CRI LipSync Alive debuts in Project Sekai's Connect Live
CRI Middleware says its lip-sync tool generated mouth animation for the October 24-25 paid virtual live, cutting basic production time by about half.
CRI Middleware announced on October 26, 2026 that its lip-sync middleware CRI LipSync Alive was used for the first time in the smartphone game Project Sekai: Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku, according to gamebusiness.jp. The tool was employed in the paid virtual live Connect Live "GO Hoppin' Parade," held in the game on October 24 and 25, 2026.
The middleware generated mouth-movement animation for the characters singing during that performance. With this show, Connect Live moved from a real-time format to pre-recorded singing audio and choreography.
Colorful Palette ENCORE, which handles production and direction for the live, said the basic mouth-movement production time was cut to about half. CRI Middleware said the middleware will continue to be used in future Connect Live performances.
Five vowels, nine consonants, multiple languages
CRI LipSync Alive outputs up to 14 animation curves covering 5 vowels and 9 consonants, and supports multiple languages including English and French. Its audio analysis relies on a proprietary Transformer-based machine learning model, and the results can be edited afterwards.
Connect Live virtual lives had previously been run in a real-time format.
Quick answers
What is Connect Live "GO Hoppin' Parade"?
A paid virtual live held inside Project Sekai: Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku on October 24 and 25, 2026, and the first to use CRI LipSync Alive.
What does CRI LipSync Alive do?
It generates mouth-movement animation for singing characters, outputting up to 14 animation curves across 5 vowels and 9 consonants.
Did the switch change production time?
Colorful Palette ENCORE says basic mouth-movement production time was reduced to about half.