Kizuna AI

In this Japanese name, the surname is Kizuna.
Kizuna AI
A.I. Channel character
An official image of Kizuna, published through her videos. She is slender in build, has long brown hair, blue eyes, and a fair complexion. Her clothes are white and have pink highlights with black trim.
First appearance29 November 2016[1]
Created byEn Morikura (character design)[2]
Tomitake (3D model)
Portrayed byKizuna AI: Nozomi Kasuga[3]
In-universe information
Full nameKizuna AI (Bundled Love)
AliasOyabun
NicknameAI-chan
Ponkotsu AI (Useless AI)
SpeciesArtificial intelligence
GenderFemale
OccupationYouTuber
Kizuna AI
Personal information
OriginJapan
NationalityJapanese
OccupationVirtual YouTuber
YouTube information
Channels
Years active29 November 2016[4] – 26 February 2022 (indefinite hiatus)[5]
Genre(s)Music, Livestream, Clips, Skits
SubscribersAI Channel: 2.97 million[6]

AI Games: 1.39 million[7]

A.I.Channel China: 45.3 thousand[8][11]
(21 June 2024)
Total viewsAI Channel: 459,273,039[6]

AI Games: 190,420,551[7]

A.I.Channel China: 1,589,504[8][11]
(21 June 2024)
NetworkActiv8 (2016–present):
Websitekizunaai.com
100,000 subscribers
1,000,000 subscribers
Last updated: 21 June 2024

Kizuna AI (Japanese: キズナアイ, Hepburn: Kizuna Ai) is a Japanese virtual YouTuber (VTuber) currently part of Kizuna AI Inc., a subsidiary of digital entertainment company Activ8. From her debut in 2016 until 2021, she was the most subscribed VTuber on YouTube, with more than 4 million subscribers across three YouTube channels, 1 million subscribers on Chinese video platform Bilibili.[12][13] Kizuna AI posted her first YouTube video on her "A.I.Channel" on 29 November 2016. A second channel, "A.I.Games", was opened in March 2017 for gaming content, and a third, "A.I.Channel China", opened in June 2019 for a Chinese audience.[14] After a live concert held on 24 February 2022, she went on indefinite hiatus.[15]

Although the first channel to use a CG avatar for vlogging purposes on YouTube was the channel of English-Japanese Ami Yamato, who debuted her first video in 2011, Kizuna is the world's first virtual YouTuber with the characteristics that's known today, much like the one who coined the term Virtual YouTuber.[16][17] Kizuna's video content is similar to many other YouTubers, consisting primarily of discussions, Q&A videos, and more traditional "Let's Play" videos, although in years later, she also began to livestream at least one time per week. Because Kizuna primarily communicates in Japanese, fans contributed translations for her videos, and there were entire unofficial communities built around these translators, filling the void of an official English community until 2020 when official subtitles began to be done. Kizuna has performed at various anime conventions, at virtual concerts, and has also worked with many game companies. She has also appeared on television shows and has starred in commercials not limiting herself to YouTube, to the point of appearing in mid-Shibuya. She has become a popular virtual celebrity worldwide.

Starting in 2016, Kizuna AI was originally managed directly by Activ8, the company that created her, under the name Project A.I. In 2018, the project was moved to in-house agency upd8.[18] Following an announcement on 24 April 2020, Activ8 announced that Kizuna AI was moved from upd8 to a new subsidiary company dedicated exclusively to her, called Kizuna AI Inc. With the announcement, Japanese voice actress Nozomi Kasuga (春日望) also disclosed her role as the voice model of Kizuna AI and advisor of the new company. Kizuna AI Inc. formally started activities on 11 May 2020, with Eriko Matsumoto (松本恵利子) as the CEO.[19][20]

  1. ^ Kizuna AI (29 November 2016). "Creating A Twitter account!". YouTube. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  2. ^ "3D Model download page". kizunaai.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ @aichan_nel (24 April 2020). "LIVE配信ありがとうございました！ 発表させていただ通り、 5月11日からKizuna AI株式会社で 社長のえりこ、そして私の可愛い声の元である 春日望さん通称のんちゃんやチームのメンバーと みんなに笑顔を届けられるように頑…" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 June 2020 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ Wilson, Scott (22 March 2017). "Popular Japanese YouTuber is virtual schoolgirl who plays games, has existential crises". RocketNews24. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  5. ^ "Kizuna AI Announces Indefinite Hiatus". otakumode.com. 4 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b "キズナアイ". Userlocale VTUBER RANKING (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  7. ^ a b "キズナアイ(ゲーム)". Userlocale VTUBER RANKING (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  8. ^ a b "キズナアイ(China)". Userlocale VTUBER RANKING (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  9. ^ "upd8 VIRTUAL TALENTS". 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Kizuna AI Inc". Kizuna AI official website. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  11. ^ a b "About A.I.Channel". YouTube.
  12. ^ "Moment House".
  13. ^ ユーザーローカル. "ファン数ランキング(1ページ)". バーチャルYouTuberランキング (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  14. ^ "A.I.Channel China". YouTube. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Kizuna AI goes on "indefinite hiatus" after her the Last Live concert". www.dexerto.com. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  16. ^ Ami Yamato (13 June 2011). Trying this out... YouTube. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference フォルト was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ "Activ8 raises $5.4M from Gumi, Makers Fund; expands 'Virtual YouTuber' business". BRIDGE（ブリッジ）|「起業家と投資家を繋ぐ」テクノロジー＆スタートアップ関連の話題をお届けするブログメディア. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  19. ^ @KizunaAIinc (24 April 2020). "Project A.I. はKizuna AIの新しいチャレンジを応援します！" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Kizuna AI's Seiyuu Finally Revealed, New Company Set up to Handle Business Affairs". 27 April 2020.