I Wish I Knew This Before Becoming a Vtuber. . . 【Zatsudan】

[@CallMeTeci]

I think something that people need to realize is that the people commenting (good or bad things) are the loud minority. If something like a rebrand works is a matter of numbers, not reactions. So you shouldnt discourage yourself by the comments of people that think they have to tell you what to do. :)

[@Cunningstunts23]

So true

[@MariYumeCh]

i agree, but also there's so few comments in between compared to passive viewing that the one's who are commenting have a much greater impact because it's something that the creator actually sees

[@CallMeTeci]

@@MariYumeCh Thats true, but it think to determine one from the other is part of growing as a creator. (Not saying that i could do that myself so well atm) :D Technically you can also make a turn into the conversation of para-social behavior from a creators perspective there and its in general a super interesting topic to talk about. :D All that probably also plays a lot into the mental health thing you wrote about a few days ago (and how ppl around you and mutuals perceive you and react to your actions), saying that you want to talk about this in a video at some point too. (I wrote you a Twitter-DM that day and if you want we can talk about this more over there)

[@PuffleGlurp]

@@MariYumeCh I just found your channel today! ❤❤ ( _from the tutorial vids_ ) To throw in my two cents. Since I've discovered VTubers last week ( _I never watched any before falling down a rabbit hole and now you're all filling my feeds_ ); I've come to see VTuber characters as individual people. The viewers ( _from being one, and an avid fan of waifus, anime and videogames geared towards weebs such as myself_ ) get attached more to the characters and persona than the real life flesh human behind the camera. the Parasocial relationship can be transferred over to new characters (like corporate VTubers going Indie or vice versa) or during rebranding, but that means you're bringing along the same fanbase, who may not necessarily appreciate the new persona post rebranding and hence expect what they subscribed for in the first place. I personally thing your current model suits your tutorial content, I'd say that if you wanna rebrand, you can age up your character rather than completely remixing her. You can age up the loli model to become like a "teen" (if you characterize it using Genshin body type lingo, basically more like a Keqing or Yoimiya type), with more emphasis on the fact that you have boobies, by either increasing their size or incorporating cleavage, to show *age*, not too old to be a mommy type but rather a young teen type aura. it would better match your gorgeous voice and cadence, while keeping the pastel colors and general design. I like the cutesy Uwu "I'm a gwown up" thing you did in this video with your own twist, it's a fun persona, it reminds me of Kobo, it'd pair awesome with a collab with Sinder. ---- Regarding Rebranding, I think, (since VTuber characters are like people) you ought to either retire/graduate a character and start from scratch with a brand new fanbase (thanks to anonymity) or simply create a brand new channel (& other linked social media accounts) in parallel, *if* You plan to Rebrand with a completely new direction, like the tentacle lady you mentioned, since the niche of fans would be completely different. You can (without telling your fans that it's just you) introduce your fans to this "new VTuber" so that any with mutual interests would go follow the "new" person, and populate the chat and grow it without having any expectations hounding you. Otherwise, you can always age up your character, for mild change. But Rebranding on the same account may cause some ruffled feathers if the new persona/character is far to drastically different. *YOU* have awesome potential to be a massive hit though, like top of the charts sorts of. I like this talking style content too, especially if you also do collabs about funny stories from your life (without breaking character). I'm gonna keep an eye on you, since I feel like you'll explode and become very famous. Good Luck!!!

[@dvp39]

Actually the numbers don't matter either. Only thing that matters is you and if you are happy doing what you are doing.

[@rocvan8190]

Tip: to design an avatar, it's important to know what your voice fits better: a milf? A young girl? A tomboy? But to determine this you have to listen to your voice without any visual, or better, let others listen to your voice without pictures, and let them tell you how they imagine the person they are listening to, or what kind of character they think they are listening to. Once you have in mind what kind of character your voice conveys, you can design a character based on that reference. With that, you will have the guarantee that your character will fit your voice perfectly. In Mari's case, I think that the avatar she has used in this video fits her quite well (I don't understand why people think that her character doesn't have breasts, you can clearly see the shape through her clothes). So I'm curious to see what she surprises us with in her redesign. Great video.

[@GayDemiDemiboy]

Why do her breasts even matter 😭 also, Porcelain Maid (I forgot his name, mb, brain fried) has a female model, but he's a guy with a really masculine voice. But oddly, it fits really well, at least to me

[@heylittlemisslynn767]

Yes, those are great tips, but another tip: If you can make it work you can also do the route Porcelain Maid and a couple others took and do the exact opposite. You do need to be careful because there is a chance you won’t be one of the people that can pull it off. If you do want to go the careful route, matching your model to your voice is a lot easier.

[@roseqore8073]

it's tricky though. like, i'm a very shy, timid and girly individual... but my voice is very low, full of bass, and i sound very masculine. any suggestions for someone like me?

[@alana9979]

​@@roseqore8073the most important thing is that you are comfortable and like your design but if you wanted to do something like this make the base design match your voice, so the hair ,eyes , and body. then when designing the outfit and accessories make them girly and based on your personality and taste in clothing. if I could post pictures to show what I mean I would

[@roseqore8073]

@@alana9979 ahh, this makes sense actually! thank you so much for the tips 🩷🫰

[@ElyssiaNikos]

On the whole tangent about how the design of a character is perceived: As someone who studied character design, it is completely mindblowing to me that you could design your avatar without noticing that you are making it child-like. It's hard to forget, that just as much as some people WILL perceive the intent of a character through it's design, there are also people out there who can't seem to make that connection between a design and what IT is implying. I would encourage anyone who is going to create a character for themselves to at least consult someone with any amount of character design in their background...

[@KarmaIndigoVODS]

as someone who has drawn for a lot of people and help friends come up with designs. you would be suprise how little thought or anything people put into their designs xD even asking simple question like what kind of vibe are u going for which is one of my first questions tends to blow people's minds xD some people dont even know what colors they like. they know when they see it, and usually thats good! or bad! not much in between or how others perceive you is a huge jump for some people.

