I don’t always know what to make of Phase Connect. It has a (not entirely unearned) reputation for being unhinged both in terms of its talents and its audience, yet it appears to be the most stable and enduring of all North America–based VTuber companies. I think Phase’s aura may be one that straddles the line between underdog success story and big player, and each of the girls conveys this in a different way that appeals to their viewers. And over the past five years, I’ve become a fan of quite a few of them myself, charmed by each in different ways.

One gateway has actually been their 3D concert; I attended one at Anime NYC 2024, and it was a nice (if at times confusing) introduction to all the performers. So while I didn’t attend the inaugural Phase Con, I did buy streaming tickets for all three of its concerts: Grand Passage, Fifth Orbit (a Gen-1 5th anniversary celebration), and Bon Voyage. Notably, these concerts featured the 3D debuts of Phase Connect’s first-generation Japanese members and the entirety of its second generation. 

First things first, I have a couple small complaints to get out of the way. First, Kaneko Lumi’s solo performance was cut from the stream, presumably because of rights/permissions issues. Given that she’s the best singer among Invaders Wish, I wish I could have seen it! Second, I wish there was a package deal for the concerts so I didn’t have to pay three separate processing fees. Otherwise, the tickets were pretty affordable overall, and I was glad to support the talents overall.

Those inconveniences aside, I enjoyed the concerts. There’s a nice balance where it feels polished without being too perfect, and I think it matches well with the general Phase Connect vibe. I also liked the way each girl played to their fanbase while also being accessible to curious newcomers. As with so many VTubers, there was a spectrum, from dedicated performers to those who strived to live up to the spotlight despite it being unfamiliar territory. 

Fujikura Uruka, for example, is one of the music-specialized heavy hitters in Phase. Whether it was singing “Mephisto” from Oshi no Ko solo or delivering a compelling cover of “Jane Doe” from Chainsaw Man with Lumi and Amanogawa Shiina, Uruka’s low vocals are a joy to listen to. But while her voice was an obvious strong suit, I also got a kick out of the way she moves on stage. Uruka went from big swinging limbs and bouncy steps to smooth body rolls, and looked good doing it all.

Then there’s Dizzy Dokuro. I truly mean this with no ill intent, but I am a fan of how hard she tries to make up for her lack of vocal ability with effort and planning, despite the emotional and physical toll she inflicts on herself. “The Real Folk Blues” from Cowboy Bebop was definitely an unexpected choice, and her sultry moves matched the tone of the song. Her duet on “Brave Heart” from Digimon Adventure has also put Chisaka Airi on my radar, and I definitely would enjoy seeing them together again. 

Unlike Uruka and Dizzy, I only got into Amanogawa Shiina relatively recently. My gateway was actually her banana outfit; between this and the hot dog Shiori Novella from hololive, and I might be a sucker for silly costumes. With Shiina’s performances, I felt like this was a girl who can really dazzle an audience both on stage and on stream. The entirety of Phase Origins JP (Nasa, Michiru, and Iori) also ended up catching my attention. My exposure to them before this was fairly sparse, but I like their designs overall and thought their performances were really cute. 

As an aside, one thing I find interesting is that someone’s first 3D model doesn’t have to be their first design. This was the case with Dizzy and her nurse uniform, but Shiina was also wearing a later outfit as well.

I think the most iconic moment of all was the first song for the Bon Voyage concert:a group performance of “Pippa the Ripper,” originally (and reluctantly) by Pipkin Pippa. A lot of VTubers eventually become embarrassed about their early songs and creative output, but unlike, say Calliope Mori and the way people cover it out of a pure sense of admiration, things are a little more complicated in this case. It simultaneously acts as a badge of shame for Pippa, a fan-favorite tune, an opportunity to troll Pippa, and an anthem of sorts for Phase as a whole. Starting off with just Uruka and Lumi, more and more of the talents kept joining in as Pippa’s voice could be heard loudly protesting until she ended up on screen and heavily conflicted and ready to fight everyone. The whole thing was really Phase Connect in a nutshell.

I don’t know if I’ll ever attend Phase Con itself, or what the future holds for them. Nevertheless, it’s been a blast seeing each person getting their 3D and then shining on stage. And for those who still want to watch, the concerts are still available to view on SPWN for a couple more days.