History Main / VirtualYouTuber

* EntertainmentBelowTheirAge: [=VTubers=] will oft be enthused by a work with a [[invoked]]PeripheryDemographic that is mostly targeted towards children (as all of them are adults), though some do it more explicitly than others (the most prevalent case being ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'', which is shown in the page image above).

Virtual [=YouTubers=], or [=VTubers=] for short, are a type of online performer that has gained immense popularity on various streaming sites since 2016. The phenomenon originated on Website/YouTube, hence the name; however, a large number of [=VTubers=] can be found on {{Website/Twitch}} as well, and a few can be found on smaller services such as {{Website/NicoNicoDouga}} in Japan and [[http://www.bilibili.com bilibili]] in China. Regardless of the streaming service used, however, [[BrandNameTakeover "[=VTuber=]" has become the default term]] for this type of performer. [[note]]Twitch prefers the term "virtual streamer," obviously not wanting to give their competition free advertising, but that isn't commonly used; in fact, they finally caved and provided a "[=VTuber=]" tag for streamers to use in early 2021.[[/note]]

* ArtifactTitle: Plenty of [=VTubers=] are primarily based on platforms such as Website/{{Twitch}}, and some don't use Website/YouTube altogether.

* BlandNameProduct: {{Website/Twitch}} prefers to used the more generic "virtual streamer" to describe these streamers.

[[folder:Web Comic]]
* ''WebComic/ChronicallyOnline'' is a webcomic about the daily life of a [=VTuber=].
* ''WebComic/MyBestFriendWhoILoveFellCompletelyInLoveWithMyVTuberSelf'': This ''yuri'' manga is, [[WorkInfoTitle like the title explains]], about a [=VTuber=] who is in love with her best friend, who is in love with the [=VTuber=]'s fictional persona.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* The Website/SCPFoundation has SCP-6930, a Pattern Screamer who figured out how to use the internet, and ended up developing a [=VTuber=] streaming persona.

* EliteFour: The "Four Heavenly Kings" [=OGs=]: WebAnimation/KizunaAI, WebAnimation/KaguyaLuna, Mirai Akari, Dennou Shojo Siro and Nojaloli (Siro being added to the group slightly later than the others, hence why the "Four Heavenly Kings" [[NonIndicativeName consist of five people]]). Due to the gap in subscriber counts between Ai and the others, some Japanese fans set her apart from the "Four Heavenly Kings," referring to her as "Oyabun" ("boss"). This has the advantage of keeping the Four Kings at four (unless, of course, one includes [[WebAnimation/{{Hololive}} Tokino Sora]]).

* WebAnimation/FirstStageProduction

* WebAnimation/{{Specialite}}

* WebVideo/{{Dokibird}}

* WebVideo/{{Vinesauce}} member Limealicious debuted as a [=VTuber=] in September 2021 (and a redebut in July 2023), going under the name Laimu. Dorb also streams as a [=VTuber=]. Imakuni debuted as a [=VTuber=] in April of 2023. Vinny also has a Meat and [[Franchise/StarWars Watto]] [=Vtuber=], though the Meat model isn’t really one. Rev also has one, which he used as a joke with Vinesauce associate Mike, who also has two.

* WebAnimation/KawaEntertainment [[note]]February 25, 2022 - January 14, 2024; after the dissolution of their talent branch, the talents are continuing as indies while the company remains an entity selling merchandise[[/note]]

* WebAnimation/ProjectF [[note]]July 30, 2022 - December 28, 2023; after the dissolution of the agency, the talents are continuing as indies[[/note]]

* WebAnimation/{{Tsunderia}} [[note]]June 23, 2020 - January 25, 2023; after the dissolution of the agency, the talents keep their identities and channels and continue as indies[[/note]]

* WebAnimation/{{Vyugen}} [[note]]September 25, 2021 - December, 2023; after the dissolution of the group, the talents are continuing as indies[[/note]]

* ''WebComic/MyBestFriendWhoILoveFellCompletelyInLoveWithMyVtuberSelf'': This ''yuri'' manga is, [[WorkInfoTitle like the title explains]], about a [=VTuber=] who is in love with her best friend, who is in love with the [=VTuber=]'s fictional persona.