[@ElyssiaNikos]

@@KarmaIndigoVODS I once had someone say "I want my design to be cool" and had to spend several back and forths trying to understand what was that person's idea of Coolness. And still, I keep forgetting and being surprised

[@unfried_rice]

I relate to this struggle so much. I remember I originally started streaming to just mess around with friends. What I made the fatal mistake in doing... was playing Roblox. I know that sounds odd, but the mistake in that was most of my audience was like children at first who made me feel like I was babysitting in my own streams at first. So because of that, when I moved to my PNG to my Live2d, I ended up getting a model that was very busty and curvy, swearing more, making things 18+ even though I wasn't creating lewd content, and though it worked in getting all of the Roblox Children out of my chat, it then made a new audience of people who expected me to be lewd, to ara ara, to do things that really weren't who I was. I remember I even tried to do another rebrand afterwards where my model concept was cute and softer, but my new audience got really mad with it and I ended up scrapping it even though I really loved it. I struggle now on which direction I want to take my content, if I'm even happy with my current model, ect. But I'm very glad to know I'm not the only one who has those fears and anxiety! ^^ Its very comforting that you're talking about it so frankly!

[@AnzuliaPlushy]

Zuko once said “that’s rough buddy”. Everyone is scared of change that included your viewers.

[@MariYumeCh]

This is a big mood and one thing that's nice about us being Indies is that we have the luxury to change our model. It does suck when people get mad at us and I don't know why more creators don't talk about it or why I'm even getting flamed for bringing it up, but I think it's nice to know i'm not the only one who struggles with this. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me rice!!

[@weathergirlray]

On a completely different side note, I was staring at your icon and your user name wondering why it looked familiar before Mama May just posted some of her vtuber children which included you and me. Hello, vtuber sibling! What a small world the vtuber world is 😂

[@unfried_rice]

@@weathergirlray OMG HELLO FELLOW SIBLING! :D Fun to see you here! :3

[@Abayas.]

Having an audience, especially for streamers, is already like being a daycare center but for adults. I couldn't imagine the horror of having tons of actual children watching. A literal nightmare.

[@scubatuba1083]

I feel like another thing about why people with cutesy childlike models might face their audience turning against them when they get a more sexy model is because a lot of people who are into childlike models are people who are into lolis

[@Kaffeeisresting]

When you talked about rebranding and making a vtuber model in a past stream, it really helped me make the decision to rebrand. I was already thinking about it for a while since my prior theme and lore felt like it was restricting my content variety. ( felt like I had to only mostly cutesy and maid cafe related content ) Like you, I wanted to stick with a pastel color palette because I wanted to be cute. But 1: I wasn't doing it right and 2: I was also being treated as a kid ( cuz god forbid I sound like a kid, had pastel theme, was avoiding swearing, and also avoided adult jokes ) It was nice watching this video because it reassures me that I'm doing the right thing, while giving more perspective and considerations to have in the process. Though, looking at bigger vtubers ( including indie ) you can technically do anything ( like games, handcam, react, challenges, etc) I guess where most of the restrictions comes in is more of the personality? Like if you are chaotic, viewers won't expect an asmr stream to be relaxing, they'll expect it to be funny because of how scuffed it'll be. ( Imagine Filian doing an asmr stream... ) but if you aren't stuck in an asmr box, you can still do a variety! You might just have to make it work with your concept or with what the audience already knows about you. I can't really find how to explain it how I want, but I hope it makes sense. Now, in term of rebranding, I'm personally interested to see how to make, or how to find someone to commission a logo. I can make my model and most stream assets myself, but logos are the bane of my existence.

[@kazemihimari]

ganbereeee!!!

[@kyupiangel90]

I ain't a usual on your channel, i'm more of a casual enjoyer. And yes, i liked a lot some of your tutorials, but what i liked the most about you was your sincerity. (Idk if it is written that way but idgaf tbh) I like when you are supportive, yes, but HONEST, when doing your content. Your opinion and personal experiences, in other words, your story and feelings, is what i like from your channel. But succumbing to peer pressure is NEVER a good thing, specially if it is something you really *don't* want to do, or it comes from strangers; people that do NOT know you, nor your content. Be patient, kind, and true to yourself, and you'll never regret your choices. Even if i love your current model, if you want to rebrand, i fully support your decision, and TAKE, YOUR, TIME❤🎉 Wishing you a successfull rebrand, LET'S GOOO🎉🎉🎉

[@dbagette]

Personally, I like variety content. I'll usually check out a channel on my feed and if all the thumbnails look the same, I usually pass. I like a hyperspecific topic but if your whole page is jumpscare horror, for example, I get bored. Let your personality drive your concept and maybe allow for some flexibility in your presentation so you don't get stuck doing one thing. It's like when you build a base character and then have different loadouts depending on the circumstances. Don't lose yourself in the fanservice. You're the boss 🙆‍♀

[@AeonlArmour]

I'm new to vtubing, but I have some thoughts on this as someone who's gone through multiple "rebrands" in IRL entertainment. I started out dancing as a kid and was good enough to end up joining a "proper" company in a big city. That only lasted until I realized that, due to multiple factors, I would have no career in that when I came of age. So I quite dance, and made the switch to both theater and martial arts. To say that it was a rough transition would be putting it mildly. It worked out in the end, but it took several years to gain momentum AND losing my original fanbase. The latter was particularly painful because your "star power" or "your ability to put butts in seats" is often a major factor in getting hired for entertainment jobs. A few key things on why it worked out, and why I had the confidence to stick it out even as people left me and the jobs dried up during that time: 1) the industry veterans may be grumpy at you, but they often have insights into YOUR potential skills/talents your peers have never heard of. IF they are people you trust (and please be VERY SURE they actually have your best interests at heart), go give their suggestions an honest try. 2) try collabs with people who do the things you're interested in, whether it be genres or new skills. It's a fast, low-cost way to see how your audience reacts to you dipping your toes in those waters. For example, open with a casual "conversation over coffee" style interview so that you have the chance to learn about what they do and what it takes to do, and THEN transition into a "let's play pretend" conversation where you ask them to imagine you doing what they do (sorta like, "if we were all cookies, what kind of cookie do they think YOU would be?"). This gives you some things to try out on your own right away, AND your audience will often react to those ideas before AND after you try. After you try, analyze who has changed their opinions and why. 3) if you can stomach the blowback, try to do projects that will simultaneously impress the critics AND annoy the fans most likely to leave you. I don't know who would qualify as an "art critic" in the vtuber space, but you probably do. Annoying the "casual" fans may generate buzz, which can sometimes help with getting attention, and you don't have to worry about them since they will abandon you anyway. If you're lucky, they may realize they liked you more than they thought, and are just averse to change. Again, this is a summary of what happened to me IRL, so don't think of this as vtuber-specifc advice. This could be useless in vtuber space. 😅

[@Abayas.]

