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Hatsune Miku may be forever 16 but this past weekend (on August 31) she celebrated her 17th birthday. Being one of the most beloved characters with an awesome community behind her, many took to the internet to observe the occasion. Searching with the hashtags #初音ミク生誕祭2024 (Hatsune Miku Birthday 2024) or #Miku17th on your favorite social networking site will bring you a plethora of fan works to honor the virtual idol.

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, it is her fan base that elevates Miku to the next level. Creators from all genres and mediums of art find her as a source of inspiration and produce some truly wonderful stuff. As such an important member of the industry, it should be no surprise that we get a steady stream of figures.

Good Smile Company has just opened pre-orders for a new Miku figure that is perfect for a birthday celebration! The 0x27 Eternal Stream figure is set to release in October 2025 and she is a doozy. Good Smile placed emphasis on the virtual nature of Miku with the figure construction and pulled it off. They also intend for this piece to be an attention grabber as she is quite big. Instead of the usual 1/7 scale, this figure is 1/4, standing at around 16 inches (412 mm) tall!

The figure is based on an illustration by redjuice which was the key visual for the MIKU FES'24 (Spring) ~Happy 16th Birthday~ concert. Within the Miku community, redjuice should be fairly well known as he is responsible for many iconic album covers and PV visuals in Miku's early days. We actually have a blog post dedicated to redjuice’s artistic endeavors you can check out next!

The title of the figure may seem a little odd at first. 0x27 Eternal Stream on the surface doesn't look like it has any significance to Miku. Luckily, Good Smile explained that 0x27 means 39 in hexadecimal, which has grown to be synonymous with Miku. Common internet slang uses 39 as a way to say thank you with 3 pronounced as san and 9 as kyū, but it has an alternative pronunciation of mi and ku.

This clever use of coding pays homage to Miku's digital roots and her significance in the world of Vocaloid. Eternal Stream easily symbolizes the continuous flow of creativity and inspiration that Miku represents. It reflects the idea of an endless journey, celebrating Miku's past, present, and future. The perfect title for a figure honoring Miku on her birthday.

Many Miku figures shy away from emphasizing the virtual nature of the character, but Good Smile struck a good balance with their sculpt. Parts of her outfit feature a holographic coating, giving it a shimmering, ethereal quality that changes with the light. Using this technique on her sleeves and thigh-highs gives a strong color-flowing effect if you look from a different angle. This helps enhance the futuristic and digital theme but was used selectively to not be overbearing.

Miku's shirt and skirt are made with some clear plastic, adding a unique texture and sense of depth to the figure done through layering. This design choice keeps the figure visually striking with a consistent look that changes with light and angel. Dressed in a stunning outfit that gleams and shimmers, Miku's futuristic attire dazzles and brings the virtual character to life.

The figure captures Miku in a dynamic pose, as if she's caught in mid-performance. Her twintails are sculpted to appear as though they're flowing with her movement, adding to the sense of motion and energy. The digital nature is also reflected in her twintails design. While they are simulating movement there is also a slight artificial look that is subtle. The paintwork and sculpt creates a somewhat angular look to the way Miku's hair moves. Impossible to occur in real life but eerily lifelike for a program.

The base is simple but recreates the background from redjuice's original illustration. It works well with the figure visual and color palette completing the overall aesthetic.

This figure is the best representation of Hatsune Miku we have gotten so far. Keeping her cute and loveable nature intact with elements paying homage to the synthetic nature that continues to inspire, we can look back at the past 17 years and appreciate the world of Miku.

Got a favorite Miku figure? Leave a comment and let us know which you think is best!

Thank you for reading!