Buzz
1. Unveiling the Mystery of Vtubers
Vtubers, short for Virtual YouTubers, represent a realm where content creators sculpt narratives using digital avatars. Unlike conventional creators, they steer clear of their real image and voice, opting instead for characters crafted to embody diverse personalities, bringing their chosen themes to life.
In the current landscape, Vtubers are in the process of refinement, with virtual character versions developed based on original characters. These new iterations bear a distinct personal touch while retaining the recognizable features, especially for famous personalities.
Vtubers transcend the gaming streamer domain, permeating diverse markets like commerce, entertainment, education, advertising, and real life.
2. Kizuna AI and the Evolution of Vtubers
Considered the 'pioneer' of Vtubers, Kizuna AI made her debut in 2016 in the land of cherry blossoms – Japan. From the onset, Kizuna AI maintained complete anonymity, showcasing content solely through the virtual image of a charming anime girl.
After years of development, Kizuna AI continues to thrive, gathering an increasingly vast community of supporters. Beyond that, Kizuna AI serves as inspiration for subsequent Vtubers, leading to numerous successful virtual personalities. Notably, PewDiePie, one of the world's top streamers, recognized the prominence of Vtubers, adopting his own unique Vtuber persona. PewDiePie's Vtuber character reflects his distinctive features, from facial expressions to hair and colors. Additionally, many other renowned streamers also possess their own Vtuber personas.
3. Operating Mechanism of Vtubers
Although virtual entities, Vtubers demand human involvement through sensors and machinery. Specifically, Vtuber operators use specialized software for tracking, monitoring human gestures, and translating them into actions for virtual characters. Initially, Vtubers only tracked points on the face for facial expressions during streams. However, with technological and societal advancements, streamers now incorporate not only facial expressions but also body gestures. At this point, Vtuber users must combine actions and technology, reaching new heights as Vtubers officially track the entire human body.
Utilizing technology to track and monitor human movements is widespread, but applying it to content production is groundbreaking. Vtuber content creators wear specialized tracking suits with attached devices to monitor motion, a common practice in filmmaking, especially in visual effects. In general, Vtubers gain a competitive edge thanks to entirely new and increasingly advanced technological developments.
4. The Future Potential of Vtubers
Vtubers are rapidly accelerating to dominate the market with exponential growth rates. In 2018, the number of Vtubers surged from 2000 to 4000, reaching a milestone of 10,000 in 2020. Anticipated to blossom in 2021, the figures are expected to soar to 15,000 characters. Compared to other platforms, Vtubers are preferred by many due to their high demand in the market, especially among younger audiences.
In this article, Software Tricks shares insights into Vtubers and related information. Wishing you all the best in creating your own virtual persona!
