Editing Simon Fraser University (section)

=== Promotional Campaign ===
On January 24th, 2025, an [[Alternate Reality Game]] launched on the SIAT website, with a video<ref name=":1">Studio SIAT. “Breakthrough.” ''YouTube'', YouTube, 18 Jan. 2025, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50r-W-UP20k&ab_channel=SIATSFU www.youtube.com/watch?v=50r-W-UP20k&ab_channel=SIATSFU].</ref> being embedded to the page<ref>“Studiosiat - a Production Studio for Siat.” ''StudioSIAT - A Production Studio for SIAT - School of Interactive Arts & Technology - Simon Fraser University'', [https://www.sfu.ca/siat/studiosiat.html www.sfu.ca/siat/studiosiat.html]. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.</ref> in which the yet-to-be-revealed Faye Ayato encourages viewers to help him "open a portal connecting your world to mine". Posters with [[QR code|QR codes]] linking to further videos would be shared online through [[Discord]] communities such as the SFU, [[University of British Columbia|UBC]], and [[Emily Carr University of Art and Design|ECUAD]] Anime Clubs, as well as in-person, with QR codes on pawprint-shaped cutouts being posted around SFU's Surrey Campus. Posters that were shared online would also feature an illustration of the tops of the Virtual Ambassador's heads, giving the world its first look at the new mascots.<ref>Studio SIAT. Help us build a link between our worlds. 11 Feb. 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DF9VO37RXUE/. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.</ref>

On February 23rd, 2025, a teaser trailer was released on the Studio SIAT YouTube channel,<ref>Studio SIAT. “Teaser of a Trailer.” ''YouTube'', YouTube, 23 Feb. 2025, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-LC44IjmIo www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-LC44IjmIo].</ref> revealing full-body images of Mo and Faye Ayato for the first time. An "Animated Lore Trailer" <ref>Studio SIAT. “Canada’s FIRST University Vtubers, Mo & Faye 【SFU SIAT VTuber Debut - Animated Lore Trailer】.” ''YouTube'', YouTube, 25 Feb. 2025, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIH_w3t5IDU&t=1s www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIH_w3t5IDU&t=1s].</ref> was released on Youtube and promoted on SFU's website two days later, on February 25th, 2025. The trailer was a collaboration between both SIAT students and university students from across Canada, with J Tseng <ref>''J Tseng Linkedin Profile'', [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaydesignstuff/ www.linkedin.com/in/jaydesignstuff/]. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.</ref> and Trisha Wong,<ref>''Trisha Wong Linkedin Profile'', [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishachockiewong/ www.linkedin.com/in/trishachockiewong/]. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.</ref> both staff at SFU SIAT and Narratic Labs, producing and directing respectively. Tseng stated in a [[Reddit]] post <ref>Tseng, J. ''A Trailer for Our Vtubers by a Team of Mostly First Time Animators.'', 25 Feb. 2025, [https://www.reddit.com/r/animation/comments/1iy94wr/a_trailer_for_our_vtubers_by_a_team_of_mostly/ www.reddit.com/r/animation/comments/1iy94wr/a_trailer_for_our_vtubers_by_a_team_of_mostly/].</ref> how the team was comprised of mostly junior animators, with Wong adding that the main inspiration for the trailer was the work of [[Makoto Shinkai]].<ref>Wong, Trisha. ''Ain’t No Way a Canadian University Got Official Vtubers before GTA6'', 18 Feb. 2025, [https://www.reddit.com/r/VirtualYoutubers/comments/1iswsg1/comment/mdkpi7c/ www.reddit.com/r/VirtualYoutubers/comments/1iswsg1/comment/mdkpi7c]/.</ref> Simultaneously, the SFU website was updated with a section to prominently feature the virtual ambassadors,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Virtual Ambassadors |url=https://www.sfu.ca/siat/studiosiat/vambassador-program.html |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.sfu.ca |language=en}}</ref> introducing Mo and Faye Ayato with a series of illustrations showing them interacting with various SIAT facilities. The illustrations were also created entirely by Canadian university students. Alongside the two Virtual Ambassadors, a third red panda-like character called a Cappu, representing the audience,<ref>Agonoy, Jay. “Mo and Faye Ayato of SFU Siat: Isekai’ed into the Campus.” ''VTuber NewsDrop'', VTuber NewsDrop, 15 Mar. 2025, [https://vtubernewsdrop.com/spotlight-studio-siat-mo-faye-ayato/ vtubernewsdrop.com/spotlight-studio-siat-mo-faye-ayato/]. </ref> was also introduced.<ref name=":3" /> On February 27th, a third video was released on the Studio SIAT Youtube Channel, revealing key art for the characters and employing motion graphics featuring the pre-existing illustrations of Mo and Faye, introducing more of their personalities.<ref>Studio SIAT. “Meet Mo & Faye Ayato! Meet Project Acorn!【SFU SIAT VTuber Trailer 2】.” YouTube, YouTube, 27 Feb. 2025, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bDt7aBurv0 www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bDt7aBurv0].</ref>