Line #124 Main/VirtualCelebrity


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3	%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
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9	[[quoteright:350:[[Music/HatsuneMiku https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/MikuIdol2_9863.jpg]]]]
10	[[caption-width-right:350:Three thousand people saw her "live".]]
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12	So there's this new performer taking the entertainment world by storm. She's gorgeous, she's talented, she's got tons of fans... and she's not real. Well, not a flesh-and-blood human, anyway. (Whether that makes her not real is sometimes [[DoAndroidsDream debatable]].) She's some sort of program or AI, created specifically to be an actor, IdolSinger, or what have you. Most often her artificial nature will be concealed from the world, though there's the occasional CyberPunk or PostCyberPunk setting where celebrities (sometimes, ''all'' celebrities, or at least the majority) are known to be virtual and [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality nobody cares]].
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14	[[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything Any metaphors occurring to you]] about how celebrities are manufactured and marketed as products? Don't be such a cynic.
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16	These do exist in reality; they usually either have a {{Kayfabe}} while clearly being fictional, or are openly marketed as virtual celebrities for the sake of a gimmick, but [[ParanoiaFuel at least]] one, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimi_Eguchi Aimi Eguchi]], had been successfully passed off as a real person.
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18	Not to be confused with SyntheticVoiceActor. Compare ReusedCharacterDesign. Contrast [[VirtualYouTuber VTubers]], who are basically the opposite -- real people performing through [[DigitalAvatar digital avatars]].
19	----
20	!!Examples:
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22	[[foldercontrol]]
23
24	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
25	* ''Anime/AndroidAnnouncerMaico2010'': The titular character is an an android radio announcer.
26	* Sharon Apple in ''Anime/MacrossPlus'', who is known to be computer-generated, though she still has a secret: [[spoiler:much of her personality and emotions are drawn from programmer Myung. An attempt to increase her ability to emulate emotions using an experimental military AI chip goes badly]].
27	* In ''Anime/MegaManNTWarrior2002'', there's a virtual Idol Singer, Aki-chan. Every nearby male Navi crushes on her, from Gutsman to [=MegaMan=] himself. [[ClingyJealousGirl Roll isn't pleased]].
28	* Eve Tokimatsuri of ''Anime/Megazone23'', though it's well-hidden until well into Part 1. [[spoiler:She's a subroutine of the Bahamut supercomputer that controls the GenerationShip the cast lives on. She chose 1980s Japan as "the best time to live in" and is also responsible for evaluating humanity's readiness to return to Earth at the end of Part 2.]]
29	* ''Anime/{{Mnemosyne}}'' has an example of this in episode four. The basis of the virtual celebrity is [[spoiler:her memories and thoughts, sucked from the Mad Scientist's daughter, killing her]].
30	* Internet psychic Talisman and virtual anarchist Spooky Boogie from ''Anime/PsychoPass''.
31	* American manga ([[{{Animesque}} that's not a contradiction in this case]]) ''Reality Check!'' ends up with three of these. Two of them don't know about the world outside the computer, but are self-aware enough to think of themselves as actors before an audience. The other one ''does'' know there's a world out there.
32	* Nekomimi A and Nekomimi B, twin CatGirl robots, are apparently the idols of the ''Anime/TransformersEnergon'' world, making cafeteria appearances, hosting virtual gladiator matches, and even starring in their own in-series manga.
33	[[/folder]]
34
35	[[folder:Comic Books]]
36	* In ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain'', [[spoiler:the ''president of the United States'']] is one of this. There's an {{Anvilicious}} reason why.
37	[[/folder]]
38
39	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
40	* YUNA from ''Anime/SwordArtOnlineTheMovieOrdinalScale'' is the image character for the augmented-reality game Ordinal Scale, regaling players with songs and temporarily boosting their skills during event battles. It is later revealed that [[spoiler:YUNA is based on her creator Shigemura's daughter, who died in the Sword Art Online incident in his quest to fully recreate her as a top-down Artificial Intelligence using the memories of past SAO players]].
