A [b]Virtual YouTuber[/b], sometimes called [b]VTuber[/b], is a content creator and personality that utilizes a 3D or 2D digital avatar for online videos and/or [[livestream]]ing, often assuming a character as well. Despite the brand name, content is not limited to [[YouTube]].

The term was first popularized by [[Kizuna Ai]], who called herself "the world's first virtual YouTuber". Many others followed suit, and the explosion in popularity of the practice lead the term to be used even outside of [[YouTube]], though variations on the term have been introduced as to diminish the use of the brand name, including "VTuber", "Virtual Singer"/"VSinger" (for those that exclusively do music, not be confused with [[VSinger|Vocaloid China]]), and "Virtual Liver"/"VLiver" (specifically referring to virtual streamers) or "Virtual Streamer"/"VStreamer" (due to the former term reminding folks of the organ in English). In Chinese, the term "Virtual Uploader"/"VUP" is used more commonly alongside "VTuber", after being first coined by [[Xiao Xi]] on [[Bilibili]].

This tag should apply to not only virtual YouTubers themselves, but also to [[parody|parodies]] of virtual YouTubers, references to them, fictitious virtual YouTubers, fake virtual YouTubers, and concept art that ultimately isn't used (for the latter three, [code]original[/code] should be used). While tagging mascots and staff with the tag is fine, family members and friends of VTubers don't apply, unless they too are VTubers, nor do things merely associated with VTubers.

h4. See also 

* [[Indie Virtual YouTuber]] (for use with solo indies)
* [[List of virtual YouTubers]]
* [[utaite]]

h4. External Links

* Pixiv Encyclopedia: "Virtual YouTuber":https://dic.pixiv.net/a/バーチャルYouTuber
* UserLocal (JP Database): "virtual-youtuber.userlocal.jp":https://virtual-youtuber.userlocal.jp
* Moegirl article (Chinese): "Virtual Uploader":https://zh.moegirl.org/zh-hans/%E8%99%9A%E6%8B%9FUP%E4%B8%BB
* Namuwiki article (Korean): "Virtual YouTuber":https://namu.wiki/w/VTuber
* MoguraVR's VTuber article section (Japanese) : "VTuber":https://www.moguravr.com/category/virtual-youtuber/
** MoguraVR article (Oct. 2022): "moguravr.com/vtuber-management-companies-list":https://www.moguravr.com/vtuber-management-companies-list/
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