ブイチューバーbuichuba
Quick definition:A VTuber is an online entertainer who uses an animated avatar, usually controlled by motion tracking or face tracking, to stream, chat and perform instead of showing their real face.
Meaning
VTuber, short for virtual YouTuber, describes a performer who appears as a digital character, often in anime style. A performer's movements and expressions are captured by a camera or sensors and copied by the avatar in real time, so the character seems to speak and react live. VTubers play games, chat with viewers, sing, draw and host events.
Some VTubers are independent, while others belong to agencies that manage their schedules and promotion. The term virtual idol is also used, especially when the character focuses on music and performances rather than gaming or chat. Fans often support their favourites through comments, fan art, merchandise and paid memberships on streaming platforms.
A VTuber's persona is part of the appeal. Many have invented backstories, catchphrases and personality quirks, and the person behind the avatar usually stays private. Viewers tend to accept this fiction in the way they would accept an actor playing a role.
Origin:VTuber is a combination of virtual and YouTuber. It became popular in Japan in the late 2010s, when a number of streamers began presenting themselves as animated characters, and the term spread quickly to other countries. Virtual idol is an older phrase for fictional singers and performers presented as virtual characters.
Example:A VTuber might appear as a fox-eared girl with bright hair and a cheerful voice, streaming a video game while her avatar's expressions follow the performer's face. Viewers type comments in a live chat, and the character responds with jokes and reactions as if everyone were in the same room.
Did you know?Hatsune Miku, a singing voice software character with turquoise twin tails, is the best-known virtual idol, and she performs at concerts as a projected image. She is not a VTuber, because her songs are made by software and fans, not by a live performer.
