We were fortunate enough to interview the incredibly talented VTuber animator itsMeanWaterfall. He follows the other remarkable animators, H and Mr.H, and とりぷる / Tripl3. itsMeanWaterfall’s (who isn’t mean at all) recent 3D animations have been fun to watch, and it’s clear his fans enjoy them. The characters are very well animated and expressive, and the jokes always land. Let’s see what he has to say for himself.
VTuber Inspirations
itsMeanWaterfall discusses his favorite VTuber and who inspired him to start animating.
Kasaix: I’m pretty sure the “Calli let me smell your FEET” video with Bae and Calli first drew me to your channel. Let no one make assumptions about my video preferences. I immediately fell in love with your work. The character expressions and general animation are top-tier. What first drew you to VTubers? Was it someone in particular?
itsMeanWaterfall: [At first], I didn’t usually watch VTubers. I liked [finding] some animation to watch on YouTube (like an animation channel). One day, YouTube recommended a video to me. There [was] something in the video about four girls using the same avatar and pranking one girl. Yes, I mean “Aqua and four Marines moment.” That was the first time I watched a VTuber. That video is only ten minutes long, but I’ve rewatched it countless times.
Who’s That Oshi?
itsMeanWaterfall names his oshi.
Kasaix: So it was another VTuber animator who got you into VTubers. I feel like the cycle will continue, and your work will get other people into VTubers. This is their and your power. Do you have one or more favorite VTubers now?
itsMeanWaterfall: Of course, it must be Hakos Baelz!! Because I like her energy and really love her accent. I would be happy when I hear her voice. She is a naturally funny person and contradicts her lore as “The God of Chaos.” She is often teased by her gen-mates but never gets angry with them.
Kasaix: I’m not surprised. You must have put a ton of work into your animation for her cover of POP/STARS by K/DA. Which Hakos Baelz video or stream is your favorite?
itsMeanWaterfall: That’s [a] difficult question. I like every stream and video of hers, especially the collab streams that show [Hakos Baelz’s] personality when she is with friends. If I [had to] choose one, it would be “Off Collab Baking Challenge + HUGE Announcements! w/ Councilrys.” A lot of moments happen in this stream.
Animation Process
itsMeanWaterfall discusses his process for planning out and animating a video.
Kasaix: I’ll be sure to look that one up. It sounds really fun. You put out animations fairly regularly. How long does it typically take you to finish a video?
itsMeanWaterfall: It will take about 3-4 weeks to complete, depend[ing] on the details and length of the video. In the past, it didn’t take long to finish work, but now I’m going into details about the expressions, [so] it takes more time to do. The animation gets better quality video as well.
Kasaix: Not just the expressions and sheer, but you utilize different model types, too. It’s all very impressive. How do you plan videos? Do you take one or more clips and animate the characters acting out what the VTubers did, or do you cobble together multiple clips to create your own scene?
itsMeanWaterfall: Sometimes, the idea is from a stream. I would imagine that if those situations turn[ed] [into an] animation, what [would be] the postures and movements? [Then I] sketch it in [a] storyboard. But sometimes, I have an original idea, so I will choose a character suitable for that situation. [One] that does not make the viewer feel strange [about] the VTuber they know. My plan when I upload the video is to do three or more videos “[w]ith the same main character” to let the viewer feel their attachment to that character.
Senpai Noticed
itsMeanWaterfall caught the attention of some digital goddesses.
Kasaix: Have any of these VTubers reacted to your videos?
itsMeanWaterfall: Yes. Sometimes, they like and retweet my video when I upload it to Twitter. And sometimes, they keep it to talk about in their stream. In one stream, Calli and Bae talked about my “Calli let me smell your FEET” animation. I [was] so happy.
Kasaix: That’s awesome. I’m glad they recognized you for your work. Which do you consider your most popular animation?
itsMeanWaterfall: Absolutely, “Calli let me smell your FEET.” I think this [is] going [to be] the most popular because that’s the first time I decided to try the new facial expression technique. It worked so well. So, I use this technique as my channel’s selling point. And I also recommend my other animations that were fun, too. XD
Kasaix: It’s such a great video. I’ve seen it an unhealthy amount of times. Your next video will premiere in a few days and will feature Mumei. What should fans expect to see?
itsMeanWaterfall: MOOMS.
Animation Background
itsMeanWaterfall discusses his background in animation.
Kasaix: MOOMS, indeed. What inspired you to take up animation, and how long have you been animating?
itsMeanWaterfall: As you can see, my first animation was not 3D animation. It’s been two years [since] I got the inspiration to do the animation channel from a YouTuber named “2ManySnacks.” So, I have followed them and named my channel like theirs, “itsMeanWaterfall.” But that animation style was so hard for me at that time, so I decided to change the way to 3D animation. I have a little basic 3D animation from my classes. And yes, I have been animating for almost three years.
Kasaix: 2ManySnacks is a great animation channel. “Eekum Bokum” and “Ejected” are iconic videos. What advice would you give to someone looking to get into animation?
itsMeanWaterfall: Watch and learn from good [examples of] animation. Practice often. Find your unique [style]. Then, you will receive comments from viewers who read and be encouraged to continue doing [your work].
Kasaix: That’s great advice. I’d hate to take more of your time, so let’s wrap it up here. Do you have any final thoughts for your fans?
itsMeanWaterfall: Thank you for following me all the time. I will make animation with better quality than before and [constantly] will have exciting things.
[Questions and responses have been edited for formatting, syntax, and clarification — Eds.]
We at J-List would like to thank itsMeanWaterfall again for taking the time to talk to us. You can find more of his phenomenal animations on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok.
If you want to further your appreciation for VTubers, J-List can help. The Gawr Gura Figma Figure from hololive Production is now available for pre-order. Any good chumbud would love to bring Gura and Bloop home.
