Written by: Nicole Castro
Published on: August 27, 2021 at 14:03 PHT (GMT+8)
The official Twitter account of Virtual YouTuber talent agency VShojo has opened worldwide auditions for new performers. Applications are due Sept. 30, 2021.
Instructions as well as the application form are in the official press release. Auditions are open to both Japanese and English speakers.
Independent VTubers who have already debuted under a different identity are welcome to carry over their existing persona after debuting with VShojo. Applicants must be over 18 years old and are willing to stream full-time as a VTuber. There are no geographic restrictions.
Some of VShojo's currently affiliated talents include Nyanners, Projekt Melody, Ironmouse, HimeHajime, and Zentreya.
About VShojo
VShojo is a US-based talent management company for VTubers, content creators who make character avatars appear as personas on video and live distribution sites such as YouTube and Twitch.
The company was co-founded by CEO Justin "the Gunrun" Ignacio and CTO Phillip "MowtenDoo" Fortunat. It was established on Nov. 24, 2020.
About Virtual YouTubers
A virtual YouTuber is a vlogger/content creator who, instead of their human persona, uses avatars to appear on videos and livestreams.
The avatar is generated using computer programs such as Live2D Cubism, and characters are designed by online artists and often resemble anime characters. The trend originated in Japan in the mid-2010s.
Kizuna AI, a VTuber who began creating content in 2016, is attributed as the first to coin the term "VTuber." As of August 2021, she now has approximately 2.98 million subscribers. She is also an ambassador for the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).
Source: VShojo Japan official Twitter, PR Times press release, Anime News Network
