Happy New Year, everyone! What an incredible year it’s been for us at Chorical. Let’s take a moment to reflect on 2024 and look ahead to what’s in store for 2025.

2024: A Year to Remember

Here are some of our major milestones from the past year:

• May: SELENA’s first teaser dropped.
• September: Her first demo was released, and pre-orders opened. Chorical’s official website launched simultaneously.
• October: SELENA’s second and third demos debuted, courtesy of VocaTart and MonochroMenace.
• November: Her fourth demo, produced by Techno-Speech, accompanied her official release.
• December: Digital rewards for SELENA’s backers were distributed, and our NicoNico account launched with a remix of “Jingle Bells.”

Transitioning from 2023 to 2024 felt like an elecric zap. With SELENA’s release and the start of our journey with the Color Spectrum Series, we realized a lifelong dream. None of this would have been possible without your support and the faith Techno-Speech placed in us. Thank you, truly.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next?

We have ambitious and fiery plans for 2025, and we’re introducing a new way to share updates: Quarterly Roadmaps.

Starting this year, we’ll publish a roadmap at the beginning of each quarter. These posts will outline general expectations (e.g., “a teaser and a demo”) while reserving detailed announcements for social media and blog updates. Expect the first roadmap during the first week of each quarter!

Here’s what’s coming up in Q1:

SELENA Package Editions

The shipment of SELENA’s package editions was delayed due to Hurricane Helene, which affected our manufacturer. While merchandise like the acrylic charms, stands, stickers, and license cards were ready in October, printing issues caused delays.

We’re thrilled to announce that the prints are now complete and in the final assembly phase. Keep an eye on your email for shipping information—it should arrive any day now!

“Blast Off!” Premiere

The music for “Blast Off!” is finished and will premiere on our YouTube channel at noon CST on January 5th. This lighthearted, fun track by Ex-P features KOLA’s stellar tuning and Sleppu’s perfect artwork.

A sentimental project for us, “Blast Off!” originated in 2017 as SELENA’s first demo song. Though it has been completely remade, its concept holds a special place in our hearts. As our first post-release song, it’s not considered a demo track for the package editions. Following the premiere, a blank .tssln file and the official instrumental will be available for download in the video description. We can’t wait to see your covers!

SELENA Winter Design Illustration Contest

Winter may be here, but SELENA’s style remains dazzling. The talented brAZEN-conduct has created a 2024 edition of her winter design, revisiting their original 2016 concept. To celebrate, we’re hosting an illustration contest! Learn more here: https://www.chorical.com/blog/selena-winter-illustration-contest

A Shiny Pearl

With a voice as radiant as a crystal, a new vocalist is preparing to make her debut. This quarter, we’ll unveil our second voice library. Look out for the first teaser later this month—perhaps sooner than you think? We are thrilled to share this project with you, as it embodies our vision for versatility and creativity in vocal synthesis.

This new character is not part of the Color Spectrum Series, and will serve as a general-use mascot for Chorical.

3D Model Release

By the end of Q1, we’ll release an official SELENA MMD model and PV for her demo song “REVOLVER GIRL” by VocaTart. The model and motion data will be downloadable from SELENA’s artist page. Animators, get ready to bring her to life!

SELENA Development Blog

2025 marks the 10th anniversary of SELENA’s inception. To celebrate, we’re releasing a comprehensive development blog detailing her journey—complete with never-before-seen images, audio files, and concept art. This blog will provide a transparent look at SELENA’s evolution and the resilience of our team.

TL;DR

Here’s a quick summary of Q1:

• Package editions are shipping soon.
• “Blast Off!” premieres on January 5th.
• An illustration contest featuring SELENA’s winter design is underway.
• A new voice library teaser drops this month.
• SELENA’s MMD model and a detailed development blog are coming before the quarter ends.

Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond

We’ll continue creating content and pushing boundaries with Techno-Speech. Our next two entries in the Color Spectrum Series are finalized, with one slated for a 2025 release. We can’t wait to expand upon the groundwork we established with SELENA. Let’s get ready for a year where passion ignites and optimism shines!

Thank you for your unwavering support. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

With much love,

The Chorical Team

P.S. Keep an eye out for subtle hints hidden throughout this post. There may be more than meets the eye…