YouTube content creator and Vtuber Amano Pikamee, also known as Kettle due to her high-pitched laugh, has announced that they're "graduating" from their current partnership with VOMS Project following a controversy related to Hogwarts Legacy. While graduating doesn't technically mean full retirement for a Vtuber, historically it's equivalent. As such, Pikamee's fans are understandably mourning one of their favorite YouTube streamers, and unfortunately looking for blame in a situation where nothing is particularly clear.
Amano Pikamee first started streaming as her current character in March 2020. Her popularity was sudden and rare, outpacing her peers at VOMS Project and reaching 100,000 subscribers in just five months. Since then, she's begun streaming on Twitch, debuted multiple new costumes and models including her Isekai Pikamee persona, shared personal experiences like her cat becoming ill, and much more. In recent months, Pikamee's content has become more sparse, though the reasons why haven't been shared publicly.
On Wednesday, March 1, Pikamee announced that she would "end all activities" as of March 31. She thanks all of her fans and followers, as well as VOMS Project, for supporting her since she started her Vtuber career. Pikamee also apologized for making such a sudden and sad announcement. Until March 31, Pikamee says she will continue to do streams and videos like normal, so she hopes everyone can still have "a lot of fun."
While Pikamee doesn't provide an explanation for her graduation, fans are alleging that a recent controversy played a role in her retirement. Pikamee announced that she would be streaming Hogwarts Legacy as part of her regular stream on February 7. However, this was met with hostility by many followers due to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling's transphobic views and political efforts. Pikamee would cancel the stream and say she just wanted to play the game, not that she supported anything by doing so. Pikamee has kept off social media since.
What is clear about the situation is that this isn't what anyone wanted. Pikamee has long been one the Vtuber scene's kindest and warm content creators, ever thankful for all the support she received. How much the Hogwarts Legacy controversy influenced the decision for Pikamee to graduate isn't clear, but that it will always be the precursor to her graduation is nothing anyone wanted.
Not only will Pikamee no longer stream as part of VOMS Project starting March 31, but all of her content will be deleted on that date, as well. It's unclear if that's Pikamee's personal choice, part of her contract with VOMS Project, or what, but it's the unfortunate reality of the situation. Hopefully, Vtuber organizations on YouTube and Twitch will learn from the situation and work to make sure Vtubers are better supported, so that it doesn't happen again.