That second bit of advice sounds genuinely useful for someone looking to rebrand. Finding ways to test the water and even see if you, the hypothetical VTuber, enjoy the changes.

[@VanilleVixen]

I completely agree, if you aren't happy with who you are and what your creating, your audience will notice. People pick up on vibes so much more than we truly realize, and exactly like you said: the people who want to support YOU will continue to do so. I've been doing vtubing for about 3 years now, and I've gone through lot of changes since then, and going through a future change with a design that brings me joy and actually feels fulfilling, as I originally created my design with 3 outfits to appeal to the masses rather than myself. Figuring out the content you want to create, the audience you want to build, etc is SO important. I'm in a degree for Clinical Counseling / Therapy and I'm trying to make positive and motivational content, yet comfy relaxing content, and I feel like my design will reflect that so much better than my current one, but GOD it took years to get here. Even still, with some, albeit shakey, foundation, there's always more to learn, and I'm still learning HOW to create that content to begin with. That's not to even mention things going on IRL. People have jobs, school, health, etc. The time to devote into content is hard, but one people want to try to do, I know I do, and trying to balance that, while making content both you and your audience enjoys, while also posting to social media...that's a lot. That all affects your growth, and what you want to do as well, and I think that's also important to consider when becoming a vtuber. I think we should be kinder to ourselves in that regard to, as putting pressure on ourselves, especially those with busy lives, is just going to lead to even more burnout. Sometimes its also just burnout, and we think rebranding will fix it, and I think that's important to consider. Your always going to be growing, wanting to improve, and its ok to want you model to reflect that growth and change to. Same with your content. It's harder when you want to create content to earn money from, at that point it is something you have to think about, BUT if your treating this more as a side hustle/hobby, then truly, do what you feel is best. At the end of the day, taking care of yourself, creating what you enjoy, and having a healthy ratio of work/sleep/selfcare/etc is important. If things are off balanced, of course it's gonna feel bad. Find that balance within yourself to, as even sometimes when you rebrand, those feelings may still be there, and you realize its a lack of care for yourself rather than your identity in content creation.

[@alexislazy]

Personally speaking, I like your model just the way it is, it's cute to look at and it kind of fits your voice, but I still wish you the best of luck with your rebranding, hopefully it works out well!

[@axelhugh4609]

This is the perfect mix of analysis and rambling. I love it! It's not much, been here for a while and I plan to stay. Also thanks for the discord light mode, it shines like a star and destroys all the darkness 👍

[@myffisunn2919]

I saw a lot of people saying they love your current model in the comments, and honestly, i do too and i loved all of your previous models aswell, however, i totally see how none of them fully matched your vibe and the content you made, i can't wait to see what you'll do in the future :>

[@BassedBrigitte]

It's very unlikely that you see this, but I noticed something about all of your top videos that might help you in the future: Most of them have bright thumbnails with red text (though green might have worked better for the algorithm), whereas your more average performance videos have less obtrusive dark thumbnails. Your top videos also seem to have more searchable names than the other ones, which leads me to believe that something is causing your videos to stick out more in search than in the recommended. I think if you were to capitalize on this, it could be a fairly large opportunity. I'm sure you've already noticed this yourself, but if not, that is my surface level observation. If you want me to look a bit further into your channel and find out what else could be causing the success difference between your top performing videos and your average videos, you can tell me in the replies or via email. (Sorry if this is unwarranted, I have no intention to offend)

[@BassedBrigitte]

reading through this again, I think to further this idea you could take into account one of MattPat's various pieces of advice and make the videos that are geared toward the recommended have brighter thumbnails and the ones geared toward the search have darker ones. Matpat, Mr. Beast, and various other content creators use this strategy and it's also backed by The Spiffing Brit (who, if you don't know, is an expert as this exact thing as it's exactly how he built his channel)

[@BassedBrigitte]

I'm later in the video now, and, after hearing that you don't want to primarily make tutorial content, I've realized another thing that could help you. Your modern thumbnails, while they have an okay amount of contrast in them, they don't quite have enough to really stick out in the recommended. (by the way, the reason why I'm giving tips on the recommended in this section is because I don't feel that I can really come up with a way to make non-tutorials searchable, just wanna make that clear. It's been done before, but it takes time and skill) For example, looking at your "I Debuted My New Outfit. It Was a Mistake" video, which is already more successful than your average video, there's a decent chance that making the background redder, the silhouette blacker, and the question mark fully bright green could have worked a lot better. I think if you experiment just a bit more, you might have something really coming along in this segment of content creating. Now, I do want to clarify again, if this is unwarranted I am sorry. I do not mean to offend, I'm just trying to find a way to take the advice of much larger content creators and cater it specifically to what I *think* your content goal is. If I am wrong about any of this stuff, please do tell me as I am eager to learn myself and I'm only really saying a lot of this stuff because, from my experience, teaching is the best way to learn.