41	[[/folder]]
42
43	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
44	%%* Variation in ''Film/TheAssociate''.
45	* ''Film/{{Looker}}'': The corrupt company Digital Matrix has models scanned into its computer to make perfect 3D copies of them that can appear in any commercial. The company then hires a hitman to murder the models so that the company doesn't have to pay them royalties for their image.
46	* ''Film/PixelPerfect'' revolves around this, with main character Roscoe using holographic technology to create Loretta Modern, intended to be a multi-talented and seemingly "perfect" vocalist for his best friend's band, the Zettabytes.
47	* Phony actress Simone in ''Film/S1m0ne'' is a particularly strong example in that there isn't even an AI involved -- 'her' controller speaks for 'her' and programmes 'her' movements directly, making Simone spiritually more akin to a ventriloquist's dummy.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Literature]]
51	* In ''Literature/DoAndroidsDreamOfElectricSheep'', the religion of Earth worships Wilbur Mercer, who is later revealed to be a mental simulacrum of a character actor recorded decades ago.
52	* Creator/JamesTiptreeJr's short story "The Girl Who Was Plugged In" posits a dystopian future where corporations control everything; advertising is forbidden, so corporations have to use celebrity product placements. Delphi was grown from a modified embryo to be a physically perfect human being, but without a functioning brain. She's the perfect celebrity influencer, but needs an outside person (who is "plugged in") to run her.[[note]]These "Remote" people are needed because regular celebrities are capable of independent thought; since many of them are in creative professions, they might be inspired to buy or make something that is off-brand and off-message, ruining a potential market for whatever they were supposed to be selling.[[/note]]
53	* Rei Toei and the other idorus in ''Literature/{{Idoru}}''.
54	* There's a book by Creator/NormanSpinrad, ''Little Heroes'', based upon several of these.
55	* Possibly the UrExample is Adam Selene in ''Literature/TheMoonIsAHarshMistress''. LaResistance is secretly being organised by Mike, a MasterComputer who has gained ArtificialIntelligence. He creates their ostensible leader 'Adam Selene' who has first a voice (including background noise) to communicate with the Resistance cells by phone, then after the revolution occurs a video image that works in real time. However, this bluff won't last forever, as those in the know are running out of excuses why no-one can meet Adam face-to-face, so when Earth finally launches an attack, they use a body damaged beyond recognition to fake his 'death'.
56	[[/folder]]
57
58	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
59	* ''Series/MaxHeadroom'', who went on to become this in real life (except that it was a character played by Creator/MattFrewer in a foam suit in real life), with his own talk show (for which the character was actually created: the pilot didn't turn into its own fiction series for a few years until after a jump across the pond).
60	* ''Franchise/TheMuppets'' are basically treated like real life celebrities everywhere they appear.
61	* ''Series/MutantX'' has a virtual reporter, Proxy Blue, who reports on mutant-related strange occurrences.
62	* In ''Series/RedDwarf'', "Groovy" Channel 27 has a holographic newsreader. This is a borderline case, since holograms in the series are often modeled on real, deceased people.
63	* In the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS6E13Virtuoso Virtuoso]]", the Emergency Medical Hologram finds himself a celebrity among [[PlanetOfHats the Qomar: smug, isolationist aliens who've never heard music before]]. This newfound fame goes to his head, and he seriously considers leaving ''Voyager'', only to find that his Qomar girlfriend has created a 'better' version of himself.
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Music]]
67	[[AC:Creators:]]
68	* [[KoreanPopMusic K-pop]] girl group æspa have this as part of their concept, with virtual "æ" versions of the members preforming alongside them in music videos and appearing in interviews.
