In July this year, I attended the Dokibird birthday concert at Anime Expo—the same one that was just uploaded to her YouTube. It had a lively atmosphere, and a group of fans had assembled in front of a screen to do their wotagei performances. Others shouted with excitement. But next to me was a guy who remained silent throughout. It was clear he was a fan. He just wasn’t expressing it loudly.
The contrast had me thinking about how there are challenges to being a quiet fan. So much of how we “show” fandom these days is through very visible and very vocal gestures. Online, we have react videos and social media platforms that thrive on “virality.” Offline, we have enthusiastic crowds drawing the cameras to them. It makes sense that they would get so much attention, much in the same way that cosplayers are the most photographed element at conventions. But it can create this notion that this is the way fans “should” be, when that’s not true.
I think it’s important to remember that being quiet doesn’t make you less of a fan. You might not get all the positive affirmation or even the attention that more vocal fans do, but that doesn’t mean the passion inside you is somehow not as vibrant. I’m not a terribly expressive person myself, and it’s probably part of why I started blogging—I’m full of thoughts and emotions, but they just don’t necessarily come out through pronounced physical actions.
At the same time, the fans who do go out there and make their presence known are expressing themselves in their own way. Unless they’re disruptive to the point of ruining the experience entirely for others, it shouldn’t be an issue. Everyone is their own person. There’s no specific “right” way to be a fan, and I salute my fellow quiet types because I know the passion is there.
It’s customary to see the New Year as a fresh start, and an opportunity to say farewell to the previous year. I don’t expect 2025 to be an especially fantastic year, but I do know we have a lot of anime to look forward to. Witch Hat Atelier! Wandance! And more! At the very least, I hope that we can find comfort in art created by artists.
Thanks to my supporters on Patreon. I appreciate that you’ve stuck with me, and hope you’ll be safe in 2025 and on. And remember: Don’t subscribe on iOS if you can help it!
I don’t exactly have any big plans for Ogiue Maniax in 2025, but perhaps if I write about my lack of ideas, something fun will manifest. I really should get back around to doing a Gattai Girls series…
If there was ever any sign that I’ve become a serious fan of VTubers, it would have to be the fact that I went to the Fantôme Thief’s Revenge concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
When this joint event between Dokibird and Mint Fantôme was first announced, I felt conflicted about whether to even go. On the one hand, I had decided to support Doki in ways I hadn’t back when she was Selen Tatsuki. Mint, for her part, is a charismatic performer whose friendship with Doki goes back to their previous incarnations in VTubing. On the other hand, this was pretty bad timing, being right before the holidays. Moreover, the concerts I had attended previously were either attached or adjacent to other things I was already doing, like conventions. Anime Weekend Atlanta was the same weekend, but I simply couldn’t stay too long.
But between the lack of an official streaming option and the reveal that one of the special guests was none other than Dooby (another big name who made the decision to go independent), I made my decision to go. I had a focused mission: Fly to Atlanta, go see Doki and Mint, sleep, go home. (Also, eat some fried chicken and Bojangles.) I never thought I’d do something like this, but here I am, and it was totally worthwhile.
Entering the Venue
Upon first arriving in the area of the concert, I saw a large line outside that gave me a bit of deja vu from Breaking Dimensions. While waiting in line is never fun, I did enjoy seeing all the eager fans. There were the Doki and Mint supporters, of course, and Dooby’s reputation precedes her, but I even saw some who were clearly there for the other guests—PiaPiUFO, Phoebe, and Juna Unagi.
After finally getting into the concert site, the Tabernacle, I was faced with a second line—this time for merch. Unfortunately, the penlights sold out before I could make it to the front, but I bought a few other things instead, including a holographic ticket that isn’t going to be sold online. Also, I thought there was a chance I might not get my hands on a concert penlight, so I brought a backup with me, just in case. From there, I made my way up to the balcony. To my surprise, a good number of seats were available despite the fact that the tickets for them were unreserved, so I got to have an amazing and unobstructed view. After a half-hour delay (due to the sheer number of people trying to buy merch), things kicked off with the opening acts.
The Opening Acts
I had little prior experience with PiaPi, Juna, or Phoebe. At the very most, I’d seen Phoebe on guest lists at conventions here and there. Knowing the lineup, I actually spent a bit of time in the days prior and on the plane getting to know their music. While I got the sense that they were all decent performers, I wasn’t prepared for how much more impressive they were at the concert. PiaPi did a great job building up hype and using her 2D model to its fullest, and she just sounded great. I’m glad I finally got to hear Phoebe in action, who was solid all around, and I enjoyed her cover of “Snow Halation.” Juna’s sultry voice and presentation worked well, though I’m not quite the audience for a parody song that describes gay sex and waterworks in extremely fine detail.
