VirtuaReal



VirtuaReal (aka VR or 维阿) is a Virtual UP (VUP) project created as a joint venture between bilibili and ANYCOLOR. It comprises three groups: VirtuaReal Project, VirtuaReal Star, and VirtuaReal Link. VirtuaReal Project is also considered to be under NIJISANJI as its Chinese branch, while the other two groups are partnership programs aiming to provide connection and technical supports to various independent VUPs.

As of October 2022, there are 70 members across the three groups in total, 47 in VirtuaReal Project, 6 in VirtuaReal Star and 17 in VirtuaReal Link, mainly conducting activities on bilibili and Weibo. Lingyuan yousa, a member of VirtuaReal Star, is the most followed VUP worldwide with over 3 million followers. VirtuaReal members have over 12 million followers in total on bilibili and are the most popular corporate VUP group in China as of June 2022.

2019
On 19 April, VirtuaReal's official account posted the initial recruitment information on bilibili. The audition period lasted until 24 April. At the same time, VirtuaReal also announced the opening of long-term auditions.

On 6 May, VirtuaReal announced their first wave of Livers, with VirtuaReal officially starting their activities on the same day. The first wave of VirtuaReal Project started their streaming activities with Eine on 14 May followed by Ruki on 15 May.

On 7 June, the first wave participated in the 24th COMICUP convention in Shanghai. It was VirtuaReal's first off-stream event.

From 15 June through 19 June, Nanami, Kouichi and Ichigo from the second wave made their first streams.

29 June marked the first large collaboration between NIJISANJI and VirtuaReal where participants were asked real questions from Chinese college entrance exams. The participants were Eine, Ruki, Nanami, Ichigo, Mononobe Alice, Lize Helesta and Ryushen.

On 19 July, VirtuaReal announced the commencement of VirtuaReal Link and VirtuaReal Star. In particular, VirtuaReal Link is a partnership program where members are given technical support, operational support, and shared experiences. Lingyuan yousa, a prolific bilibili singer and VOCALOID producer, was announced as the first talent to join VirtuaReal Star.

On 8 August, a NIJISANJI and VirtuaReal joint fan contest was held. Andou Inari was announced to be the first independent VUP to join VirtuaReal Link on the same day.

On 21 August, Muri from the third wave made her first stream.

On 29 September, the fourth wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay.

On 31 August, VirtuaReal launched the first episode of VRFM, an official regular program where selected talents would act out various life situations. The first guests were Nanami, Lize Helesta and Ruki.

On 21 September, VirtuaReal announced its participation in Bilibili World Shanghai in a joint booth with NIJISANJI.

On 5 October, Sakura Haruka was announced to have joined VirtuaReal Star.

On 12 October, KINGSK and Mitsusa were announced to have joined VirtuaReal Link.

On 14 October, Super Virtual High School, a 4-person idol group, was announced to have joined VirtuaReal Link.

On 19 October, Hanon was revealed. On 1 November she made her first stream.

On 9 November, the fifth wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay.

On 1 December, the sixth wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay.

On 28 December, Sumire Hina, Suzuka and Mama Mara were announced to have joined VirtuaReal Link.

2020
On 21 January, the seventh wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay.

On 31 January, VirtuaReal announced a collaboration with Kagura Nana to create an original VUP design.

On 25 April, Samael and Karu from the eighth wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay followed by Mimoi, Shiki and Pax on 26 April.

On 6 May, VirtuaReal released a Chinese cover of "Virtual to LIVE" to celebrate their first anniversary with fan-submitted lyrics performed by 12 members. A music video version of the cover would later be released on 19 June.

On 2 June, VirtuaReal opened auditions for the VUP avatar Isabella, jointly created by VirtuaReal and the Burst Witch mobile game.

On 3 July, Nanako was announced to have joined VirtuaReal Star.

On 18 July, Zuya Naxi was announced to have joined VirtuaReal Star.

On 27 July, Prime Star was announced to have joined VirtuaReal Link.

On 31 July, the ninth wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay.

On 19 September, Karon was announced to have joined VirtuaReal Link.

On 25 September, Isabella was announced to have joined VirtuaReal Link.

On 30 September, the tenth wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay.

On 18 December, the eleventh wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay.

On 20 December, hanser was announced to have joined VirtuaReal Star.

