I've deep-dived into the Out of Context Virtual Youtubers twitter a week or so ago and have learned some interesting facts about the Japanese Virtual Youtuber business.
Like how absolutely massive and corporate it is.
Until recently, I thought the whole business was just Kizuna Ai and some other smaller random folks but its a straight up industry with idol-like agencies dedicated to pumping out and producing vtubers. The biggest one, Hololive, has like 2.6 millions subs between their two dozen vtubers. They're so big that they have deals with mobile games! What the hell?
The next biggest group, Nijisanji, dominates the majority of the market with its shear number of vtubers compared to everyone else. This isn't even a quarter of the amount of vtubers they have:
Did I mention how corporate it is? Seems like these agencies own the entire likeness of these personalities, creating their bios and backstory from the ground up, and then audition the roles of these personalities to up-and-coming talent and idol-wannabes. There's even instances of agencies swiping talent from other agencies and quietly sticking them into new personalities. I think some of these vtubers are accomplished voice actors or singers looking for a new avenue? There's a lot of secrecy behind the people behind the virtual personalities.
The industry basically shot up in like 3 years too. I'm almost certain anime adaptations are on the way for the bigger groups. Other regions seem to still have a miniscule presence compared to Japan.
Like how absolutely massive and corporate it is.
Until recently, I thought the whole business was just Kizuna Ai and some other smaller random folks but its a straight up industry with idol-like agencies dedicated to pumping out and producing vtubers. The biggest one, Hololive, has like 2.6 millions subs between their two dozen vtubers. They're so big that they have deals with mobile games! What the hell?
The next biggest group, Nijisanji, dominates the majority of the market with its shear number of vtubers compared to everyone else. This isn't even a quarter of the amount of vtubers they have:
Did I mention how corporate it is? Seems like these agencies own the entire likeness of these personalities, creating their bios and backstory from the ground up, and then audition the roles of these personalities to up-and-coming talent and idol-wannabes. There's even instances of agencies swiping talent from other agencies and quietly sticking them into new personalities. I think some of these vtubers are accomplished voice actors or singers looking for a new avenue? There's a lot of secrecy behind the people behind the virtual personalities.
The industry basically shot up in like 3 years too. I'm almost certain anime adaptations are on the way for the bigger groups. Other regions seem to still have a miniscule presence compared to Japan.
