Gawr Gura, one of the most recognizable VTubers in the world, is officially graduating from Hololive. Her departure, announced by Cover Corp on April 15th, took effect on April 21st. For creators and fans, it marks a major, and shocking, moment in VTuber history and an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how VTuber careers are structured behind the scenes.
The impact of Gawr Gura’s graduation
While fans have been bracing for this since late 2023, the news still hits hard. Gawr Gura had been inactive for several months, with limited streaming activity since late 2023. According to Cover Corp, the decision to graduate came after discussions with her and reflected her personal wishes.
Gawr Gura debuted in September 2020 as part of Hololive English -Myth, which quickly became the most-subscribed VTuber on YouTube. Her character design, quirky humor and musical talent helped her build a fanbase of over 4.4 million subscribers. She represented a turning point for VTuber popularity outside Japan.
What “graduation” really means
Graduation is how agencies like Hololive describe a VTuber leaving the company. It often means a full retirement of the character’s online presence. For Gawr Gura, Cover confirmed that her content will be removed gradually. Her YouTube channel will stay up for now, but members-only content and merch campaigns will end.
She will also stop participating in official events, collaborations and concerts. While fans hope for her return in another form, Cover says she will no longer be active as Gawr Gura.
Cover Corp will held a digital graduation event for Gawr Gura on April 21. After that, they will start shutting down access to Gawr Gura’s exclusive content. Physical merch already announced will still be fulfilled, but nothing new will be produced.
Featured image courtesy: Gawr Gura