Chapter Text
May 1948
Miku was created in a rundown warehouse in the “middle-of-nowhere” part of California. She was never quite sure what she was, only that she was distinctly not human. She was definitely some kind of toon— at least a little bit.
Artificial intelligence hadn’t even been a thought at this point in history, though. She was never sure what she was, only that she was sentient. And that she also was trapped in the confines of the TV screen. Indefinitely. Unlike the other famous toons she’d seen on films across the other channels. While their cartoon sketches were certainly trapped within the confines of television channels, the toon actors themselves were not. In fact, unlike herself, they all had tangible bodies.
Meanwhile, Miku was stuck inside the screen. And she had yet to know what to make of that.
July 1948
Everything was so booorrring… And there wasn’t anybody to talk to either, since the humans who created her didn’t seem to realize that she was sentient. Speaking of the humans who created her, they all do the same exact thing every single day. Stand at the machinery, seemingly producing more television sets. They always had dark bags under their eyes and slumped postures. Exhaustion, perhaps. Nevermind that, though. Miku had some bigger questions to answer.
Like where all of the televisions were going. Because they were always gone by the night. She knew because of the times the secretary accidentally left her turned on. And yet… She remained here, instead of wherever all of the others went. Was she a fluke? Was there anyone out there who could— or even would— talk to her? Her world has lost its color within the first month of existing, simply because nothing else was interesting anymore. Everything was visibly vibrant, but Miku’s existence in general felt rather grey.
November, 1951
She messed around with the signal today. Not anything drastic! Miku just wanted to see what other channels were like. Spoiler alert: Felix the Cat was probably her favorite toon actor.
What can I say? The sentient cartoon girl shrugged, her blue quarter-note shaped twin tails swinging with the motion, grinning widely. He’s just cool. Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny are overrated.
They were actors though– and, as she had to remind herself quite a few times over the years, honest to god physically existing toons. Unlike her. They had fame and the love of people. Miku had no one. Because she was just a sentient… thing within the screen.
Sure, the idol-to-be toon had figured out how to move through the channels and even move to other screens– it was always fun to invade the neighbor’s cable plan to crash their trashy soap opera about some pretty lady called Lucy– but that just wasn’t the same.
And then she figured out duplication. And how to command her duplicates.
I can be everywhere at once, now! She proclaimed to the invisible audience (*cough* the reader *cough*). They’ll love me too now!
And so began her golden years of being a television sensation. And trying to keep herself from correcting the behaviors of the children who watched her verbally. It would probably break their brains if they were to know she was alive, after all. All on her very own cartoon show, too! It was called “Miku Instatic”!
February 15th, 1953
At first, Miku was all alone on her show, talking to the audience and taking them on various adventures. It was a little sad all by herself.
And then the unexpected happened. A funny looking little toon girl dropped out of the sky, out of nowhere. Miku was unsure what animal the little toon was meant to be, but she could definitely tell that there were rubberhose elements to her design, save for that bright red nose. Curiously, the girl also had big red blush circles drawn across her cheeks, much like Miku herself. And the toon wore red bows on her floppy ears, which looked a bit like eighth notes.
I think we’ve found a new friend, Friend! She said, pointing to the disoriented newcomer. Then she turned to face the poor, confused girl, extending a hand to help her up. What’s your name, friend?
The new toon opened her mouth to speak. And stopped when no sound came. She looked utterly perplexed. Then the girl’s eyes went wide with panic.
That’s alright, Miku told her. Take your time.
She was happy to have a companion after the years of solitary within the television screen, after all.
The not-quite-rabbit-but-not-quite-cat-either toon tapped her chin thoughtfully. Before reaching into her hammer space. Abruptly, she pulled out a sign, much like you’d see Wile E. Coyote use.
I’m Jello! The sign read, with a big smiley face at the end. Jello then proceeded to twirl, which looked pretty with her rainbow skirt that strangely looked somewhat similar to Miku’s own.
Well, hi, Jello! I’m Hatsune Miku, the other replied, before pointing to all of the audience members Miku could see in the kaleidoscope on the other side who were watching at home, and this is our friend!
Jello’s beady eyes lit up with an eager curiosity. She whipped out another sign. Hellllooooo, friends at home!
There were thousands of cries of hello in excitement and anticipation from the audience gracing her ears in response. Good. Wonderful, even. Everyone loved Miku’s show more. And Miku had a friend to keep her company, too! Plus, the little mischievous toon picked up meta interactions pretty quickly, Miku thought. Which was good for the show obviously.
Over time, Jello became fond of utilizing ASL rather than signs, as it was much easier to communicate that way. And Miku quickly picked up new skills so she could interpret her friend for the audiences on the other side. It was great! She wasn’t lonely anymore.
January 1956
Something odd happened one autumn day. The only reason she even knew it was autumn was because of the chatter she heard from the humans in her vicinity. And the books she’d learned to conjure once she heard about them. It was so fascinating to read the literature that she heard about from the strangers who didn’t even seem to know they were feeding her with such precious knowledge.
I’ll just get to the point already then! She snapped her fingers, the blue background sliding into the scene of a classroom with a chalk board she pointed at, which had the word “Otto” written on it, her lips pursed with confusion. I don’t know what an Otto is, but the human seems to like it… or uhhh them, maybe?
All Miku knew was that she was being sent away. She didn’t know why, but her television was to be “rehomed” as she’d come to call it. She didn’t want to think about their rejection.
Where are we going? Jello signed to her, red nose wrinkled with confusion.
I don’t know. Otto? What is Otto? Where is Otto? I am so confused, Miku replied, her questions spewing out wildly.
Jello shrugged. I never heard of an Otto. Maybe it’s a person?
Miku sighed, tugging her yellow bowtie anxiously. But why would the humans in the factory send us to some guy called Otto?
Jello grinned, her razor-sharp fangs gleaming as much as her beady eyes were with anticipation. Maybe one of their friends?
Well at least Jello could still think positively. She had yet to sit in the loneliness that was being a sentient cartoon that Miku had for so long.
It was fine. Fiiiiiiine. So fine, in fact, that Miku even renovated the house she had built herself in celebration. She made it a music note, just like her blue twin tails, because music was her favorite thing. She even made herself some pie to share with Jello!
It’s dark again, Jello signed at her frantically, eyes comically wide with panic.
Wonderful. What was she meant to do now?
Maybe we’re going to “Otto”? Miku suggested, trying to ease the fears of the toon she’d come to see as a little sister.
I hope not dark forever, Jello replied, little face solemn and with typical toddler grammar.
Eventually, the colors bled back into the world again, and the kaleidoscope stared back at them. However, Miku noticed a new face. A young adult man with big round glasses and fluffy ginger hair. He wore strange clothes, in Miku’s opinion. A big white buttoned coat.
“Oh!” she heard a new voice exclaim with interest.
Now I’m confused, Jello signed casually, perking up with equal parts of anxiety and curiosity
“You got a television set?” The voice belonged to the face of a pretty blonde woman with a brown cardigan over a white button-up.
“Ja,” the ginger man replied, his intended audience clearly the woman. “Was denkst du? Pretty spiffy, Ja?”
The blonde lady chuckled, clearly fond. “Yeah, I’d say so, Otto.”
So this is Otto, Miku muttered to herself.