In an era where digital technology is becoming increasingly relevant to the lifestyle of all age groups, it is to be expected that many would seek to capitalize on this digital transformation. Every day, we witness new forms of digital occupations emerging online. Bilibili, as Southeast Asia’s leading video content platform with a mission to enrich the everyday life of young people, is committed to keeping up with the latest trends in virtual content marketing and consumer behavior of the younger generation. Today, we bring you ‘VCreator’, a digital-platform occupation that is quickly growing in popularity among members of the new generation, particularly enthusiasts of anime and video games. The term ‘VCreators’ refers to video content creators who publish their work on streaming platforms, using animated virtual avatars to represent themselves instead of appearing physically on screen. An online avatar managed by a VCreator will often have its own distinct physical appearance, back-story, personality, voice and inclination, while the VCreator’s own identity is protected in the live streams. The larger the fan-base, the greater the opportunity to carve a lucrative career out of live streaming. A number of Thai VCreators have been successful in honing their craft and have made a name for themselves at an international level.
Now that we have a better idea about what a VCreator is, it begs the question: why has VCreator become a popular occupation for the younger generation amidst new career forms that are emerging with the proliferation of online channels and social media? This month, Bilibili is organizing an exciting program to highlight the influence of ‘VCreator’ as an occupation and as transformative online content creation method. Here are a few reasons why you should come along and check it out!
1) Stay-at-Home Entertainment
The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed massively to the growth of online content creation and consumption, as the demand for virtual entertainment skyrocketed. With many electing to stay home to mitigate health risks, VCreators’ live-streams are among the online content types that have soared in popularity in the past year in Thailand. The nature of VCreators’ work involves characterizing their digital avatars to entertain viewers, through voicing, acting, singing, video game casting (providing live commentary), and producing ASMR content to name a few. Additionally, viewers and fans can often interact in real time with their favorite VCreators through the live comment function. This effectively makes VCreator an occupation that uniquely satisfies the entertainment demand of today’s stay-at-home lifestyle.
2) The More You Live-stream, the More You Earn
Drawing on various media reports of occupational earnings, a number of VCreators are found to be earning over 10 million Thai Baht annually, while some who have gained international recognition make as much as 100 million Thai Baht every year. Despite the lack of statistical records of VCreators’ highest earnings in Thailand, various agencies are now actively recruiting amateur VCreators as a novel approach to marketing. This mutually beneficial arrangement can help VCreators have a steady income, build their public profiles and boost their potential towards making international breakthroughs.
3) The Best of Both Worlds
In recent years, the anime and video game streaming fan-bases have been experiencing exponential growth. The anime industry has breached the mass market, finding success in producing content that is relatable across demographics, with releases of series such as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Attack on Titan: Shingeki no Kyojin. The video game community is enjoying a similar success, with video game casting and Esports Tournaments surging in popularity across age groups, having surpassed its previous association with the smaller teenage demographic. The growth of these two fan-bases have resulted in VCreators achieving the freedom to expand their reach—from previously appealing to anime lovers with an endearing delivery—to now taking a novel approach in video game casting in a way that uniquely attracts the video game streaming fan-base. This industry shift is what has caused VCreator to become a popular occupation among the anime and video game streaming communities. With both groups serving as a significant public’s word of mouth, VCreator as an occupation is being driven to greater recognition and acceptance.
Seeing this continued upward trend with the VCreator occupation in Thailand, Bilibili as a leading video streaming platform is keen to contribute to driving the success of this emerging career form and enriching people’s digital lifestyle. Our streaming platform offers a new avenue of opportunities for VCreators to showcase themselves, complete with a built-in live-streaming feature. Fans watching live-streaming videos by VCreators can communicate directly with their favorite streamers through the Live Comment feature, which enables participants’ comments to appear on screen in real time for VCreators to react to, and for other participants to see and interact with, fostering a real sense of community.
Do you want to learn what a VCreator career is like? Come along to experience exciting live-streams hosted by massively creative and talented VCreators on the Bilibili Platform! This month, Bilibili is organizing a ‘First Encounter at Bilibili’ online event under the thematic banner of ‘VCreator in your eyes!’, to celebrate with and cater to fans who enjoy watching VCreator video content. Moreover, viewers can indulge in diverse VCreator contents, such as revealing your favorite anime titles, drawing adorable anime characters, and streaming game during the event. Good news! Bilibili has also come up with a streaming schedule that caters to both types of viewers. Either you’re an early bird or a latecomer! VCreator livestreaming is available from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and the long night schedule is available from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The event’s highlights include a popularity poll where participants can vote for their favorite VCreator, and a chance to win huge prizes such as the iPhone 13! Simply download the Bilibili application and head over to the homepage to find the event’s banner, or head directly to the event’s landing page here. Livestreaming sessions and votes are open from 8th – 22nd April 2022 only, so come along make yours count!
Now’s the time! Join the campaign’s event and put in your vote for a chance to win your very own iPhone 13. Hurry up and download the Bilibili application via Google Play or App Store, or follow Bilibili from your browser at bilibili.tv.
Source: FleishmanHillard Thailand
