Well, the shark has finally swum out of the tank.

Gawr Gura, Hololive English’s resident chum-chomping icon and the most recognisable virtual face this side of the internet, has officially announced her “graduation” from the VTuber giant.

Now before you start imagining academic caps and gowns, let’s clear the water: in VTuber lingo, “graduation” is a fancy way of saying “I’m off”. It’s the industry’s polite spin on quitting—an inheritance from Japanese idol culture, where idols don’t retire or resign, they “graduate” like they’ve completed a thesis on being loveable and terminally online.

[Announcement Regarding Gawr Gura's Graduation] pic.twitter.com/U0bu9eYUAk

— hololive production (English) (@hololive_En) April 16, 2025

Gura broke the news in a stream titled, rather ominously, “important announcement”. The fanbase, already halfway to mourning, saw it coming. Her absence had become something of a meme, but now it’s official—on 1 May 2025, Gura will hang up her trident and wave farewell to her digital Atlantis.

And this isn’t just any departure. Gawr Gura wasn’t just some fish in the pond. With 4.5 million subscribers and counting, she’s been Hololive English’s megastar, effortlessly leapfrogging even the Japanese veterans. Her presence was massive—whether representing Hololive in globe-spanning collabs or even performing at Dodger Stadium like some kind of holographic Beyoncé with fins.

Of course, Gura’s streaming schedule over the past year has been about as consistent as British weather, but fans held out hope. She was still the face of Hololive, and her every reappearance triggered enough excitement to crash comment sections.

But now? It’s the end of an era. Gura revealed her decision stemmed from ‘disagreements with management and company direction’—translation: she didn’t fancy the way things were going behind the scenes. And she’s not the only one jumping ship. In the last year alone, fellow Hololive EN talents Amelia Watson, Ceres Fauna, and Nanashi Mumei have also called it quits. It’s starting to feel less like a graduation ceremony and more like an evacuation.

Still, if you’re already sobbing into your shark plushie, take heart. There’s always a chance for a cheeky comeback—perhaps through Senzawa, Gura’s alleged previous persona. If she does return, don’t be surprised if it’s wrapped in meme magic and perfectly timed chaos.

So here’s to you, Gura. Thanks for the chaos, the karaoke, and the countless “a”s. The sea feels a little emptier already.