I-Style Project Archive
Welcome to the I-Style Project shrine-archive-webpage thing :] This is a section of my website dedicated to my favorite vocal synths: Aoki Lapis and Merli. thx for checking this out <3.
DISCLAIMER: this site and its webmaster are completely unassociated with I-Style Project, Studio Deen, Surfer's Paradise, or any other groups/individuals mentioned on this page. i claim no ownership of anything on this section of my page besides the coding itself.
This page is a WIP!
What is this page?
as stated above this is a page dedicated to my favorite vocal synthesizers. this page seeks to showcase information about them and maybe make some new fans in the process... :3...?
What are vocal synthesizers?
in the simplest terms possible: a voice provider creates samples of unique sounds that is put into a machine by a company, and creates a "voicebank" or a synthesized voice that can sing or talk. you're probably familiar with some software known for hosting these voicebanks such as Vocaloid, Utau, Synth V, CeVio, and ACE Studio. this is again very simple terms, i recommend doing your own research if you wish to know more.
while voicebanks are a voice provider's voice and may have a mascot representative of the voice provider, voicebanks are not real people and are akin to an instrument.
you may notice a prevalent theme of AI in recent vocal synth products. it should be noted that since the voice providers consent and are compensated for their work this is considered an ethical use of AI.
Who is I-Style Project?
while the parents of vocal synth software are capable of producing their own in-house vocal synths, more often than not outside companies will come in to create their own for the software. I-Style Project is one such company.
I-Style Project is a collaboration between Studio DEEN (a japanese animation studio known for Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2, Fruits Basket, and more) and Surfer's Paradise (a doujin/fancomic e-retailer). they, alongside some assistance from vocaloid fans, released two Vocaloid voicebanks (Aoki Lapis and Merli) as well as one CoeAvatar voicebank (Aoki Lapis). As of 2025 the company is considered inactive, but the two individual companies seem to be active independently.
What is CoeAvatar?
Oh boy.
Vocaloid is a very well known name even among non vocal synth fans, but CoeAvatar is one that is way more niche. It was more akin to a text-to-speech program for V-Tubers and streamers who did not want to use their real voice, as opposed to an instrument to accompany a song.
The service was pretty controversial, mostly due to allegations of crypto company and NFT involvement. Considering vocal synth communities are largely made up of artists... CoeAvatar was kind of doomed. Which was really unfortunate, since it was considered Aoki Lapis's final resting place.
As of March 31st 2025, CoeAvatar is no longer in service, but you can still visit the website and see what was offered. Link (JP).
To Do List:
- Create banner for HOME
- Add Merli focused songs to SONGS
- Add images and links to CONCERTS/COLLABS
- Finish CONCERTS/COLLABS
- the entire MERCH page
- the entire OTHER PROMO STUFF page
Special Thanks
Special thanks to the Vocaloid Fandom Wiki for providing the launch point for all info gathered here.
Thank you to the VSinger English Repository for inspiring this page!
and thanks to all the Aoki Lapis and Merli fans for keeping them in the collective consciousness :]
Character Info
Disclaimer: Many vocal synthesizers, while having some info provided, tend to leave things open to interpretation or otherwise encourage creative freedom involving mascots. Do not take this as the end-all-be-all of Lapis and Merli character explorations... rather a catalogue of all "canon" information we have about them
Aoki Lapis
Technical Info
Voice Provider: Nako Eguchi
Base Language: Japanese
Ideal Genre: "Lifestyle"1, Electronic
Major Software Releases: Vocaloid3, CoeAvatar
Aoki Lapis is the first voice bank released by I-Style Project. She was revealed by name on August 5th 2011, but would not release until April 6th 2012. Her voice is described as "light and cheerful" and is meant to be easy to use for beginners1. Lapis is primarily used in electronic pop songs, but has been featured in other genres such as breakcore and ballads.
Carnelian is the artist who drew both her original Vocaloid design as well as her CoeAvatar design
Character Bio
Lapis is consistently described as modest and good-natured, but has a strong core2. She is meant to be considered a "protagonist" against Merli's "antagonist."3 Most notably: Lapis is an amnesiac who has no idea who she is. She is said to be "pure" since her sister Merli "carries darkness."2
Both Lapis and her sister are fairies born from the human heart with magical voices, in Lapis's case she can give life through her voice. 3
In Vocadol, Lapis is shown to be kindhearted, but tends to worry when things get rough. She likes baking cookies, and is always ready to share them with whoever comes through. She is said to be 15 years old.4
Trivia
- As a fairy, Lapis stands at only about 15 centimeters tall. However it is possible for her to change into human height.2
- Despite being named after Lapis Lazuli, the gem on her head is meant to be a Parabia Tourmaline.1
- Lapis and Merli were the first Vocaloid duo to be confirmed siblings, followed by Anon and Kanon two years later.
- According to Vocadol, Lapis likes cookies and the smell of rain, and is afraid of ghosts.
- In offical art, Lapis is shown wielding a bow and arrow.
