VTer

VTer, short for Virtual YouTuber, designates a content creator or performer who presents themselves through a digitally animated avatar rather than a traditional live or filmed persona. A VTer's avatar may be 2D or 3D and is typically controlled in real time using facial-tracking or motion-capture software, sometimes with voice acting and character lore to enhance engagement. VTers create a wide range of content, including gameplay streams, chat and talk shows, music performances, and collaborative crossovers with other VTubers.

Production usually involves character design, animation assets, and streaming software such as OBS, with tools like Live2D for 2D avatars or Unity-based rigs for 3D avatars; common platforms include YouTube, Twitch, Bilibili, and Niconico. Revenue models include ad revenue, memberships, super chats or bits, sponsorships, and merchandise.

Originating in Japan in the mid-2010s, the VTuber phenomenon grew rapidly, with early pioneers like Kizuna AI; by the early 2020s, professional agencies such as Hololive Production, Nijisanji, and independent creators contributed to a global ecosystem, including English-language communities and English-speaking agencies such as VShojo. The VTer ecosystem includes corporate and independent performers, fan communities, and collaborative events.

VTubing raises considerations around intellectual property, online safety, and platform policies, but remains a popular form of online entertainment with a diverse audience.