Vtuber

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See also: PNGtuber
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A VTuber (ブイチューバー, BuiChūbā), or virtual YouTuber (Japanese: バーチャルユーチューバー, Hepburn: bācharu YūChūbā), is an online content creator who uses an avatar to interact with an audience. Most of them use video-streaming platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, or BiliBili to debut and stream content.

These avatars are typically digitally drawn, then animated ("rigged") using programs like Live2D Cubism, and captured using programs like Vtube Studio.

The trend of virtual live-streaming, or vtubing, began in Japan. All the original performers follow Japanese naming conventions; putting their family name first. This practice tends to be adhered to even by some western Vtubers.

One popular vtuber is the English-speaking Ironmouse, a member of the VShojo agency.

Fandom

Fans will have a small number of VTubers they are actively support (typically one, but rarely more than 3-4), which they refer to as their Oshi. The act of supporting them may sometimes be referred to as "Oshiing". A Vtuber that one most-actively supports will be called a "kami-oshi" (神推し) or, less commonly, "geki-oshi" (激推し).[1]

Oshi Marks (推しマーク) are often used by Vtubers and their fans to identify themselves.[2] They are usually an emoji, or a combination of emoji, that symbolises the motif or character of the Vtuber. These marks are usually added onto the end of a fan's display name on various social media. In the case of a fan having multiple oshi, the marks are usually separated by a Vertical Bar (|), though some users are happy to have them run together.

Vtubers often have their official fanart hashtags on Twitter and encourage listeners to create fanarts. However, even those encouraging fanworks may have restrictions on works that serve commercial and political purposes, and representations inconsistent with the original creator's vision (which can be difficult for fan artists to discern).[3] Vtubers who spend more time on social media than on their channels are called VTweeters.

In November 2024, a drama arose as a result of a fancrafter making and selling unauthorised plushies of v-tumber avatar, gumpai. For more, see: The gumpai Plushie Drama.

Shipping

TakaMori is the ship name between Hololive EN Myth members Takanashi Kiara and Mori Calliope.

KronMei is the ship name between Hololive EN Council members Ouro Kronii and Nanashi Mumei.

OceanLaw is the ship name between Nijisanji EN Lazulight/Obsydia members Finana Ryugu and Selen Tatsuki.

FoxAkuma is the ship name between Nijisanji EN Luxiem members Mysta Rias and Vox Akuma.

LunaRose is the ship name between Nijisanji EN Obsydia members Selen Tatsuki and Rosemi Lovelock.

Red Eyes, Blue Dragon is the ship name between Nijisanji EN Lazulight members Pomu Rainpuff and Elira Pendora.

VoxTo is the ship name between Nijisanji EN Luxiem member Vox Akuma and indie Vtuber Shoto.

PsyBorg is the ship name between NIjisanji EN Noctyx members Uki Violeta and Fulgur Ovid.

Vtuber Fanworks

Vtuber fans may use various social media platforms, such as Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Reddit, or Archive of Our Own, as a leverage to share different fanworks. Fans use this as a way to, not only support their oshi, but also to find others who may share a similar interest. Each Vtuber, or Vtuber Agency, may have their own designated Discord Server. Some Vtuber-centric Discord servers may be created by the Vtuber themselves, or created by fans to engage closer in their fanbase. On Discord and other social media platforms, a Vtuber fanbase may gather together to create collaborative projects together such as video games, zines, songs, and music videos. Large collaborate projects may arise due to special celebrative occasions, such as anniversaries regarding a Vtuber's Agency, their Debut, or their Debut 2.0.

Contrary to more traditional media, Vtuber fans may expect to profit from their Fancrafts, so long they are private commissions or limited runs. Some Vtuber conventions have dedicated Artist Alleys for this purpose. In late 2024, The gumpai Plushie Drama was sparked by differences in expectation between a Vtuber and a Fancrafter, and demonstrated the widespread support the current system allows for.

Fan-games

Fanfiction

Fanzines

References

  1. ^ https://pixelfutzer.blogspot.com/2013/01/japanese-words-used-by-akb48-fans.html
  2. ^ https://numan.tokyo/words/HJnQv
  3. ^ https://event.nijisanji.app/guidelines/
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