YouTube sensation Valkyrae has launched her own media venture called ‘Hihi,’ which will focus primarily on producing intellectual properties (IPs) in the anime genre.
Rachell ‘Valkyrae’ Hofstetter is an influential streamer on YouTube, where she has amassed over 4 million subscribers.
Throughout her career, she has become a co-owner of esports team 100 Thieves, modeled for Gucci, and made appearances in high-profile music videos, including collaborations with artists like Machine Gun Kelly.
Now, she’s taking an exciting new step by founding her very own media company, Hihi, which aims to develop IPs for movies, TV shows, and comic books, but with a core focus on creating anime.
In an interview with Variety, she expressed, “I have always loved anime and animation, so it definitely will inspire our projects in the storytelling and community around various fandoms.”
She also mentioned, “We are open to all types of graphic novels, comic books, manga, or anime storytelling.”
Hihi has secured a co-publishing partnership with GlobalComix, a digital graphic novel platform that will take the lead on developing, funding, and distributing Hihi’s inaugural intellectual property.
Valkyrae aims to adapt stories that resonate with her personal interests, even if they explore “more mature” themes.
“We are not afraid to discuss hard topics like death or war,” she explained, as noted by Variety. “Ultimately, I feel the greatest stories tap into universal experiences of discovering who we are as humans, stories that viewers can relate to, all while focusing on entertaining audiences.”
In her Instagram announcement regarding the company, she stated, “I have always loved anime and animation, and now felt like the right time to build something that allows me to launch my own ideas across TV, film, and other mediums I am excited to explore.”
This isn’t Valkyrae’s first venture into the anime world—she was a presenter at Crunchyroll’s 2023 Anime Awards and even voiced a character in the streaming service’s original series, Tribe Nine, in 2022.
Given her extensive experience as a media personality, this latest development seems like a natural progression for the star streamer, who confirms that Hihi is already working on “multiple” upcoming projects.
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