The boundaries between real life and virtual reality are blurring as the dawn of the metaverse draws near. "Realness" is no longer a priority for ardent fans and followers when it comes to internet fame and success. Virtual avatars are sweeping the globe, from live streamers to social media influencers. Whether you're a perplexed parent who just happened to stumble upon their videos or you just want to understand more about this new virtual environment, join us for a look at the emergence of virtual YouTubers.

Who are VTubers?

The abbreviation VTuber stands for virtual YouTuber.

Instead of displaying their faces in their movies, VTubers utilize computer-generated avatars.

Typically, they choose for anonymity, concealing their true identity behind an avatar. Anyone has the opportunity to develop an online platform and following without ever having to expose who they really are thanks to this nameless, faceless approach to video output.

Where to locate them:

• Storytelling (commonly referred to as "Storytime" videos)
• Live broadcasting
• Gaming on a video game
• Hosting Q&As and interviews
• Participating in online competitions
• Composing original pop music

Where did the trend of virtual YouTubers begin?

Before becoming popular on YouTube, virtual characters were already a part of media culture. Max Headroom, a computer-generated TV host, had his British TV debut in 1985, while Hatsune Miku, a Japanese virtual idol, has been performing as a projected hologram since 2007.

One may say that the VTuber phenomenon began in the early 2010s. Ami Yamato, a Japanese vlogger located in London, England, began uploading videos in 2011 using a fake persona rather than herself. Even Barbie launched her own online YouTube account in 2015, interacting with followers through quizzes, interviews, and hairdo instructions.

The VTuber genre, however, didn't really take off until the middle of the 2010s, when a fresh Japanese avatar entered the scene.

Who was the original Vlogger?

Ami Yamato was the first YouTuber to post vlog-style content, while Kizuna Ai, a Japanese VTuber who started in 2016, is credited with coining and popularizing the term "virtual YouTuber."

As a result of her positive attitude, cute appearance, and consistent uploading, Kizuna Ai's anime avatar swiftly gained popularity in Japan. With VTubers popping up left, right, and center, being featured in advertising campaigns, TV shows, and on billboards in Shibuya, the fad quickly entered Japanese popular culture.

Why are online YouTubers so well-liked?

The global epidemic in 2020 undoubtedly contributed to the advancement and ubiquity of virtual characters, as more people than ever before tuned into gaming livestreams and watched YouTube video. At the time, VTubers were already well-liked in Japan, but as connectivity reached its pinnacle, more VTubers started recording and streaming in English, bringing characters into the public.

The popularity of virtual YouTubers is also increased by the fact that many anime viewers share hobbies with VTubers, such as gaming and Japanese music. These avatars blur the line between the virtual and physical worlds, enabling VTubers to develop original and creative content. Virtual avatars are also free of all human "baggage," therefore in comparison to other online communities, the VTuber area is frequently less dramatic and more upbeat.

How can you register as a VTuber?

Instead of single content creators working alone, the majority of well-known VTubers are really anime characters owned and produced by companies or people who operate through agencies for a firm.

Virtual YouTubers are multiplying on an annual basis, and virtual streamers are rising in popularity as well. As a beginner VTuber, you would need to create your own avatar or invest in its creation, get a high-quality webcam, and shell out cash for software that tracks and records your own movement and facial expressions so that you may broadcast your character.

You would need an original character, a popular online profile, and an initial investment in the technology required to be able to film or stream as your virtual avatar in order to succeed in the realm of VTubing.

Live3D is the greatest VTuber Software Suite for you to use if you want to become a VTuber. It is dedicated to the creation of entertaining VTuber avatars and animations that are engaging with its VTuber Maker.

More than one million Vtubers, Streamers, YouTubers, and artists have taken use of the services that Live3D has to offer. You can learn how to become a Vtuber and how to create a vtuber avatar by using the whole software suite that is available for Vtubers, which includes a Vtuber creator, a Vtuber editor, and a Vtuber Gallery.

Are youngsters allowed to watch VTubers?

VTubers have occasionally found themselves in hot water on their own. Strangely, VTuber Rushia was embroiled in online conflict with irate followers about her relationship status while popular art streamer anny was banned from Twitch for a week for allegedly airing "explicit" stuff.

But it gets worse for younger viewers.

Even while it's possible that the fact that the most well-known VTubers are all women is just a coincidence, you need to take into account who is actually watching this kind of video.

Many VTubers speak in a cutesy voice that is readily mistaken for that of a child, using cute, infantile graphics as their virtual avatar.

Although many VTubers make it plain that they are children, their work frequently makes references to more mature subjects.

Despite being clearly a schoolgirl, Kizuna Ai's thumbnails frequently have hypersexualized drawings that focus on her chest or buttocks. And only one creator at that.

Despite the fact that many avatars seem to have been created with children in mind, it's crucial to keep in mind that not all viewers are young children.

In the comments areas of livestreams, children could easily communicate with adults and be exposed to improper material or requested for personal information.