US Trends

who was the first vtuber

The phrase “first VTuber” depends on what exactly is meant, but most sources today point to two key names: Ami Yamato as an early precursor using a virtual avatar on YouTube in 2011, and Kizuna AI in 2016 as the first breakout creator to call herself a “virtual YouTuber” and kick‑start the modern VTuber boom.

Who was the “first VTuber”?

If the question is “who started doing YouTube videos as a virtual character,” then:

  • UK‑based vlogger Ami Yamato uploaded videos in 2011 using a stylized 3D avatar talking to the camera, years before the word “VTuber” existed.
  • Because of this, many retrospective discussions and videos now describe her as a strong candidate for “the first VTuber,” in the sense of an early, solo creator using a virtual persona on YouTube.

If the question is “who was the first to use the term and define the trend,” then:

  • Japanese virtual idol Kizuna AI launched her channel in late 2016 and explicitly branded herself as a “virtual YouTuber” (VTuber).
  • Her rapid popularity in Japan inspired agencies like Hololive and Nijisanji and made “VTuber” a recognized category worldwide, so many fans call her the first true or first modern VTuber.

Why there’s debate about the “first”

The argument comes down to definitions:

  • Term vs. concept
    • Kizuna AI is widely documented as the first entertainer to use the phrase “virtual YouTuber,” which makes her the origin point of the label “VTuber” and the associated industry model.
* Earlier virtual characters on video platforms (like Nitroplus’s 3D mascot Super Sonico in 2010, or Ami Yamato in 2011) show that the _concept_ of a talking virtual persona on YouTube predates Kizuna AI.
  • Corporate idol vs. independent vlogger
    • Kizuna AI was created by a Japanese production company (Activ8) as a virtual idol with a structured content strategy and heavy promotion.
* Ami Yamato, by contrast, was an individual vlogger using a virtual avatar as “herself,” closer to a traditional YouTuber but animated.

Because of this, you often see three different phrasings in discussions and forum debates:

  • “First virtual YouTuber ” (strict term‑based): Kizuna AI.
  • “First VTuber‑like YouTuber” (concept‑based): often Ami Yamato.
  • “First breakout VTuber star ”: again Kizuna AI , whose success led to the massive VTuber wave and the agency model.

Quick timeline of early VTuber history

Here is a simplified timeline to put the “who was the first VTuber” question in context.

[3] [7][3] [3] [9][3] [3]
Year Creator / Event Why it matters
2010 Super Sonico (Nitroplus) 3D mascot videos on YouTube, often cited as an early virtual character presence.
2011 Ami Yamato Uploads vlog‑style videos with a virtual avatar; later described as a proto‑VTuber.
2014–2015 FaceRig & Live2D tools Make real‑time virtual avatars more accessible for home creators.
Late 2016 Kizuna AI Coins and popularizes the term “virtual YouTuber”; widely cited as the first modern VTuber.
2017–2018 Hololive & Nijisanji growth Agencies emerge, VTubers become a major Japanese and then global trend.

How forums and fans usually answer

In current forum and video discussions about “who was the first VTuber” , you’ll typically see three main viewpoints:

  1. Kizuna AI as the first VTuber
    • Argument: She is the first person to call herself a “virtual YouTuber,” and her success directly led to VTuber agencies and the modern scene.
  1. Ami Yamato as the first VTuber in practice
    • Argument: She was doing VTuber‑like content years earlier, just without the name, so historically she should be credited as the earliest example.
  1. “It’s complicated / depends on definition”
    • Many fans now answer that there is no single definitive “first VTuber,” but that Ami Yamato (concept) and Kizuna AI (term & boom) are the two key milestones people usually mean when they ask the question.

TL;DR:

  • Earliest widely cited VTuber‑style YouTuber: Ami Yamato (2011).
  • First to call herself a “virtual YouTuber” and spark the VTuber industry: Kizuna AI (late 2016).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.