Article published: March 12, 2024
Original source: https://www.vogue.co.kr/2024/03/12/but-your-idol-plave/?utm_source=naver&utm_medium=partnership
English translation: plaveintl
PLAVE, who had their first stage on March 12th last year, has now celebrated their 1st debut anniversary. On the 6th, PLAVE became the first virtual idol to win first place on Show! Champion, and last month, they recorded initial sales of 569,289 copies with their second mini-album < ASTERUM: 134-1 >.
The worldview of PLAVE is powerful. The members who lived in the virtual world of Caelum were granted powers by the developers of Earth and came to the middle world called 'Asterum', a world between virtual and real. The way they communicate with us on Earth is through the cracks in Asterum. They make their presence known on Earth through their music and stage.
“Like all artists, we always want to be a group that is sincere and honest to our fans and the public.” (From the <ASTERUM: 134-1> showcase)
When you look at PLAVE, they look like the main characters of a webtoon or characters from a popular animation. However, if you look closely, you can see that the members act and move like real people. This is PLAVE's unique strength as a virtual idol that uses motion capture and various virtual technologies to combine unreal technology rather than simple animation. Each member has their own unique personality, behavior, singing, and choreography skills.
PLAVE is unique, but like any other idol group, they're ordinary. They've gone through the struggles of trainee life, had their share of disagreements leading to spirited discussions. During breaks, they all go on trips together, and when something good happens, they express gratitude to fans. In the end, they're just like any 'idol,' the only difference being the world they belong to.
