Virtual artists have been part of the media landscape for quite some time. For instance, in the K-pop industry, virtual idols have been around a while. We have previously explored virtual influencers and related trends and technologies in-depth. Avastars, a Talpa Entertainment Production for Dutch television however, adds some new dimensions.
The show combines Live Motion Capture technology for dancers and a separate artist for singing, allowing them to control the virtual star’s body, face, and voice. During live performances and interviews, the virtual stars are seamlessly blended with real footage, such as the showmaster, using Augmented Reality techniques.
Avastars did not receive a warm reception from the TV audience, with the first episode receiving low ratings. Critics were unimpressed with the quality, comparing the characters to those from the first version of The Sims game.
The show has a interesting concept though, it reserves a significant part of the program to showcase the creation process of the Avastars, including the dancers, singers, and the technology behind it.
Some of the artists involved in the show are already known by the public. The show does not create a virtual star, keeping the team or artists behind it a secret. Perhaps the producers believed that the process of creating virtual stars would be interesting for viewers or a way to get the audience accustomed to the idea of virtual artists.
Fully virtual stars have attractive features for producers: they are always available, require low maintenance, and have no or low wages, leaving a significant portion of the revenue for the producer. However, that does not seem to be the goal for Avastars, at least not for now.
You can watch Avastars for yourself here
