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Introduction
Kizuna AI burst onto the scene in 2016 as one of the first “virtual YouTubers” (VTubers) – content creators who stream and produce videos displayed through digital avatars rather than their real selves. With her youthful looks, bubbly personality and pioneering status, she quickly amassed millions of fans on YouTube and other platforms. However, in February 2022, Kizuna AI announced that she would be taking an indefinite hiatus, leaving many wondering about the future of the character and the VTuber industry as a whole.
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The origins of Kizuna AI
Kizuna AI was founded in 2016 by Activ8, a Japanese digital entertainment company. She was the first resident of ‘AI Channel’, a YouTube channel dedicated to showcasing her videos. The original concept was to have Kizuna AI serve as an “artificial intelligence” personality that would bring entertainment to its fans.
Her official backstory states that she was born on June 30 as a 2.5D virtual AI. Her appearance is that of a teenage girl, with silver hair, red eyes and a slim body. She also has specific physical characteristics, such as being 156 cm tall and weighing 46 kg. This anime-inspired aesthetic, combined with her energetic personality, attracted dozens of fans who were charmed by her kawaii (cute) style.
Become famous
While Kizuna AI wasn’t the absolute first VTuber, she quickly became one of the most popular early breakthrough VTubers. Viewers enjoyed watching her reactions as she played games, answered fan questions, shared stories and commented on anime and Japanese culture.
Her subscriber count rose rapidly, surpassing one million YouTube subscribers in 2019 across her various channels such as AIChannel, AI Games, and AI Channel China. She also expanded into streaming on Japanese platform Niconico and Chinese site bilibili.
As of mid-2021, Kizuna AI’s main channel had over 2.8 million subscribers, showing that its influence continues to grow. Fans praised her for pioneering and popularizing the concept of creating virtual YouTuber content.
Mainstream profession and promotions
An important part of Kizuna AI’s call was to present a vision of how virtual beings could provide entertainment alongside humans. As she became more popular, Kizuna AI entered into several high-profile collaborations.
She was appointed as a special ambassador to promote tourism in Japan for the Japan National Tourism Organization in 2020. Kizuna AI also worked with major brands like Pizza Hut and performed voice work for mobile games.
In 2021, Kizuna AI held a special VR-based Christmas concert with real-time motion capture technology. Its ability to bridge both digital and physical spaces cemented its reputation as a cultural touchpoint that brings together aspects of virtual and human culture.
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The future in motion
The reasons for this interruption were not explicitly clear. Some articles mentioned creative differences between the various companies involved in managing Kizuna AI, including Activ8, upd8 and Kizuna AI Inc.
There were also indications that the indefinite hiatus was due to plans for a major revamp, overhaul or pivot related to the character and brand. But the details were vague, leaving fans concerned yet hopeful.
Impact on the VTuber industry
Kizuna AI’s sudden absence from the public eye came just as VTubers exploded into the mainstream. The virtual talent industry saw tremendous growth in 2020 and 2021, boosted greatly by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced traditional entertainers to pause live events.
By 2022, VTuber agency Hololive had more than 60 million subscribers in its talent base on YouTube alone. Kizuna AI’s hiatus underscored the fact that even top virtual talent still faced sustainability issues as the market matured.
Still, the themes Kizuna AI embodies around virtual beings seem likely to move forward even without her direct involvement. Continued improvements in areas such as motion capture, augmented reality and internet infrastructure will enable more immersive, interactive virtual content.
And the iconic, beloved personalities created by veteran VTuber actors and production teams will continue to charm audiences craving emotional connections with a futuristic allure. The foundations laid by Kizuna AI have already fueled an entire industry that shows no signs of disappearing from view.
Conclusion
Kizuna AI will be remembered as a virtual pioneer regardless of the final outcome during her hiatus. As one of the first VTuber pioneers, she built a vibrant, likable personality and brand that inspired countless other virtual creations.
Her indefinite absence leaves a void that can never be completely filled. One can hope that Kizuna AI’s magical spark returns at some point to dazzle audiences once again. But the space she created remains a source of inspiration even in her absence. Like birth and death, momentary pauses and revivals represent the life cycles inherent in the virtual landscape.
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