Summary
Since September 2023, the self-proclaimed “Pokemiku” experiment, Project Voltage, has been steadily churning out songs inspired by the world ofPokemonperformed by fan-favorite Vocaloid sensationHatsune Miku. The project saw the creation of 18 new songs from top Vocaloid creators like Mitchie M and Deco*27, and in 2024, it concluded with the release of Eve’s “Glorious Day” on March 9th.
Now that it’s over (aside from any bonus songs to be released later), we’re left with 18 fantastic songs and 18 music videos to accompany them. Since not everyone has the time to watch them all, here’s our list of the best Project Voltage has to offer, ranked by the quality of their music videos.
To be clear, every song in Project Voltage knocked it out of the park, so keep in mind that we’re ranking the music videos and not necessarily the music itself. You should definitely listen to all 18 if you can, but for our money, these are the best ones to watch.
Japanese Name:
エスパーエスパー (Esupa, Esupa)
It’s going to be pretty obvious right off the bat that this is the same artist behind the hugely popular Miku hit Alien, Alien but the visual presentation is so delightfully in character for NayutalieN that we can’t help but smile and laugh along to this smug homage to one of the artist’s greatest hits themed to thedelightful powers of the psychic type.
For NayutalieN fans and Pokemon fans alike, this video is an absolute delight, complete with the classic pastel background, stark white foreground character, and some adorable on-beat two-frame dances of psychic Pokemon in the background, one of which is the king of stoicism itself: Mewtwo.
ボルテッカ (Borutekka)
Deco*27’s Volt Tackle was the very first song in the Project Miku lineup to be released, and even at the time, that move made it very clear to fans the world over that Project Voltage wanted to come out of the gate swinging.
Volt Tackle has a wildly different vibe from other Deco*27 songs like The Vampire and Ghost Rule, instead going all in on classic Pokemon sound effects and musical throwbacks, accompanied by a well-edited, neon bombardment of visualreferences to the series' historyand some truly electrifying artwork, all of which provide a thrilling visual and auditory treat.
きみとそらをとぶ (Kimi to Sora wo Tobu)
Compared to the other songs and music videos in Project Voltage, Fly Through The Sky With You is much morerelaxed and calm, using the classic Littleroot Town theme to tell a heartwarming story about a Mudkip and a Pelipper whose friendship is as true and bright as the clear sunny skies above.
Though there’s no official English translation yet, the music video does a good job of using its visuals to tell the story of a Mudkip who flies with its friend Pelipper by climbing inside Pelipper’s mouth and of the anxieties that Mudkip faces when it must choose between evolution and friendship.
Though there isn’t a widely available official translation of the lyrics, the Japanese used in this song is at the beginner level, and the lyrics are displayed on screen at all times, so if you’re studying Japanese, this one makes for great practice!
ガッチュー！(Gacchu!)
It’s okay if you didn’t know you needed Pokemon dubstep, we didn’t either until Giga’s electronic tour de Miku suddenly appeared like a wild Pokemon from the tall grass. But now we know, and knowing is half the battle, or so they say.
In many ways, Gotchu! does all the same things as Volt Tackle before it, it just does them a little bit better, if you ask us. The visuals and sound effects have more presence and attitude, and the wide variety of presentation styles, each referencing a different era of Pokemon, make this video worth watching at least a few times in an effort to catch ‘em all. Oh, and the music is incredibly catchy, too.
ミライどんなだろう？(Miraidon-na Darou?)
Mitchie M has always been at the forefront of quality when it comes to Hatsune Miku songs. As such, it should come as no surprise that Mitchie M’s Project Voltage contributions carry all the catchy music and finely tuned vocals that you’d expect from the same team who brought us jams like Freely Tomorrow and Ageageageagain.
What’s most impressive about this song, however, is the sheer quantity and quality of Pokemon puns in the lyrics, most of which have been faithfully translated and can be easily seen via the official English subtitles on the music video. That, combined with the colorful art direction make this upbeat bop feel like it would be right at home as theopening theme song for the latest iteration of the Pokemon anime.
JUVENILE
Juvenile’s music video follows the grand adventure of a young Hatsune Miku andher partner, Eevee, as they embark on a journey to become strong enough to out-battle all their rivals on a grand stage in front of a massive audience, and we adore it.
The visuals are engaging, with a consistent artstyle and some nicely animated segments bringing the whole package together in a way that makes the video feel cohesive, and on top of that, subtle references tosome of Pokemon’s most beloved townthemes really help to sell the one of a kind feeling that only comes around at the start of a brand-new Pokemon journey.
PARTY ROCK ETERNITY
If anyone tries to tell you that Hatsune Miku dressed as a Team Rocket grunt was something that didn’t need to happen, you should probably try coming up with some excuses to avoid going over to their house for dinner, because if you’re anything like us, you’ve got nothing to say to them.
Party Rock Eternity is a delightful tribute to Pokemon’s oldest evil team, with Pokemon like Arbok, Houndoom, and more fighting alongside Hatsune Miku in a dark cyberpunk style. Add to that already winning combo some classic Team Rocket tunes from the games, and the end result is a villainous treat you won’t soon forget.
ポケットのモンスター (Poketto no Monsuta)
Pokemon is quick to go after nostalgia points from its fans, sure, but very rarely do those attempts actually seem to understand the feelings themselves. The Pokemon Inside My Heart, however, uses nostalgia effectively to play tribute to why our journeys in the world of Pokemon stick with us, accompanied by a beautiful music video and lyrics that could make even the strongest trainers shed a tear.
Making a point of the impact our Pokemon adventures have on us outside the games, this sentimental but nonetheless well animated music video takes us on a tour of ourselves, as we grow and evolve alongside our favorite Pokemon, and use what our journeys have taught us to face the challenges of the real world.
ゴー！ビッパ団 (Go! Bippa Dan)
Go! Team Bidoof! Is what happens when someone is approached to make a song for Project Voltage, a celebration of Pokemon, and they put all of their rare candies into the fandom in-joke box. Yes, this is really a song about an evil team whose goal is simply to keep all the world’s Bidoof for themselves, and yes, we do live in the best timeline, as it turns out.
With an incredibly catchy, classic Miku style melody which incorporates some nostalgic Sinnoh tunes, a colorful presentation which just oozes enthusiasm for the theme, and such incredible lyrics as “Look at this Bidoof. Look at its face.”, Go! Team Bidoof! might be the most fun anyone’s ever had writing a song about Pokemon, and it shows.
Glorious Day
Yes,thatEve. The same person who rose to global fame singing theJujutsu Kaisenopenings actually got his start on YouTube, making vocaloid music, and as much as Glorious Day sounds like a modern Eve song, it’s still a wonderful surprise to see a return to form for the artist, especially one with such an incredible music video to accompany it.
Glorious Day is fully animated and jam packed with Easter eggs, references, and fun new trainer designs. It might not be the best stand alone song in the bunch, but what it lacks in Bidoof team spirit it makes up for with gorgeous visuals and a clear dedication to quality in its music video.
