Virtual YouTubers live-stream as animated characters, with fans doing things like paying to have their comments highlighted in chat. Some VTubers are considered family by their dedicated viewers, with one superfan saying he can spend up to 10 hours a day thinking about his idol
Virtual YouTubers like Iizuka, who voices and animates a character called Yume Kotobuki, have transformed a niche Japanese subculture into a thriving industry where top accounts can rake in more than a million US dollars a year.
The videos are designed to make fans feel they are interacting directly with their favourite animated idols – with viewers sometimes paying hundreds of dollars to have a single comment highlighted on a live-stream.
“When I’m playing video games on my channel and succeed at something, my fans congratulate me … [and pay tips] as a way to show their support and appreciation,” says Iizuka.
The 26-year-old uses a laptop, webcam and a motion sensor worn around her neck to appear on screen as Yume, whose facial expressions are controlled by a producer.
With her squeaky voice, short skirt and huge purple eyes, Iizuka’s avatar follows a popular model for “VTuber” characters, which often resemble the hyper-feminine heroines of Japanese anime.
Credited Source
South China Morning Post / Agence France-Presse / Tamar Herman
