How to Virtualize Yourself and Become a VTuber

Do you know how to virtualize yourself and become a vtuber? In recent years, Virtual YouTubers or VTubers have become a popular phenomenon, particularly in Japan. VTubers are essentially digital avatars that are used to entertain audiences on various social media platforms. By adopting a VTuber persona, you can create unique content and engage with your audience in a whole new way.

The act of streaming one’s own life has disadvantages. Together with trolls and haters, maintaining a public persona requires a lot of work, especially if there is commerce involved and your influencer agency has been on your case for a few too many late hours. This is the reason why many broadcasters now perform as VTubers or virtual YouTubers.

The process of digitizing people used to be difficult and expensive. It required 150+ LED lights and multiple Canon EOS 1D Mark III LightStages at the University of Southern California’s Institute of Creative Technologies to capture actor Robin Wright’s figure when I reported about her virtualization in Congress back in 2014. Today, streamers may experiment on their own with animation, 2D/3D modeling, face rigging, audio syncing, and performance capture thanks to phones, webcams, and software suites.

We talked to two creators—LavenderTowne and Syafire—who create their own online avatar-based characters to learn how it’s done. They each have a somewhat different method for transitioning from the real to the unreal.

Table of Contents

1 Build Your Character
2 Consistency is Key
3 Keeping Up with Trends
4 Practice Makes Perfect
5 Stay True to Yourself
6 Conclusion

Build Your Character

Building your character, configuring it to human expression, integrating the model into a streaming software platform, and going live are the first steps in making your own avatar. It reduces complexity. But this is the workflow that both creators went through and what they learned along the way.

You can see Syafire’s lesson about how she used VRoid Studio to construct her virtual character above. You will be familiar with this technique if you have ever created your own virtual avatar to play a game or enter the metaverse. Choose your avatar’s hair color, eye color, facial shape, clothing selections, physique type, and other features until you achieve the ideal appearance. You can use the tool to generate a distinctive 3D model that can be applied to any platform.

It’s all there if you want to spend hours playing around with different collar widths, textures, elvish ears, and brush tools for specific wavy hair portions. Choose a template, make the necessary adjustments, and you’re ready to go if you want to get started right away.

Being a professional illustrator, LavenderTowne preferred to start from scratch while making her character rather than using a 3D model. I did this using Live2D (Opens in a new window), she says. “I found it incredibly intriguing because many VTubers utilize Live2D to create an animated character that moves with them in real-time, without a 3D model.”

Consistency is Key

To grow your channel, it’s important to post content consistently. This can be challenging, especially if you have other commitments, but it’s essential if you want to build a loyal audience.

Keeping Up with Trends

The world of VTubing is constantly evolving, so it’s essential to keep up with the latest trends and techniques. Follow other VTubers and stay active on social media to ensure you don’t miss out on any new opportunities.

Practice Makes Perfect

Like any skill, VTubing takes practice to master. Don’t be discouraged if your first few videos don’t get a lot of views or engagement. Keep practicing and refining your content until you find your voice.

Stay True to Yourself

Finally, it’s important to stay true to yourself as a VTuber. Don’t try to be someone you’re not or create content that doesn’t resonate with you. Authenticity is key to building a loyal following and creating content that stands out.

Conclusion

Becoming a VTuber can be a fun and rewarding way to express yourself online. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create your virtual persona, start creating engaging content, and build a loyal audience. Remember to stay true to yourself, keep practicing, and have fun along the way.