Maga
Animation Studio and Many Edizioni Musicali have developed "NORA," the
first Italian virtual idol with a real human voice, performing a mashup of an
original track and reimagined elements from an iconic 1985 hit. The vaporwave-inspired music video, crafted
entirely by the Monza-based studio without the use of AI, is the result of a
two-year artistic and technological journey.
“With NORA,
we deliberately chose a path that runs counter to today’s trends in AI,
automation, and machine learning.” says Massimo Carrier Ragazzi, CEO and
creative director of Maga. “I’ve long wanted to develop a project that would
allow us to merge our artistic and technological research with the world of
music, crafted through a handmade approach true to our studio’s philosophy: a
process guided by human thought, free from haste, where every detail is shaped
with care, leaving room for freshness, enthusiasm, and deep
dedication—embracing imperfections that make the project alive, human, as every
organic work should be.”
NORA's
debut single, "Beat of a Romance medley Cha Cha Cha", is a mashup
that intertwines a brand-new composition with reinterpreted fragments of Cha
Cha Cha, a legendary Italo dance anthem from 1985—bridging memory and future in
a compelling dialogue.
The music
video, steeped in vaporwave aesthetics and created entirely by Maga Animation
Studio without generative AI, is the culmination of over two years of artistic
exploration. "NORA" (whose full name is NORA ノラ, accompanied by kanji that express
her essence and deep connection to Japanese culture) is not an algorithm, but
the result of real human expertise: animators, musicians, designers, and
performers have brought to life a digital icon that embodies human artistry in
a virtual form.