2021
On 2 January, VirtuaReal held the 1st VirtuaReal Music MIX UP!! concert featuring 8 VirtuaReal performers in 3D with guest performances by hanser and Zuya Naxi.

On 20 January, six members of Deng Yue Plan V, Azusa, Kero, Jinxy, Ruruna, Mori, Rin Miyazono and Syo, were announced to have joined VirtuaReal Link.

On 13 March, the twelfth wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay.

On 15 March, three members of Deng Yue Plan V, Susam, Noi and Nox, were announced to have joined VirtuaReal Link.

On 9 May, Tocci, Kiti and Qilou from the thirteenth wave held their debut relay along with Joi, an independent VUP who joined VirtuaReal Link.

On 5 June, VirtuaReal held a solo concert for Nanami, Zhège hǎo ēi (这个好诶), with guest performances by Ruki, hanser, Aza, Roi, and NIJISANJI's Lize Helesta and Makaino Ririmu.

On 29 July, Hakuja and Koxia from the 14th wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay, followed by Yomiya, Rhea and Miyu on 30 July.

On 8 August, VirtuaReal held the APEX Summer Entertainment Tournament with guests from NIJISANJI KR.

Over three days from 23 to 25 August, VirtuaReal held the 夏日合唱ProMax (Summertime Chorus ProMax) featuring 14 VirtuaReal performers in 3D.

On 4 October, the fifteenth wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay.

2022
On 8 January, VirtuaReal held the 2nd VirtuaReal Music MIX UP!! concert featuring 12 VirtuaReal performers in 3D.

On 11 January, Ureme was announced to have joined VirtuaReal Star.

On 12 January, the sixteenth wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay.

On 5 August, VirtuaReal held the first issue of its new program VR PARTY, featuring Chiharu, Kouichi, Eine, Karon and Mari.

On 4 September, the seventeenth wave started their streaming activities with a debut relay.

Over 5 days from 9 to 23 September, VirtuaReal held the 夏日合唱Super (Summertime Chorus Super) featuring 17 VirtuaReal performers in 3D.

VirtuaReal Project
The main group that's commonly referred to as just "VirtuaReal" (e.g., on the official NIJISANJI website).

First Wave
Debuted on 14 and 15 May 2019 respectively.

Second Wave
Debuted on 15, 19 and 18 June 2019 respectively.

Third Wave
Debuted on 21 August and 1 November 2019 respectively. Despite being announced and debuting after the fourth wave, Hanon is considered a member of the third wave due to the silhouette of her model already having been revealed alongside Muri.

Fourth Wave
Debuted on 29 September 2019.

Also known as "VR三fei人".

Fifth Wave
Debuted on 9 November 2019.

Sixth Wave
Debuted on 1 December 2019.

Also known as "VRF4", a reference to the boy band F4.

Seventh Wave
Debuted on 21 January 2020.

Eighth Wave
Debuted on 25 and 26 April 2020, it is the first wave in NIJISANJI to include five Livers.

Previously also known as 873 after Mimoi and Pax's retirements and before Samael and Shiki's retirements.

Ninth Wave
Debuted on 31 July 2020. Prime Star, who joined VirtuaReal Link around the same time as the ninth wave's debut, was considered an honorary member.

Also known as 973.

Tenth Wave
Debuted on 30 September 2020. Karon and Isabella, who joined VirtuaReal Link around the same time as the tenth wave's debut, are considered honorary members.

Also known as 107.

Eleventh Wave
Debuted on 18 December 2020.

Also known as 117 or "人外天国" (Monster-people Heaven), referring to how each of the members are a different type of non-human.

Twelfth Wave
Debuted on 13 March 2021.

Also known as 127.

Thirteenth Wave
Debuted on 9 May 2021. Even though Joi joined under VirtuaReal Link, she's generally considered by viewers to be a part of the 13th Gen due to being revealed and having a debut relay alongside them. By early 2022, Joi was listed under VirtuaReal Project rather than Link on the official VirtuaReal website.

Also known as 137.

Fourteenth Wave
Debuted on 29 and 30 July 2021.

Also known as 147.

Fifteenth Wave
Debuted on 4 October 2021.

Also known as 157.

Sixteenth Wave
Debuted on 12 January 2022.

Also known as 167.

