reported by the staff. The culprits behind the anomaly later turned out to be the 2nd generation members, Kamishiro Rita and Araka Luto.[18] Their upper body design was unveiled on 13 March and they have debuted on 28 March[19][20][21][22][23]
On 26 March, the official website was launched. Also on that day, the audition for the 3rd generation members was announced.[24]
On 12 April, the official Facebook page was unveiled to the public[25].
On 2 June, a gacha game website "PRISM Gacha" was announced featuring only the character Araka Luto. On the same day, PRISM announced that a bug in the game, a mysterious message appeared to random players.[26] On 6 June, PRISM Project announced that they found the culprit of the bug which was caused by four strange entities: Miyoshino Shiki, Suzune Nia, Rikudou Yura, and Pengin Pina. On 13 June, the 3rd Generation was officially announced.[27]
On 21 August, the audition for the 4th generation members was announced.[28]
On 30 October, PRISM Project Twitter account announced their 4th generation. The 4th generation has 4 members, including Kamizuki Naki, Ushio Sumi, Nagare Sara and Anon Non.[29][30][31][32] After the announcement, each member made their first Tweet.[33][34][35][36]
On 11 November, they updated the 4th generation debut schedule. They debuted on 12 and 13 November.[37]
2022[]
On 1 May, PRISM Project's Twitter announced that they had established a partnership with Sony Music Entertainment Japan (or Sony Music Japan).[3] Accordingly, Sony Music Japan would be the main manager and producer of the PRISM Project, YU and Hacker would move into the advisory role. On the same day, YU left his position as producer of PRISM Project, and was replaced by Shogun.[4][38] They also announced that all YouTube channels would be moving to new Multi-channel network (MCN).[39]
On 13 July, PRISM Project announced on Twitter that they were co-hosting alongside Crunchyroll-Hime at Crunchyroll Expo 2022's New Crunchy City Music Fest, which was held from 5-7 August 2022.[40]
On 7 August, PRISM Project announced a new wave of auditions on Twitter.[41]
2023[]
On 1 April, PRISM Project released "PRISM Portal Panic", a tower defense computer game that features the various members as you prevent them from reaching a portal at the center of the screen.[42]
On 22 April, PRISM Project announced the 5th generation of members, consisting of: Amami Ami, Tsubame Kou, and Shikami Lana. They debuted on 29 April.[43]
On 4 June, PRISM Project announced the 6th generation consisting of two members Akane Jun and Kitashiro Yuki. They would be debuting on 10 June.[44]
On 23 June, PRISM Project announced the 7th generation consisting of three members Oumiya Emma, Nana Asteria, and Mako Sameshima. They would be debuting on 29 June 2023 (PDT, 30 June JST).[45]
2024[]
On 2 March, Sony Music Entertainment Japan announced that PRISM Project would cease operations after 31 March, after a mutual agreement between management and the talents. From April 1, all active talents would become Independent and have the rights to their characters transferred to them.[46]
On June 2, several former members of PRISM (Hoshifuri Iku, Tokimori Aoi, Kamishiro Rita, Pengin Pina, Miyoshino Shiki, Amami Ami, Akane Jun, Nana Asteria and Mako Sameshima) would perform a reunion concert during the Offkai Season 3 convention. As part of this, they announced that all the former members had informally banded together to become the similarly-named Prima Project.
Members[]
F | Left the group or agency |
R | Retired from VTubing activities |
1st Generation[]
They debuted on 30 and 31 January 2021. At their 3rd anniversary celebration, they formally revealed their group name, Cosmia, a word blend of "cosmos" and "MIA," derived from the initials of their names.[47] Their fanbase are known as "Cosmians".[48]
Hoshifuri Iku F | Tokimori Aoi F | Ibuki Meno F |
---|---|---|
2nd Generation[]
They debuted on 28 March 2021. Their duo is called Equilibria.[49]
Kamishiro Rita F | Araka Luto F |
---|---|
3rd Generation[]
They debuted on 26 and 27 of June 2021. On 10 March 2024, they announced that their generation would be known as Requiem, and that Requiem would continue even after PRISM Project's dissolution.[50]
The 3rd Generation has the theme of "East meets West", with Miyoshino Shiki (an inugami) and Suzune Nia (a nekomata) representing the East and Pina Pengin (a harpy penguin) and Rikudou Yura (a dullahan) representing the West.