69	* On October 8th, 2020, Creator/{{Sanrio}} and Creator/SegaToys teamed up to create new Sanrio characters called ''Music/{{Beatcats}}'', a 5-piece Virtual Idol Unit starring adorable cats that perform J-Pop created by The Beatcats group.
70	* The band Music/{{Gorillaz}} is presented as four distinct cartoon musicians in performances and music videos, despite really just being [[IAmTheBand Damon Albarn and guest players]].
71	* Music/ThePlasticEGulls are a cartoon four-piece band performed by one guy, albeit [[StarvingArtist still looking for that big break]]...
72	* Plave is a virtual K-Pop boy group that uses 3D models in all of their streams and music videos. However, they operate much like [[VirtualYouTuber VTubers]] with their true identities kept secret with some fans suspecting that they're composed of former K-Pop idols.
73	* Music/{{Prozzak}} are this on their albums and in their videos. However, live shows would simply have the show musicians who played them performing the songs in-character without any animation.
74	* The steampunk band Music/SteamPoweredGiraffe perform as "singing musical automatons".
75	[[AC:Songs:]]
76	* Possibly hinted at in Music/PeterSchilling's "(Let's Play) U.S.A.":
77	-->Soon the robots we create will be starring on the Great White Way.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Video Games]]
81	* ''VideoGame/AgentsOfMayhem'' has AISHA, a K-Pop idol group consisting of five sentient AI (all of whom look identical save for [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience different colored clothing]]) who are romantically involved with cyborg supervillain Steeltoe. [[spoiler:After you defeat Steeltoe, one of the AISHA units becomes a villain.]]
82	* ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'': Throughout the cities, there are two idols gaining popularity; Idol-Chan, a singer who uses a virtual avatar while keeping her real identity a secret, and Mion, a virtual idol who promotes herself and freely sends messages to gather fans.
83	* ''VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt'' has Lumen, who is promoted by [[MegaCorp Sumeragi]] as a virtual IdolSinger. In reality, she's a hologram subconsciously projected by Joule, and her songs manifest Joule's powers.
84	* The ''VideoGame/{{D}}'' trilogy embodies this. All of the characters are re-used in later games, giving the vibe they're the same 'actor' playing a different role. This is especially true for Laura in each game, being a mute blond every time, but different characters in the story. Characters from ''VideoGame/EnemyZero,'' Parker and Emily specifically, appear in ''D2'', giving the same vibe as Laura does.
85	* ''Franchise/DeusExUniverse'':
86	** NG Resonance from ''VideoGame/DeusExInvisibleWar'' is a human pop star, but the AI-controlled holographic copies of her fulfill this trope. [[spoiler:It eventually transpires that the AI is actually a WTO-controlled espionage system, and that the friendly and affable simulation is significantly different to the spoiled and inconsiderate original it was based on.]] You have the option to make the trope one hundred percent after you meet NG Resonance in person if you shoot her (not a spoiler, since you can shoot anybody you come in contact with). Strangely, her AI alter ego doesn't seem to care.
87	** In ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'', it turns out that [[spoiler:Eliza Cassan]] is one of these, specifically engineered to [[spoiler:alter human opinions through manipulation of communications and mass media]].
88	* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' have dipped their toes into making some of its characters into music acts, usually as a promotion for [[VirtualPaperDoll cosmetic in-game skins]], including several high-profile forays into [[{{Defictionalization}} making their music a reality]]:
89	** Music/{{Pentakill}} was initially started as a skin set turning [[{{Necromancer}} Karthus]], [[EvilOverlord Mordekaiser]], [[CreepyMortician Yorick]], [[MagicMusic Sona]], and [[TheBerserker Olaf]] (and [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Kayle]] much later) into a HeavyMetal band (even releasing some [[http://pentakill.leagueoflegends.com/en_US/ non-canon supplementary material]]), but the demand was high enough that in 2014, Riot Games released a full-fledged album of their epic PowerMetal, ''Smite and Ignite'', as well as their follow-up ''Grasp of the Undying'' in 2017. Out of universe, the project is an extensive collaborative effort including several big metal names, including [[Music/{{Dragonforce}} ZP Theart]], [[Music/{{JORN}} Jørn Lande]], [[Music/DreamTheater Derek Sherinian]], and [[Music/BattleBeast Noora Louhimo]].