Sources
1 Vocaloid Fandom Wiki, Link
2 NicoVideo, Link (JP)
3 Vocaloidism, Link
4 Vocadol Translations, Link (wayback)
Merli
Technical Info
Voice Provider: Misaki Kamata
Base Language: Japanese
Ideal Genre: Pop, Ballad 2
Major Software Releases: Vocaloid3
Merli is the second voice bank released by I-Style Project. Originally known as "Project Second," almost everything about Merli except for her design was selected through a contest. She was released on December 24th, 2013. Merli has a lower toned voice, but is still capable of hitting higher notes.1
Carnelian is the artist behind her official art and design.
Character Bio
Merli is stated to be a "cooler" more level-headed character than her sister. She is strong-minded, mysterious, and also a bit of a tsundere.1 She is meant to be considered an "antagonist" to Lapis's "protagonist."3 It is implied that Merli knows about the memories Lapis is missing, but it is unknown if she is the reason behind them. She "carries darkness" so that Lapis may be "pure." 2
Both Merli and her sister are fairies born from the human heart with magical voices, in Merli's case she can steal life through her voice. 3
In Vocadol, Merli is seen as someone who is level-headed and serious (similar to canon descriptions of her). However, she is deathly afraid of spiders to the point of fainting at the site of cobwebs. She is stated to be 17 years old.4
Trivia
- As a fairy, Merli stands at only about 16 centimeters tall. However it is possible for her to change into human height.2
- Merli is named after merlinite, a gemstone known for its light and dark appearance.1 Despite that, the type of gem on her head is unknown.2
- Merli and Lapis were the first Vocaloid duo to be confirmed siblings, followed by Anon and Kanon two years later.
- According to Vocadol, Lapis likes butterflies and dancing, and is afraid of spiders.
- In both official art and in Vocadol, Merli is seen wielding a scythe.
Sources
1 Vocaloid Fandom Wiki, Link
2 NicoVideo, Link (JP)
3 Vocaloidism, Link
4 Vocadol Translations, Link (wayback)
A collection of songs featuring Aoki Lapis and Merli. This will hopefully look cleaner someday but for now this is how we're doing it. Have a song suggestion? Wanna plug yourself? contact me and let me know so i can add :3
KEY:
Blue - Songs featuring only Aoki Lapis
Purple - Songs featuring only Merli
Pink - Songs featuring both Aoki Lapis and Merli
Green - Songs featuring one or both of the I-Style duo alongside unrelated vocal synths.
ORIGINAL SONGS:
A Sugar Business - Taishi (NND, YT (reupload))
DAI DAI DAI KIRAI - Dennoko-P (NND, YT)
Daydream Flight - I-Style Project (NND, YT (Reupload))
Dreaming Night - Clean Tears (NND,YT (Reupload))
Faster Than A Shooting Star - Gear (NND, YT (Reupload))
I Cry and Sigh Overnight - Dennoko-P (NND, YT)
Immature World - Taishi (NND YT)
Kemu ni Make! - Chie-P (NND, YT (Reupload))
Miracle Great - Dennoko-P (NND, YT)
No Words - Jharbort Productions (YT, SC)
Opposing The City - Udonzky (YT (Reupload))
Shumeri - Koshin-Shimazaki (NND, YT)
Think The Future - Taishi (NND, YT (Reupload))
while (money>0) - aguagu11 (NND, YT, SC)
COVERS:
Coward's MontBlanc - Deco*27 (Cover by HaruVampire) (YT)
Flightless Bird - MuryokuP (Cover by kyaami) (YT)
Ghost City Tokyo - Ayase (Cover by Tsoh Kurai) (YT)
I'll Quit Singing! - NamahageP (Cover by XiHao) (YT)
Melt - Ryo/Supercell (Cover by hana) (YT)
Meltdown - iroha(sasaki) (Cover by Origin Angel) (YT)
Rolling Girl - wowaka (Cover by TonightSP) (YT)
Unhappy Refrain - wowaka (Cover by FinnSuzune) (YT)
While Cryptonloids or VSingers may have had way more concerts in their vocal synth lifespan, it would be incorrect to assume that I-Style synths have never had any concerts. These have had some interesting history as well!
These two have also had really interesting collabs over the years
GIRLS' KEIRIN
One of the most fascinating collaborations is between I-Style Project and the Girls Keirin in 2013. Girls' Keirin is the official title of the Japan Girls Motocross team. As apart of this collab one of the racers (Sayu Yasuhara) got to ride an Aoki Lapis themed dirtbike.
+ Gamboo
There was an extended collab too. With Gamboo. I'm not entirely sure what the deal with it because my adblocker went crazy over it, but it looks like it has something to do with the motorcross stuff. It has these other girls posing with Lapis and Merli.
メカ少女大戦Z
Aoki lapis appeared in メカ少女大戦Z (Translated as Mecha Shoujo Taisen Z). While some of the art was reused assets, she also had some original art made for the game.
VOCADOL
VOCADOL.
Both Aoki Lapis and Merli have had loads of merch in their lifespan. This is here to archive these pieces of merch. Unfortunately it is really hard to get any official merch of the duo, so I have linked some fan-merchandise at the bottom.
Images are sourced from the Vocaloid Fandom Wiki and My Anime Listing
This is a category for other promotional material that doesn't fit anywhere else.