Latest news with #VTubers
Time Business News
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time Business News
The Rise of Itasha: Where Anime Fandom Meets Car Culture
In a world where self-expression is king, car customization has gone far beyond spoilers and custom wheels. Among the more eye-catching trends to emerge from Japan's ever-evolving automotive scene is Itasha —a cultural phenomenon that merges anime, manga, and gaming fandom with the automotive aftermarket. Once viewed as eccentric or niche, Itasha has now exploded into a global lifestyle statement, turning ordinary vehicles into moving works of pop art. What Is Itasha? The word Itasha (痛車) literally translates to 'painful car.' The term originated in Japan and combines 'itai' (痛い), meaning painful, with 'sha' (車), meaning car. The 'painful' aspect is tongue-in-cheek, referencing both the visual overload for onlookers and the hit to the wallet when fully wrapping a vehicle in high-quality graphics. At its core, Itasha involves decorating a vehicle with colorful vinyl decals featuring characters and themes from anime, manga, video games, and sometimes even VTubers. These designs can range from subtle hood art to full-vehicle wraps that leave no panel untouched. Origins and Cultural Impact Itasha culture began in the 1980s and '90s when fans of popular anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion or Sailor Moon started applying stickers to their cars. This grassroots movement gained momentum in the 2000s with the rise of Comiket and Akihabara subcultures, and it wasn't long before Itasha vehicles began appearing at anime conventions and automotive shows alike. By the 2010s, Itasha had evolved from a hobby into a full-blown subculture with its own meet-ups, showcase events, and online communities. Today, you can find large-scale gatherings like Odaiba Itasha Tengoku in Japan or Anime Expo Itasha Showcase in the U.S., celebrating this vivid fusion of fandom and horsepower. Itasha Goes Global Initially thought to be confined to Japan's shores, Itasha has since made its way across continents. In the United States, the trend has gained traction in major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. You'll often find customized anime-wrapped cars parked outside conventions or revving up at local car meets. Several factors contributed to this international expansion: Streaming services made anime more accessible. Global fandoms formed around series like Demon Slayer , My Hero Academia , and Genshin Impact . Affordable wrap technologies allowed hobbyists to experiment with their vehicles without the permanence or high cost of traditional paint jobs. Social media has also played a key role. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are filled with Itasha builds, offering both inspiration and a sense of community for aspiring designers and fans. Types of Vehicles Used in Itasha While Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars like the Nissan Silvia, Subaru Impreza, or Toyota Supra remain staples in Itasha circles, fans have wrapped everything from: Motorcycles (sometimes referred to as 'Itansha') Trucks and SUVs Electric vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 Classic cars and even kei cars The design language changes depending on the canvas. While a Subaru WRX might wear a racing-style Itasha design featuring action-oriented anime like Attack on Titan , a Miata might showcase a more pastel, slice-of-life theme like K-On! or Lucky Star . The Process Behind an Itasha Build Creating an Itasha wrap involves more than just slapping on stickers. It's a meticulous process that requires both technical skill and an eye for design. Step 1: Design The design phase begins with choosing a character or theme. Most fans select favorites from current or classic anime, VTubers, or games. The design is then digitally composed, often requiring vector work, color correction, and layout optimization. Many artists offer commission services specifically for Itasha wraps, working closely with car owners to create something both unique and personal. Step 2: Printing Once finalized, the design is printed onto high-quality vinyl using large-format printers. Specialized vinyl wrap film ensures durability, weather resistance, and vibrant colors. Step 3: Application Installation is a skilled trade. The wrap must conform to curves, corners, and complex surfaces without bubbling or tearing. Some owners do it themselves, but many choose professional installers to guarantee a clean result. Step 4: Protection and Maintenance To extend the life of an Itasha wrap, protective layers like ceramic coating or clear PPF (paint protection film) are often added. Regular washing with wrap-safe products helps maintain the appearance over time. Misconceptions About Itasha Like any subculture, Itasha has its critics and misunderstandings. Here are some of the common myths: 'It's only for weebs.' While Itasha is rooted in anime culture, the designs vary widely. Some wraps feature sleek, minimalist art or subtle monochrome decals. It's not always loud or over-the-top. 