The announcement of a 1st album and solo concert for Kanae, a member of the popular VTuber group “Nijisanji,” has ignited a major controversy online, centered on the main visual: the album’s cover art.
Despite this being a celebratory first album, why has it drawn such intense criticism?
We’ve compiled the allegations being whispered on forums and social media, along with the complex feelings of the fans.
Does the Cover Art Look “Like a Completely Different Person”?
The uproar began with the public release of the album’s cover illustration.
Many fans expressed confusion, with comments like, “Who is this?” and “This doesn’t look like Kanae.”
A major point of contention is its striking resemblance to “Oberon,” a character from the hugely popular game Fate/Grand Order (FGO). Several factors have fueled the debate:
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The artist commissioned is a relatively unknown international illustrator.
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This same artist has a history of drawing a lot of fan art of Oberon.
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The hairstyle and overall vibe seem closer to Oberon than to Kanae himself.
This has led to a heated debate with comments like, “It’s Kanae’s CD, but the content is Oberon,” and “Is this the artist’s personal style, or was this what Kanae requested?”
Allegations of “Tracing” and “AI Use” Surface
If it were merely a matter of resemblance, it could be dismissed as a difference in taste. However, the situation has escalated into suspicions about the illustration’s rights and creation process.
Online investigators have pointed out the following allegations.
First are the tracing allegations.
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The composition is extremely similar to the artist’s past fan art and illustrations by other creators.
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This has led to harsh criticism, such as, “Is it professional to rehash or reuse old work for a commercial project?”
In addition to tracing, there are claims that generative AI was used.
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There are unnatural elements in the depiction of the hands and joints (e.g., a part that looks like it has only four fingers).
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The resolution and artistic style of the accessories and the character are inconsistent and don’t blend well.
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Some speculate, “Isn’t this just a collage of materials generated by AI?”
This has led to a growing sense of distrust toward the management and Kanae himself, with fans asking, “Why would they commission a creator with such red flags for a milestone 1st album?” and “What is going on with the management’s review process?”
Concerns Over Solo Concert with “Numerous Guests”
The solo concert, scheduled to coincide with the album release, has become another source of conflict due to the announcement of “numerous guests.”
Because the cover art is now mired in sensitive “plagiarism and AI” allegations, there is a strong backlash from fans of other VTubers who “don’t want their ‘oshi’ (favorite streamer) to get dragged into this mess.”
Scathing comments can be seen, such as:
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“I feel sorry for my oshi being forced to guest-star in a concert tainted by this controversy.”
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“It’s a solo concert, he should just do it by himself.”
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“Are they just going to use his partner Kuzuha and others as crowd-pullers?”
The repercussions are now spreading beyond the album itself.
He Remains Silent… Growing Frustration Over the Lack of Response
Kanae is known for quickly addressing topics or early signs of controversy about him on his streams. This time, however, he has remained completely silent on the matter.
In response, frustration has erupted on forums and social media:
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“He’s always quick to make excuses, so is he staying quiet this time because the truth is inconvenient?”
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“Is he planning to play the victim and blame the management or the artist?”
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“He must have been the one to check it and give the final OK.”
There is a growing chorus of harsh criticism pointing to a perceived lack of responsibility.
Conclusion
Currently, the fanbase appears to be split between a group that fully embraces the new visual, saying “it’s beautiful,” and another that “cannot accept the quality and the rights issues involved.”
This controversy has erupted at the major milestone of a 1st album.
All eyes are on future developments: will the cover art be replaced, or will management or Kanae himself issue an official statement?