[@BassedBrigitte]

just hit the 26 minute mark and that's a self-awarness bomb right there. In the chance that you actually see this, I hope I'm not coming off as one of those people who are telling you everything you're doing wrong lmao, sorry about that just trying to be helpful and none of these tips should be taken as scripture or anything--they're just my experience and what I've heard from creators I trust

[@chatistics]

Essay lmao

[@BassedBrigitte]

indeed@@chatistics

[@TheRucati]

I'm reminded of a Minecraft youtuber from back like 10+ years ago. I won't name him, but he has over 1 million subs, and his Minecraft videos used to get hundreds of thousands of views every single day. Then he decided he was bored of Minecraft and started playing other games, his view count dropped from 100k+ per video to under 5k. People didn't really care about him, he just happened to be one of the first people to make Minecraft videos, so he got all the views. Once he left the game everyone stopped watching. Not exactly the same as rebranding entirely, but if you leave the niche you're in it can be very hard to get your audience to follow you. I think it shows the importance of getting people to care about you as a person, and not just the content you make. If they only like your content they'll leave if it changes, if they genuinely like you then they'll stick around regardless. So it doesn't matter the type of content you do, as long as you form a connection with your audience you can switch to other things and most of your fans will stay with you.

[@HypaTaiga]

That's true.....well the book cover is usually the first thing they see in a vtuber only to be culture shocked what's in that book

[@Corviscribe]

As a vtuber who is planning my debut/debut 2.0 (I currently stream on Twitch in png bird form, but am working on a 3d model that I'd like to have a debut with eventually) I really appreciate you bringing up a lot of these points because I really hadn't considered how much your model design alone can influence the kind of audience you end up with.... Its really made me want to think carefully about the sort of community that I'd like to build, and what the people I want to attract would like to watch. I found you through your tutorials when I was getting started with my current setup, but I've also really enjoyed the other kinds of content that you've also put out. For me I like your personality enough that I see all of the different kinds of videos as a "wow two cakes" sort of situation, so I for one will still stick around for wherever a rebrand takes you.

[@ishratanika233]

Mari we will root for you all the way!!!!! Because of I got into vtubing. You helped me a lot and I'm truly grateful to you forever.

[@dusk4410]

We’ll follow you whatever you decide to do! Mari will still be Mari 😊

[@CillmaCuvas]

light mode discord user, mods, send her to the shadow realm

[@KassieKalico]

the rebranding anxiety is so real. My current model is GORGEOUS. but she's also so very very princess pretty which fits neither my personality nor content. (my friend called it real gap-moe lmao) i'm in the process of having a semi-chibi model made with a slightly more casual'ish fit which i think overall will just suit me better as a person but i'm so scared people won't like it. it's not even a re-brand it's just a different style and even that's scary 😅

[@liabea8506]

I really like your model! -especially the hair it stands out

[@Goldy01]

Moral of the story is: stop using twitter and stop listening to people who post there... >_>

[@cyanlos01]

This is the first video I've watched of yours, and it's how I bumped into you through the recommends, so I'll just say this: You're doing work. Don't let the haters or the algorithm define what you do. You don't have to be a trend-follower or market-chaser. Whatever you do, do it straight from the heart. Those who hate you for it don't matter. Those who do matter will stay. Following one's heart has never been easy. But it's better to do it than having to live with the pain of regret.

[@VolkeVT]

Finding your path in content creation and personal growth is an incredible journey, one filled with both triumphs and challenges. It's easy to get caught up in worrying about every word spoken or action taken, but the truth is, authenticity shines brighter than perfection. Though I haven't been here long enough to witness everything, seeing your evolution, both as a content creator and as a person, is truly inspiring. You're bravely navigating your own course, guided by your passion and intuition, and that's something to be celebrated. What's most beautiful about your journey is the genuine joy you find in creating content that resonates with you. It's evident that you're not just creating for the sake of it, but because it brings you fulfillment and happiness. Remember, your authenticity is your superpower. Keep nurturing your unique voice and cultivating a community that appreciates you for exactly who you are. Your journey is an inspiration to many, and I'm honored to witness your growth.

[@VegaLyrae]

I’ve always enjoyed your content and your model. You have a soft voice and the pastel was a nice fit. HOWEVER, your excitement for a rebrand is shared and I’m excited to see the next step towards you making this a unique brand that is true to you. It’s very inspiring to me who already made one model change (that I regret) and I’m about to redo it again in an attempt to find a happy median between the old and new concepts.

[@cephalons]

Omg, the message starting around 26:00 has me feeling so seen. I feel that so much. I’ve tried to make what I enjoy, but it seems like my community doesn’t care about it at all and I feel so awful after those streams even if it was something I loved 😢

[@PumpkinSeries]

I just encountered you and good for you to rebrand. Its very transformative and yes scary. But you will know who comes along with the journey with you, and that is an opportunity for them and for yourself-a loss as well for those who don’t. I think the exchange is wholesome as long as you poll and receive feedback, or even open discussions to keep your fans/audiences engaged, involved, and listened to.

[@tarauisu]

New here, and I'm not a vTuber or streamer or anything at all yet, really, but this is really inspiring and informative, and if I'm being honest I want to become a vTuber someday and I honestly love this video after having watched it. The message is very interesting and as someone who wants to be one someday I'm taking this video to heart. I'd also just like to mention that the nice casual way you did this video is really comfortable and feels really personal, and I don't know if I'll be here all too much for your content in the future, but I do know this video has had an impact on me, and if I find a video of yours again, I'll probably check it, and hope by then your content would be doing well, if rebranded already, and if not too.

[@sofiadragon1979]

I’m doing research for making my own type of V-tuber channel and I’ve watched a few of your tutorial videos and to be honest they are really helpful. They are making me think more about how to present my character (which is really going to just be a character version of me) possibly with a few add ons but I’m still in the planning stages. Keep up the awesome work, and calling your avatar adorable is an understatement personally.

[@Doodleshark-h8x]

Its ok to change,Thats a part of life girl!Plus As someone who is working on being a vtuber I can Imagine How many times I'll wanna change my online apearance!

[@Kyle-c9p1e]

Honestly, this video needs way more views. A lot of great talking points here for people looking to get into vtubing and content creation.

[@salgalus]

I know this video is an older one for you but I want to say think you for doing this. It means so much to me as I'm trying to break into vtubing.

[@Aetherial_Moth]

I found your channel yesterday, trying to get into making my own vTuber Avatar, and I haven't stopped binging your content for the last 30 hours. So far my impression has been, you seem like a "Been there, done that, and if I haven't, I will." I honestly don't care what your focus ends up being, I just really enjoy your attitude and how you just put out there what you know, in a as digestibe as possible fashion. Obviously I'm still on the "Oohh, new content creator I didn't know about before" trip, but I think I could listen to you talk about whatever, because you seem to only talk about stuff you actually know a lot about, or open up a dialogue when you yourself aren't really certain. Something I appreciate a lot and find very engaging.