'It ruins the value of the car.' High-quality wraps are non-permanent and can be removed with no damage to the paint—making them safer than respraying or poorly applied mods. 'Itasha is just cosplay for cars.' While the analogy fits in spirit, many owners view their builds as a serious art form or even mobile marketing. Business and Commercial Uses Interestingly, Itasha has begun to find its way into promotional and commercial applications. Companies sponsor vehicles with branded Itasha designs to market new anime seasons, game launches, or even music releases. VTuber agencies often wrap cars with their top talents for conventions and tours. This crossover into commercial art has created opportunities for wrap designers, print studios, and freelance illustrators to monetize their skills. The demand for original character wraps, limited collabs, and fan art licensing continues to grow. Women in the Itasha Scene Though car culture is often stereotyped as male-dominated, women have a strong and growing presence in Itasha. Female car owners, designers, and cosplayers bring unique perspectives and themes to the table, often focusing on aesthetics, harmony, and character fidelity. Many female-led builds feature characters from shoujo anime or romantic visual novels, while others go full-throttle with bold racing themes and retro-styled manga icons. The Future of Itasha As vehicle electrification, digital art, and augmented reality become more prevalent, Itasha is likely to evolve again. We may soon see wrap-integrated displays or motion graphics synced with AR apps. With AI-generated artwork and dynamic LED vinyl tech on the horizon, the next generation of Itasha could be more immersive than ever. At the same time, the core of Itasha will remain the same: a passionate celebration of fandom, creativity, and individuality. Getting Started in the Itasha World If you're interested in creating your own Itasha car, here's a basic checklist: Choose a base vehicle. Almost any car can become an Itasha; you don't need a high-end JDM import. Pick a theme. Whether it's a favorite anime, game, or VTuber, make it personal. Hire a designer or use templates. You can either work with a professional or explore pre-made wrap kits from reputable sites. Find a local wrap installer. Look for installers with experience in custom and full-color wraps. Always ask for examples of past work. Attend events. The best way to learn is by immersing yourself in the community. Anime cons and car meets are a great starting point. Final Thoughts Itasha is far more than vinyl stickers on cars—it's a modern art movement with wheels. It bridges the gap between otaku culture and automotive passion, letting fans tell their stories through personalized, drivable canvases. As the trend continues to grow and adapt, Itasha will undoubtedly remain one of the most vibrant and expressive forms of car culture in the world. Whether you're a seasoned modder, an anime enthusiast, or simply curious, now is the perfect time to explore what the Itasha world has to offer. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Business Mayor
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
GTA V and VTubers top Twitch's list of 2024 streaming trends
Twitch today released information about its viewership and engagement in 2024: What everyone was streaming and watching throughout the year. According to Twitch, Grand Theft Auto V remains the most popular game on the platform, with titles like League of Legends and Valorant also ranking high in numbers. The platform also reported that it holds a 60% share of the global gaming livestream audience, which watched Twitch for over 15.6 billion hours. The platform's content creators streamed Grand Theft Auto V for over 25.8 million hours, while viewers watched over 1.4 billion hours of the game. League was the runner-up with 1.19 billion hours, and was also the most-watched game in Germany and France. Other titles to make it onto the leaderboards include Valorant, Fortnite and Call of Duty. It's probably not a surprise that esports games make up a large part of the list. Twitch also noted that VTubers have surged in popularity in recent years, with a 10% increase in hours watched on their streams year-over-year. British VTubers have seen the biggest surge, with 200% growth in hours watched, though the genre itself is most popular in the U.S. and Japan in addition to the U.K. Other major streamers on the platform have played host to major events in 2024, including Kai Cenat's 30-day Subathon and Ibai's boxing event. The popularity of Grand Theft Auto V likely presages the potential popularity of its successor, Grand Theft Auto VI, which is due to launch sometime later this year. GTA V has long supported creative roleplay both in the main game and via GTA Online, so Grand Theft Auto VI could cater to that massive audience.
