Virtual entertainers, also known as Vtubers, regularly spend hours streaming, playing games and chatting with their audience. During this time, the viewer usually only sees the face or torso of a character, but since Vtubers are 3D models, chances are a lower half is indeed designed for use. Recently, social media has been flooded with Vtubers displaying their digital tones, all because someone thought of asking about it.
It all started when Twitter users @Torte_Kamakraya posted the hashtag #Vtuber V 靴 が 見 た い, which roughly translates to ‘I want to see the shoes of’. ‘The problem is that not every Vtuber wears shoes. After all, if you have the option to present yourself as anything online, you do not burden yourself with simple human limitations. Vtubers form an ecosystem of shark girls, dog girls, literal moths, tentacle monsters and the like. So if you are asking to see how Vtubers gets along, the answers are varied.
While the hat brand started with entertainers showcasing their boots, sandals and sneakers, it quickly became an excuse to put feet away, regardless of protection. From dog paws to tentacles, Vtubers has rushed to give everyone a taste of what you don’t normally see – and maybe what you don’t want to see.
Many Vtubers receive commissions from the whole body of artists, and some even have all the part of their digital bodies ready to go. Sometimes these elements come into play – there are occasionally full 3D live shows, such as Hololive or Nijisanji, where the viewer sees everything. There is also excitement surrounding a full unveiling. Vtubers often tease their debut on the scene with carved images of their models. Ideally, the pieces you see during this time are attractive enough that you want to explore the whole thing.
This may explain why someone like Vtuber zentreya, which appears at the top of this post, pointed to depicting not only boots with metal blossoms, but also torn stockings. In short: Vtubers need feet, even if it initially looks like an insignificant detail.
There are a large amount of (and growing!) Vtubers out there, and therefore a large amount of feet. Do the feet make the Vtuber? Not really. At least not until the inevitable tuber comes. For now, it’s just fascinating to see the series they work with.