Virtual YouTubers (VTubers) in Japan - statistics and facts
A blend of motion-capture technology and Japanese pop culture, virtual YouTubers, so-called VTubers, have burst onto the scene of online video content creation. Initially coined by the Japanese VTuber Kizuna AI, the term 鈥渧irtual YouTuber鈥 refers to video content creators who use computer-generated avatars, usually in a visual style that is associated with Japan鈥檚 anime culture. VTubing holds a special appeal because its virtuality allows for innovative forms of creative expression and enables content creators to preserve their anonymity while making full use of their talents and humor. Although similar creators have existed since the early 2010s, the success of VTubers such as Kizuna AI since the mid-2010s as well as the progress of technology, which reduced the entrance barrier for independent talent and improved the audience experience, helped to popularize this media niche. This led to a VTubing boom across various video sharing services and the establishment of several VTuber agencies both in Japan and abroad.
