Virtual YouTubers (VTubers) are internet personalities who usually represent themselves through digital avatars. These avatars are typically in the style of anime. There are many different anime art styles and so there are consequently just as many styles for avatars.
These avatars have a few different methods with how they move. Most common would be Live2D. The most accessible are PNG-tubers. The most complicated of them are the 3D models. The avatars are controlled through either camera or trackers. Each of these methods has their pros and cons, it mainly comes down to preference.
A Live2D model manipulates multiple layers of art in order to create an illusion of three dimensions and not being a flat image. PNG-tubers have an idle state and a speaking state where they swap through a few PNGs. 3D models are parallel to a person’s movements through trackers.
VTubers put themselves on a digital stage. So, some will role play a character, while others will just be themselves, just with a different identity. Regardless, their character will have some sort of a backstory, ranging from a slime to an eldritch deity as a reason for the appearance of their model. They create their own lore, or it is given to them by their company.
Some VTubers are self-produced, meaning they’re independent. However, most VTubers are part of a company. When referring to VTubers, it is assumed that they are a part of a company. When referring to independent VTubers, they are called indie VTubers or indies. VTubers are people who were either headhunted or were recruited.
The main reason for becoming a VTuber is the anonymity included. Being a VTuber will keep your real identity a secret. Whether the person isn’t confident in their looks, or they don’t want their normal life to be disturbed. VTubers will hide their face while replacing it with the avatar to maintain their peace.
There are some different ways that VTubers make money. VTubers will passively earn through voice packs, decorations, and apparel as people buy them. The difference between company and indie VTubers is the companies will take a percentage of the earnings and the amounts differ by the sources and company. The VTubers livestream and will receive donations from viewers.
VTubers come from Japan, home of large VTubing companies like Hololive and Nijisanji. VTubing exploded in popularity during the pandemic. Many English speakers fell into what is known as the “Rabbit Hole”. Any person who caught a glimpse of a VTuber, should their interest be piqued, would then search further, and would find endless content in a time of great boredom.
The CEO of Cover, parent to Hololive, YAGOO envisioned their VTubers to be similar to idols. They would have them dance and sing on a stage, while the VTubers are still fulfilling that vision. The VTubers are more idols as a part time job. Most of the time they are live streaming games and being entertainers, they are often referred to as comedians.
Hololive played in a large part in the spread of VTubers in the west. In fact, it was one of their members that pushed for an English branch. The opening of an English branch vastly expanded their reach in the west. One of their members, were quickly recognized as a voice pertaining to a large YouTuber that went on disappeared a few years before the launch of the English branch.
There are a few terms that pertain specifically to VTubers, which are also commonly used in idol culture. A “Past Life” is the previous identity of the VTuber. Most VTubers come about with a background in the scene or somewhere similar. Many VTubers leave behind their previous identity along with their supporters, when they enter a company, they start from scratch.
Another term used is “debut”, where the VTuber introduces themselves for an hour. Through these debuts, the viewers are given a glimpse of a VTuber and expose them to a greater audience. These debuts are often scheduled on a single day, each given their own hour, giving everyone a chance to watch anyone they could be interested in.
The opposite of a debut would be a “graduation” where the VTuber has decided to retire and is an event used as a farewell party. There is one other way to leave the company, and that is to be “terminated”. VTubers who are terminated, have broken their contract with the company and are taken out of upcoming creations and have their official existence erased.
There are companies like Nijisanji who frequently have both graduations and terminations. Nijisanji takes more of a quantity over quality approach, with over 150 members as opposed to Hololive’s 86. They have a constant flow of people, going in and out. However, graduation or termination is not the end of the road for any VTuber.
When leaving a company, VTubers have to leave their past life and audience behind. They either join a different company, like VShojo, as a different character or they go independent. As indie VTubers have less restrictions, they have more freedom and don’t have to give any of their income to the company. Sometimes their previous audience will find them themselves.
VTubers have strong communities. There are many who donate to the VTubers. A large portion of the community produces art daily. Some people will make animations. There are even a handful who create games for the VTubers. There was even an artist who developed games on the side and made the game Holocure.
Holocure is a free game based upon the VTubers from Hololive. The gameplay is similar to Vampire Survivors. Many of the items in the game are inside jokes from different members. The launch of the game was so successful that the game’s leaderboard broke and was unavailable for a few months.
VTubers often have online stores where you can order things like voice packs, pins, figurines, and even apparel. However, these online stores can be expensive, as the shipping cost from Japan to the U.S. can sometimes be more expensive than the product. Which is why the in-person store with Hololive stock, Tokyo Japan Lifestyle, is so important, located in Westfield Southcenter.