90	** A slighter case was the Ultimate-status DJ Sona skin in 2015, turning [[WhiteMagicianGirl Sona]] into a futuristic, CoolHelmet'd DJ, [[VariableMix with her in-game abilities mixing up three various styles of]] ElectronicMusic. Little supplementary lore was given, but the music tied to her name was heavily advertised, once again being a huge collaborative rollout, with names including The Crystal Method, Dada Life, Bassnectar, Renholdër, Nosaj Thing, and Music/PrettyLights.
91	** 2018 saw the release of Music/{{KDA}}, a [[KoreanPopMusic K-Pop]]-inspired GirlGroup consisting of [[IdolSinger Ahri]], [[BattleRapping Akali]], [[DancingIsSeriousBusiness Kai'Sa]], and [[TheDiva Evelynn]], which [[https://universe.leagueoflegends.com/en_US/kda/ also came with its own lore]], but is also publicly headlined in real life by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_Beer Madison Beer]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeon_So-yeon Soyeon]] and Miyeon of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(G)I-dle (G)I-dle]], and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaira_Burns Jaira Burns]]. Their skinline release coincided with a full-fledged live performance ([[MediumBlending including the characters brought in part by AR technology]]) during [[UsefulNotes/ProfessionalGaming the finals of Worlds 2018]], debuting their hit song and music video [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOxkGD8qRB4 "POP/STARS"]].
92	** 2019 added the group True Damage to the mix, stated in-universe to be a side project of Akali's and led by Ekko. Like K/DA, they have lore attached to them and debuted with an animated music video at Worlds with their signature song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVZpHFXcFJw "GIANTS"]]. The real-life singers [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becky_G Becky G]], Music/KekePalmer, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duckwrth DUCKWRTH]], [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thutmose_(musician) Thutmose]] stood in for them, in addition to Soyeon returning.
93	** In 2020, a new twitter account titled Seradotwav popped up, with no outward ties to ''League of Legends'' being apparent from the start. The account features a quirky, [[RoseHairedSweetie pink haired]] aspiring singer and producer named Seraphine who claimed to be a real person and denied that the paintings making up her "selfies" were fake. After several weeks of hints being dropped that she was the next champion, and enough time passed which allowed for her to amass a rather large real life fanbase that played along, Seraphine being the next champion was finally confirmed when it was revealed that she would be collaborating with the virtual pop group, K/DA. Following this confirmation, a comic was released showing the interactions between the characters as they collaborated on a new song for Worlds 2020.
94	* ''VideoGame/LinkLikeLoveLive'' features livestreaming as a unique aspect distinct from other ''Franchise/LoveLive'' series, although in practice it ends up being a weird halfway point between this and {{Virtual Youtuber}}s. The game allows players to watch livestreams of the characters, which are done in real time and feature the actresses performing as their characters, but in-universe they are just considered normal streamers and the actresses are supposed to be in-character for these segments. This is averted outside of the game, where supplementary content for the game features the actresses proper rather than them playing the characters.
95	* Two of NSR's Megastar groups in ''VideoGame/NoStraightRoads'' count under this:
96	** Sayu, a mermaid-themed virtual idol who satirizes the whole concept. Sayu's design is intentionally saccharine, and she only speaks cutesy catchphrases and sings generically about love. Her fans get incredibly defensive when people say she isn't "real", even though cutscenes regularly show she's only a combination of computer programs and machinery controlled by [[GeekPhysique nerdy students]], [[{{GIRL}} only one of whom is actually a girl]]. The game doesn't quite go all the way in damning the concept though: by the end, Mayday lets the students off with a warning to go back to school, rather than have their talent and Sayu be used by [[PredatoryBusiness NSR]]. (Likewise, being in a game about music, Sayu's boss theme, which is supposedly her image song, is actually well-made.)
