The Chinese streaming platform iQIYI announced the launch of the country's first "virtual idol variety show".
titled Dimension Nova , the new talent show will feature “more than 30 virtual competitors engaged in a challenge to select the ultimate winner”. To alleviate the psychological impact of sliding into a future dominated by virtual idols there will be at least human judges. As for our X Factor, there will be as many well-known characters in China. To see them, I'm honest, I would not distinguish them from the virtual characters who will have to judge.
For the record, it's about Esther Yu and Wang Linkai (members of two well-known boy bands in chinam, THE9 e Nine Percent ) and an it-girl, Angelababy. You can see them in the tasty photo that I am attaching below.
Savings first
Managing a royal idol costs money. We need to protect his image, avoid communication errors, exploit the wave until (as in the case of boybands) he gets old. Behind the choice of iQIYI, the network behind this new talent for virtual idols, there is mainly the desire to cut expenses. Fewer humans involved, fewer unknowns and less money. The official press release launching Dimension Nova enthusiastically mentions things like a "full 3D virtual environment" and a "non-linear manufacturing process," whatever that may mean.
The part of the press release that makes you think the most though (and also a little disturbing) is this:
iQIYI believes these innovative production techniques will be the driving forces behind the rise of variety shows based on virtual idols
A growing trend
- digital influencers and computer-generated pop stars have become increasingly popular in China in recent years. However, not all of these projects have received positive responses. When the Chinese Communist Party tried to introduce its "politicized" virtual idols the reaction of social media has produced a hasty backtrack.
