Female YouTube streamer Valkyrae was gearing up for another live chat when she stumbled upon a surprising statistic. She found that Japanese content creators dominated the latest list of the “Most Watched Female YouTube Gaming Streamers in August.” Stream Charts. More importantly, all of them were virtual YouTubers!
Watching a cartoon character comment on your live online video may seem surreal, but it is surprisingly popular worldwide. It was a niche Japanese trend that gained more traction due to the pandemic. Believe it or not, more countries are launching virtual content creators, and companies are using them for marketing.
You might want to start your online career as a Vtuber or commission one for your marketing campaign. Let’s begin by discussing Valkyrae’s reaction to the YouTube Vtubers’ popularity. Later, I will explain why they are popular and how they work.
Why does Valkyrae wish she started as a Vtuber?
On August 30, 2023, Sportskeeda reported on the US-based YouTube streamer Rachell “Valkyrae.” She commented on being one of the most-watched female personalities on the platform.
However, she was surprised to discover she was the only American on the list, and Japanese vtubers dominated the other spots. Here are August 2023’s rankings:
- Usagi Pekora (usadapekora)
- Hakui Koyori (hakuikoyori)
- Oozora Subaru (oozorasubaru)
- Shiina Yuika (yuika_siina)
- Koseki Bijou (kosekibijou)
- Valkyrae (Valkyrae)
- Inugami Korone (inugamikorone)
- Lui Takane (takenelui)
- Luna Himemori (himemoriluna)
- Sakura Miko (sakuramiko35)
She responded, “I should have honestly if I had a brain eight years ago, I think that [being a vtuber] would have been a fun route to go. Just being faceless would be so nice. I saw on Twitter there was this graph that said, ‘Top Female Streamers,” of a certain week on YouTube.”
You may also like: Filipino slam first PH virtual model
“And, I’m like, in the middle. And, I’m the only one from America, and everyone else is a Vtuber. And, I’m just thinking like, ‘Bro!’ I feel like I should have been a Vtuber.”
“Like, they’re all vtubers! I was like, ‘Where are the non-vtubers at on YouTube?’ And also, I’m the only American one?” Later, she claimed it was too late for her to become a virtual content creator.
“It’s too late for me. I can never be a Vtuber,” Rachell said. Nevertheless, her adoring fans ignored the YouTube Vtubers’ rise and congratulated the 31-year-old for another great show.
Why are vtubers popular?
Photo Credit: otakuusamagazine.com
Vtubers or “virtual YouTubers” are content creators who usually appear as Japanese cartoon or anime avatars. Hence, many may not understand their appeal.
The EpicStream news website, founded by Filipino-American Francis Bayog, explained the trend. It said these are the reasons why people watch vtubers:
- The anime art style appeals to more people nowadays, especially younger audiences.
- Also, vtubers can be any character, so they have fictional backstories. For example, Gawr Gura, a popular English-speaking vtuber, is a friendly sea creature from Atlantis. Consequently, it encourages people to imagine how these personas interact with them and similar content creators.
- The people controlling these avatars could explore topics they couldn’t discuss while showing their identities. Also, they can discuss taboo topics like coping with depression, attracting those who want to talk about the subject.
- More importantly, vtubers enable content creators to share their talents without others judging their looks. Most engage in entertaining conversations, but others release their songs as vtubers. Some take it a step further by dancing via motion capture.
You may also like: How to make your first YouTube video
Believe it or not, companies are now using vtubers to promote their products and services. Business news website CEO Insights Asia said it might be the future of digital content creation!
On June 1, 2022, I reported about airline company AirAsia’s vtuber mascot, Aozora Kurumi. Believe it or not, Netflix has one named N-ko Mei Kurono.
Conclusion
Vtubers are becoming more popular worldwide, dominating the YouTube streaming space. Soon, you’ll probably see more YouTube vtubers on the homepage.
Nowadays, starting your vtuber career is more affordable than ever. You have numerous vtuber creators that will help you build and rig your avatar in minutes.
Of course, you still need to engage your audience by being an engaging speaker. Learn more about vtubers and other digital trends at Inquirer Tech.