OC, VTuber and self-expression
Preface
One of my friends on Twitter once said: “Everyone in the Internet is a VTuber; the only difference is whether or not they stream.”
If the concept of VTuber is broad enough to include simply surfing the internet under a virtual identity, this statement holds true. To some extent, it reflects a phenomenon: creating a fictional persona on the internet to express oneself is becoming increasingly common.
Recently, I’ve come across various posts related to OCs and VTubers, met many VTuber friends, and watched some streams. Over time, I’ve accumulated thoughts on many specific questions, and finally, at a certain moment, I was inspired to write an article on the theme of “OCs, VTubers, and self-expression.” Through this, I hope to share my perspective on the current state of OCs and VTubers, the significance of OCs to me, the motivations behind becoming a VTuber, and the connection between OCs, VTubers, and self-expression.
Actually, I’ve been planning this article since early July. Due to a busy schedule, it was shelved for a while and almost forgotten due to the “72-hour rule.” And as time passed and I saw more things, I began to feel my understanding of OCs was still too shallow, and much of what I knew about VTubers was only surface-level. Despite this, I still wanted to complete this article, hoping to hear the thoughts of anyone who encounters this topic. I hope this article can serve as a starting point, helping me understand a broader spectrum of ideas.
OCs & My Story
OC stands for Original Character. It refers to a character created with detailed attributes like appearance, age, personality traits, and backstory. The most straightforward example of this would be how VTubers describe their own character settings during introductions. For instance, a VTuber I used to follow, “Maruyama Ki,” describes herself like this:
About the setting: A clumsy high school girl from a magic academy. Relies on innate talent for magic but doesn’t focus on studying, so she remains a beginner. She’s gentle, slightly shy, and loves to laugh! She has a good temper, so don’t bully her too much, please! ::>_<:: She hopes to bring warmth and healing to everyone.
About what she likes: Rubies, small animals (especially cats), and everything pink! Loves sweets, tea, energetic songs, and anything uplifting!
When this description and her character design are presented to me, I imagine scenes of academy life, her smiles, afternoon teas, cuddling cats, or performing on an energetic stage. At that moment, her OC becomes vivid in my mind.
How to Create Your Own OC
In my opinion, creating an OC involves building up details step by step—from traits and preferences to the broader world they inhabit—until the character takes shape in your mind. These ideas can then be recorded in writing, and with your own artistic skills or by commissioning someone else, you can visually bring the OC to life.
Initially, I didn’t consider what exactly my OC should include. I only thought, “I need a virtual persona to interact with my audience.” This idea arose because I believed, based on my experience watching VTuber streams, that using a virtual persona would improve the overall streaming experience. So, I began to think about the image I wanted to present.
This idea became more feasible as the domestic market for VTuber-related services started to grow around late 2022. By then, creating a simple chibi Live2D model wasn’t too costly. For a gaming streamer like me, a chibi model seemed sufficient.
Thus, my OC, “Tsukistar,” initially existed only as a white-haired, cat-eared boy with a cute appearance. I based his outward traits on my preferences and aesthetic, but he lacked a personality or backstory to make him more rounded. It wasn’t until I created his profile card for commission purposes that I started thinking about his character traits, how he should behave, and what details would bring him closer to the image I wanted to convey.
As for “Tsukistar (feminine version),” her creation was more serendipitous. Once, when commissioning an outfit, I left the design entirely up to the artist. The result? An adorable white dress adorned with blue and pink ribbons! I thought it was absolutely lovely. Around that time, I came across a dual-character concept and thought, “Why not make Tsukistar and his feminine counterpart a duo?” That’s how they became twin personas, now featured on my YouTube channel banner.
The Significance of OCs to Me
On the internet, many people may wonder “Who are you?” but few people truly care about the answer. This creates the perfect opportunity for an OC to “announce to others who you are.” For me, Tsukistar allows me to explore my interests and reflect on what I want to do. Meanwhile, Tsukistar (feminine) represents my ideal partner—someone supportive and healing.
Often, it’s difficult to immediately become the best version of oneself or to meet someone who fully supports you in real life. If such a source of motivation or comfort is missing, an OC can fill that void, offering companionship as you navigate life’s challenges.
Talking About VTubers
This topic could go on forever, but I’ll focus on two aspects: how the VTuber industry has popularized OCs and how VTuber personas enable self-expression.