97	** Then there is 1010 (pronounced ten-ten), a BoyBand made up of five androids who act as TheDividual with auto-tuned voices.
98	* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' has Quna, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BptLFRr0NiU who holds scheduled in-game "live" concerts]] as well as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc2dSN9jFmA live action hologram concerts]], similar to Music/MikuHatsune. Sometimes guests will appear in-game instead, such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUv0mQVWXCw virtual versions of real-life singers]] and sometimes even [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rvteWFLvvE characters from other games]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBVxsG4EFEI even Miku herself]].
99	* One of the singers whose music you can purchase for BGM in ''VideoGame/PhantomCrash'' is actually just an AI. Said AI (Mona Lisa) was created by and is used by the (first) game's FinalBoss. [[AIIsACrapShoot Go figure]].
100	* In ''VideoGame/ProjectSekai'', the Crypton Future Media characters (Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin/Len, MEIKO, KAITO, and Megurine Luka) are canonized as in-universe virtual celebrities just as they are in real life. Since the term "Vocaloid" is actually a trademarked name, they are given a more appropriate title: "Virtual Singers". The twist is the existence of {{Pocket Dimension}}s called SEKAI, where they appear as real people to humans who visit the SEKAI from the real world.
101	* Courtney Gears from ''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal'' would be a perfect example, seeing as she's a robotic pop singer. She is not technically made to be a singer, but she fits.
102	* ''Franchise/{{Splatoon}}'':
103	** All the music in the games is stated to be performed by different bands in-universe, but this trope kicks in with the [[{{Defictionalization}} real-life Japanese concerts]] featuring [[MotionCapture mocaped]] holographic projections of each game's respective {{Idol Singer}}s, who perform both their own songs and some covers of the game's other bands. Funnily enough, despite all these characters having assigned voice actresses, since the games utilize SpeakingSimlish, they need to have all their dialogue between songs subtitled anyway.
104	** K.K. Slider from the ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' series became one when he made a surprise appearance in the ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'' concerts.
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:Webcomics]]
108	* The New Sync Boys from ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary''. [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20000624.html Definitely a metaphor.]] [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20000711.html The AI later runs away in shame,]] and joins the regular cast.
109	* ''Webcomic/{{Superidol}}'' has Rei Rei.
110	[[/folder]]
111
112	[[folder:Western Animation]]
113	* The band Binky in ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'', who are revealed at the end of "[[Recap/ArthurS3E6BinkyRulesMeetBinky Meet Binky]]" to just be holograms.
114	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' features robots who work as entertainers, most notably Calculon, star of the all-robot [[SoapWithinAShow soap opera]] ''All My Circuits''.
115	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'': The titular Jem doesn't even exist as a person in the show, she's actually Jerrica [[WeWillNotUseStageMakeUpInTheFuture disguised beyond recognition by means of Synergy's holographic projections]]. The thing that draws the line between virtual star and stage alias? No one but Jerrica's closest friends knows she is Jem. The people in that universe perceive Jem and Jerrica as two different entities.
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Real Life]]
119	* Probably the ultimate example: the Music/{{Vocaloid}} programs. They seem to be the only example, real or fictional, of ''interactive'' virtual celebrities. Almost all of the songs, outfits, dance routines, etc. are fan-made; the songs in the official concerts were bought from the fans who wrote them. Some fans have even put on their own concerts, or created Music/{{UTAU}} characters like Teto Kasane (who herself started out as an unofficial April Fools prank).