[@Merdragoon]

I totally get why this conversation is important. I've seen so many other starting out Vtubers constantly asking "What should my brand be? I needs to be able to last so long" and then after a few months they go "I'm rebranding" only to get really bad backlash because of the things you mentioned and then they don't rebrand at all to something they personally would love to do, only to become stagnate and burnt out. It's sad. And don't get me started on the struggles of being a veriety streamer. Because your branding would have to work around that too. But honestly? In my personal experience, you will grow (albet slowly for a time) when you show you *enjoy* the content you're making. If you're doing different things, if the person sees you're enjoying it? They will stay even if the content isn't something they think they would enjoy at first. The other thing you have to consider is the *why* you want to make content as well. Why that content is enjoyable. Brand yourself around things that you enjoy and what you connect with the most. Yam Albat taught me that a bit more and why I'm okay with adding in my logo into my "branding" even though literal Dragon-sharkfolk and feathers are far off but putting in the feathers into my set up just to be more subtle about it. I also came to the realization because I need to be able to enjoy the things I'm doing. This year had be hard outside and streaming lifted my spirits that when the envible happens in my life... I can at least find joy in the dark times after. If you are not enjoying your model, the brand you have, and your content, Make it where you *do* enjoy it and something that can grow into what you want in the future and give you joy in the dark moments. Those little moments of joy will make the difference. People of the internet don't know what you're going through, so if they get upset on the brand you want, then that's their problem. Not yours.

[@maricii33]

Thank you for sharing your story and for all the fun content you’ve made. Also congratulations on your upcoming new chapter. May you have tons of fun with your evolution! 🥳

[@citizen_grub4171]

Hey, so... This is the second video of yours that KZbin has suggested to me, and I honestly dig it. You are enough. You are valid. You really seem like a genuinely kind-hearted person, and that's something the world needs more of.

[@teacupbishop]

I’m a new viewer, and this video is super helpful! These were some of the things ive been thinking about while trying to weigh if I want to try vtubing, the way you organized your thoughts really helped. Subbed, I’ll stick around whether you go through the rebrand or not. Your transparency is so refreshing and I hope that going forward you can make content you can enjoy making proudly

[@AverageInternetUserBeing]

Thank you for sharing your experience, that part about harrassment and haters must have been really hard to say especially since u have been doing this for so many years now. I hope there comes a point where you feel confident in your character image amd your content mari. Someday it will happen

[@yalo3162]

“Do what you love. Tho if I don’t like it, I won’t watch.” Yeah, it’ll be like that. Sometimes, they expect what you want to be what they want, and sometimes they’re okay with moving on in exchange for you to do what you want. And you SHOULD do what you enjoy. Otherwise you’ll hate content creating. But if you change things, you have to accept that not everyone will like it, and also take time let your audience adjust. Sometimes you gain new people from doing new things, that just haven’t found you yet. I think some people expect an audience to stay easy enough that they try to garner new people and expand, but don’t think enough about the losses. But on the opposite side of the spectrum, don’t think that losses should hold you back from changing something and enjoying it. If you love what you do, it makes it that much better for people who like watching you do that thing. And also, yes, appearances do matter. We can say they don’t, but they give off a persons vibe and personality. You can still be cute, just mix in a bit of lewd/riske. Cute and sexy is a thing.

[@nohluckEN]

You have always given a different perspective that is informative. It is highly appreciated 🎃

[@natthekiwi7074]

Thank you for sharing you experience. I actually just tonight decided to start making content. Your content on my feed is A+ work from the algorithms 😂 Also to anyone who’s worried about losing audience: people grow, change, develop new hobbies. You will always find an audience- just sometimes the faces will be change

[@Nyorane]

Listening to you talk is so nice, it's soothing my brain. Thanks for sharing your voice with the world.

[@IAMBearRAWR]

I found your tutorials very helpful and informative when I was first starting out. I didn't recognize your new design and didn't realize you went through so much in trying to change your image! I sincerely wish you the best in whatever you decide to do next! Thank you so much for your hard work, Mari! I hope your next rebrand is a success! (PS: Glasses can make you seem smarter or more mature, all depends on the vibe you want to give off!)

[@TheMisguidedLeopard]

I really loved the Pink version of u and when i think of u, that avatar comes into mind. Mainly because of the starbursts eyes! They are so beautiful! And they really suit your personality, so i think maybe you can incorporate that in your rebrand somewhere? But regardless I will support you no matter what you decide!

[@JefferyCuddletrousers]

This was really helpful! I like your outlook, more than that, you feel human rather than like a caricature. I enjoyed this video and wanted to let you know, that you brightened my day, and I think you did a great job on this!😊

[@RoyalRylaa]

I'm new to vtube community. Thaank you for tips Mari!

[@HoshinoMitsuki]

Honestly I love listening to your ramblings and thank you so much for picking it up! It was a huge concern for me that I did not know how to go about it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

[@myriadinc]

Hobbyist Vtuber here that's twitched through MANY different models, I feel the journey, went from models that I like the look of to models that feel more me, fit me, or fit the concept I want (which is also a constant journey brainstorming that I love). Can't say anything from a professional standpoint, but from a human one people are always growing and refining yourself and your content, a rebrand to get closer to yourself or what you want to be is an amazing thing. To be fair I'm one of the ones that has mostly watched your tutorial videos but...… I love this conversation style of this one where we get a sense of your journey to this piece of wisdom, helps to connect it into my own experience and why the advice(or parts of) could be helpful watching your path so far I definitely feel like you're narrowing in on something that feels right and I really hope you can get closer with your rebrand if you go ahead that way All the best big sis Yume XD

[@turner4331]

Sending you lots of love girl. I don't interact much with content but lemme just come here to compliment you a bit. For someone who just came down the rabbit hole being fascinated with the whole vtubing industry, your channel it's such a nice way to share your experiences. The way you make content feels very genuine especially in wanting to help others. It's like a conversation with friend/senpai in the industry. Like a mini interview. It's such a chill vibe I love it. So excited to see your rebrand! I checked through your models and well you don't miss. 🔥 I hope that it brings you more joy and is a fun experience. :)

[@MedasGaming]

Rebranding sounds like growing pains. Might suck initially but afterward its the proper way to move forward and grow who you're meant to be.