* WebAnimation/KawaEntertainment [[note]]February 25, 2022 - January 14, 2024; after the dissolution of their talent branch, the talents are continuing as indies while the company remains an entity selling merchandise

* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'': The "[[https://yugipedia.com/wiki/Live%E2%98%86Twin Live☆Twin]]" archetype is a duo of young adult girls named Ki-Sikil and Lil-la whose day job is to stream on the internet using cutesy avatars. However, when summoned by the Secret Password, it is revealed that their actual profession is moonlighting as [[PhantomThief phantom thieves]], as the Fiend-type "[[https://yugipedia.com/wiki/Evil%E2%98%85Twin Evil★Twin]]" archetype.

* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'': The "[[https://yugipedia.com/wiki/Live%E2%98%86Twin Live☆Twin]]" archetype is a duo of young adult girls named Ki-Sikil and Lil-la whose day job is to stream on the internet using cutesy avatars. However, when summoned by the Secret Password, it is revealed that they moonlight as [[PhantomThief phantom thieves]], as the Fiend-type "[[https://yugipedia.com/wiki/Evil%E2%98%85Twin Evil★Twin]]" archetype.

* WebAnimation/{{VnuEntertainment}}

* WebVideo/{{Sinder}}

* WebVideo/Naikaze

* Creator/AmandaLee, who debuted as a [=VTuber=] in December 2021 under the name Multiverse Monarch, though she still answers to [=AmaLee=].

* Creator/HarukaKaribu [[note]]Is now part of WebVideo/{{VShojo}} as of December 2022[[/note]]

* Creator/{{Momo}}

* Creator/{{Snuffy}}

* WebAnimation/KawaEntertainment [[note]]February 25, 2022 - January 14, 2024; after the dissolution of their talent branch, the talents are continuing as indies while the company remains an entity selling merchendise

* WebAnimation/{{Aetheria}} (formerly known as [=CyberLive=])[[note]]July 14, 2021 - October 29, 2022; after the dissolution of the group, the talents are continuing as indies[[/note]]

* WebAnimation/KawaEntertainment[[note]]February 25, 2022 - January 14, 2024; after the dissolution of their talent branch, the talents are continuing as indies while the company remains an entity selling merchendise

* WebAnimation/ProjectF[[note]]July 30, 2022 - December 28, 2023; after the dissolution of the agency, the talents are continuing as indies[[/note]]

* WebAnimation/RealCorp[[note]]February 21, 2022 - January 31, 2024; after the dissolution of the agency, the remaining talents can continue as indies[[/note]]

* WebAnimation/{{Tsunderia}}[[note]]June 23, 2020 - January 25, 2023; after the dissolution of the agency, the talents keep their identities and channels and continue as indies[[/note]]

* WebAnimation/{{Vyugen}}[[note]]September 25, 2021 - December, 2023; after the dissolution of the group, the talents are continuing as indies[[/note]]

* Creator/JessieJamesGrelle reveals on January 11, 2024, that they had been a [=VTuber=] in secret for two years under the name Mimcubus.

* WebAnimation/RealCorp[[note]]February 21, 2022 - January 31, 2024; after the dissolution of the agency, the remaining talents can keep their identities and can continue as indies[[/note]]

In Japan, Virtual [=YouTubers=], along with [[UsefulNotes/ProfessionalGaming E-Sports]], have also helped to increase (and [[PopularityPolynomial revitalize]]) interest in PC gaming in general, and introduce western gaming genres such as FirstPersonShooters and SurvivalSandbox, as well as PC gaming distribution platforms such as UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} 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.

* Twitch streamer [[https://www.twitch.tv/ranboolive Ranboo]] debuted a [=VTuber=] model in September 2023.

* Creator/{{Unnamed}} debuted in May 2023.

* Creator/JessieJamesGrelle reveals on January 11, 2024, that they had been a [=VTuber=] in secret for two years under the name Mimcubus.