에일리언 스테이지는 유튜브 음악 서바이벌 애니, 좀비 스테이지 첫 화 1,268만 뷰

Alien Stage (ALIEN STAGE) is a YouTube music project that VIVINOS has run since 2022, an animation built on a music-survival concept in which human characters compete through song. Zombie Stage is a newly opened chapter within that universe, and its first episode passed 12.68 million views within three weeks of release.

Why did Zombie Stage's first episode hit 12.68 million views right after release

Zombie Stage's first episode crossed 12.68 million views almost immediately because the Alien Stage fandom, built up over three years, was already waiting for a new chapter. The VIVINOS channel posts episodes and new songs only every few weeks, and during those gaps fans rally around existing songs and characters, so views concentrate the moment a new video goes up.

By Dhesy data, 'R O U N D 1 | Zombie Stage' was released on June 26, 2026 and recorded 12,686,667 views, becoming the most-watched video on the VIVINOS channel. The 'Teaser', posted three weeks earlier on June 5, also passed 3.03 million views.

This buzz did not appear suddenly with Zombie Stage. According to Topstarnews's Musician 100, VIVINOS's 'All-in | Alien Stage' ranked third on the YouTube music-video TOP 100, counted alongside mainstream K-pop music videos from IVE, Lim Young-woong, LE SSERAFIM, and aespa. A single animation landing on the same chart as idol music videos shows how directly this channel's dense fan base converts into views.

Placing the three figures side by side makes clear that Zombie Stage's first episode ran well above the channel's usual level.

What Alien Stage actually is: a YouTube music-survival animation made by VIVINOS

Alien Stage is a YouTube music project run under a two-person system, with the illustrator-turned-creator VIVINOS serving as executive director and QMENG as animation director. Many Naver blogs say it began in 2022 and has continued since, and one fan blog introduces the series as "the most brutal music survival made by VIVINOS."

VIVINOS was already known for animation work before Alien Stage. In 2021 the creator provided animation for the rhythm game DJMAX Respect V, and in 2022 took part in producing 'Find My Color', the music video for Amorepacific's virtual influencer 'Zizi'. At the time, several outlets introduced VIVINOS as "an illustrator with about 700,000 YouTube subscribers"; the subscriber count now stands at 3.44 million, more than four times that.

There is one thing to watch when confirming the identity. Searching only for 'Alien Stage' mixes in results from an entirely different field. To find the VIVINOS animation accurately, you have to add terms like 'ALIEN STAGE VIVINOS' or OST and goods keywords.

Songs come first: original OST released with every episode

Consumption of Alien Stage starts from the songs rather than the videos. Every time an episode is released, an original OST is released with it, and fans listen to those tracks on repeat while waiting for the next episode. A question posted on Naver Knowledge-iN even asks, "Does Alien Stage really have nothing but songs?", showing how much the series runs around its music.

A representative example, 'BL8M, 6FU; - Wiege (Cradle)', was released as Aeste OST Part 9 on February 14, 2025, followed by tracks such as 'BLINK GONE', 'All-in', and 'KARMA'. One music-introduction blog described 'KARMA | Alien Stage' as "a Korean-language animation that broke into the North American real-time chart." The track that ranked third on Topstarnews's Musician 100 mentioned earlier was also this series' 'All-in'.

Because the songs act as the entry point, even viewers who see a video for the first time search for the track and naturally move into the world. The OST works as the on-ramp for the fandom.

Only 54 videos, yet over 12 million views each: the reach of an independently produced animation channel

What characterizes the VIVINOS channel is that it has few videos but large per-video view counts. By Dhesy data, the cumulative number of published videos is 54, and the average view count for videos over the last 90 days is 7.86 million. Each upload is not a clip cut from a longer video but an independently produced animation episode or music video, so analysis is best done on a per-video basis.

Below are the channel's core metrics collected by Dhesy.

What the table shows is buzz sustained without advertising. Even with zero ad videos in the last 90 days, each video draws millions of views. Looking only at the key videos of the Zombie Stage chapter makes the difference clear.