120	** Especially Music/HatsuneMiku, who even has her own [[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hatsune-Miku/10150149727825637?v=wall Facebook]] page. Virtual celebrity to the max! Miku took the next step, aka CharacterCelebrityEndorsement, in a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E15PE7iGT0U Toyota Corolla Commercial]] thanks to Toyota sponsoring her upcoming USA concert. She was recruited by Domino's Pizza to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW2D_Votd2Y do the same for them]], along with being featured in a pizza ordering app for [=iOS=] gadgets. She's even helped with Sapporo tourism with the annual "Snow Miku" festival, and serves as the mascot of Goodsmile Racing's stock team as "Racing Miku".
121	** A copy of Vocaloid has been installed on the RealLife Gynoid "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5zu6h4H-GU&fmt=18 Aiko]]". There have been several "live" on stage concert series featuring her: [[http://5pb.jp/mikupa/ MikuPa]], [[https://magicalmirai.com Magical Mirai]], and the international [[https://mikuexpo.com Hatsune Miku Expo]], thanks to the same rear-projecting technology that brought {{Music/Gorillaz}} to a live performance.
122	** [[Creator/MegumiNakajima Gumi]] also joined in the live performance fun, as demonstrated at the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Lf8o_CXOU Digital Content Expo]] using [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality Augmented Reality]]. She would later make regular appearances with fellow Internet Co. rep Gakupo as well as the Crypton squad in [[Platform/NicoNicoDouga Nico Nico Cho Party]] concerts.
123	** IA held an "ARIA on the Planetes" concert with her [=CeVIO=] sister ONE.
124	** The Crypton Vocaloids once had a collaboration with Family Mart, advertising for the chain store. Hell, Kaito even has his own brand of ice cream.
125	** For the first example of a ''literal'' virtual idol, we have [=MoeJapan=]'s own Nemu Yumemi (based off the Dempagumi.Inc member).
126	** Not to be outdone by their Japanese counterparts, China launched their own virtual celebrity group in 2012: the [=VSingers=] (formerly known as Vocaloid China and Vocanese). Luo Tianyi and Yuezheng Ling had their own holographic concerts with the rest of the gang playing backup band, but that changed in 2016 when the voice banks for Longya, Moke, and Quingxian were finally finished enough for the characters to provide a few songs of their own.
127	** Notably, even before Miku and friends hit this in real life, this was a common portrayal of them in fictional settings and fan-created headcanons for how they would have careers as singers. The entire phenomenon came about essentially by accident--originally the characters were just box art mascots for particular tunings of the Vocaloid voice-synthesizer software, only intended to help promote the products to musicians. But, eventually, [[PeripheryDemographic the mascots became far more popular than the software itself]], and Miku in particular grew into one of the most over-the-top {{Breakout Character}}s in existence.
128	* [[http://www.wdirewolff.com/jkyoko.htm Kyoko Date]], who enjoyed some popularity in the late '90s but was something of a one-hit wonder, releasing only one single. [=HoriPro=] would later try again with her daughter Ayako, this time working with the Virtual [=YouTuber=] craze.
129	* {{Music/Gorillaz}} is arguably the most successful to date. They even performed "live" as holograms (using a technology called Pepper's Ghost) at the Grammy Awards back in 2006.
130	* Aki Ross from ''Anime/FinalFantasyTheSpiritsWithin'', whom Square and Sony were marketing as a virtual celebrity of sorts, even planning to reuse her as a "virtual actress" in unrelated roles for future films. Of course, the film flopped (taking Square with it) and consigned Aki to the dustbin of history.
131	* Franchise/AlvinAndTheChipmunks is an earlier example that targets kids: taking studio recordings and pitch-shifting it up to comical levels that sounds like it could be sung by Chipmunks.
132	* The ComicBook/{{Archie\|Comics}}s tried to be one. They had a hit single. That's about it.
133	* Konami tried to market ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial'''s heroine [[TheAce Shiori Fujisaki]] as one, complete with several music albums, two music videos, and an official fan club. Apparently it didn't go very far thanks to several [[EnsembleDarkhorse Ensemble Darkhorses]] such as Saki Nijino stealing the limelight.
