Get ready for virtual vibes!
Somewhere and some time on the internet, you must have watched a video where, instead of a real human being, an animated character was talking, singing, or playing games with expressive and dynamic presentations. It's like if Peter Pan decided to live stream League of Legends on Twitch, but instead of Disney, it's powered by cutting-edge technology. That's Vtubing for you!
This relatively new phenomenon isn't confined by language or cultural barriers. Due to this reason, VTubers attract international audiences to offer a fresh and engaging alternative to traditional content. In 2023, viewership in the community surged, reaching over 1.1 billion hours of total watch time with a 14.2% rise from the previous year.
VTubers are real people who broadcast live and engage with fans while hiding behind animated avatars. While the term references the video platform YouTube, VTubers can be found on platforms such as Niconico, Twitch, Facebook, Twitter, and Bilibili. ****
It combines digital cosplay and performance art, making for a thoroughly interesting experience. The Vtuber controls the digital avatars in real-time using motion capture and face-tracking technologies. Commonly associated with anime, manga, and other traditional references that serve as windows into Japanese culture, VTubers came to prominence in the mid 2010s, in Japan.
The first step in the process is creating a 2D or 3D avatar, which is then animated using software that uses cameras and sensors to record the Vtuber's body language and facial emotions. The avatar utilizes this data, which causes it to move and respond in sync with the performance. On websites like YouTube or Twitch, the animated character is streamed performing games, singing, or conversing with viewers.
On October 14, 2006, Super Sonico, a fictional character of Nitroplus (a Japanese video game software company) was launched as a mascot of the company’s annual live music festival event. Her fame soared due to her distinctive combination of cute appearance, lively character, and versatile roles as a college student, gravure model, and lead singer of the fictional band "First Astronomical Velocity.” Her portrayals vary significantly in facial features and body proportions depending on the artist, yet consistently retain her signature traits: headphones, pink hair, and a large bust.
On February 12, 2010, Nitroplus started posting videos on its YouTube channel showcasing an animated 3D version of its mascot, Super Sonico, who typically discussed herself or company-related releases with the audience. Super Sonico's shift to a 3D animated character engaging with fans occurred before VTubers became mainstream, highlighting a groundbreaking movement where virtual characters actively engage with their viewers.
Roughly sixteen months after Super Sonico’s 3D version launch, Ami Yamato, a UK-based Japanese vlogger, started uploading her videos On YouTube with a blend of realistic 3D animation. With her first experimental video coming on June 13, 2011, Ami’s unique approach involved a lifelike avatar sharing daily life experiences, travel adventures, and thoughtful musings, captivating viewers with charm and reliability.
This creative fusion of virtual persona and traditional vlogging helped establish the VTuber movement by demonstrating how virtual personalities can interact with viewers and serve as a model for other VTubers.
The FaceRig indie software was the first to enable live avatars at home via face motion capture, and it began to be regularly utilized on streaming websites and YouTube in 2014. The revolutionary software which started as an EU crowdfunding project on Indiegogo in 2014, was subsequently released on Steam. In cooperation with Live2D, Inc., the Live2D software module supporting 2D avatars was implemented a year later in 2015.
However, it was Kizuna AI who coined the term “Virtual YouTuber” for the first time. Activ8 is a Japanese firm that created Kizuna AI (under the name “Project A.I.”), which made its YouTube debut on November 29, 2016. Her unique appearance - long brown hair tied in a pink bow - as well as her vibrant and endearing demeanor define her. It had long been unknown who the voice model for Kizuna AI was, but on April 24, 2020, voice actor Nozomi Kasuga revealed her identity on Twitter.
Her YouTube channels, "A.I.Channel" and "A.I.Games," feature a variety of content including vlogs, game playthroughs, singing, dancing, and interactive Q&A sessions; making her a central figure in the virtual YouTuber movement.
The "AI" in Kizuna's moniker comes from her assertion that she is an autonomous artificial intelligence, even though she is a virtual figure. Kizuna is acknowledged as the world's first "virtual YouTube user" since she invented the basic idea of a character in a virtual environment.
The most subscribed VTuber on YouTube from 2016 to 2021, she went on an indefinite hiatus after the “Hello, World 2022” concert held on February 26, 2022. Before the concert dubbed “The Last Live” she said the world has gradually become more comfortable with virtual existence. That makes her happy but at the same time, it also gives her a chance to rethink her identity as she wasn’t that rare anymore. However, there is no news about her ‘graduating’ (In the realm of VTubing, 'graduation' denotes a VTuber concluding their tenure with their present agency or character. It's a poignant moment for fans, marking the closure of a chapter for that specific VTuber persona).
Talent agencies hire streamers to play characters (VTuber) that it has created. These characters are then sold through merchandise, other promotional appearances, and more conventional revenue streams including video monetization and viewer donations. One such example is Kizuna AI attending the 2018 SoftBank iPhone XS and XS Max announcement event and advertising the devices on her YouTube channel.
In the wake of Kizuna AI's triumph, the VTuber sector saw a meteoric rise. Come 2018, the count of active VTubers exceeded 4,000, marking a substantial surge from a mere few in 2016. This surge persisted, and by 2020, the global tally of VTubers had soared past 10,000.
From their interactive live streams to their captivating storytelling, VTubers have risen to prominence in the digital domain. However, what is it about VTubers that resonates so strongly with audiences? Let’s find out:
VTubers shape engaging and memorable identities. By blending their avatars with attributes like humor, kindness, eccentricity, or a bit of mischief, they create relatable and interesting personas that attract and entertain viewers. Many VTubers enrich their characters with detailed backstories and lore, adding depth and intrigue and making them more than digital avatars.
Many people have a lot to say on any topic, but introverts are too shy to express themselves. However, once they turn into VTubers, they become more confident in sharing their thoughts, ideas, and talents in a way that might be difficult in face-to-face interactions. As they interact with their viewers through their avatars, they don’t face social anxiety and become more confident in their communication skills.
The broad appeal of VTubers comes from their unique blend of creative freedom, engaging personalities, and strong community ties. Their virtual avatars enable imaginative and fantastical representations that transcend reality, captivating a wide range of viewers. By meticulously crafting distinctive and relatable personas, VTubers connect personally with their audience.
VTubers produce captivating content that enables audiences to unwind and de-stress. Through their dynamic personas, innovative interactions, and immersive digital realms, VTubers provide a means of escape from the pressures of daily life, granting viewers a brief reprieve from their worries. This escape is particularly comforting amidst periods of strain, offering individuals an opportunity for amusement and enjoyment that recharges their batteries and fosters a sense of inner peace.
VTubers utilize cutting-edge technologies such as motion capture, facial recognition, and voice modulation to bring their virtual personas to life. By leveraging these innovative tools, VTubers enhance the visual allure of their content while simultaneously pushing the limits of what can be achieved in the realm of digital content creation.
Once you’ve created your digital avatar, you can start your journey as a VTuber using Yostream. You don’t need to install any software or require technical expertise as Yostream offers a user-friendly interface where you can start streaming like a pro in a few clicks. You can customize your stream using interactive features like custom logo, theme, background, overlays, audio-video files, banner, etc. You can also harness the power of multistreaming to reach maximum audiences on different platforms simultaneously. Additionally, you can host podcasts or webinars donning your favorite avatar in case you’ve fear of judgment based on your physical appearance.