Live2D

Live2D is an animation software developed by Live2D Ltd. It can be used to generate real-time 2D animations, usually anime-style characters, using layered, continuous parts based on an illustration, without the need of frame-by-frame animation or a 3D model. This enables characters to move while maintaining the original illustration at low-cost. It can be considered as the balance of cost and effect of an animation.

Live2D characters consist of layered parts. Parts are separately moved to show the whole animation and expression of the character, such as tilting head. Parts can be as simple as face, hair, and body, or it can be detailed to eyebrows, eyelashes, and even different parts of hair which you wish to have different movements. The number of layers depends on how you wish the Live2D character present movements. The layers are rigged to a skeleton to form a whole animated character in real-time. Live2D can be used with real-time motion capture to track movements and perform lip syncing for real-time applications such as vtubing. The downside of the technology is that currently there is no official setting for 360° rotation. It is also difficult to do large angle turns for complex images or characters.

Live2D has been used in a wide variety of video games, visual novels, virtual YouTuber channels, and other media. Well-known examples of Live2D media and software include FaceRig, VTube Studio, '' Nekopara'', '' Azur Lane'', and virtual YouTubers (as popularized by Nijisanji and Hololive).

History

Live2D was first introduced in 2008 for the need of interactive media. Since then, the technology has also changed how games enhance user experience through lively characters and expressions.

In 2009, Cubism (now Live2D) released their very first Live2D application, Live2D vector. The application transforms vector graphic to make flat character image achieve three-dimensional head turning and moving effects. Although such character can only perform limited activities, it performs much better than static pictures or slideshows. User can also customize their own moving character by adjusting parameters through software or collecting materials such as images of different angles of a character. Of course, vector graphics still have many limitations. Although the occupied capacity resources are reduced, the rendering of complex images consumes a lot of CPU. Another disadvantage is that it cannot present certain styles of paintings, such as oil painting and gouache styles.

The first application of Live2D technique is HibikiDokei released by sandwichproject (株式会社レジストプランニング), an alarm app released in 2010. The alarm app has a girl character named "hibiki" that talks and moves.

In 2011, Live2D adopted PSP game Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Portable released by NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc became the first game the O.I.U system derived from Live2D technology was applied in a game, where the character moves and changes positions and expression while talking to the player. Characters moved expressively on the screen and seamlessly like an anime, which surprised players and triggered the popularity of Live2D.

Software

Live2D Ltd.

Software developer Tetsuya Nakashiro had been independently developing Live2D software, and founded the company Cyber Noise (or Cybernoids, Japanese:てサイバーノイズ) in 2006 with support from the Exploratory IT Human Resources Project of the Japanese Information Technology Promotion Agency (IPA). Because of its novelty and lack of uptake, Cyber Noise was unsuccessful.

In 2011, Live2D software received attention after its use in the PSP game Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Portable. It subsequently received interest as a library for Android and iOS. Following this success, in 2014 Cyber Noise subsequently renamed itself to Live2D Ltd., unifying with its product name. Sales of Live2D has significant growth since then. In 2021, 70% of Live2D Cubism Pro users is Vtuber, followed by games / apps (videos) and animation / video works.

Live2D Ltd. provides its software and SDKs under both commercial licenses and as freeware.

Software

* Live2D Cubism
* Live2D Euclid (released in April 2017, no longer available from October 16, 2018)
* Live2D CubismM

Official marketplace

Nizima is a platform where users can buy and sell illustrations, Live2D data, or make-to order transactions. Illustrators and Live2D creators are able to work together on a character and share sales on the platform. The platform also provide Live2D preview for users to see and move the model before purchasing.

Third-party

Avatar software

Some software programs are able to create animated avatars by combining the Live2D system with real-time motion capture, character animation and computer-generated imagery, including:

* FaceRig (Windows)
* Adobe Character Animator (Windows, MacOS)
* CrazyTalk (Windows)
* VTube Studio (Android, iOS)
* Nijisanji (Android, iOS)
* Hololive (iOS)
* MocapX (iOS)
* Live2DViewerEX (Windows, MacOS, Android)
* REALITY (Android, iOS)

Works using Live2D

Visual novels

* '' Mashiroiro Symphony'' (2009; Windows, PSP)
* '' Ensemble Girls!'' (2012; Android, iOS)
* ''Tokimeki Restaurant'' (2013; Android, iOS)
* '' Nekopara'' (2014; Windows, macOS)
* ''City of Love: Paris'' (2017; Android, iOS)
* '' Date A Live: Rio Reincarnation'' (2017; Windows, PS4)
* ''Crystalline'' (2018; Android, iOS)
* ''Kaori After Story'' (2018; Android, iOS)
* ''Ethereal Enigma'' (2020; Android, iOS)
* ''Sophistry'' (2021; Windows, Linux, macOS)

