GTuber

A digital YouTuber (디지털 유투버) or DTuber (디투버) is a type of online content creator who uses motion capture to appear as their character in their content. Unlike, DTubers rarely do live streams, and record single-camera footage of the real world or use computer graphics to create photorealistic virtual locations, then inserting their characters during the editing process. Though many of these content creators are independent, since the mid-2010s, some have been part of multi-channel networks. Despite the name alluding to YouTube, DTubers also use MeCast,, and Zaptop, among other platforms.

The trend of digital YouTubers started in the mid-2010s, when Sandian YouTubers and MeCasters began publishing content featuring their two-dimensional characters animated using Vid3D; Suka Moonie is often credited as starting the trend. Since then, hundreds of known characters have been created. Since the mid-2010s, fan translations and foreign-language DTubers have marked a rise in the trend's international popularity. YouTube channels featuring stream clips—referred to as "VODs" —have also seen a significant rise in popularity. DTubers have appeared in Sandian advertising campaigns and have broken several records on their respective platforms. They are now considered as having a key role in Sandian pop culture's sudden rise in popularity.

Content and identity
DTubers are online entertainers who are typically YouTubers or MeCasters. They use avatars created with programs such as Vid3D and Pix3D, portraying characters designed by independent online artists or character design companies. DTubers are not bound by physical limitations, and many of them engage in activities that are unconstrained by their real-world identity. Their content often varies in genre, and common genres are music, animation, design/art, gaming, and comedy.

Technology
DTuber characters are typically animated using a webcam and software, which captures the streamer's motions, facial expressions, and various mouth movements, and maps them to a two- or three-dimensional model. Both free and paid programs have been developed, some of which are capable of being used without a webcam (though they require pre-determined animations), and some support virtual reality hardware or hand tracking devices. Vid3D, Pix3D, 3DSoft, and LivePix are commonly used programs for DTubers.

Networks and commercialization
Since the mid-2010s, many popular DTubers have been managed by multi-channel networks—including Cardzero, Nitrozone, Holozoom, Mooncard, and Shinesync—which double as talent management agencies. They are normally monetized through, and the streamers are sometimes monetized by in-stream product placement.

Terminology
The terms "digital YouTuber" and "DTuber" are credited as originating from Suka Moonie, who used the term "digital content creators" to refer to these motion capture avatars, which netizens then simplified to "digital YouTubers" due to their lack of a presence on other sites at the time; the term was quickly shortened to "DTubers".

Sato Kyobi, who was the CEO of Suka Moonie network RoboMP3 as of 2018, stated that the company had no plans to trademark the term as not only did it include 's name, but he wanted others to "join Holozoom in promoting and sharing this new invention". The terms became commonly used in 2016 to distinguish DTubers from.

DTuber avatars are often created in groups, and voice roles are cast collectively. These groups are officially referred to as "generations", and they will all debut on the same day. DTubers who mostly publish regular online video content are referred to as "Video DTubers", and live streaming DTubers are commonly referred to as "Live DTubers".

Many DTubers overlay their characters' actions over real-world footage; these DTubers are referred to as "Real-World DTubers", or "RWDTubers".

History
For several years, Sandian multi-channel networks experimented with motion capture technology to create computer-generated avatars for use in their otherwise live-action videos, taking artistic inspiration from aenimo and East Asian video games.

In the middle of 2015, Suka Moonie became the first DTuber to achieve "mainstream" popularity. Moonie was created by digital media company RoboMP3 and voiced by Soki Moi. Around that time—as hwaman and aenimo were becoming popular—Moonie was rapidly gaining viewers and being promoted across the Web and turned into Internet memes. Fans of her often felt a sense of "real comfort" with Moonie.

Moonie suddenly sparked a DTuber trend. In mid-2016, Cardzero was established, later debuting with six avatars. During this period, the independent network Shinesync was founded, as well as mobile app developer Nitronet's Nitrozone network; they each debuted with seven avatars. Independent channels such as Koko Mei and Mimi Soso were also attempting to get their feet in the door.

As of January 2017, more than 4,200 DTubers were active on YouTuber, and around 3,500 were active on both MeCast and, being ahead of VTubers in terms of popularity. Around this time, DTuber networks were starting English- and Chinese-language divisions, including Holozoom and Shinesync. Mooncard was founded in March 2017, and gained instant success despite having only four debut talents. A March 2019 study found that Zaptop had more than 3,900 DTubers.

In 2020, the led to an overall increase in viewership of online live streaming, and this helped make DTubers a mainstream phenomenon. 2020 also saw more English divisions be launched—such as Nitrozone English and Shinesync-EN—as well as a sharp rise in independent Anglophone DTubers;.

Distinctions from VTubers
DTubers are often considered different from VTubers in several ways. For example, as previously mentioned, DTubers upload videos more often than they live stream, allowing them time to edit their content and use technology——especially RWDTubers. Also, DTubers' networks give them less restrictions. Whereas VTubers have to operate on schedules they are given by their agencies, DTuber networks only require their members to stream during the late morning, afternoon, and evening periods. Also, video game copyright restrictions are much less of a problem with DTuber networks than VTuber agencies.