The teaser first drew anticipation at 3.03 million views, and three weeks later the main episode rose to views more than 1.6 times the channel average.

From collab cafes to art books: a fandom that spilled offline

The Alien Stage fandom does not stay only inside YouTube. Offline products run densely one after another: collaboration performances at a maid cafe in Hongdae, a Sanwolsu pop-up store in Shanghai, art books sold at Kyobo and Youngpoong bookstores, and pre-orders for Nendoroids and figures. Most of the top questions on Naver Knowledge-iN concern collab cafe entry, where to buy goods, and where art books are sold.

At the center of these products are the characters. The so-called 'TOP 6' characters, including Mizi, Ivan, and Till, are the leads of cosplay, look-up products, and figure pre-orders. Fan blogs post reviews of pre-ordering a Till-and-Ivan two-figure set, records of Mizi cosplay, and even posts about bringing in Shanghai pop-up goods through group purchases.

Interest that started with a single animation has spread into songs, characters, and goods, growing into a fandom that consumes the entire universe.

Next up, an official anime series? Growing expectations, still no official announcement

The official anime adaptation is the topic fans are most curious about, but what can be confirmed right now is expectation, not confirmation. Some fan blogs are circulating news that a full 'Alien Stage' animation series is in production, but specifics such as an air date, platform, production studio, or episode structure have not been disclosed, and no official announcement has been confirmed either. On Naver Knowledge-iN, a question asking "is the sequel coming out in June" is answered with "nobody knows for sure yet."

The buzz and fandom are large, but because the official anime adaptation has no official announcement, whether the current heat carries beyond YouTube is not yet settled. It is worth separating the fan community's expectations from an actual production announcement.

Still, the direction is readable. While the Zombie Stage chapter continues, the OST, goods, and pop-up ecosystem will grow first, and if the official anime adaptation is confirmed, Alien Stage has a strong chance of expanding into an IP beyond YouTube. It is best to watch the next chapter's release and the official channel's announcements together.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the Alien Stage sequel (Season 2) come out

There is no officially announced air date. Fan communities and Naver Knowledge-iN circulate sequel talk, but most answers are "nobody knows for sure yet." New episodes of the Zombie Stage chapter are being released every few weeks, so checking against the official channel's uploads is the accurate approach.

Can you enter the Alien Stage collab cafe right away without a reservation

According to Naver Knowledge-iN answers, you can often go without a reservation, but you may have to wait in line depending on the time, so visiting with some time to spare is recommended. Goods quantities can sell out by time slot, so checking the collab cafe notice before visiting is a good idea.

Where can you buy Alien Stage goods

Official pre-orders and pop-up stores are the main routes. Fan communities report obtaining goods through Nendoroid and figure (Till, Ivan) pre-orders, pop-up stores such as Shanghai's Sanwolsu, and some Japanese purchasing agents. Pre-order windows are limited, so checking the official notice first is safer.

Where do you buy the Alien Stage art book

According to Naver Knowledge-iN answers, the Alien Stage art book special edition can be purchased at Kyobo Bookstore and Youngpoong Bookstore. Stock and the special edition's contents can vary by period, so checking availability before visiting is a good idea.

What is the official Alien Stage Instagram account

Naver Knowledge-iN answers list the official Instagram account as @alienstage_official. New chapters, goods, and pop-up news are announced through this channel, so checking any official anime adaptation news against the official account is the accurate approach.

Methodology: The channel figures in this article are based on VIVINOS channel data collected by the Dhesy platform. View counts, release dates, and video counts are as of the July 16, 2026 collection point, and collaboration (advertising) counts are limited to the range confirmed by Dhesy. This channel had zero ad videos in the last 90 days, centered on self-produced content rather than sponsorships.

Data source: Dhesy External sources: Topstarnews Musician 100, coverage of Amorepacific virtual influencer 'Zizi', Naver blog and Knowledge-iN fan communities Last updated: 2026-07-17