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VTuber Nuki, who posts as k9labyrinth, has addressed criticism of the $27,000 Live2D avatar she unveiled in October 2026. The controversy grew after she wrote that she was “model siblings with cottontail and ironmouse,” leading some viewers to infer a professional connection with the better-known creators. Nuki clarified that the phrase refers to shared artists, not a collaboration, endorsement or direct partnership.

What happened

On October 12, 2026, Nuki posted about her new avatar and described herself as “model siblings with cottontail and ironmouse.” Discussion intensified after viewers learned that the Live2D model reportedly cost $27,000. Dexerto reported on October 14 that Nuki responded to the backlash and explained how the model was commissioned.

Nuki said she had been a VTuber for only a couple of months and had previously streamed in VRChat. She emphasized that $27,000 is not a normal price and that newcomers can find models costing far less. According to her explanation, she saved specifically to hire artists whose visual style matched her “dream look.”

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Is Nuki actually connected to Ironmouse?

There is no established collaboration, endorsement or direct contact between Nuki and Ironmouse in the available reporting. “Model siblings” is VTuber shorthand for models made by some of the same creators. Nuki credited Kamo with the avatar art and Cypurrpunk with the rigging. The shared-credit relationship explains the wording; it does not mean that Ironmouse worked with Nuki or promoted her.

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Why people objected to the avatar

The price seemed unusually high for a newcomer

A first model costing $27,000 struck viewers as excessive, particularly because Nuki said she had only recently begun VTubing. The figure is her reported personal spend, not a market-wide average or recommended starting budget. A bespoke commission can vary dramatically with the artist, schedule, visual complexity and technical work included.

Viewers read the “model siblings” wording as promotion

Some critics felt that naming more established VTubers could imply an association that did not exist. The phrase describes shared production credits, but readers unfamiliar with VTuber terminology may hear it as a collaboration claim. That misunderstanding drove much of the discussion.

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The clip showed limited mouth movement

People also questioned the avatar’s mouth tracking in the video. Nuki replied, “I’m new to vtubing and don’t know how to set up stuff lmao.” She later said the attention taught her more about parameters and that she had repeatedly requested more sensitive mouth tracking because she had assumed the camera tracking itself was the problem.

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Tracking quality is not determined by artwork alone. Rigging parameters, webcam or face-tracking software, calibration and the way a model is configured can all affect how much the mouth, eyes and other parts move. Creators defending Nuki also pointed out that toggles and rigging complexity can materially change a commission’s price.

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What a $27,000 Live2D commission can include

Nuki did not present her spend as a standard package, and the report does not itemize every deliverable. In general, the cost of a bespoke model is shaped by several separate decisions:

Cost factor What to verify before commissioning
Art quality and style Whether the artist’s portfolio matches the exact character design, rendering detail and revisions you expect.
Rigging and tracking Which parameters are supported, how sensitive mouth and eye movement will be, and what software or tracking setup is assumed.
Toggles and expressions How many alternate outfits, props, facial expressions and other on/off states are included.
Artist reputation and availability Portfolio strength, queue length, revision policy, delivery schedule and support after handoff.
Beginner budget risk Whether the purchase leaves money for equipment, software, branding, moderation and ordinary living expenses.
Claimed creator connection Whether “model siblings” means only shared credits or an actual collaboration, endorsement or business relationship.

How much should a first VTuber model cost?

There is no reliable universal price established by this report, so $27,000 should not be used as a benchmark. A sensible budget starts with the creator’s finances and requirements rather than a headline figure.

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  1. Set a loss-tolerant budget. Do not use rent, emergency savings or money needed for essential equipment. Amaya’s advice to beginners was to avoid an uncomfortable financial position and set realistic style expectations.
  2. Separate art from technical scope. Ask for an itemized quote covering character art, Live2D rigging, expressions, outfit toggles, revisions, source files and post-delivery fixes.
  3. Define tracking requirements in writing. Specify the mouth, eyes, head angles and other parameters you need, and ask what camera or software configuration is required to use them.
  4. Check the artist’s queue and terms. Confirm availability, milestones, payment schedule, cancellation rules, revision limits and commercial-use rights before paying a deposit.
  5. Start with the minimum viable model. A simpler design or fewer toggles can reduce financial risk while leaving room to upgrade after you understand your audience and workflow.
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What newcomers should learn from the backlash

Nuki’s experience illustrates two separate issues: a creator can spend personal savings on an ambitious commission, and viewers can still misunderstand an association described in promotional language. Explaining exactly which artists worked on a model, what each delivered and whether any other creator was involved avoids implying an endorsement.

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It also shows why a high-end model is not automatically ready to perform perfectly on its first stream. Rigging parameters may need configuration, calibration or software changes. New VTubers should reserve time and budget for setup, testing and troubleshooting rather than treating the commission price as a guarantee of effortless tracking.

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The available reporting establishes Nuki’s stated price, her explanation of the shared-credit phrase and her comments about tracking. It does not establish a collaboration with Ironmouse or Cottontail, nor does it define a normal industry price for first-time models.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.