Each of them sang three or four songs, and were almost half the entire concert. I think Doki and Mint granting so much time to the other VTubers is very representative of them and their desire to create events that celebrate others. PiaPi has the smallest following out of all of them, and she’s seeing a significant bump in subscribers. While waiting in line before the concert, I happened to spot two PiaPi supporters (known as Pickles) dressed in themed happi.
It was then time for the main acts, and the screen transitioned to Dokibird—except she wasn’t singing or dancing, but was instead indulging in her latest gaming obsession: Marvel Rivals. The audience spent seven minutes watching her play as Luna Snow while Mint was telling her to wrap it up. If there’s anything that a more corporate VTuber event wouldn’t be able to do, it’s probably silliness like this.
The Main Attraction
Finally, on a stage decorated with their fan mascots waving penlights, Doki and Mint warped in, fully 3D and amidst raucous applause. I can’t say enough about how beautiful their models were. It was as if the original 2D designs had been brought to life, and to make them look that good both when still and in motion was no easy feat. Mint’s concert model wasn’t her official one, but the quality was still very nice. Dokibird’s is her official one, and she even hired for it a highly regarded artist in KarakuriPower (who’s done work for hololive).
I didn’t recognize a lot of the songs, and I even thought their first act was an original number when it was actually a cover with the words “Doki” and “Mint” swapped in. Regardless, I enjoyed the sheer variety of musical choices. Doki acknowledges that she’s nowhere near as good a singer or dancer as Mint, and so her individual performances tended towards meme picks, like “Xue Mao Jiao”, the Doraemon opening, and the Five Nights at Freddy’s theme. Even if she admitted to flubbing some choreography, I think she succeeded in bringing the fans along for the ride. Hopefully next time, she can do a Cantonese song too.
Mint loves idols and idol culture with all her heart, so she tended in that direction. Her performance of “New Romantic Sailors” was a personal highlight. Not only is it one of the best Love Live! Songs, period, but I actually got to see it performed live at Anime NYC a few years ago. While she delivered in spades on the “Minto-chan Laser Beeeaaaam!” (playing off “Riko-chan Laser Beam” from the original performer), I also appreciated seeing her substituting her name for all three Guilty Kiss singers in the lead-up to the yell. However, in between the idol stuff, she threw in a cover of “Break Stuff’ by nu metal band Limp Bizkit, which has become an anthem of sorts for Mint. The ghost maid is such a solid entertainer.
The Ultimate Callback
One of the biggest moments of Fantôme Thief’s Revenge snuck up on the entire audience. A duet began with Mint sitting at a table with a cup in hand. Doki walked over, also holding a cup, and then she sang the words that brought some of the loudest cheers of the evening: “Someday, we’ll have our last conversation…and drink our last cup of coffee.”
The significance of lilypichu’s “Last Cup of Coffee” to Doki and her fanbase cannot be understated. For her original supporters in her earliest days of VTubing, this was like Doki’s gift to them shortly before her original graduation. For those who discovered her as Selen, her cover music video was supposed to be her Christmas present to us, but its removal is what started the chain of events that led to her tumultuous firing and subsequent revival as Dokibid. And now here she was, almost a year later, singing it once again, as if to show that she dictates what the song means to her and her fans.
Much of Dokibird’s return since February has seen her reclaim aspects of her identity, such as her fan name (Dragoons), her appearance (a design by the same artist used for Selen), and her subscriber count (800,000+). This song was one of the last pieces of the puzzle. In later streams, Doki and Mint revealed that the decision to have this in the concert was Mint’s idea, and that it was to make “Last Cup of Coffee” a happy memory for the Dragoons.
Dooby and a New Age of VTubing?
What actually brought the loudest yells of the concert was the awaited appearance of the final guest.
As the stage screen transitioned to a red curtain backdrop, “Sugar Song and Bitter Step,” the ending theme to the anime Blood Blockade Battlefront, began. Mimicking the ending video, Doki appeared in a spotlight, followed seconds later by Mintl. This left an open spot in the middle, where a little train car suddenly appeared, signaling a warp-in by Dooby in all her train-conducting Jerboa glory. The audience erupted and I did my best to add to the excitement. This song was also a popular karaoke choice for Dooby in her previous identity, so it felt extra special to her fans who have been supporting her these past five years. Seeing them all dance and kick and just have a good time is one of my fondest memories from this concert.
