History Main / VirtualYouTuber

In Japan, Virtual [=YouTubers=] have also helped to increase interest in PC gaming in general, and introduce western gaming genres such as first-person shooters to a new audience. Besides the fact that it's easier to play games on the same system being used to stream from[[note]]streaming console games requires additional hardware and set-up[[/note]], the competitiveness, cooperativeness, and high creativity potential found in these types of games has made for some very entertaining LetsPlay content.

* HoYay: Some male Vtubers pander this way, particularly those associated with Nijisanji.

Together, ''Virtual [=YouTubers=]'' brings PC gaming and western games (the former due to being essential to set up the whole streaming interface and the latter due to high playerbase, competitiveness, cooperativeness, and high creativity potential) to the Japanese mainstream.

Not to be confused with the "[=VTubers=]" LetsPlay channel of WebVideo/RyanToysReview, which does not utilize these concepts. Or vtube, a {{Ponzi}}-like scheme involving Youtube ads.

* BadassAdorable: Most [=VTubers=] are going for some variation on "cute" with their designs and presentation but this does nothing to stop them wading into often very tough and/or violent games and frequently triumphing.

Together, '''Virtual [=YouTubers=]''' brings PC gaming and western games (the former due to being essential to set up the whole streaming interface and the latter due to high playerbase, competitiveness, cooperativeness, and high creativity potential) to the Japanese mainstream.

Not to be confused with the "[=VTubers=]" LetsPlay channel of WebVideo/RyanToysReview, which does not utilize these concepts.

* ImprobablyFemaleCast: The majority of [=VTubers=] you will likely run across are female. There ''are'' a steadily growing number of male [=VTubers=], but they're still vastly outnumbered by the massive assortment of females.

* BadassAdorable: Most [=VTubers=] are going for some variation on "cute" with their designs and presentation but this does nothing to stop them wading into often very tough and/or violent games a frequently triumphing.

* BadassAdorable: Most [=VTubers] are going for some variation on "cute" with their designs and presentation but this does nothing to stop them wading into often very tough and/or violent games and frequently triumphing.

* BadassAdorable: Most [=VTubers] are going for some variation on "cute" with their designs and presentation but this does nothing to stop them wading into often very tough and/or violent games a frequently triumphing.

** Outside Japan pretty much all Indonesian [=VTubers=](Hololive, Nijisanji and otherwise) are fluent or close to it in English, the language being a very common second language in the country.

* SecretIdentity: The official communications from the [=VTubers=] take great care to prevent possible leaks on the alternate online identities or real life identities of the people who play the characters. That said, reliable and well-sourced speculations on the alternate identities of the people behind the avatars do exist online, but the entire fandom strongly respects the identity {{kayfabe}} and actively avoids bringing up these speculations in front of the [=VTubers=]. The exceptions are the few who appeared on camera before becoming vtubers without taking on a different name/identity.

** Outside Japan pretty much all Indonesian vtubers (Hololive, Nijisanji and otherwise) are fluent or close to it in English, the language being a very common second language in the country.

While some [[UrExample early takes]] on the concept were seen as early as 2011, such as UK-based 'animated' blogger [[WebVideo/AmiYamato Ami Yamato]], most fans consider [[TropeMaker the first "true" [=VTuber=]]] to be [[WebAnimation/KizunaAI Kizuna Ai]], who debuted on [=YouTube=] in 2016. Ai was the first to coin the term "Virtual [=YouTuber=]" as part of her greeting. The early [=VTubers=] used 3D avatars, and released pre-recorded videos on a regular basis. Following the lead of {{Creator/Nijisanji}} and {{WebAnimation/Hololive}}, which were established in 2018, later [=VTubers=] moved more toward using 2D avatars, as well as shifting toward a live-streaming model.

** On the [[WholesomeCrossdresser sorta]] opposite end, there is Inuyama Tamaki, a male cross-dressing as a female who is voiced by Norio Tsukudani, the female mangaka of ''Manga/{{Himegoto}}''.

The major appeal of using a animated avatar is that the performer is not constrained by real-world considerations (such as gender or appearance) and they can design their character to be just about anything, although most avatars are still generally humanoid in shape. Also, considering the first [=VTubers=] were Japanese and heavily anime-inspired, most who have followed utilize similar elements in their avatars, to varying degrees. Many [=VTubers=] also appreciate the level of anonymity using an avatar provides.

** Outside Japan pretty much all Indonesian vtubers (Hololive, Nijisanji and otherwise) are at fluent or close to it in English, the language being a very common second language in the country.

* SecretIdentity: The official communications from the [=VTubers=] take great care to prevent possible leaks on the alternate online identities or real life identities of the people who play the characters. That said, reliable and well-sourced speculations on the alternate identities of the people behind the avatars do exist online, but the entire fandom strongly respects the identity {{kayfabe}} and actively avoids bringing up these speculations in front of the [=VTubers=].
* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: Some Japanese [=VTubers=] speak English very well; agency examples include {{WebAnimation/Hololive}}'s Kiryu Coco and Akai Haato, {{Creator/Nijisanji}}'s Hoshikawa Sara, Yumeoi Kakeru, and Genzuki Tojiro, and [[WebVideo/VOMSProject VOMS]]'s Amano Pikamee.

* AsHimself: While the vast majority of [=VTubers=] play a character that's separate from their real selves, there are a few who just play as themselves. These are often people with an existing fanbase who being a [=VTuber=] as a fun way to interact with their fans, with several being artists since they could just illustrate their own digital avatars. Some of the more active ones in [=VTuber=] circles include freelance illustrator Shigure Ui, hentai artist Itou Life, and ''Manga/TheElderSisterLikeOne'' mangaka Iida Pochi.

* Creator/Wolfychu

While some early takes on the concept were seen as early as 2011, such as UK-based 'animated' blogger [[WebVideo/AmiYamato Ami Yamato]], most fans consider [[Main/UrExample the first "true" [=VTuber=]]] to be [[WebAnimation/KizunaAI Kizuna Ai]], who debuted on [=YouTube=] in 2016. Ai was the first to coin the term "Virtual [=YouTuber=]" as part of her greeting. The early [=VTubers=] used 3D avatars, and released pre-recorded videos on a regular basis. Following the lead of {{Creator/Nijisanji}} and {{WebAnimation/Hololive}}, which were established in 2018, later [=VTubers=] moved more toward using 2D avatars, as well as shifting toward a live-streaming model.

** On the [[WholesomeCrossdresser sorta]] opposite end, there is Inuyama Tamaki, a male cross-dressing as a female who is voiced by Norio Tsukudani, the female mangaka of ''Manga/Himegoto''.

** Babiniku, short for "Virtual Bishoujo Juniku" (Virtual Girl Incarnation), are Vtubers with a female avatar and a male voice actor. While some, like Tomari Mari, uses a voice changer or increase the pitch of their voice to match their avatar, others, like Nojaloli who first popularised the concept, just sticks with their normal voice for the full VocalDissonance.
** On the sorta opposite end, we have Inuyama Tamaki, a male cross-dressing as a female who is voiced by Norio Tsukudani, the female mangaka of ''Manga/Himegoto''.