It isn’t unusual for Cover Vtubers to get involved with projects relating to their individual talents. For example, HOLOSTARS member Jurard T Rexford put together a voice drama, Vtubers Banzoin Hakka and Octavio are always working on music, and Hololive performer Shiori Novella made her own visual novel. Goldbullet is the latest member of the company to be putting together such a project with his new animated horror series Hollow-Heart, which stars fellow HOLOSTARS English branch Vtubers. However, unlike some other works, he’s sharing regular updates on social media as he works to offer insights into the creative process. Siliconera got a chance to ask him a bit about the project, as well as his regular activities as a Vtuber.
Jenni Lada: You’re working on a new animated series called Hollow-Heart! What inspired you to create the series and how long has it been in development?
Goldbullet: When I was younger I was a massive fan of Let’s Plays on YouTube! Titles like Ao Oni and Yume Nikki always managed to catch my eye in terms of early traditional 2D-based indie horror. As I grew older, I began to appreciate how vast and interchangeable the elements of survival horror games could be within the genre while still keeping things fresh and distinct. Ever since the official release of HOLOSTARS EN’s first visual novel, Doppelgänger, that was where my motivation went into full-drive. I began to storyboard these elements before I debuted within HOLOSTARS EN myself! In other words, it’s been in the works since 2023.
What is Hollow-Heart going to be about and how long will the series be?
Goldbullet: Hollow-Heart will be an episodic animated horror series that takes place within a completely different timeline from our existing canon lore. An alternate universe in which the members of HOLOSTARS EN will succumb to horrific scenarios. Most characters will act differently from their canon counterparts. I believe this distinction will allow the viewers to see how each of the boys will react in different dangerous situations they find themselves in. It will be five episodes long, so I hope everybody looks forward to some lore-intensive story writing blended with B movie-style visuals.
Do you plan to explore more animation and visual novel projects moving forward?
Goldbullet: Yes. When I started developing Hollow-Heart, I realized what I was capable of. What I’m looking forward to the most is seeing what experiences I can gain from producing this series. Particularly, I’m navigating what it’s like to manage a project, and I want to hone my writing and art skills while at it as well. Moving forward, I hope to be able to pursue future projects more smoothly than now.
So far, you’ve shared ten chibi sprites of HOLOSTARS EN members who’ll be in the title. How elaborate will animations be for the project?
Goldbullet: Hollow-Heart will take on the appearance of an horror RPG, and you can expect the animations to be somewhat similar to an early 2000s game. There are some more fleshed out animations and sprites… I’m still working on the finer details for how the combat animations will work! No spoilers! Apologies, but you will have to wait to see how things play out.
You mentioned before that it will be inspired by horror games. Did any particular titles act as inspiration or reference points for you? Did you play any titles when researching how you might want this to look?
Goldbullet: I am a massive Resident Evil fan so that’s where the majority of my stylistic influences for this project come from! Other games like Dead Space, Silent Hill, Amnesia, and Outlast also inspired me! Danganronpa’s visual novel elements have lent me inspiration on designing user interfaces and visual clarity.
Will fellow HOLOSTARS EN VTubers appear as voice actors in Hollow-Heart?
Goldbullet: We shall see! Right now, you can expect most of us to put in our vocal talents to the test within the horror atmosphere! I’ll be making sure to give them the correct direction, especially in this spooky setting.
When will Episode 1 release? Can we expect more episodes after the initial launch?
Goldbullet: If all things go according to plan, Episode 1 should be expected to be released on Halloween of this year! A perfect month for a spooky series to make its debut. But, of course, as development time shifts based on pre-existing obligations, the date may change to be pushed back or even released earlier! I’m aiming to introduce the world of Hollow-Heart to our viewers around October 2026.
The chibi character art you’ve shared so far looks advanced for this stage of development. What does your artistic background look like?
Goldbullet: I have three art styles that I enjoy playing around with the most! Lineless, flat illustrations, and of course, chibi artwork! All three of these styles will be displayed proudly within the setting of Hollow-Heart and bring its vision into bloody fruition!
What kind of advice would you offer to people who are looking to create their own animatic series?
Goldbullet: If you ever have an idea and you always think about how cool something would be if you could create it, I find it important to storyboard any idea you get in your head, even if it’s a little strange or obtuse! I believe there is great significance in paying attention to every single thing you mind conjures.
But hey, if I’m allowed to be a little more broad, my simple advice is to just ignite that spark. Allow it to develop into a flame. You will find yourself very surprised at what you could create with your mind alone. To want to create is to be human. The power of creativity is something we all have, and it’s a beast that you must feed.
Speaking of Resident Evil, I saw that you revealed new accessories at the start of your Resident Evil marathon! Were your new accessories inspired by the franchise?
Goldbullet: Absolutely! Total badasses like Chris Redfield and Leon Kennedy were the blueprint for those particular accessories! I originally wanted a giant bazooka, but… we can’t have everything we want! Unless…?
You’ll be celebrating your third anniversary as a VTuber this year! Do you have any big plans or things you’d like to accomplish in 2026?
Goldbullet: My plans are to deliver content that hasn’t been seen in this branch yet. Hollow-Heart being the biggest initiative to prove what I’m capable of! For my birthday, we got a big surprise. I can’t wait to see the reaction of my Bubbies!
Goldbullet can be found on social media, and he streams on YouTube.