With flashing lights, choreographed dance moves and fans singing along to her songs, Kizuna AI commanded two days of sold-out concerts in front of thousands in Tokyo, Japan, like any pop idol.
Yet the artist never physically set foot on stage. Kizuna AI is not human, but a two-dimensional, anime-style avatar – known as a “virtual YouTuber,” or VTuber – whose movements and voice are provided by real people behind the scenes.
Debuting in 2016 under digital entertainment firm Activ8, Kizuna AI is often credited with popularising the term VTuber and paving the way for virtual entertainers with massive live-stream audiences.
