Virtual-san Looking

If you’re reading this review then chances are you have some idea what a Virtual Youtuber (hereafter “VTuber”) is. At the very least, you’ve likely seen a Kizuna Ai screenshot float across your screen at some point, and maybe even watched a video or two. For those living under a rock, some searching on Youtube might provide a better explanation than the brief one here. In short, starting with Kizuna Ai in 2017 and expanding exponentially there’s been a trend of people who utilize VR technology to manipulate avatars to make entertaining videos. As the name suggests, these videos often live on Youtube. These people arethe stars of Virtual-san, the first feature-length show dedicated entirely to VTubers. As with many trends there’s plenty of non-virtual money floating in the air, and popularity has combined with profitability to produce Virtual-san wa Miteiru. (Before I go further, it may be worth noting that Kizuna Ai, who has been outspoken about staying on the platform after which she styled herself the first “Virtual Youtuber” for her videos, isn’t actually in this show, though she does sing the first version of the OP where she jokingly remarks that there “isn’t enough love” (that is, “not enough ai”). For those who already familiar with the content (or if you’re not and are just going to watch it regardless), how does this first foray into an exclusive television feature fare? Putting the haters aside (and as the score for this show as well as the various negative reviews it’s received elsewhere indicate, there are more than a few), the answer will likely vary depending on who you are. If you’re someone who’s actively engaged with any of the wide cast of VTubers – and there are many here, including some of the most popular – you’ll likely enjoy seeing your favorites on screen. If this is your first time dipping your toes in the virtual pool, unless you’re particularly patient you’ll likely be lost. The dividing line here is, funny enough, its faithfulness to the medium it’s reproducing. The comedic sketches which make up the show often adopt the same loose formatting as many VTuber videos, meaning a lot of ad-libbing among the more scripted segments. The directing style of some of the sketches is also loose and can also feel amateurish, with scenes oddly drawn-out even after the punchline has been delivered. Dedicated fans will likely take much of this in stride – in a medium populated by amateur talent where uneven delivery is the rule, Virtual-san will feel familiar. Whether this familiarity is a good thing is another matter and will vary by viewer, and there will be those who expect something a little tighter to suite a full-length TV show. Something which is faithful but notably better than average is the animation – Dwango has used the Unity engine to create something which looks cleaner and smoother than many VTuber videos, and certainly better than the VRchat to which it’s sometimes compared. But beyond the actual content of the sketches, part of the fun of Virtual-san is the look it offers at a distilled version of a growing cultural phenomenon. In addition to the main cast, we’re treated to a host of other VTubers around the edges. Whether it’s the rotating cast of guests on Tsukino Mito’s quiz show, the 30-second introductions from amateur VTubers in the “Minna no Virtual-san” corner, or those who might just walk through and say the name of the show in an eyecatch, the show does a good job in providing a snapshot of how big and diverse this trend is. Regardless of the actual quality of the series, Virtual-san is important as a proof of concept, with a 20-odd minute show dedicated entirely to VTubers airing on television alongside other otaku fair. Yes, it’s a little rough in execution, and the often hit-or-miss subs by Crunchyroll don’t help – but much like the often rough-cut introduction videos of many VTubers themselves it’s not hard to see where its potential lies. And given that there are at least two shows and a movie starring VTubers on the way, Virtual-san looks to be just the beginning. In the end, it will likely be seen as an important first and predecessor to other, stronger works starring VTubers which are yet to come.