Miyoshino Shiki F | Suzune Nia F | Pengin Pina F | Rikudou Yura F |
---|---|---|---|
4th Generation[]
They debuted on 13 and 14 November 2021. On 28 March 2024, the generation would be renamed as EverAfter, owing to their fairy tale theming.[51]
The 4th Generation has the theme of fairy tales: Kamizuki Naki in Little Red Riding Hood, Ushio Sumi in The Little Mermaid, Nagare Sara in One Thousand and One Nights, and Anon Non in Alice in Wonderland.
Kamizuki Naki F | Nagare Sara F | Anon Non F | Ushio Sumi R |
---|---|---|---|
5th Generation[]
They debuted on 29 April 2023.
The 5th Generation is called PRISM Forecast based on weather themes: rain for Amami Ami, thunderstorms for Tsubame Kou, and sunshine for Shikami Lana.
Amami Ami F | Tsubame Kou R | Shikami Lana R |
---|---|---|
6th Generation[]
Debuted on 10 June 2023, this first and only male generation is also known as PRISM Polaris.
Akane Jun F | Kitashiro Yuki R |
---|---|
7th Generation[]
These are three previously independent VTubers who officially debuted on 30 June 2023. They're also known as PRISM Cerulea, reflecting their shared primary color of blue.
Mako Sameshima F | Nana Asteria F | Oumiya Emma F |
---|---|---|
Trivia[]
- For the 2021 April Fool's Day, they have announced the 2.5 Generation. The only member of a said generation is Hacker-san, the CTO of PRISM.[52] He is set to debut on the 1st of April 2121.[53]
- For the 2022 April Fool's Day, PRISM Project announced that they would rebrand to "TESSERACT Project" with a new logo design. Also their fanbase would be changing from "PRISMers" to "TESSERers".[54] On the next day, they announced they would return to "PRISM Project."[55]
- YU explained in a tweet following PRISM's closure that the reason he picked out the name was because he found a diverse range of talents during auditions that stood out like a rainbow. His intentions with the company were to turn these normally invisible beams of light into colors, just like a prism[56]
See also[]
- Other VTuber agencies/groups managed and owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan:
- VERSEⁿ - SonyMusic's first Virtual YouTuber project;
- VEE – SonyMusic's biggest Virtual YouTuber project to date;
- NHOT BOT – SonyMusic's idol group for the Chinese market in partnership with bilibili and Rino Sashihara. The group is disbanded as of 1 April 2023.
External links[]
Media[]
- prismproject.jp - Website
- schedule.prismproject.jp - schedule website
- clips.prismproject.jp - clips website
- gacha.prismproject.jp - PRISM gacha website
- @PRISMProject - YouTube channel
- @PRISMproj - Twitter account
- @PRISMproj - Page on Facebook
- u/PRISMProjectOfficial - Official Reddit account
Twitter hashtags[]
- #PRISMProject - General
- #PRISMAlerts - Announcement
- #PRISMers - Fan
- #PRISMClips - Clip
- #PRISMMerch - Merchandises
References[]
- ↑ Main Page. (n.d.). PRISM Project Website.
- ↑ Meno Ibuki / 伊吹めの [PRISM Project]. (2021, February 8). [Ibuki Meno] The Last Memory Of Future 🐉 (Debut Opening Video) [Video File]. YouTube.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2022, May 1). 📢An important and exciting announcement from the PRISM Project Management Team📢 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cap [@cap393]. (2022, May 1). Hi, msg from Cap. Let’s support the new producer @prismshogun together! [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, January 12). Hello world. We’re working so hard to debut now... zzz [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Hoshifuri, I. [@IkuHoshifuri]. (2021, January 13). I’m Hoshifuri Iku~! Nice to meet chu~! Furifuri~✨ I’m from generation 1 of the @PRISMproj✨ [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Tokimori, A. [@AoiTokimori]. (2021, January 13). Hi, I’m a new VTuber! My name is Aoi and I’m a fox🦊 I'm debuting with @IkuHoshifuri and @IbukiMeno [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Ibuki, M. [@IbukiMeno]. (2021, January 13). Hi ฅ'ω'ฅ I'm Meno, a new vtuber from generation 1 of @PRISMproj with @IkuHoshifuri & @AoiTokimori! [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Nyori [@nyorinyori]. (2021, January 13). プリズムプロジェクト一期生の星降いくちゃんをデザインいたしましたよろしくお願いします! [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Mikisai [@mikisaidayo]. (2021, January 13). Vtuber「時守あおい」さんのイラスト担当させていただきます!!デビューまでもうすぐです! 私も滅茶苦茶楽しみでして超心待ちにしております……。 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Siraga [@siragagaga]. (2021, January 13). プリズムプロジェクト一期生の伊吹めのちゃんをデザインさせていただきました👼!未来系シロドラゴンちゃんです🐉 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Hoshifuri, I. [u/IkuHoshifuri]. (2021, January 14). Hello from the future!! 💖 I’m Hoshifuri Iku~! ✨ Nice to meet chu~! ✨ Generation 1 of the Prism Project! 💖 [Reddit post]. Reddit.
