Virtual influencer
This article needs to be updated.(February 2024) |
A virtual influencer, at times described as a virtual persona or virtual model, is a computer-generated fictional character that can be used for a variety of marketing-related purposes, but most frequently for
History
Virtual influencers are fundamentally synonymous with virtual idols, which originate from Japan's anime and Japanese idol culture that dates back to the 1980s.
Since their inception, many virtual idols created have achieved continual success, with notable names including the
Benefits
From a branding perspective, virtual influencers are much less likely to be mired in scandals. In China, celebrities caught in bad publicity such as singer Wang Leehom and entertainer Kris Wu have heightened the appeal of virtual influencers, since their existence relies entirely on computer-generated imagery, and hence are unlikely to cause any damage to a brand's image by association.[13] Some studies have also suggested that Generation Z consumers have a unique appetite for virtual idols and influencers, since they grew up in the age of the internet.[14] Studies also show that human-like appearance of virtual influencers show higher message credibility than anime-like virtual influencers.[15]
Notable examples
Virtual bands
- Eternity - A South Korean virtual idol group formed by Pulse9.
- Gorillaz - A virtual band formed in 1998.
- K/DA - A virtual K-pop girl group created as part of the League of Legends video game franchise.[16]
- MAVE:- A South Korean virtual girl group formed in 2023 by Metaverse Entertainment.
- Pentakill - A virtual heavy metal band created as part of the League of Legends video game franchise.
- Plave (band) - A South Korean virtual boy band formed by VLast.
- Squid Sisters and Off the Hook - Two virtual pop idol duos as part of the Splatoon series.
- Studio Killers - A Finnish-Danish-British virtual band formed in 2011.
Vocaloids
- Hatsune Miku (modeled after Saki Fujita)
- Kagamine Rin/Len (modeled after Asami Shimoda)
- Megurine Luka (modeled after Yū Asakawa)
- Meiko(modeled after Meiko Haigō)
- Kaito (modeled after Naoto Fūga)
VTubers
- Kano
- Kizuna AI
- Neuro-sama
- VShojo
- Nijisanji
- Hololive
Other examples
See also
- Avatar (computing)
- CGI
- Content creation
- Internet celebrity
- Uncanny valley
- Virtual actor
- Virtual character
- Virtual human
References
- ^ Hsu, Tiffany (17 June 2019). "These Influencers Aren't Flesh and Blood, Yet Millions Follow Them". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ^ Tayenaka, Torrey (31 July 2020). "CGI-Created Virtual Influencers Are the New Trend in Social Media Marketing". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ^ "Inside the mind of virtual influencer Rae: "If I want, almost everything I imagine can become a reality"". sg.news.yahoo.com. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ^ "Fixing Social Media – MAS S.67 // Spring 2020". Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ^ "I Am a Model and I Know That Artificial Intelligence Will Eventually Take My Job". Vogue. 21 July 2020.
- ^ "The Fictional (Yet Amazingly Popular) Singers of Japan". Kotaku. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- )
- ^ Rattray, Tim (June 25, 2018). "From Macross to Miku: A History of Virtual Idols". Crunchyroll.
- ^ St. Michel, Patrick (15 July 2016). "A Brief History of Virtual Pop Stars". Pitchfork. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Japan's Newest Heartthrobs Are Sexy, Talented and Virtual". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Virtual influencers 101: A guide for small and medium business owners". NCR. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ^ "China's virtual idols are reshaping the ways brands reach Gen Z consumers". KrASIA. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "艾媒咨询|2021中国虚拟偶像行业发展及网民调查研究报告(附下载)-艾媒网". www.iimedia.cn. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- PMID 36949930.
- ^ "Riot Games adds to its world of virtual influencers who promote 'League of Legends'". Engadget. Retrieved 4 October 2021.