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File:Mirai Akari.png
Mirai Akari [ja], a virtual YouTuber

A virtual YouTuber (Japanese: バーチャルユーチューバー, Hepburn: bācharu yūchūbā), or VTuber (ブイチューバー, buichūbā), is an online entertainer that uses a (usually anime-inspired) computer graphics-generated avatar. The first entertainer to coin the phrase "virtual YouTuber", Kizuna AI, began live streaming in late 2016, and her popularity started a VTuber trend within Japan and later worldwide. By 2020, there were over 10,000 VTubers. They have been used as government representatives in Japan, and have been involved with major advertising campaigns and breaking live-stream-related world records.

Overview

Virtual YouTubers, or VTubers, are online entertainers, who are often Japanese-speaking YouTubers or live streamers. They use (usually anime-inspired) computer graphics-generated avatars created with programs such as Live2D.[1]

VTubers are considered to have great appeal in that they "can be who they want to be" and "can overcome restrictions," and many of them engage in activities that are unconstrained by real-world gender (sex and gender) and appearance (demi-human).[2] According to the BBC, they are unique in that they are "not constrained by personal or identity issues," and the popularity of VTubers worldwide is due to their "large customer base outside of Japan who love Japanese culture and anime".[3]

VTubers are responsible for a variety of activities including communication, gameplay, dancing, and singing. Some specialize in producing original songs and have strong links to music. Several companies are also creating ties between VTubers and the music industry by establishing music labels and holding VR live shows.[4]

History

Predecessors

On 12 February 2010, visual novel maker Nitroplus began uploading videos to its YouTube channel featuring an animated 3D version of its mascot Super Sonico, who would usually talk to the audience about herself or about releases related to the company.[5] On 13 June 2011, UK-based Japanese vlogger Ami Yamato uploaded her first video, which featured an animated, virtual avatar speaking to the camera.[3][6] In 2012, Japanese company Weathernews, Inc. debuted a vocaloid-like character called Weatheroid Type A Airi on SOLiVE24, a 24-hour weather live stream on Nico Nico Douga, on YouTube and their website.[7] In 2014, Airi got her own solo program every Thursday and began live broadcasting with motion capture.[8][9] In 2015, Mattel began uploading videos of Barbie Doll as a teenage vlogger to YouTube.[10]

The first VTuber

In late 2016, Kizuna AI, considered to be the first VTuber,[10][11] made her debut on YouTube, and was the first to coin and use the term "virtual YouTuber". Voice-acted by Nozomi Kasuga,[12] Kizuna AI created a sense of "real intimacy" with fans, as she was responsive to their questions. Within ten months, she had over two million subscribers and would later be made a culture ambassador of the Japan National Tourism Organization.[13]

The VTuber trend

Like anime, [VTubers] once started as a very niche thing and has been slowly growing. I think it will only get better and more exciting from here. The more the merrier, I say!

—Ironmouse, VTuber, 2020[14]

Kizuna's sudden popularity sparked a VTuber trend.[10][11] Between May and mid-July 2018, the number of active VTubers increased from 2,000 to 4,000.[1] Kaguya Luna [jp] and Mirai Akari [jp] followed Kizuna as the second and third most popular VTubers, with 750,000 and 625,000 subscribers respectively. Nekomiya Hinata [jp] and Siro [jp], two other early VTubers, each gained followings of 500,000 in six months.[11]

After initial success in Japan, VTubers spread overseas, with agencies creating branches in China, South Korea, Indonesia, and India, as well English-focused branches. Meanwhile, independent VTubers began to appear in many countries, from Japan to the United States. In July 2018, VTubers had a collective subscriber count of 12.7 million, and more than 720 million total views.[15] By January 2020, there were over 10,000 VTubers.[16] As of August 2020, seven of the ten largest Super Chat earners of all time on YouTube were VTubers, including Hololive member Kiryu Coco [jp] at number one, who by that time had earned approximately ¥85 million (~$810,000).[17] At the same time, the popularity of VTubers continued to rise on Twitch, a host of several notable English-speaking VTubers such as Projekt Melody and Ironmouse.[18][19]

In September 2020, Ichikara, the management company for Nijisanji, one of the major VTuber agencies in Japan, created an "Aggressive Acts and Slander Countermeasure Team" to offer counselling to victims of harassment and take legal measures against perpetrators of harassment, specifically the online harassment plaguing the Japanese entertainment industry. This announcement came in the wake of Hololive VTuber Mano Aloe's retirement after only two weeks of activity due to online harassment.[20]

Campaigns involving VTubers

Nebasei Cocoro [ja], a VTuber and representative for Japanese corporation Rohto Pharmaceutical

Due to their popularity, companies and organisations have used virtual YouTubers as a method of advertising or bringing attention to a product or service. When SoftBank announced the release of the iPhone XS and XS Max in 2018, Kizuna AI appeared at the event and promoted the products on her channel.[21]

In August 2018, Wright Flyer Live Entertainment released a mobile application allowing VTubers to live stream videos while monetizing them and connecting with their viewers. In a news conference in Tokyo, the head of Wright Flyer Live Entertainment stated, "just increasing the number [of VTubers] is not that effective. We want them to keep on doing their activities. [To do that], gaining fans and monetization are essential. So, we are providing a platform to support that".[22] This followed Wright Flyer Live Entertainment's parent company Gree, Inc.'s ¥10 billion ($89.35 million) investment in VTubers, as well as a ¥10 billion profit target by 2020.[1]

Also in August 2018, the Ibaraki Prefectural Government created a VTuber named Hiyori Ibara, aiming to make her a symbol of Ibaraki. Hiyori is the first VTuber to be used by a municipal or prefectural government.[23]

On June 24, 2019, VTuber Kaguya Luna, in collaboration with Nissin Foods to advertise its Yakisoba UFO noodles, held a live stream with a smartphone attached to a helium balloon. By the end of the stream, the smartphone reached an altitude of 30 kilometres (19 mi) above sea level and was noted by Guinness World Records as being the live stream recorded at the highest altitude, breaking the previous record of 18.42 kilometres (11.45 mi).[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Nagata, Kazuaki (17 July 2018). "Japan's latest big thing: 'virtual YouTubers'" (in Korean). The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  2. ^ "WEB特集｜なりたい自分になる。VTuberが拓く!—". 日本放送協会. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b "The virtual vloggers taking over YouTube". BBC. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  4. ^ "活況のVTuber市場、音楽シーンへの参入も相次ぎ19年はさらに隆盛極めるか". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  5. ^ "すーぱーそに子 ワンダーフェスティバル2010[冬]". Nitroplus. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  6. ^ Ami Yamato (13 June 2011). Trying this out... YouTube. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  7. ^ "SOLiVE24 (SOLiVE ムーン) 2012-04-13 21:31:23〜". Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  8. ^ "ウェザーロイド Airi". Comptique Extra issue of December: Vtique Vol.02 (コンプティーク 12月号増刊 Vティーク Vol.2). Kadokawa. 2018. pp.76-79.
  9. ^ "SOLiVE24 (SOLiVEナイト ) 2014-04-10 23:32:32〜". Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  10. ^ a b c Lufkin, Bryan (2 October 2018). "The virtual vloggers taking over YouTube". BBC. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  11. ^ a b c Otmazgin & Ben-Ari 2020, p. 77.
  12. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (25 April 2020). "Nozomi Kasuga Confirms She is Kizuna AI Voice Actress". Anime News Network. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Come to Japan with Kizuna AI". Japan National Tourism Organization. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  14. ^ D'Anastasio, Cecilia (September 15, 2020). "Anime Avatars Are Going Mainstream on Twitch". Wired. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  15. ^ "バーチャルYouTuber、4,000人を突破 動画再生回数は合計7億2千万回に". Mogura VR. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  16. ^ "ユーザーローカル、バーチャルYouTuberの1万人突破を発表　9000人から4ヵ月で1000人増". PANORA. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  17. ^ Morissy, Kim (2020-08-23). "Playboard: World's Biggest Superchat Earner is Virtual YouTuber Kiryu Coco". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-09-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Desatoff, Sam (September 23, 2020). "Report: Twitch viewership reached 1.47 billion hours in August (StreamElements, Arsenal.gg)". GameDaily.biz. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  19. ^ White, DeForest (October 29, 2020). "Column: Bonus Stage: The Sudden Rise of Vtubers". The Eastern Progress. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  20. ^ Morrissy, Kim (2020-09-04). "Bushiroad and NIJISANJI Are Taking Online Harassment Seriously". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2020-09-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "【SoftBank】新型iPhone発売セレモニーにお邪魔しました！！【XS / MAX】". YouTube. A.I. Channel. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  22. ^ Nagata, Kazuaki. "Gree-owned firm launches app aimed at boosting Japan's booming world of 'virtual YouTubers'". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  23. ^ "Ibaraki's virtual YouTuber first in Japan used to promote a prefecture". The Japan Times. 13 October 2018. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  24. ^ Morrissy, Kim. "Virtual YouTuber Kaguya Luna Breaks Guinness World Record By Holding Livestream at Highest Altitude". Anime News Network. Retrieved 19 May 2020.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Virtual YouTubers.
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