Mobile games

* '' Battle Girl High School'' (2015; Android, iOS)
* ''BraveSword×BlazeSoul'' (2015; Android, iOS)
* ''Ensemble Stars!'' (2015; Android, iOS)
* ''Potion Maker'' (2015; Android, iOS)
* ''YUMEIRO CAST'' (2015; Android, iOS)
* ''Moe Girl Cafe 2'' (2016; Android, iOS)
* ''Destiny Child'' (2016; Android, iOS)
* ''Girls' Frontline'' (2016; Android, iOS)
* '' Azur Lane'' (2017; Android, iOS)
* '' BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!'' (2017; Android, iOS)
* '' Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story'' (2017; Android, iOS)
* ''Neptunia & Friends'' (2017; Android, iOS)
* ''Dream Girlfriend'' (2017; Android, iOS)
* ''Project Tokyo Dolls'' (2017; Android, iOS)
* ''Raramagi'' (2017; Android, iOS)
* '' Uta no Prince-sama: Shining Live'' (2017; Android, iOS)
* ''Epic Seven'' (2018; Android, iOS)
* '' Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight-Re LIVE'' (2018; Android, iOS)
* ''Mashiro Witch: Marchen of Midnight'' (2018; Android, iOS)
* ''Ayakashi: Romance Reborn'' (2018; Android, iOS)
* ' (2019; Android, iOS)
* ''Girl Cafe Gun'' (2019; Android, iOS)
* ''Counter:Side'' (2019; Android, iOS)
* ''Mirage Memorial'' (2019; Android, iOS)
* ''Palette Parade'' (2019; Android, iOS)
* ''My Stella Knights'' (2020; Android, iOS)
* '' Disney: Twisted-Wonderland'' (2020; Android, iOS)
* '' Arknights'' (2020; Android, iOS)
* ''Goddess Kiss: OVE Generation'' (2020; Android, iOS)
* '' Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage!'' (2020; Android, iOS)
* ''D4DJ Groovy Mix'' (2020; Android, iOS)
* ''Illusion Connect'' (2020; Android, iOS)
* '' SINoALICE'' (2020; Android, iOS)
* ''Zgirls3'' (2020; Android, iOS)
* '' Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World: Lost in Memories'' (2020; Android, iOS)
* '' Assault Lily: Last Bullet'' (2021; Android, iOS)
* '' KonoSuba: Fantastic Days'' (2021; Android, iOS)
* ''Artery Gear: Fusion'' (2021; Android, iOS)
* ''Metal Waltz'' (2021; Android, iOS)
* '' Alchemy Stars'' (2021; Android, iOS)
* '' B-PROJECT Ryūsei*Fantasia'' (2021; Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch)
* ''Blue Archive'' (2021; Android, iOS)
* ''Revived Witch'' (2021; Android, iOS)
* ''Destiny Girl'' (2022; Android, iOS)
* ''Dynasty Heroes: Romance Samkok '' (2022; Android, iOS)
* ''Idle Princess'' (2022; Android, iOS)
* ''Girls Academy'' (2022; Android, iOS)
* ''Clover Theater'' (2022; Android, iOS)
* '' Date A Live: Spirit Pledge HD'' (2022; Android, iOS)
* ''Echocalypse'' (2022; Android, iOS)
* ''MementoMori'' (2022; Android, iOS)
* '' Goddess of Victory: Nikke'' (2022; Android, iOS)
* ''Cherry Tale'' (2022; Android, iOS)

Console games

* ''Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai (Haganai)'' (2012; PSP)
* '' Fire Emblem Fates'' (2015; 3DS)
* ''Kancolle Kai'' (2016; PS Vita)
* '' Akiba's Beat'' (2016; PS4, PS Vita)
* ''Dark Rose Valkyrie'' (2016; PS4)
* '' Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris'' (2020; PS4, Xbox One)

PC games

* '' Herald: An Interactive Period Drama'' (2017)
* ''Namu Amida Butsu! -UTENA-'' (2019)

See also

* Aniforms
* Avatar (computing)
* CGI
* Character animation
* Computer animation
* Computer facial animation
* Digital puppetry
* Facial motion capture
* Uncanny valley
* Virtual actor
* Virtual idol
* Virtual influencer
* Virtual YouTuber

References

External links

Live2D homepage

{{Authority control

Animation software
Computer animation
2D animation software
Motion capture
Animation techniques
Japanese inventions