Interview With A VTuber: Ayamy
Image Source: Anime Central
The world of VTubing has exploded in size over the last five years. Once a niche and experimental concept, the utilization of VTubing has become increasingly commonplace in the online hemisphere, especially among streamers on YouTube and Twitch. Often utilized by those who want to better interact with their audiences but are reluctant or camera-shy to show their faces, some have made it their full-time brand and mode of communication, and among the most popular of these is the Korean V-Tuber Ayamy.
Based in Japan, Ayamy was already a well-known and passionate illustrator and artist before her online career, often “going to cons and showcasing [her] art there”. While she was involved with the online world to a degree, it wasn't until the COVID-19 pandemic reached its world-halting peak in early 2020 that she began to fully embrace the online streamer world. “I wanted to be closer to my audience,” she said in an interview with CultureSlate. “Since nobody could come out for cons and events.”
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Moving into the streaming business also opened up new opportunities for Ayamy. She laughed when we asked about her infrequent ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) work, noting “My fans really wanted me to do it, and I thought it was fun, so I tried it.”
Besides ASMR, Ayamy's streams tend to feature her various artworks, as well as a variety of activities from live drawing to cooking to gaming. She showcases a variety of her own avatars and character models, including her cats, Kuma and Pooh, fan favorites who have shown up live and even had birthday streams thrown in their honor. At the time of writing, Ayamy soberly noted that her pets were being prepped for upcoming surgeries, but besides that “missed her” when she went overseas, though luckily “[her] mother stays to take care of them.”
She's also had her birthday streams aired, although for her upcoming date, June 15th, Ayamy claimed to have no specific plans. “I definitely want to do something for and with my fans though,” she assured.
Of course, being a public figure has its ups and downs. Having an avatar certainly aids in privacy, but it takes consistent work. “My art fans and stream fans tend to be different, and so it's a little easier to keep them separate,” Ayamy told us. “But I'm still pretty careful about which groups I interact with and when.”
Offtime certainly helps as well. “I try to spend a lot of time with my family and friends [to avoid stress].”
Ayamy did have this to say for inspiring online personalities: “You have to expect [the stress]. When you put yourself out there, you have to learn to handle it. You have to expect your life is going to change. But also [you need to] figure out what makes you happy and do it often, as a break.”
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