- ↑ Tokimori, A. [u/AoiTokimori]. (2021, January 20). Hello, my name is Aoi! I'm a fox 🦊 and also a time guardian, but we'll talk about that later. I'm an upcoming VTuber [Reddit post]. Reddit.
- ↑ Ibuki, M. [u/Ibuki-Meno]. (2021, January 20). An invitation from the future!! ♥Ibuki Meno🐉 Generation 1 of the Prism project♥ [Reddit post]. Reddit.
- ↑ Hoshifuri, I. [Iku Hoshifuri / 星降いく [PRISM Project]]. (2021, January 30). 【DEBUT STREAM】 Iku's Debut Stream!! ♡ Hello Earth!! 【PRISM Project Generation 1】 [Video File]. YouTube.
- ↑ Tokimori, A. [Aoi Tokimori / 時守あおい [PRISM Project]]. (2021, January 30). Humans! It's Time for Aoi Tokimori's Debut Stream! [Video File]. YouTube.
- ↑ Ibuki, M. [Meno Ibuki / 伊吹めの [PRISM Project]]. (2021, January 31). Ibuki Meno's Debut streaming!!! Nice to meet nyo~ [Video File]. YouTube.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, March 7). REPORT ON THE MARCH 7TH 2021 ANOMALY [Twitter Events]. Twitter.
- ↑ Kamishiro, R. [@RitaKamishiro]. (2021, March 13). Cyber Angel: Rita Kamishiro here! 👼so excited to be a part of PRISM Project Gen. 2 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Araka, L. [@LutoAraka]. (2021, March 13). Sorry, I lied. I’m not really Dio. But thanks to my amazing and beautiful @amsrntk3 mama and @ShirasawaKazane papa I’m 10000000 times cuter [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, March 14). Retrieval complete. Brace for impact on March 28th, 2021. Introducing the 2nd Generation of PRISM Project. 3月28日 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Kamishiro, R. [Rita Kamishiro / 神代りた [PRISM Project]]. (2021, March 28). 【DEBUT STREAM】 Rita's Debut Stream! Hello everyone~!【PRISM Project Generation 2】 [Video File]. YouTube.
- ↑ Araka, L. [Luto Araka / 新火ると [PRISM Project]]. (2021, March 28). 【Debut】 Araka Luto's debut!!!!! Wooooooo!!!!!! 【PRISM Project Generation 2】 [Video File]. YouTube.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, March 26). [AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT] Recruitment for Generation 3 of PRISM Project has begun! Aspiring agents from around the world can apply to join [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, April 12). The PRISM Project Official Facebook Page is now open! To celebrate, we are hosting a special giveaway. [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, June 2). [EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT] We’ve received multiple reports of a mysterious error message appearing for some PRISMers. We are investigating the cause. Meanwhile, we urge everyone to be cautious and avoid any suspicious links displayed upon the page. [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, June 13). [ANNOUNCEMENT] Introducing PRISM Project 3rd Generation! Please welcome our new Agents. [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, August 21). [📢AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT📢] Are you ready to become an Agent? Auditions for PRISM Project 4th Generation are now open! [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, October 30). In this story, the wolf is the hero. @NakiKamizuki is on the prowl. Will you be her next meal? [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, October 30). The ocean holds many sea-crets, but now one bubbles to the surface. Introducing @SumiUshio , your friendly, neighborhood mermaid. [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, October 30). Weary traveler, what are your stories? @SaraNagare will light your path. Make sure to sssay hello. [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, October 30). She's late, she's late, for a very important date...? @non_a_non enters the fray. The NONsense ahead may confuse you... But looking away is a NON-option. [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Naki [@nakikamizuki]. (2021, October 30). My name is Naki Kamizuki. I'm ??? years old... [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Sumi [@sumiushio]. (2021, October 30). To... °•. [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Sara [@saranagare]. (2021, October 30). Mind if I slither into your DMs? We could create hiss-tory. [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Non [non_a_non]. (n.d.). SORRY IM LATE! But have no fear, my little angles. For stepbr— Non is