[@SkullsNightshade]

Mari I love your videos! I’ve watched you through many of your rebrands. I’m working on a rebrand and I’ve been where you are. I’ve been VTubing since 2020 too and have taken a lot of “L” by changing my brand or content. It’s very motivating to see this & you made some very good points. I’ve done “chibi voice” to complete lewd. Now I’m just kinda me, but coping. I’m ready to be more “ME” & understanding how I’m seen by the audience is priceless knowledge ❤

[@RatikusuCh]

Well look who I stumbled upon! As someone else in the trenches, is incredibly self-conscious to a fault, and has worked hard to overcome this hurdle, I now know what I want to be. Always seeking the next challenge to overcome. I became more of not only just myself, but now I'm more of the 'part' of myself I want to be. So much has happened in the last year that has changed my outlook, when I thought my outlook couldn't have gotten better. Rebranding was the only path for me, as any other path would have lead to stagnation of my actual self, as well as my public self.

[@SlimyMana]

Sometimes I think about rebranding because I find it fun to have different characters, and I struggle a lot when it comes to choosing what kind of content to focus on, I am very passionate about art, but I don't feel very sure what to focus on when it comes to content creation. I'm still looking for my way, thanks for sharing your experiences, they help a lot and I don't feel alone in this ❤

[@questionablyhere]

This is honestly an amazing video. I’m kind of looking into becoming a vtuber sometime in the future. All the insight is super super helpful. The tips are good and very appreciated. Thank you for the video‼️

[@darkoverlordz9440]

Love the content, dabbling around this so its nice to have reassurance and helpful guidance!

[@Swiftstar88]

Discord light mode??? D: 100% agree that there's never a perfect way to say anything, there will always be someone who hears it the way they want to :/ LOL nice gamersupps shill, actually!! I was wondering why you kept the cough in until you said that and I went, ohhh... XD (Mari's booba is still a figment of her imagination, nothing to look at here...) I agree with your point that rebranding will always be hard because much of your audience is there for the content you currently make and the model you currently have, changing that will push them away to find VTubers who fill the niche you left. It's a good point that tutorials and help videos will always be needed as new people will always get into the VTuber scene... and you do really want to help others a lot, I can tell from the content you make! So even though you don't necessarily like being known as a tutorial VTuber, I don't think you're losing that title anytime soon since you'll keep making helpful videos anyway >_> Honestly, I can see why being the "tutorial creator" is bad at building your own community... I still see it in discord when new VTubers join only to help them become VTubers instead of watching your streams... because that's not why they're in your discord. I've said this before, but you actually have two communities: the Mari Yume fandom community and the Mari Yume tutorial community, and I feel that very few of us are in both of those communities. :/ I like your Step 1, that's the question I was going to ask you here until you said it in the video! WAIT... what's your image of me???? I want to know! :D And you should be able to see us when you're hiding under the bed!... XD Involving your community in the rebrand... we're scapegoats now, aren't we? :P YAY FOR MORE PM-CHAN!!!!! I do think this is an interesting topic, it's something I haven't had much time to research myself for the discord yet, but something tells me there aren't many videos on the topic still. I'm interested in what you'll come up with! Also, I really enjoyed all the background footage of you playing games with Serina, Abs, and Jesse, it was fun to rewatch!

[@BaranzarCobralLIVE]

Glad I found this video been thinking a re-branding myself but taking time on it since well as you said its a big thing and I want to do it right, must say I feel a lot better about it after watching this so thank you

[@Fortunya]

Do what you think you'll feel better doing and beeing as a creator. Bad and good opnions will always be out there, but you must do what you feel good doing, and eventually a comunnity that likes you new content will form. Don't sacrifice yourself, what you feel like doing in fear of loosing "supporters". Enjoy the experience of renwing and experiencing the new, the important thing is to look back and have no regrets for staying the same.

[@darklight6247]

It's lovely to see a video that talks about this so casually and relatibly. I wish you luck in pushing your career forwards. (also I tried using the discord link and it doesn't seem to be working)

[@NoSalvationHere]

I know you have no idea who I am, I've literally never commented on any of your videos and you have little to no chance of seeing this.. but I want you to know that this has helped me so much already. I haven't even finished the video yet but I've learned so much. I also want you to know that you're so incredible, lovely, talented, funny and so much more. I know the streaming struggle and how hard it is to entertain but you do so well at it. honestly, I aspire to be as good as you one day. and I can promise you, I'll support you through thick and thin. You're one of my favorite vtubers and content creators and you're just so amazing. I really really hope that you get absolutely 0 hate as soon as possible because you do not deserve it one itty bitty bit. never forget you're awesome. :]

[@ZonicMirage]

As a casual, I'm just glad to see you're still around.

[@greibach_vt]

There's a lot I wish I knew when I started my journey as well with regard to branding, and to be honest I still don't know a lot. Tessa called me "an anomaly" when she quizzed me on my impression of a character from their art haha, so I'm right there with you on not even realizing some things about design. I like my aesthetic, but would have probably done a little be more for visual distinctiveness and all that. I definitely fail the silhouete test. I also totally understand the whole "gotta rebrand for more reach" thought process, because I also feel it somewhat. Maybe not rebranding, but definitely new models. I swear to god the main way to get a huge blow up on twitter is for a debut, be it 1.0, 2.0 or whatever. We've seen someone go from 10CCV to 600-1000 almost overnight from a MASSIVE debut blow up, and it's hard to not feel like those are your best chance at "pulls" for notoriety. It does feel rough to lose your whole fanbase though from a rebrand T-T

[@len_vrc]

I've been using the term "Journey" very recently on the musk app pertaining to Vtubers I'm catching on my timeline. Most I can comment on is.. "Just another step on your Vtubing Journey to finding what works for you, and the anonymous denizens of the interwebs." The rebranding sounds interesting. And while I'm not active on the discord, or watching folks streams live to IRL, I'll continue supporting folks.