I think the crowd reaction wasn’t simply because Dooby is a beloved Vtuber. Just as important was how these were three of the biggest names in English VTubing, now all working as indies. It was as if a new era had arrived.
Bringing It Home
The “final” song of the evening was emblematic of the general irreverence of the concert as a whole: “I Just Had Sex” by The Lonely Island. PiaPi, Phoebe, and Juna all joined in, still using their 2D models. The comedic nature of the song had the whole audience bopping along, and I think the fact that Doki and Mint brought the opening guests in for this performance once again speaks to their general interest in using their platform to bring attention to lesser known talents. It was an attitude that benefited their previous company, and it’s heartwarming to see them follow through on their desire to help others out. The encore was “shake it!” by Vocaloid composer emon. I didn’t know it myself, but in hindsight, having it end with a Hatsune Miku song is about as appropriate as it gets for a VTuber concert.
Closing Thoughts
While there was no official stream of Fantôme Thief’s Revenge, the two made it okay to record the concert. Later, I learned that there was a handcam stream on Twitter that had over 50,000 concurrent viewers. Days later, a full version was also uploaded to Youtube:
So why did I write all this up despite it being freely accessible to everyone? Because I think it’s important to still have these memories put into words for posterity. Also, I think there are some things that don’t easily come across even with a video,
In terms of criticisms, I don’t have many. I wish I could have gotten a penlight. Some of the reserved seating (which I wasn’t a part of) forced that part of the audience to view things at an awkward angle because of the screen. Not only was the timing of the concert inconvenient because it was so close to the holidays, but it also overlapped The VTuber Awards which had a halftime performance), as well as hololive EN’s musical, “The Broken Promise.”
I’m happy I ended up going to “Fantôme Thief’s Revenge.” It was both Dokibird and Mint’s first true 3D concert as their current selves using their updated designs, and I cherish the fact that I could be part of it. Getting to see Dooby make her concert debut was also a treat, as was being better introduced to Piapi UFO, Phoebe, and Juna Unagi. It was an experience that rewarded my fandoms and helped me discover new possibilities. And while I hardly talked to any other fans, I could at least appreciate their mutual enthusiasm and energy.
I originally wanted to take my time writing about why I like Selen Tatsuki, but circumstances have dictated a change of plans.
(Content Warning: Brief discussion of attempted suicide)
In what is possibly the most notorious Virtual Youtuber firing ever, the purple dragon with the infectious cackle and 800,000+ subscribers is no more, her channel now devoid of all the videos that made her famous. In Selen’s place has risen a new—or rather old—alter-ego from the woman behind the digital mask: Dokibird.
Suffice it to say, I’m a fan of Doki/Selen. And with this being the Lunar New Year season (a time she has mentioned being culturally important to her), I thought it more important than ever to explain what makes her one of my favorite VTubers.
Discovering the Dragon
I actually don’t quite remember how I discovered Selen. I might have watched her debut stream, but I can’t even check because the VOD is gone. Whatever the case, I think what made me really take notice (after her iconic laugh) is when she revealed herself to be Cantonese. She is one of the two biggest known Canto VTubers along with hololive’s Hakos Baelz, but while the latter took time getting comfortable sharing about her heritage, Selen embraced talking about it pretty immediately. That’s why I included a clip of her for my Otakon 2022 panel, Hong Kong in Anime and Manga. Her Cantonese (and sometimes Mandarin) streams were downright hilarious, and I think relatable for anyone who grew up in an immigrant household.
From there, I quickly grew to appreciate Selen’s antics. For one, she is incredibly entertaining while teasing others, but also just as much so when she’s on the receiving end. During sessions of Apex Legends, Selen would use a combination of skill, cunning, and entertaining obnoxiousness to take heads and win games. At the same time, this combination would also sometimes land her in hot water, and the consequences were equally hilarious. The quick switch from her characteristic laugh to a loud “OH SHIT!” is delightful. She’d bring this attitude to everything she plays (even Pineapple on Pizza and Peppa Pig), but I focus on Apex not only because she’s famously strong at the game, but because I usually never watch first-person shooters. Selen actually made them fun for me.
On the topic of Apex Legends, it would be remiss of me to not mention the story of Team Snake Bite.