Business Insider
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
The most adorable part of the influencer economy is being squeezed by tariffs
Rachel Reichenbach is stressed out about tariffs. The artist and content creator sells frog pins, plush toys, and other amphibian-themed items to fans. Her plushies are made in China, which means they could soon become much more expensive to sell in the US due to recent tariffs and rule changes instituted by the Trump administration. If she raises the cost of her green and blue plush frogs to cover tariff fees, they may become too pricey for her audience. "No matter how cute they are, people are only going to be willing to pay a certain amount for things," said Reichenbach, who has around 117,000 Instagram followers and 670 Patreon subscribers. "My products, they're not a staple. It's going to be the first to be cut from most people's budget." The US-China trade war is hitting the influencer economy unevenly. Influencers sell a variety of items to make money off their fame, whether that's sweatpants, keychains, or chocolate bars. Some products, like T-shirts or food, can be easily manufactured in the US, which could shield them from tariffs. Plushies, however, tend to be made in China, where tariffs on toy imports are now set at 145%. The increase hasn't hit for some creators yet, but they're bracing for higher costs. Plushies can sell for anywhere from $15 to upward of $30, several creators and suppliers told Business Insider. Creators are worried they could piss off fans if added fees force them to raise prices. The market for influencer plushies, popular among anime illustrators, YouTube channels with animated characters, and VTubers, could crash in the coming months if creators back away from selling stuffed toys in favor of lower-tariffed items. "For some creators, plushies are far and away the bestseller," said Walker Williams, cofounder at the creator e-commerce platform Fourthwall. "They're really collectible, they're fun, they're unique, and so for a good number of creators, plushies are 90% plus of their sales." Warren James CEO Saurabh Shah told BI that plushy sales are a "close second" to apparel for the creator merch company, which works with creators like Hasan Piker and Tana Mongeau. Why finding plushies outside China is challenging Influencers and their business partners lean heavily on China for plushies because of the country's manufacturing efficiencies, executives at creator merch companies told BI. China became a plushies hub because its factories are colocated and can easily work together, said Ronak Trivedi, CEO of the product manufacturing platform Pietra. He said cities like Dongguan and Yiwu have "extremely robust economies around plushy production." There are other places for plush toy manufacturing outside China, including Vietnam. Companies make plushies in the US and Australia, for example, but they can be expensive due to labor costs. Factories outside China or Vietnam are also less equipped to work with influencers on small batch orders, and creators tend to release products in limited drops. "If you don't want to produce 20,000 of them, basically you have to go to China or Vietnam," Williams said. Being price conscious is a must for influencers who want to avoid pissing off fans Some creators are worried about setting high prices on plushies because they think it will come off as greedy to their fans. "When things are crazy in the world, I think creators are a little more reluctant to go and sell something directly to their fans," Williams said. "They don't want to put their audience under pressure to buy things." Warren James is raising prices — to the tune of less than 10% across most categories — meaning a $35 plushie would now be about $38, Shah said. The company and creators are also eating some of the costs, as are its suppliers and shipping partners. "We're being surgical about it," he said of the increases. "For us, merch is about fan connection — it should still feel accessible." Other merch companies like anime creator product company Noir are anticipating much steeper price increases tied to tariffs that could more than double the cost of plushies for their customers. Noir isn't shying away from letting customers know why prices are going up. The company plans to list price increases for plushies as a Trump tariff fee in the checkout cart. Other creators have been shouting out potential price hikes in posts on platforms like Instagram and X. "Transparency is really important for the fans to feel like they know why we're doing what we're doing," Cary Huang from the YouTube channel Jack n Jellify told BI. Influencers and their partners are racing to find workarounds The plushy price apocalypse hasn't fully hit. Some creators are still benefiting from the de minimis loophole that exempts from tariffs smaller orders shipped from China. But the administration is stripping that exemption away beginning on May 2. Still, influencers and their suppliers aren't sitting idle. Some are rushing to get as many shipments into the US as possible before the exemption is removed. Others are considering sourcing their plushies from Vietnam if Chinese suppliers become unviable. Shah said Warren James began exploring factories there across all categories after the Biden administration signaled tariff increases last year, and it's now doing test production runs. It is modeling plans to bring about half of its business in China to Vietnam. Other merch companies are thinking on their feet. Killer Merch COO Mark Bubb said more partnerships could help more players in the relatively nascent space succeed. One example could include various entities coming together "to give a decent amount of business to a small manufacturer that would help them scale." Other creators may eventually move away from plushies if they become too expensive to produce. "I do think that creators are going to go for products that are more made in the USA," Williams said. "A lot of creators are going to say, 'Hey, I'm not looking to pay 2.5 times the price on a plushie.'" Oliver Gilpin, CEO of Telos Media, which runs animated YouTube channels like Solarballs and MrSpherical, said the company may prioritize playing cards over plushies because it has a smaller price markup on its plush toys. "With tariffs starting, it really hits low markup businesses and products," Gilpin said. Of course, abandoning plushies isn't an option for everyone. "The type of product really matters," Jack n Jellify's Huang said. "You can't just swap out a plushy for a jigsaw puzzle."
