Hatsune Miku was created and first released to the public on August 31, 2007. She was developed by Crypton Future Media as a voicebank for the Vocaloid 2 singing synthesis software. The character image of Hatsune Miku was designed by manga artist Kei Garō, and her voice samples were provided by Japanese voice actress Saki Fujita. The name "Hatsune Miku" means "the first sound from the future," reflecting her role as the first of Crypton's "Character Vocal Series." Since her release, she has become a virtual idol and a cultural icon in digital music and anime fandoms worldwide.