A Friend in Need
Team Snake Bite, the trio of Selen and holostars EN members Axel Syrios and Regis Altare, almost didn’t happen. Axel had been invited to a big VTuber-only Apex tournament, and he really wanted to bring Selen on board. The only problem: the tournament organizer, Shibuya Hal, thought Selen was too good. Unlike many other competitions, V-Saikyo is about bringing together veterans and newbies alike, and Selen potentially could make any team unstoppable: She had once reached Predator, a rank that positioned her as one of the 500 best players in the world. But Axel managed to convince Hal to let her in, with the caveat that she would be worth more points than anyone else. Regis would round out the team, arguably being underrated due to the fact that his experience with FPS balanced out his lack thereof in Apex specifically.
Part of the fun of team competitions such as this is getting to see the players practice while shooting the breeze, and in one fateful stream, Selen asked a pivotal question to her squad: If a poisonous snake bit your friend on the dick, would you be a homie and suck the venom out? This offhand bit of trolling would quickly evolve into a running gag, an official team name, and a slogan: Do not wallow, TSB is here to swallow.
Watching Team Snake Bite is probably the most fun I’ve ever had following an FPS, and it’s all thanks to their collective antics. For example, during scrims, they just couldn’t seem to win any games—until their coach, pro player Nocturnal, offered to buy them all pizza. Suddenly, a switch flipped, and they took not just one, but two victories. The banter, the teamwork, the chaos, and of course, Selen’s chuckles made things memorable.
Unfortunately for them, TSB underperformed in the actual event. They were possible favorites to win, but ended up in the bottom half of the results. Afterwards, Selen would describe herself as someone who gets really anxious in competition, and the skills she’s known for don’t come out as easily in a less casual setting. But this only made her more endearing: To know that Selen has an issue with nerves makes her a person of delightful contrasts. And even during the tournament, Nocturnal praised Selen for her situational awareness.
A few days after Selen’s termination and reemergence as Dokibird, Axel made a tweet:
Take My Money
As fond as I’ve grown of the VTubing scene as a whole, I’m pretty judicious with where I spend my money. I might think the world of someone, but I always want to be cognizant of where my cash is going. That’s why it took me a while to support Selen monetarily, but it did happen eventually.
First, I bought a voice pack or two; I wanted to show my support in small ways. Then came a very special costume reveal: a Moriarty/Arsene Lupin–inspired design to rival “Sherlock Poms,” a detective motif for fellow (now-former) Nijisanji member Pomu Rainpuff.
Not only did “Moritsuki” look amazing, but she even commissioned a video game based on that detective theme to go along with the costume!
Selen had already been known for being ambitious with projects. She was one of three to help bring about the VRChat mascots designed by Priichu, which are some of the best chibis I’ve ever seen: adorable, full of personality, and successful at capturing the spirit of their designs while consistent with one another. She helped expand the VRChat worlds, holding 3D concerts in lieu of actual official 3D models. Then there was WrestleSanji, basically a VTuber version of my old love, VGCW. Seeing how she went above and beyond with both the Moritsuki outfit and game, I knew I had to join her membership.
I just didn’t expect it to last a mere six months.
One thing I regret is never getting any official physical Selen merch, especially of the Moritsuki look or her 2nd outfit (see above). Now that she’s returned to her original indie persona of Dokibird, I don’t plan on making this mistake again.
Final Thoughts
I often talk about the similarities between VTubing and pro wrestling, and in Dokibird’s situation I find another commonality: these worlds are the only two where you can have a dominant public identity, switch to a new one, and then revert back to your old self. In the case of wrestling, it literally happened just a few weeks ago. Unusual as it may be, though, I’m glad we have these opportunities to see the same person again, whatever form they take. No matter what her outer shell looks like, Doki’s charisma shines through.
Although she has plenty of strengths as a streamer, I think Dokibird’s appeal ultimately comes down to the fact that she’s just fun to be around. I have no delusions about seeing her as anything beyond an entertainer with a career that involves interacting heavily with fans, but she often comes across as just a really enthusiastic friend whose caring, yet sardonic attitude adds to her charm. Whether she’s playing her favorite games or ones that make her suffer, whether she’s just talking idly or giving insight into her own life behind the scenes, Doki is great.
That’s why it still horrifies me that we almost lost her forever in the worst way possible. It would have been an absolute tragedy, and I’m grateful that she was able to come back from the brink. With her triumphant return to streaming (where she got over 120,000 concurrent viewers and over a million VOD views), I’m glad that her fans have a new opportunity to show their support.
I don’t know if she’ll ever read this post, but that’s not the point. I hope that these words I’ve written can contribute to the collective love for her, and that they can help foster a positive environment where she can thrive.
OGIUE MANIAX 