Kadokawa’s New Vocaloid Art Book Packs 192 Pages of Pure Fan-Driven Beauty

A vibrant collection of illustrations by 120 artists, inspired by iconic Vocaloid tracks, is heading to bookstores in Japan and beyond this April.

Kadokawa is dropping a stunning art book stuffed with original Vocaloid illustrations from the 2023 and 2024 Niconico Chokaigi events—and fans are already lining up for it. Set to release on April 30, 2025, the book captures the essence of fan creativity in the Vocaloid community like few others have. And if you want it, pre-orders are already wide open.

This is one of those releases that blends music, nostalgia, and artistic interpretation into a single package. It’s big, bold, and deeply personal.

A Tribute to the Vocaloid Fandom’s Raw Creativity

Each page of the book is a love letter to Vocaloid culture. It’s not just illustrations—it’s an entire vibe.

What makes this book special is the way it brings together 120 unique artists to illustrate their interpretation of Vocaloid songs. Think “Romeo and Cinderella,” “Hito Mania,” and others that helped define a generation of digital music. These aren’t just quick sketches. They’re full-on visual stories. And the visual variety? Off the charts.

You’ve got pastel dreamscapes sitting next to neon chaos. Soft, melancholic character pieces alongside sharp, dystopian edits. There’s no single way to “see” a Vocaloid song—and that’s the whole point.

Pricing, Pre-orders, and Where to Get It

So here’s the practical info. The book clocks in at 192 pages and costs 3,850 yen, which comes out to about $27.05. Not bad for a hardcover art collection of this scale.

You can pre-order it through:

• Amazon Japan

• BookWalker

• Rakuten Books

• Kadokawa Store

• Animate (for those in Japan)

• Various overseas storefronts

And yep, you’ll also be able to grab it in person if you’re attending the 2025 Niconico Chokaigi event, which runs April 26–27.

Different retailers are offering unique bonuses:

• Rakuten Books gives you a smartphone wallpaper of the cover art

• Kadokawa Store and international shops are tossing in an illustration card (design varies)

• Animate is giving out a reversible A4 visual board

You’ve got options. Choose your poison.

A Star-Studded Lineup of Contributors

The list of illustrators is massive—and impressive.

Big names and rising stars have contributed to this book, creating a whirlwind of styles, palettes, and moods. Each piece is based on a prompt tied to a specific Vocaloid song. So you’re not just looking at random art—you’re seeing how artists emotionally connect with music.

And it’s not just art.

The book also features interviews, adding another layer of intimacy and insight:

• Kairiki Bear (producer of “Venom” and “Bug”) sits down with illustrator Nou

• Teniwoha-P, known for “Villain,” shares their thoughts and inspirations

• Sasuke Haraguchi, the mind behind “Hito Mania,” also offers commentary

These interviews are gold for fans who love digging into the backstory behind the hits.

Release Date Is Locked—But Watch That Typo

There’s been some confusion floating around online thanks to a typo that said the book drops in 2205. We’re not jumping 180 years into the future for this one.

To be super clear:
Release date is April 30, 2025. Set a reminder.

Why This Book Feels Bigger Than Just Another Release

Here’s the thing. Vocaloid isn’t just music. It’s community, culture, and creativity. It’s kids in their bedrooms editing music videos on their laptops. It’s fan artists pouring hours into character designs. It’s cosplayers, DJs, and everyone in between.

And this book is a snapshot of that energy.

It’s a document of what Vocaloid means to people—not just in lyrics or melody, but in colors, lines, and brush strokes. It’s like flipping through a visual diary of fandom history.

There’s something really human about that.

What We Know So Far

Just to recap the key details at a glance:

Just Pre-order It Already

Seriously, if you’ve been part of the Vocaloid scene—or just quietly admired it from the sidelines—this book’s for you. Whether you’re in it for the art, the nostalgia, or the interviews, it delivers. It’s not trying to be perfect. It’s trying to be honest.

And that’s what makes it beautiful.