134	* Similar case as Simone from the film: Aimi Eguchi, the latest member of Japanese pop group AKB 48, was created as a composite using photoshopping techniques by blending the features of several of the other members of the group, and was passed off as a real artist. Before long fans got suspicious and the management spilled the beans.
135	* Creator/CartoonNetwork took several runs at this with varying degrees of success. ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhostCoastToCoast'' for one, Moxy the Dog (played by a motion captured Creator/BobcatGoldthwait) for another.
136	** The WesternAnimation/VBirds were an animated girl group created by Cartoon Network UK. Their single "Virtuality" was heavily promoted for a while (the group even opening for a real-life boy band), but they faded into obscurity not long afterward.
137	* TheFace of the Genki Rockets is the fictional character Lumi, born in space in the year 2037, and also appearing in the games ''VideoGame/{{Lumines}} II'' and ''VideoGame/ChildOfEden''. She is depicted as a "holographic" projection in live performances, similar to Miku Hatsune. Her appearance is based on Rachel Rhodes, and her voice is apparently a combination of Rhodes, Nami Miyahara, and possibly others.
138	* The "Music/{{Tupac\|Shakur}} hologram" that was employed at the 2012 Coachella Music Festival showcased another application of this trope. Rather than create an entirely fictional persona, the technology was used to bring "back to life" one who had been dead for fifteen years.
139	** Since then, there have also been hologram versions of Music/RonnieJamesDio and Music/RoyOrbison.
140	* [[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/606855.stm Ananova]] was touted as the world's first virtual newscaster. It didn't last.
141	* This trope is OlderThanTheyThink. Ventriloquist Creator/EdgarBergen's character [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_McCarthy Charlie [=McCarthy=]]] first gained wide popularity on the radio in 1937, making it at least OlderThanTelevision. Despite being a puppet, he interacted with the human celebrities of his time as if he were just as real as them. Some people who only heard him on the radio didn't realize he wasn't real!
142	* Music/{{Savlonic}}, a fictional band created by Weebl of ''WebAnimation/WeeblAndBob'' fame.
143	* [[http://cukt.art.pl/wiktoria/ Wiktoria Cukt]], a 2000 Polish art project to create a "virtual presidential candidate" who has the perfect political platform--one made up of [[http://cukt.art.pl/wiktoria/zgloszen.html contributions by the web-surfers themselves.]][[note]]The "contributions" page has no English version, unfortunately.[[/note]]
144	* [[http://www.iamamber.com Amber G]] is a very early one, having been around since at least 2003 (the year of her first album), her most recent album (her third) was released in 2008. However, her "career" never really went anywhere. Any "fame" she may have had was likely restricted to the website.
145	* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gummib%C3%A4r Gummibar]], who is well-known for "I'm a Gummy Bear (The Gummy Bear Song)"
146	* If Gummibar counts, so does Music/CrazyFrog, a computer generated amphibian whose call to fame was a OneHitWonder cover of Axel-F, and the fact that the designers gave him visible genitalia which raised controversy in several countries.
147	* Two early 2000s examples from Italy:
148	** [[http://www.bubblegumdancer.com/project.php?id=49 Jenny Rom]], a bubblegum dance/electronic project, was originally conceived as a virtual computer singer (whose most famous track was named "www.Blonde Girl" to make it clear, although another track, ''Waka Laka'', became famous thanks to MemeticMutation). Later on they dropped this gimmick though.
149	** [[http://www.discoservicemusicheria.com/shop/shopping-on-line/mr-ambo-ambo-mambo-vinile-mix/ Mr. Ambo]] (2001) was supposed to be one of these, a virtual [[MrFanservice Latin macho man]] whose only song "Ambo Mambo" was thought to be a sure-fire summer hit. It even had a personal site and all. However, it was an abysmal flop: the song (a rubbish cover of "Mambo Jambo") received next to no airplay, nobody cared despite extensive market researches (or so they claimed) and the character was immediately forgotten.