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bungie's Marathon reboot — here's what you need to know
In this week's gaming round-up, we get insights from a former PlayStation legend, while also highlighting a slew of news on retiring VTubers and leaks. The big picture Bungie has shown off a new gameplay of its upcoming extraction multiplayer shooter title Marathon, a Player-versus-Player-versus-Environment-focused remake of a trilogy of single-player shooters. The game's art style looks slick, and its gunplay and controls feel top-notch and akin to past Bungie titles like the Destiny duology and the Halo trilogy. However, that may not be enough to stand out in a crowded shooter market, from similar titles like Escape From Tarkov to PvP-focused games like Marvel Rivals, or even battle royale giants like Fortnite and PUBG Mobile. Let's also not forget that today's Bungie is not the same studio that made the best Destiny expansions or the Halo titles up to Halo: Reach. Bungie has until its release date of Sept 23 to make Marathon as enticing as possible — and even post-launch, the road ahead will be tough to rise above the competition. Short beats Larian Studios has released its final update for the acclaimed computer RPG, Baldur's Gate 3. The patch features 12 new subclasses, Photo Mode, and more quality-of-life upgrades. Famous 'Let's Play' VTuber Gawr Gura is set to graduate on May 1 due to conflicts with her current management. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake is set to launch the week of April 21; screenshots were leaked on Virtuos' homepage before it was made private. EA has announced a new Star Wars turn-based strategy game called Star Wars: Zero Company. Action-adventure open-world sci-fi game Prototype might be making a comeback. Op-Eds We interviewed Shuhei Yoshida, ex-PlayStation production and games industry veteran. He shared insights on PlayStation consoles and portables, indie games and Malaysian developers, and also discussed the most influential games of the past decade. Since it's Easter weekend, we also explore the best resurrections in gaming. Games out this week Bionic Bay is an action platformer where a scientist uses a teleportation instrument to escape an ancient biomechanical world filled with imaginative tech, deadly traps, and hidden secrets. Built for speedrunning. Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a 2.5D search action title set in a dark fantasy world. Players battle monsters across a 40+ hour story, master six unique classes, craft hundreds of items, and explore a sprawling world. Rusty Rabbit is a metroidvania starring a bunny in a mecha suit. Stamp, a rabbit with an old soul, pilots his mech 'Junkster' through the icy ruins of a frozen world in this side-scrolling action-adventure. Lunar: Remastered Collection brings back two classic late-90s JRPGs — Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete and Lunar: Eternal Blue. Recommended viewing To celebrate the upcoming launch of 2D fighting game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves next week, SNK has teamed up with anime director Masami Obari for a special Fatal Fury music video. As mentioned above, VTuber Gawr Gura is graduating on May 1. Here's a highlight reel reminding us why she became one of the most popular names in the scene.
Japan Times
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Digital divas: Can Japan's virtual YouTuber craze crack America?
