A major shakeup happened today in the world of popular virtual avatars. Ironmouse, one of the most recognizable VTubers in the space, left American talent agency VShojo, alleging that it withheld payments to her and a charity she supports with the revenue from her content on Twitch and YouTube.
For those who aren’t watching VTubers, this won’t mean too much. But while the world of VTubing is a relatively new phenomenon, these streamers gained traction around the time of the pandemic, burgeoning into a full-fledged industry. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is VTubing?
VTubing is a type of live-streaming hosted by virtual and customized avatars, presented in 2D or 3D form. These fictional characters connect with their audiences just as other creators do, but their real identities and faces are concealed behind animated personas.
VTubers have gained popularity across streaming platforms on a global scale, building on the long-held success of virtual avatars in Asia and becoming increasingly prominent in the West. Now, there are a slew of talent agencies dedicated to VTubers, including Japan’s NIJISANJI and Hololive Production.
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This subgenre of streaming first grew during the pandemic, as people sought new content and, presumably, had more time on their hands to peruse the internet. On Twitch, viewership of VTubing content swelled by 350% between January and August 2022. For one thing, VTubers are original characters, bringing an edge to traditional streaming. VTubing brings together a blend of anime, pop culture, and streaming culture, attracting a variety of fans.
What is VShojo?
VShojo is a prominent VTuber talent agency, created by a team that includes a former member of the founding team behind Twitch. The agency, which started in 2020, signed Ironmouse, Veibae, AmaLee, Projekt Melody, and other popular streamers.
According to VShojo, their mission is to “help VTubers turn their passion into a profession through dedicated management, tech innovations, collaboration, and support.”
Who is Ironmouse?
Ironmouse is a Puerto Rican VTuber and, as Rolling Stone describes, “a virtual demon queen who briefly overtook popular creator Kai Cenat as the most subscribed streamer on Twitch.” She was one of the first major talents signed by VShojo.
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In a video posted to YouTube yesterday, Ironmouse declared she’s leaving VShojo. Fans left messages of support in the comments. The creator said she’s been instructed by her attorney to not reveal the whole story. “For now, I just need to let you know that I will no longer be a part of VShojo,” she said. “As of right now, I am an independent VTuber.”