here~!... [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2021, November 11). Less than two days until the debuts of PRISM Project's 4th Generation! Join us this weekend to witness the beginning of their story... [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Shogun [@prismshogun]. (2022, May 1). PRISM LOVE ❤❤❤ [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2022, May 1). We are currently migrating PRISM Project's YouTube channels to a new MCN! You may see some automated emails or notices from YouTube about memberships and other features; this process should be finished within a few days. Thanks for your understanding! [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2022, July 13). PRISM Project is excited to co-host alongside Crunchyroll-Hime at Crunchyroll Expo's New Crunchy City Music Fest! Join in the fun with all twelve of our Agents over the 3-day event, from August 5th-7th. We hope to see you there! [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2022, August 7). 📢ANNOUNCEMENT📢 "VTubers are human, too." Announcing PRISM Project's General Audition 2022! Accepting applicants of all genders! Application Period: [Sunday, August 7, 2022 2:00 PM PT – Friday, September 9, 2022 11:59 PM PT [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2023, April 1). Surprise! We are proud to announce PRISM Portal Panic, a game from PRISM Project! Can you protect the PRISM Agents by pushing them back from the mysterious portal!? [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2023, April 22). 【New Agents Announcement】 PRISM Project is proud to present its 5th Generation! Please welcome our new Agents: Ami Amami (@itsAmiAmami), Kou Tsubame (@KouTsubame), and Lana Shikami (@LanaShikami) Debuts starting: 4/28 @ 7 pm PT (4/29 @ 11 am JST) https://youtu.be/4e9upEpCtrI [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2023, June 4). 【New Agents Announcement】 PRISM Project is proud to present its 6th Generation! Please welcome our new Agents: Jun Akane (@AkaneJun_) Yuki Kitashiro (@yukikitashiro) Debuts starting: 6/9 @ 7 pm PT (6/10 @ 11 am JST) [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ PRISM Project [@PRISMproj]. (2023, June 23). 【PRISM Project 7th Generation Announcement】 Please welcome Mako Sameshima ( @sharksprite ), Nana Asteria ( @NanaAsteria ), and Emma Oumiya ( @OumiyaEmma ) as the newest Agents of PRISM Project!🎉 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.. (2024, March 2). 【Press Release】Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.’s “PRISM Project” VTuber Brand to Cease Operations on March 31, 2024 [Text]. PRISM Project.
- ↑ PRISM Project Official. (2024, January 27). Celebrate 3 Years with Iku, Aoi, and Meno! [Livestream]. YouTube.
- ↑ @IkuHoshifuri. (2024, June 23). Thank you SO MUCH cosmians for joining our collab today! In case you missed it, you can join the Cosmia discord server now! 💖💙💚 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ Luto, A. [@LutoAraka]. (2024, March 31). Btw we never posted but gen 2 is actually called Equilibria! [Post]. X.
- ↑ PRISM Project Official. (2024, March 10). 【Gen 3 Collab】New Outfits Celebration!【PRISM Project】 [Video]. YouTube. @ 17:38
- ↑ PRISM Project Official. (2024, March 28). 【Gen 4 Collab】New Outfits Celebration!【PRISM Project】 [Video]. YouTube.
- ↑ [PRISM Project] PRISM Project Official Website - 2.5 Generation [Press release]. (n.d.). PRISM Project Website.
- ↑ Hacker-san [@shimprism]. (2021, April 1). Here's my schedule! Looking forward to my debut...😎 [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ TESSERACT Project [@PRISMproj]. (2022, April 1). [IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE TESSERACT PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM] [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ TESSERACT Project [@PRISMproj]. (2022, April 2). After further consideration, we have returned to 3-dimensional space for the time being. TESSERACT Project is now PRISM Project once more! [Tweet]. Twitter.
- ↑ CAPTAIN | Anilive CEO [@Cap039]. (2024, April 1). Why “PRISM”? When I found them during auditions, their diverse talents appeared to us like the colors of a rainbow. We wanted to make the normally invisible colors of light visible to everyone through this project. Yes, we aspired to play a role similar to that of a prism.😌 [Tweet]. Twitter.