Virtual YouTuber Model

A virtual YouTuber model, or “VTuber model” for short, is a virtual avatar with which a person publishes their content online and presents themselves to viewers as a fictional character. The identity of the person behind the virtual model is anonymous, which means that viewers know the person by the fictional character they post as.

For my thesis, I decided to design my own mascot of the brand called “AshieWolfe”, which would serve as a virtual YouTuber model, and to present the world of virtual YouTubers.

The first part of the thesis is a theoretical part where I will present who virtual YouTubers are, what they do and how to become a virtual YouTuber. I will present different types of virtual models and the equipment needed to create and use these models.

By researching various articles and obtaining various information, I will present the history of virtual YouTubers and, using surveys and interviews, I will present the industry of virtual YouTubers, the challenges they face, and their mental health in the industry.

The second part of the thesis is the practical part, in which I introduce the entire process of creating a virtual YouTuber model. I explain how the mascot of the “AshieWolfe” brand was created and the decisions behind its appearance. I had to decide on the software I would use to design, animate and test the model.

The programs I used for work were Adobe Photoshop, Live2D Cubism and VTube Studio. I started the design process by choosing the style in which the virtual model will be designed, followed by a sketch. I drew this sketch in Adobe Photoshop and appropriately cut out all the parts of the body that will move. Creation of the design of the model was followed by its animation in the Live2D Cubism program, at which point I did not know whether I would succeed.

After the animation was finished, the model was ready for testing. I tested it in the popular VTube Studio program intended for such models. In this program, I adjusted the final details with the movements of the model and the project was completed.

While writing the thesis and describing the processes behind the project, I realized that the program, which was said to be demanding, actually turned out to be rather easy to use once you figure out how to work with it. I also found out how the entertainment industry and people’s criticism can greatly affect the mental health of a person who is engaged in creating content.

You can see the student’s product in the video below: