Definition problem on VTuber

This article is for Medium.

Dear Editor,

Re: VTuber: the rise of virtual creator

Recently, I saw some reddit post about this article arguing about the definition of VTubers. In the article, it used Wikipedia definition and definition from YouTube. However, people some fans argue that this cannot be the definition of VTubers.

As a VTuber fan myself, I believe it is needed to give a more suitable definition of VTubers.

Like the article said, the word “Virtual YouTuber” comes from Kizuna AI. The reason she said herself as a Virtual Youtuber is because “Take it that I am virtual, don’t you think Virtual YouTuber sound cool?” (A.I. Channel, 2016). The initial lack of clarity in the definition led some to perceive VTubers strictly as individuals using real-time motion capture anime avatars for content creation.

The definition of Virtual YouTuber is not a problem until it got popular, and famous YouTuber and streamers like Pewdiepie starting to use anime avatar on their livestream. Despite meeting the technical criteria, these mainstream creators were deemed unfit for inclusion in the VTuber community.

Even though, consensus on the definition remains elusive, a growing majority agrees that a VTuber is “a content creator who utilizes a real-time motion capture anime avatar since their debut.”I believe this is not the perfect definition VTubers fans all agree on but that is the most acceptable definition.

I hope VTuber fans can stay calm when there are some problems related to the definition of VTuber. We do not want another controversy related to this problem. Also, hope people who want to learn about VTuber can get som useful knowledge from here.

Yours truly,

Anthony

Oct 20, 2023

For further biographical reading, see also:

A.I. Channel (01/12/2016) 【自己紹介】はじめまして！キズナアイですლ(´ڡ`ლ). Www.youtube.com. Accessed: 19th November 2023 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NasyGUeNMTs&ab_channel=A.I.Channel. >.