Fans wave glow sticks at an animated character on stage, having packed a sold-out Hollywood concert hall to see their virtual idol perform, showcasing the global ambitions of Japan's VTuber subculture. Pink-haired musician and livestreamer Mori Calliope looks just like a character from an anime, brought to life on stage through a hologram-like illusion. "I don't really like most streamers, but then when I discovered VTubers, I realized, 'Hey, you know, I'm actually into this,'" says Calliope concert attendee Luigi Galvan. "They look like anime characters. I like anime, so it was easy to get into the VTuber format that way." The actors behind VTubers use motion capture techniques to communicate directly online with fans, who can pay to highlight their comments to the character and other viewers. Platforms like Netflix have helped take Japanese anime mainstream, and Calliope's Tokyo-based talent agency wants its roster of virtual YouTubers, or VTubers, to be the country's next big cultural export. Nearly half of top VTuber agency Cover Corp.'s virtual stars under its famous Hololive (stylized in lowercase) brand speak primarily in English, not Japanese, and the company recently opened a U.S. office to accelerate business in North America. Tokyo-based QY Research predicts that the once-niche VTuber market will make almost $4 billion annually worldwide by 2030, up from $1.4 billion in 2024. VTuber Mori Calliope performs for fans waving glowsticks and pensticks during a sold-out concert at the Hollywood Palladium on Feb. 26, 2025. | AFP Around 4,000 fans attended the recent concert in Los Angeles, Hololive's first solo artist gig outside Japan. Does Calliope think virtual YouTubers can really crack the U.S. market? "A couple of years ago, my firm stance was, 'No, it won't,'" says the entertainer, who has over 2.5 million YouTube subscribers. "But these days, I like to be a little more hopeful." Korean rivals Calliope, who playfully calls herself a "Grim Reaper" on a mission "to harvest souls," likes black gothic outfits that contrast with her long pink hair. An alter ego helps audiences "see and appreciate you for what lies within" instead of age or looks, allowing VTubers' talent as musicians and raconteurs to shine, she says. The actor behind this VTuber wished to remain anonymous like most in the industry. Calliope is one of Cover Corp.'s more than 80 Hololive VTubers, who together have 80 million YouTube subscribers globally, from Indonesia to Canada. While Japan reigns supreme in the VTuber world, the country could face fierce competition from neighboring cultural superpower South Korea in the coming years, warns Cover Corp.'s CEO Motoaki Tanigo. "Aspiring K-pop singers have survived tough training and are already professional," making the country a potential goldmine for VTuber actors, he says. "Can we easily find people like that in Japan? Of course not." South Korean VTuber companies "stand a good chance of growing exponentially" in the important U.S. market because American audiences prefer polished performers, Tanigo says. In contrast, in Japan, fans often cherish the process of unskilled idols evolving, he explains. Global expansion can also come with political risks, with one popular Hololive streamer incurring the wrath of Chinese viewers by inadvertently suggesting self-ruled Taiwan — which Beijing claims as its own — was a country. Human touch While VTubers live in a digital world, Tanigo says the human element behind the characters is an important part of their appeal. "In principle, we won't" use generative AI technology to create new virtual talents, he says. "This whole business is based on fans' desire to support someone because of their extraordinary artistic talent," Tanigo says. "I think fans would be left feeling confused as to what, or who, they are rooting for." A Vtuber fan shows memorabilia he purchased at a Hololive pop-up store at the Beverly Center shopping mall in Los Angeles, California. | AFP Calliope fan Ian Goff, 23, agrees, saying he is fascinated by the actors behind VTubers, and their avatars are just the "cherry on top." "You can make a character with AI, but you can't make a person with AI because that's what makes the VTubers who they are," the San Diego resident says. In the rapidly growing, competitive industry, VTubers risk overexerting themselves by livestreaming almost nonstop to grow their fandom. "The longer they go on livestreaming, the more fans watch them," says Takeshi Okamoto, a media studies professor at Japan's Kindai University. "This can potentially amount to exploitation of their passion for the job." Yet the professor — who himself doubles as a zombie-like VTuber — sees a bright future for the industry. With the popularity of virtual worlds like the Metaverse, "a day might come where it becomes more normal for us to live as avatars," he says. "Our lives, then, could more seamlessly fuse with VTuber stars."