[@AnzuliaPlushy]

Mari I don’t know much but I do understand the desire to be wanna be cute. but I also think you can change without rebranding with new outfits and such. Rebranding to me means major change of course that will affect current fan base.

[@silvershadowwolf7088]

as of the middle of the year ive decided to look into becoming a vtuber. why simple i play games and feel like streaming/making content could be fun and i dont like showing my face. while i wont be able to commit until the end of the year, learning that having a basic idea for your model is just the besting thing to do. For me personally i took ideas and concepts from characters in media i watch or find interesting and put them on a blank photo shop template. It helps keep your ideas in check like the body type, hair length, tail size/lengh (if you have one), etc. It makes having an idea tangible and helps vision what your model/character will look like. For me i decided to got with an albino alligator pirate captain. why alligator well they are one of my favorite animals. why albino simple im not much for out doors so i have super pale skin. why pirate captain again simple pirates of the Caribbean is one of my all time favorite series. So with that all in mind i took the ideas of what i wanted and put it in photoshop/gimp and made a basic template to give to an artist once im able to get the ball rolling to be a vtuber.

[@honeykogane]

oh god, I like the idea about using a vtuber model in the future for doing content with my persona's design, and man, im glad I took so much time designing it, like, it Isn't nor a cutesy or a sexy model, and I'm glad it isn't because how I want to be perceived it's exactly the design I made. Tysm for the video, it helped a lot! Most of it made sense, because when you design a character sometimes you need to think of stereotypes to think of how u want that character to be perceived, so I'm glad I checked I'm happy with my design, tytyty

[@MythicalHex]

when I got into vtubing initially I was going for something cute that suited my voice but got too dysphoric over being viewed as female, then I went for an attractive male to be like 'I am a man and also not a child, despite my high ass voice', but it ended up attracting very shallow people. Eventually (because I'm addicted to character design adopts) I got a male character design that I was randomly craving that, with a slight outfit change, I completely fell in love with, and then chose to use their design as my vtuber, and with it I started having fun more instead of trying to focus on how much I was struggling to connect with the attractive design. So even though I look kinda young (I'm short irl so I end up looking and sounding young anyways) I'm able to use it to show that I just want to have fun playing games, doodling, and talking to people. I'm still keeping the attractive design as an OC but I won't use them for vtubing, even though I spent $200 on a pretty pngtuber art of them from an artist I really liked xD

[@Mythikus]

The best part about this video is that while it is somewhat targeted towards new/current Vtubers, the ideology behind rebranding extends beyond Vtubing and Vtuber Models. I know I have felt these issues when trying to rebrand my content (that is before I went on an indefinite hiatus). And, honestly its is nice to hear that though I'm not in the Vtube scene others are going through the same or similar issues I did. So thanks Mari!^^ -edited for grammar

[@skyapproved7148]

1:50 WOW okay I know that I'm into wearing that fashion and all, but I genuinely thought that was a child LOL

[@Kishiboi]

This is some diamond-tier rambling that a lot of people need to hear.

[@belenamoraga5101]

We support u, do what makes u happy, that’ll make us happy too!!! 💜

[@LeilaFaB]

First time seeing you or your content, and I realise this is an old video but you sound so sad and I hope everything worked out well for you. If it didn't, good luck, keep going. I'll check your other content some other day, until then, fingers crossed you successfully rebranded !

[@MercyTheFox]

I've been a vtuber since 2020 and over the last year I just wasn't happy with who I was anymore. I couldn't bring myself to even stream or play games anymore. I have totally rebranded with a new name, new avatar, and new content and I'm so much happier and I haven't even started making content again. However, the way I chose to rebrand was to TOTALLY restart with no one knowing it's me. While i hate that I have to rebuild everything again, but I feel like taking everything I learned from 2020 to 2023 can help me grow better this time. I don't regreat leaving Mercy behind, just sad sometimes.

[@Hacchu]

Stay strong you got this , world would be so much better if people just stayed away from something they dont like instead of overexagarating it and making it seem worse than it is and world ending , rebrand as much as 15 more times even, its fine as long as you are having a good time and are going in the direction you feel the most comfy with ~

[@toyamint]

thank you so much for the reminder that i have to be honest to myself cuz i sometimes forget how i feel creating content and i rush my vids. im a subscrber that mostly watch ur guides or topic like this vid from yt recc. i think its fine to try out different contents tho not everyone like me gonna watch but i'll keep comin back to see ur contents!! :3

[@Absbor]

only to judge someone entirely on their looks is still a crazy concept for me.

[@jellalfernandes-001]

I really love the way you talk

[@rulezvt_with_no_explanation]

im gonna say this when people telling you that your doing vtubing "wrong" there just mad that you have found a way to push forward and succeed if you do a rebrand i hope it goes well and i love watching your content and it make me think about my own content but i cant wait to see what you do in the near future from the washing machine keep being you mari

[@-mothra]

even though im not a vtuber, (im just a artist lol) i think the reason a lot of people struggle with rebranding a lot is cause they dont know how to inturpet their personality properly into what ever brand they want (sorry for the spelling errors im half asleep 😭)

[@nerdpraxis]

Currently at minute 21, just wanna say, GOOD video, VERY good video , think its my first time watching one of your vids.

[@reikadoodles]

💐 Thank you for your hard work

[@xynonners]

I love the sassy cat archetype lmao but I think some of us would stick around whatever you decide to do 🙂

[@chirioneVT]

I know as a smaller creator I just went with a model I liked the design for which i spent ages making. I updated it about a year later with a similar model. However I never put the whole content vs appearance thing that high on the list to consider. A lot of what I play/do centres around factory games, with the occasional "I like this game, im going to show it off" game and some art streams. But anthro bat in a nice dress doesnt really match any of that, except maybe the art streams. Maybe on the next model iteration I add in some theme based outfits. A steampunky factory outfit, artists smock, I dunno. Definately something I need to consider going forward.

