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VTuber

Definition​

A VTuber (short for virtual YouTuber) is a content creator who appears behind a digital avatar animated in real time. The term was coined in Japan in the mid-2010s and now covers video creators, streamers, and performers combining animation, motion capture, and storytelling.

History​

  • 2016 : Kizuna AI debuts as one of the first known VTubers, mixing let's plays, talk segments, and community interaction.
  • 2017-2018 : Agencies such as Hololive and Nijisanji structure multi-generation rosters, invest in events, and expand globally.
  • 2020+ : The scene goes worldwide, especially across Francophone communities, counting over 10,000 active VTubers.

In practice​

  • Platforms : YouTube (live + videos), Twitch, Bilibili, Niconico.
  • Software : Live2D, MMD/Unity, tracking rigs, OBS/VTube Studio.
  • Community : chat, donations, fan art, collaborations, IRL events.

Sources​