Seventeenth Wave
Debuted on 4 September 2022, it is the first mixed wave of VirtuaReal where there are not more female than male Livers.

Also known as 177.

VirtuaReal Star
Members of VirtuaReal Star are the VUP identities of popular, pre-established Chinese content creators and celebrities on bilibili who are newly starting activities as VUPs and to get support to their career as VUPs.

VirtuaReal Link
VirtuaReal Link is similar to the former NIJISANJI NetWORK partnership program such that Chinese VUPs are given technical support in addition to operational support and shared experiences from VirtuaReal. However, they are not considered official members of NIJISANJI as inferred from an exchange between Azusa and the VirtuaReal staff.

Super Virtual High School
Joined on 14 October 2019.

Music videos

 * 国风年度巨献《夭夭》(Traditional annual great display "Yaoyao") - Bilibili X Tencent Music collaboration
 * Virtual to LIVE - covered by VirtuaReal - 1st Anniversary Chinese version
 * 星海 (Sea of Stars) - VirtuaReal 2nd Anniversary song
 * Only in LOL - Virtual streamer support song for 2020 League of Legends World Championship
 * We are in Summer - 2020 summer celebration song

Summertime Chorus 3D performance songs

 * 星夜加冕--夏日合唱ProMax (Starry Night Coronation - Summertime chorus ProMax)
 * 炽夏流光--夏日合唱ProMax (Burning Summer Flowing Light - Summertime chorus ProMax)
 * 梦幻岛--夏日合唱ProMax (Neverland - Summertime chorus ProMax)
 * Virtual to LIVE【夏日合唱Super】(Virtual to LIVE【Summertime chorus Super】)
 * Shake the World!【夏日合唱Super】(Shake the World!【Summertime chorus Super】)
 * Zero 2 Hero【夏日合唱Super】(Zero 2 Hero【Summertime chorus Super】)
 * 星辰可摘【夏日合唱Super】(The Stars Can Be Picked【Summertime chorus Super】)

Other

 * 虚拟主播高能放送 (Virtual Streamer High-energy Broadcast) - Weekly compilations of viewer-submitted clips

Trivia

 * The VirtuaReal headquarters are located in virtual Shanghai. Applicants who pass the second round of the audition process were called for an in-person interview before pandemic restrictions.
 * Unlike Livers in other NIJISANJI branches that require both a Youtube channel and Twitter account, Weibo accounts are not compulsory for VirtuaReal members.
 * VirtuaReal refers to itself as a "虚拟艺人团" (virtual artist group).
 * As the VirtuaReal bilibili account is active in interacting with VirtuaReal Livers and appearing in their livestream chats, even being a member of several Livers' channels, it has been given the nickname "VR哥" (VR-bro). It has an unofficial Live2D model drawn by Karon and rigged by Tanoshiba. The NIJISANJI bilibili account is nicknamed "彩虹哥" (Rainbow-bro).
 * The VirtuaReal bilibili account posts special illustrations for Livers who have reached 100,000 fans on the platform. They also post illustrations for Livers who have reached even higher fan count milestones. See the following gallery for some examples.
 * The sixth wave is the first wave of VirtuaReal to receive an official announcement trailer, which would not be done again until the fourteenth wave. The sixth wave is also the only wave to be teased before they were announced with individual images of their silhouettes accompanied by a passage hinting at their character settings. Group silhouette teasers have been done consistently from 人外天国/117 onward.
 * From the announcement of 973 onward, VirtuaReal has used this image featuring Tokimori Seisa for recruitment.
 * As of September 2022, female members in VirtuaReal outnumber male members nearly 3 to 1.
 * VirtuaReal has its own Minecraft server that is separate from the main NIJISANJI Minecraft server. It also has a second server for modded Minecraft.
 * The main server has secrets added in with the use of command blocks e.g. naming a pig 时守星沙 (Tokimori Seisa) will teleport the player to a hidden area just above bedrock layer.

Websites

 * VirtuaReal's website (CN)
 * VirtuaReal on NIJISANJI's website (JP/EN)
 * Anycolor Inc. (JP)

Channel

 * VirtuaReal - VirtuaReal bilibili channel (CN)

Social media

 * @virtuareal - VirtuaReal Weibo account (CN)
 * @Virtua_Real - VirtuaReal Twitter account (JP)