Every year since 2010, Snow Miku designs for Nendoroids generate quite a bit of buzz around the Vocaloid community. While it started out as a part of a tourism project with Sapporo, this version of Hatsune Miku has since become its own fan event, as illustrators can submit their own designs for people to vote on and Good Smile Company then makes Nendoroids of them.
Before we talk about the various versions of Snow Miku, let’s talk about what Snow Miku is all about. From 2010, Snow Miku has been a major part of the marketing for the Sapporo winter festival in Hokkaido. Since 2012, Crypton holds contests in which a fan can submit a design for the year’s Snow Miku. Fans will then vote for their favorite. The year’s Snow Miku will appear on marketing material. Afterwards, you’ll be able to get figures of them. They’re also available as a module you can wear in Vocaloid games.
Here are All of the Snow Mikus Up Till 2024
- 2010
This version of Miku has a white, pale blue, and silver color scheme. You can also see a snowflake pattern in her hair. Crypton designed the 2010 version of her.
- 2011
This version of Snow Miku is wearing a scarf, earmuffs, and gloves. However, she’s still revealing her shoulders and thighs, so it’s a bit unclear as to whether she’s warm or cold. Crypton designed this version of her.
- 2012: Fluffy Coat Version
This was the year that Crypton started to hold contests for the designs. The theme for this year was “A Miku wearing jewels that’ll make you think of snow and ice.” She’s wearing a coat that has ribbons on the front of it, as well as in her headband. She’s also wearing a scarf, gloves, and boots, making her seem like she’s a lot more bundled up. Nanaka was the designer.
- 2013: Strawberry White Kimono Version
The theme for this year was sweets that suit Hokkaido. Kouta designed this version of Miku. She’s wearing a shiromuku (a traditional all-white kimono that Japanese brides wear). It seems that she resembles an ichigo daifuku.
- 2014: Magical Snow Version
The theme for the year was to a magical girl that reminds you of Hokkaido’s winter. Dera_fury designed this Miku, who looks like a traditional Western witch. 2014 was also the debut of Rabbit Yukine, which is a mascot for Snow Miku. This is also the year in which Snow Mikus get their own theme songs. In her case, it’s “Love! Snow! Really Magic.”
- 2015: Snow Bell Version
The theme for the year was a plant that has strong winter imagery in Hokkaido. This Miku takes inspiration from the Korpokkur of Ainu mythology. The flowers for her are snow drops and lilies of the valley. Taran designed her and her theme song is “Snow Fairy Story.”
- 2016: Snow Owl Version
The theme for the year was a winter sport you’d play to enjoy Hokkaido’s winters. This Miku has a skateboard and looks like a typical skateboarder as well. She’s wearing goggles, an owl-themed beanie, and a scarf that has snowflakes on it. Otogi Kotatsu designed her and her theme song is “Yuki ga Tokeru Mae ni.”
- 2017: Twinkle Snow Version
The theme for the year was the night sky or a constellation you’d see during Hokkaido winters. While previous years, votes only came from Niconico, 2017 marked the first time that Krypton took in votes from other sites. She’s wearing a light dress with lots of ruffles and ribbons, with stars all over. Nishina designed this outfit and her theme song is “Starnight Snow.”
- 2018: Crane Priestess Version
The theme for the year was an animal that reminds you of the Hokkaido snow. This is the first Japanese-themed Snow Miku outfit since the 2013 shiromuku one. She’s dressed like a miko with crane motifs. Taichadon designed the outfit and her theme song is “Shikakui Chikyuu wo Maruku Suru.”
- 2019: Snow Princess Version
The theme for the year was a princess that reminds you of the Hokkaido snow. Like the traditional imagery of princesses, she’s wearing a frilly dress and her pigtails have extra volume compared to her usual design. LF designed her and her song is “AI.”
- 2020: Snow Parade Version
The theme for the Snow Miku Nendoroids contest year was an instrument that reminds you of Hokkaido. The winner is wearing a hat with a feather on it and her outfit is similar to that of a marching band. She plays the French horn. ♪Maple designed her and her theme song is “Pokapoka no Hoshi.”
- 2021: Glowing Snow Version
The theme for the year was illumination lights. This Snow Miku is wearing a very long dress that inspires the image of lights hanging from branches. She has a beret on, as well as beads hanging from her ribbons to make her look like a decorated Christmas tree. Necömi designed her and her theme song is “Fondant Step.”
- 2022: Grand Voyage Version
The theme for the year was the sea during a Hokkaido winter. Her outfit is a combination between a typical sea captain, as well as a crab. This is a reference to how Hokkaido is famous for its seafood, but especially its various crabs. Detsu designed her, with Wada Arco providing the main visuals. “Kimiiro Marine Snow” was her theme song.
- 2023: Serene Winter Version
The theme for the year’s Snow Miku designs for Nendoroids was the sky during a Hokkaido winter. Her hair and overall color palette draw inspiration from the dawn, and her hair is fluffier than usual to look like snow. Isakytm designed this outfit and “SnowMix♪” was her theme song.
- 2024: Winter Delicacy Version
The Snow Miku for 2024 looks like a ryokan owner, with various food items all over her clothing. She has the classic snowflake pattern in her hair, along with the voluminous pigtails that became the norm after a certain point. Yu designed the outfit and her theme song is “Happy Cheat Day.”
As a reminder, you can still vote for the 2025 design of Snow Miku at the official site and pick which one of those possible Nendoroids you’d want most.
Published: Apr 6, 2024 11:15 am