{"rewrite":{"id":"r_25ef8e218db123c697618585","clusterId":"c_aff96a0f27f1111d934b3a00","slug":"thinkr-opens-first-cross-studio-audition-with-virtual-and-real-artist-categories","model":"deepseek-v4-1-flash","headline":"THINKR Opens First Cross-Studio Audition With Virtual And Real Artist Categories","summary":"THINKR, the company behind KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO, opened applications for \"THINKR AUDITION 2026\" on Monday, October 5. The application period runs until Tuesday, December 8 at 23:59. The audition is the company's first across its studios and accepts entries in two categories: the Virtual Artist Category and the Real Artist Category. The Virtual Artist Category is led by KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO, which has held auditions three times so far, and this round is the fourth. The Real Artist Category is run jointly by ALLT STUDIO, the newly established KYOKAI STUDIO, and UNKNOWN LAB. There are no age, gender, or nationality limits as long as the applicant lives in Japan. Applicants must not hold an exclusive contract with a production company or record label, and minors need parental consent. KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO General Producer PIEDPIPER and members from all four areas join the judging panel. Outstanding applicants receive proposals and support for activity plans, including song production and lessons toward a debut.","whyItMatters":"The audition opens THINKR's formerly KAMITSUBAKI-only talent pipeline to its three other labels, so the Real Artist Category now draws from three studios that did not run a joint search before.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eTHINKR began accepting entries for \u0026#34;THINKR AUDITION 2026\u0026#34; on October 5, with the window closing December 8 at 23:59. Applications run through the two categories, and entry requires only that the applicant lives in Japan; there are no age, gender, or nationality limits, though minors need parental consent and anyone under an exclusive contract with a production company or record label is excluded.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe company traces its virtual artist work to 2018, when it began producing the virtual singer Kaf, and it established KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO in October 2019. That studio is home to Kaf, Rim, Harusaruhi, Isekai Joucho, and Koko, and since a reorganization in September 2026 it has specialized in producing virtual artists. ALLT STUDIO spun off from KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO in May 2024 as a label for alternative artists from the internet and counts DUSTCELL, Guiano, Onuma Parser, and Sasagawa Mao among its roster. The reorganization in September 2026 also produced KYOKAI STUDIO, which houses Azusagawa, the music unit Empty old City, and Megurika, and UNKNOWN LAB, an R\u0026amp;D division centered on PIEDPIPER that works on new artists, IP, games, and experiential content.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"THINKR's new audition splits entry into Virtual and Real Artist categories, and the Real side is run by ALLT STUDIO, KYOKAI STUDIO, and UNKNOWN LAB together. Applications close December 8 at 23:59.","twitterPost":"No age, gender, or nationality limits for THINKR AUDITION 2026, only two conditions: live in Japan, and hold no exclusive contract with a production company or record label. Minors need parental consent. Entries close December 8.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"THINKR has opened its first audition spanning its studios, taking entries in a Virtual Artist Category led by KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO and a Real Artist Category run by ALLT STUDIO, KYOKAI STUDIO, and UNKNOWN LAB. Applications close December 8 at 23:59, with PIEDPIPER and judges from all four areas on the panel.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"KAI-YOU\",\"url\":\"https://kai-you.net/article/96742\",\"title\":\"THINKR Opens Applications for Its First Cross-Studio Audition, Recruiting in Two Categories: Virtual and Real\"},{\"source\":\"PANORA\",\"url\":\"https://panora.tokyo/archives/158832\",\"title\":\"THINKR Holds General Audition \\\"THINKR AUDITION 2026\\\"; Entries Being Accepted in Two Categories, Virtual and Real\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":5940,"outputTokens":1151,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1791173663,"createdAt":"2026-10-05T04:12:36.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-10-05T04:13:20.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-05T04:13:20.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_aff96a0f27f1111d934b3a00","canonicalTitle":"THINKR、総合オーディション 「THINKR AUDITION 2026」を開催　バーチャルとリアル2部門にてエントリー受付中","representativeArticleId":"a_b05eb892b135b00a82e9e594","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"THINKR AUDITION 2026\"],\"studios\":[\"THINKR\",\"KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO\"],\"people\":[\"Kafu\"],\"type\":\"event\",\"domain\":\"vtuber\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-10-05T01:00:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-10-05T01:00:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-05T04:13:22.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"KAI-YOU","url":"https://kai-you.net/article/96742","title":"THINKR初の横断型オーディション、応募受付開始　バーチャル／リアル2部門で募集"},{"source":"PANORA","url":"https://panora.tokyo/archives/158832","title":"THINKR、総合オーディション 「THINKR AUDITION 2026」を開催　バーチャルとリアル2部門にてエントリー受付中"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["THINKR AUDITION 2026"],"studios":["THINKR","KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO"],"people":["Kafu"],"type":"event","domain":"vtuber","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["THINKR opened applications for \"THINKR AUDITION 2026\" on Monday, October 5, and the entry period ends Tuesday, December 8 at 23:59.","The audition accepts applicants in two categories, the Virtual Artist Category led by KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO and the Real Artist Category run jointly by ALLT STUDIO, KYOKAI STUDIO, and UNKNOWN LAB.","KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO General Producer PIEDPIPER and members from all four areas take part in the judging, and outstanding applicants receive support including song production and lessons toward a debut.","THINKR founded in 2007, began producing virtual singer Kaf in 2018, and established KAMITSUBAKI STUDIO in October 2019."]}