150	* Anime/SuperSonico was originally created as the mascot of Creator/{{Nitroplus}}'s very own live show ''NITRO SUPER SONIC'', but her popularity resulted in her becoming a virtual singer, along with her band ''First Astronomical Velocity''. Here is their [[http://www.georide.jp/superorbital/ official site]].
151	* Played with by the original VirtualYouTuber, [[WebAnimation/KizunaAi Kizuna Ai]]. While there is a real person behind the cute [[DigitalAvatar avatar]], the character's backstory since debuting in 2016 is that she is a ''literal'' virtual celebrity -- a sentient artificial intelligence wanting to connect with humanity.
152	* WebVideo/ComboPanda and LetsPlay/VTubers (no relation to [[VirtualYouTuber the VTuber movement]]) are children's UsefulNotes/AdobeFlash form of this. They are fictional animated characters portrayed as gamers, meaning they do not exist, yet run popular LetsPlay channels.
153	* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QT_(musician) QT]] is a musical performance art project by Hayden Dunham of the eponymous international pop singer who's "the living embodiment of the semi-fictitious [=DrinkQT=] energy drink." Generally associated with the online Music/PCMusic label, she released only one single in 2014 called "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MQUleX1PeA Hey QT]]", produced by Music/{{Sophie}} and PC Music founder [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._G._Cook A.G. Cook]], but has continued making live guest appearances with affiliated acts, and was the subject in a half-"documentary", half-MindScrew short film in 2017 titled ''[[https://vimeo.com/239429968 Quinn Thomas]]''.
154	* Virtual [=Instagram=] influencers, taking form on an account supposedly run by a fictional character and consisting of media showing the lifestyle of said character, often rendered as a hyper-realistic human. The TropeMaker for this would have to be [[https://www.instagram.com/lilmiquela/?hl=en Lil Miquela]].
155	* Microphone Soul Spinners were a short-lived (2019-2021) unit of VirtualYoutuber Japanese rapping high school girls, introduced in the anime [[https://kotodama-shoujo.com/ Kotodama Shoujo]], about an academy for entertainers. Despite the important names involved in their creation, and the support of actual Japanese rappers, the project did not last for long.
156	* Betty Crocker -- the fictional face behind one of UsefulNotes/GeneralMills' most famous brands, dedicated to baking recipes and products -- is an OlderThanTelevision example. In 1921, what was then named the Washburn-Crosby Company ran a marketing campaign for their flour products so successful that they received regular letters inquiring for advice on baking and other home goods, leading them to publish responses under the collective PenName "Betty Crocker". At the time, while the company's home service department was all female, the marketing team in charge of handling the responses themselves was all male, and both decided that housewives would be more comfortable accepting advice from a fellow woman -- "Betty" because it sounded cute and cheery, "Crocker" [[{{Tuckerization}} in reference to a retired executive director beloved by the company]], William Crocker. The company cultivated Betty beyond just being [[MoustacheDePlume the front for a largely male writing collective]] by giving her a distinguished identity over the years -- she would be hosting radio cooking programs from as early as 1924 played by different actresses, having her first painted portrait in 1936 (most being a mixture of various high-ranking women in the company), appearing on TV cooking shows played by Adelaide Hawley Cumming between 1949 and 1964, and developed a personality that expressed comfort and reassurance to listeners during hardship (especially during TheGreatDepression and World War II), and was also a bit playful at times when dealing with eager men with {{Celeb Crush}}es and their disgruntled wives (though Betty would insist that she's MarriedToTheJob). By the 1940's, she was recognized in 90% of American households, making her the second most recognizable woman in the country behind UsefulNotes/EleanorRoosevelt, who had the benefit of being ''a real person''.
157	[[/folder]]

Context Main / VirtualCelebrity