This interview was conducted over Twitter on October 14, 2022, by Mebh Og MacTire.
Ori Ch. is a VTuber with over 36,000 subscribers.
Q1: How and when did you discover YouTube?
I was probably in 7th grade when I first discovered YouTube and I only went on it because back then, I found out about K-Pop and Maplestory AMVs!
Q2: When and why did you decide to become a VTuber yourself?
I decided to start the journey of becoming a Vtuber in December of 2020. Prior to Vtubing, I was a facecam streamer. My insecurity actually came from the ups and downs of my personality, where there would be many days where I would want to stream but was tired or just not feeling well. I wouldn’t use facecam for these times and just use a png in replacement. Not wanting to dress up and look presentable every stream was also an important factor! I found that using a vtube avatar was a great medium to still express emotions without having to physically show it!
Q3: Can you remember what exactly the first YouTube video you ever watched was?
It was most likely a SHINee music video…
Q4: What are your favourite anime?
I do have a few favorites but the one I would go back to again and again would have to be Hunter x Hunter.
Q5: What were your YouTube influences, (if you had any)?
Who do you aspire to be? Actually, most of my YouTube time in the past, I’ve spent watching Minecraft creators like AntVenom and RTGames. I aspire to be like them, in their passion to connect with their audience and have fun while doing so, and NIJISANJI EN members who are just so entertaining to watch while each having their own personalities to separate them from others.
Q6: Do you have a favorite or least favorite stream (and why)?
My most favorite streams are when I do graphic design because I really enjoy working with my audience. The most fun part of working is being able to collaborate on the thinking process and then getting to the end result, where everyone can see their efforts in the final piece! It gets the creative juices running for all (I hope haha)! My least favorite streams would have to be when I play horror games for the sole reason of my cowardness. I’m really bad at horror games and sometimes not willing to take the first step, so oftentimes I feel that it’s not very entertaining for those watching. And these inner thoughts makes me want to stream them less and less.
Q7: Prior to becoming a YouTuber, what did you think you'd be doing in the future?
I honestly thought I would be someone just playing games on the net, maybe occasionally streaming but would not have thought of uploading videos to YouTube. There was definitely less passion in the past for me.
Q8: Who are some of your favorite YouTubers/VTubers currently?
Too many favorites to possibly name! I really enjoy watching food videos so anytime Korean Englishmen or Tzuyang uploads something, I’m right there watching…for Vtubers wise I like tuning into my friends’ streams when I can! I like FreyVtuber, NagamiMugi, EevieEnvy a lot. I also enjoy watching Nihmune too cause she’s just so funny. There’s even more that I can name but this answer would go on and on and on and-
Q9: How do you prepare yourself for a stream?
A nice bottle of water and bowl of fruits to get myself going! Not necessarily prepping, but having an idea of what I want to play and achieve by the end is how I go into streaming!
Q10: How long do you think you will be making videos?
I cannot say for sure! I feel that as long as I have the passion to improve myself and to make others happy (along with myself), I will be doing them for a while!
Q11: Do you have, (or have ever had), a lifetime YouTube goal?
I never thought that YouTube would be a platform for me so I have no goals. I just want to make people smile that’s all.
Q12: What is your message to your fans?
The word “fans” sounds so foreign to me… I hope that you guys can continue supporting my friends and also myself as we go on with doing what we enjoy! People come and on, but we will still be the 2D (occasionally 3D) pixels you originally came by! Thank you for supporting me!
Q13: Which YouTubers/VTubers would you love to collaborate with?
I would faint on the spot if there was even a chance to collab with NIJIEN.
Q14: What's the meaning behind your name?
Ori actually comes from Oreos…shortened haha. Hime comes from a nickname I’ve been using online already so Orihime is what it is together. Of course, Orihime already exists as a name! I didn’t get it from Bleach I swear!
Q15: How has your life changed since you started streaming?
Drastically. So much. I can say with my whole chest that streaming has changed a lot in my life. It’s changed my social circle, who I interact with now, being able to reconnect with old friends, meeting many new ones. It’s allowed me to develop new hobbies I would not have done otherwise. And it changed my personality and appreciation for myself. I am someone who’s very introverted, I like following people and being on the side, not really having too much of an outstanding personality. And I understand that, I know who I am. When streaming, I feel more outspoken since I’m the only one talking, I feel braver and more confident and that has translated to my IRL person over time. I love how I sound now. I like meeting new people and talking to them. With this new hobby, I feel like I have something to be proud of. I’ve fought with my self esteem for a very very long time, and for once in my life, I feel happy with who I am.
Q16: What is the easiest/hardest part of being a VTuber?
I’m gonna be real honest with you, I don’t ever feel like there’s an “easy part” of vtubing. I feel like everything is stressful (LOL). Making your vtuber design/model, commissioning, streaming, making content, networking, talking to people, engaging with audience, and much more. This is all hard (to me at least). The only easiest thing I can think of is that to start becoming a vtuber is more accessible now because there are so many options instead of just immediately commissioning an expensive model.
Q17: What languages do you speak, and which ones would you like to learn?
I speak English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Vietnamese. I wish to learn Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Tagolog, and French! I’m quite excited because there are a few games coming out that are meant to teach you these languages via interacting with NPCs and questing.
Q18: Do your real life friends and family know about your YouTube channel?
Some of my real life friends do but I don’t mention if they don’t mention. My family kind of knows but also doesn’t know at the same time haha. I’ve said it before but never in depth!
Q19: Apart from YouTube, do you have any other projects you'd like to pursue?
I would love to venture into voice acting one day if my throat permits it. I would also love to work in the gaming industry for game titles and such so I’ll work hard on my skills for that!
Q20: If you could change one thing about YouTube, what would you change?
YouTube is still kind of unknown to me as a creator so I cannot say much for it. As a viewer, I would say I’m quite happy with how the platform is.
Q21: Do you have a favorite video on YouTube?
I really like rewatching AntVenom’s Ant Farm Minecraft modpack. I really do and I don’t know why. I don’t even like ants, I just like Minecraft. ForgeLab’s 100 days on a Horror Map in Minecraft is fantastic as well.
Q22: What do you think draws people to your content?
In all honesty, I think my voice and my amazing model (drawn by RizariVT) LOL. I want to say my voice is soothing and comforting to hear. But that’s really all haha.
Q23: Have you ever done an interview like this before?
I’ve done some much more basic interviews before but never this in depth. I really appreciated all the questions asked as they ranged from goals, thoughts, opinions on multiple things, myself and more. I thought it was very nice! Thank you for having me!