I started watching VTuber streams relatively late, with two main periods of interest: 2019–2021 and early 2023 to now. Meanwhile, I began streaming in 2020, used public VTuber models in 2022, and started designing my OC in 2023.
Compared to strict purists who believe VTubers must rigidly adhere to their backstories and personas, I take a more open approach. I view a VTuber persona as an extension of an idealized self, a way to explore the question, “Who do I want to be?”
My perspective has likely been shaped by witnessing the VTuber industry’s development and its growing accessibility over time. Becoming a VTuber has become easier as the barriers to entry have lowered. Increasingly, many VTubers are no longer “acting” as a constructed character but are instead presenting a version of themselves that isn’t too far removed from their real selves.
The Current State of the VTuber Industry
Over the past few years, the emergence and growth of various studios have caused the costs for VTuber streaming assets, illustrations, merchandise templates, and even ready-made model licenses to drop significantly. Studios have also taken artists to offer template-based services, further driving prices down. As a result, becoming a VTuber is now more accessible than ever. This trend has also contributed to an imbalance where the number of VTubers far exceeds the number of non-VTuber viewers.
From me, I am both a VTuber and a fan of many VTubers, and I follow at least 90 VTubers and streamers (likely over 150 now). However, I actively watch fewer than 10 of them. For the rest, I mostly consume highlight clips, shorts, or occasionally catch their live streams. This might help explain why some VTubers have 5,000 followers but average around 20 concurrent viewers—similar to a streamer with only 300 followers.
How VTubers Can Gain More Exposure
Initially, I focused a lot on hololive, watching numerous clips of Shirakami Fubuki, Minato Aqua, Usada Pekora, and Tsunomaki Watame. Later, I expanded to other VTubers, both indie and corporate. My time spent watching clips far exceeds the time I spend watching live streams. In fact, highlight clips are one of the primary ways viewers discover VTubers.
This is why I make it a point to regularly edit and upload clips to YouTube. Relying solely on Twitch streams is not an effective way to expand one’s influence. Highlight clips provide more exposure and make it easier for new viewers to get to know you.
While I may not always be able to stream consistently, creating a schedule with specific content at set times can also help cultivate viewer habits, which is a great way to grow a channel.
The Connection Between OCs, VTubers, and Self-Expression
A VTuber friend once asked me: “Why do you want to be a VTuber?”
If you’d asked me this question in the past, I might have said, “Having a model would make my stream looks better and attracts more viewers.”
But my actual response was:
- It allows me to protect my privacy and minimize the overlap between content creation and my real life.
- As a VTuber, I can present my content in a more dynamic way. Just using voice alone can be monotonous, while showing a VTuber model is more visually appealing than appearing on camera.
- Being a VTuber lets me create a character to explore what I want to do and realize my ideas in my own way.
For me, creating an OC and becoming a VTuber is about better self-expression.
Most VTubers consider creating an OC for themselves, brainstorming backstories, key elements, and personality traits that the OC embodies. These elements often represent the ideal version of themselves. In the real world, there are things we can’t change, but in the virtual world, we can use certain tools to bring our imaginations to life—whether it’s the version of ourselves we idolized during our most imaginative years, a deeply memorable dream from our youth, or an alternative way to remember a loved one.
However, these three aspects, “OCs, VTubers, and self-expression”, don’t necessarily have to be connected. You don’t need one to achieve the others.
Some people pour their financial and creative resources into their OCs, finding emotional fulfillment through their creations (for example, Hanamaru Lily is Arden’s most beloved “daughter”). Others don’t create their own OCs, instead purchasing a model they like to showcase their unique traits as VTubers. There are also people who bypass OCs and VTubing altogether, using tools like art, writing, or code to create works that express their individuality and interests to the world.
Conclusion
Thank you for everyone who read this far. This article took a long time to write, as I went through periods of feeling “lost” and overwhelmed by life’s challenges. Thankfully, I didn’t give up but instead took action to get things back on track. Looking back, I’m glad everything started improving.
The topic of OCs, VTubers, and self-expression is highly subjective, and every VTuber likely has their own perspective. I’ve shared my thoughts here, but I’d love to hear what others think. Feel free to share your views on the significance of OCs, VTubers, and self-expression in the comments below!
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