[@AtariYeo]

All of this is making me wonder if what I'm currently doing is actually a rebrand or something else entirely. I'm a PNGtuber waiting for my first Live2D model, which, when it debuts, will come with a new, hopefully more defined brand image, and a new name more fitting with my lore/concept. However, the basic aspects of my character won't change, just the overall look of the channel. The part about the expectations about your model are fascinating to me as well. In my case, my concept is a nerdy teenaged Atlantean shaman boy. I thought it'd be appropriate for someone who plays mostly retro games and tends to not only talk about them in detail, but also go on tangents about a veritable plethora of topics, from history and mythology, to behind-the-scenes trivia on Disney movies, to the intricacies of collecting VHS tapes, just to name a few. So far I've been able to attract people with similar interests, so I think I'm doing something right! 🙃

[@legokirbymanchannel]

Mari needs to realize how much "little sister energy" she radiates. That would've prevented a lot of pain.

[@liabea8506]

It’s sad because you can really hear the frustration in your voice. I really hope your potential rebranding goes well :)❤ Edit: omg girl-😭 do what you enjoy, you deserve it and I’m going to start watching your streams because you seem like a really nice person 😤

[@Misuny]

*shows pink vtuber model* OH ITS YOU!

[@createimpact3.0]

Thank you for this insightful and wonderful content. I can surely learn a lot from you 👍

[@5eyoshi]

7:32 I love how you play on it

[@George1one1]

Heyya I fell into the Vtuber black hole from being one of SmugAlana's little KZbin short videos, last month, and now I have been binge watching Vtubers left and right. I will watch more of your videos and learn more about you before I make any suggestions. I one day aspire to to become a V- tuber some day in the future, I'm sure I will be watching your tutorial videos as I go. I'll try to see if I can say something meaningful to you, but in the meantime I am feeling very inspired by your stories and your knowledge. I will try to help you come up with an idea. Please excuse me, I have some research to do. Good luck to you, and don't you dare give up or graduate.

[@RaeNeptune]

I don't see a half naked succubus but I see your point.

[@KynneloVyskenon]

got here from the tutorials, stayed for the tangents

[@animes_joe]

Maybe different KZbin channels for different models and you stream on that KZbin channel depending on how you feel.

[@TRGenesis]

I think an important note I wanted to add is, not everyone is there for the model or content or anything related to the model or brand. Some people are just there for the person and their personality, this is very evident by recent events. I would personally say, it's better to make content you enjoy and generate a new audience that enjoys that content then it is to mold yourself into something your current viewers want and hate your entire persona. The viewers that are there for YOU, are the viewers you'll see years into the future. If you feel lost, I HIGHLY recommend joining communities and maybe people that you trust. It can make the whole experience a lot less stressful and enjoyable. Just never stop trying, but also don't push yourself to hard! If you don't enjoy making content, others probably won't enjoy it either. Stay frosty! Great video as always Mari!

[@TRGenesis]

I've followed many people through multiple identities and personas, because I enjoyed watching THEM. It didn't matter what they looked like or what they played, It's always enjoyable to watch their streams and videos. I follow an above average amount of vtubers (+900) so I get around and see a lot of what goes on in the community. Yet, before all of that I lived through the YT "Golden Age", and without a shadow of a doubt, VTubing is one of the most difficult field of entertainment out there. That's just the nature of it, because you're not just trying to make people like you but also your brand. If the brand does'nt match the content it won't work, it's the worlds most frustrating, yet also most rewarding content puzzle. Some things you should definatley not do is pandering to your community, atleast not a lot. If you constantly let things slide or do what the communtiy wan't from you, it'll burn you out fast. Make sure you set your boundaries and rules as quickly as possible. That's soem of the basics you should follow, the rest is up to you. The content, the tone of your content, the theme. All of that is what makes you YOU.

[@labbytch]

LoL this is your second video I've watched and why do I feel so related 😂

[@irystocrattakodachithatmooms]

I don't know what that's like as I never have gotten started. Probably would have if I wasn't such a pessimist about everything. Plus my plans on getting started changing a lot. I might get started once I have the proper number of base stands for VR and watched the tutorials I will need to watch. That will likely introduce me to rebranding at some point.

[@arielkagamine3782]

I actually kinda glad I'm playing a game like icey, fps or Bayonetta on my early stream cause I manage to attract some viewer that has the same type of interest as me and can vibe with how I stream, Thou, I do somehow attracted some little bit extreme viewer in lewd part despite I'm not really a lewd content creator or vtuber model, but overall, I'm still comfortable with the viewers that I have now, Planning to do a model change in the future, not much, just outfit change but this video might help a lot with how the process gonna go, so thank you :3

[@dilarazockt]

i woukd still be myself even if i only show my vtubing model XD i love this video it kinda helps

[@savruenvod]

Thankfully i didnt have to worry about this since i am mostly an artist and not really a vtuber. But fortunately enough i feel like changing persona for artists (especially if this someone is like me, very unpopular) is much easier i think. And also a question about bonus tip. But what if your communities opinion is much different than yours? And it would be like some previous stuff that you might dislike in future?

[@KnightTheKnight]

Advice for people, only thing I'm sure of is; simply never do something because someone told to do it. and never do something, that's randomly thought in a heat of a moment, or in words basically with no thought behind it or reasoning. Basically, never do something with a half ass resolve or blindly. most human mistakes, misunderstanding, and mess comes from doing things [blindly not well thought out] and always have in mind, things apply both ways; if a person has a right, so does another person. and most importantly; never be self-centered; basically when people think there the only ones that can do stuff or not; it always ends wrong. TLDR; Balance must be achieved; don't listen too much to your own head, and don't listen too much to what other people says. one of my favorite things to mention is simply; intelligence isn't achieved by getting knowledge; it's achieved by preventing stupidity from effecting the mind.

[@lunaaoi5]

i have a friend that has to balance two different streaming set ups because she doesn't want to rebrand but she douse want to make different content involving things she loves but knows her current community would not go for

[@Shakooky]

This helped me a lot getting little perspective especially my model with big booba even tho I just loved starfire😊😭