This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in Japanese. (September 2018)Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the Japanese article. Machine translation, likeDeepL orGoogle Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Consideradding a topic to this template: there are already 1,545 articles in themain category, and specifying|topic= will aid in categorization. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. Youmust providecopyright attribution in theedit summary accompanying your translation by providing aninterlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary isContent in this edit is translated from the existing Japanese Wikipedia article at [[:ja:Live2D]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template{{Translated|ja|Live2D}} to thetalk page. For more guidance, seeWikipedia:Translation. This article'stone or style may not reflect theencyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. See Wikipedia'sguide to writing better articles for suggestions.(June 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Live2D is an animation technique (not to be mistaken with software used to create Live2D animation such as Live2D Cubism) used to animate static images—usuallyanime-style characters—that involves separating an image into parts and animating each part accordingly, without the need offrame-by-frame animation or a3D model.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} This enables characters to move using2.5D movement while maintaining the original illustration.

Live2D models consist oflayered parts saved as aPhotoshop file (.psd format). Layers are separately moved to show the whole animation and expression of the character, such as tilting the head. Parts can be as simple as face, hair, and body, or they can be detailed to eyebrows, eyelashes, and even effects like glinting metal.

The number of layers influences how the Live2D character moves and how three-dimensional the result appears, with simpler models having fewer layers, such as around 50 layers, and larger, more complex projects having more, up to hundreds of layers, with no hard upper limits. Unlike a 3D model, there isn't a traditionalskeleton, but instead the flat layers are warped and rotated.

Live2D can be used with real-timemotion capture to track movements such as head movements, eye movements, and performlip syncing for real-time applications such asvtubing or motion capture. The downside of the technology is that there is little capability for 360° rotation of complex objects and body tracking.

Live2D has been used in a wide variety ofvideo games,visual novels,virtual YouTuber channels, and other media. Well-known examples of Live2D media and software includeFaceRig,^[7][8]VTube Studio,VTuber Legend,^[9]Nekopara,^[10]Azur Lane,^[11] andvirtual YouTubers (as popularized byHololive,Nijisanji,^[12] andVShojo).

Live2D was first introduced in 2008 to resolve the need for interactive media.^[13] Since then, the technology has also changed how games enhance user experience through lively characters and expressions.^[14]

In 2009, Cybernoids Co. Ltd. (now Live2D Ltd.) released their very first Live2D application, Live2D Vector.^[15] The application transforms vector graphics to make flat character images achieve three-dimensional head turning and moving effects. Although such characters can only perform limited activities, they perform much better than static pictures or slideshows. Users can also customize their moving character by adjusting parameters through software or collecting materials such as images of different angles of a character. Although the occupied capacity resources are reduced, the rendering of complex images consumes a lot ofCPU andRAM. Also, while it can be difficult to work with more traditional art styles such asoil painting orgouache styles, creators have been experimenting with these styles with success.^[16]

The first application of the 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" who talks and moves.^[17]

In 2011, Live2D adoptedPSP gameOre no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Portable released by NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. became the first game of the O.I.U. A system derived from Live2D technology was applied in a game, where the character moves and changes positions and expression while talking to the player.^[18] Characters moved expressively on the screen and seamlessly like a traditionally-animated anime, which interested players and contributed to popularity of Live2D.^[19]

Live2D
Developer	Tetsuya Nakajo
Platform	Microsoft Windows,macOS
License	Proprietary
Website	www.live2d.com/en/

Software developer Tetsuya Nakashiro had been independently developing Live2D software and founded the company Cyber Noise (or Cybernoids,Japanese:サイバーノイズ) in 2006 with support from the Exploratory IT Human Resources Project of theJapanese 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 thePSP gameOre no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Portable. It subsequently received interest as alibrary forAndroid andiOS. Following this success, in 2014, Cyber Noise subsequently renamed itself to Live2D Ltd.,^[20] unifying with its product name. Sales of Live2D have had significant growth since then. In 2021, 70% of Live2D Cubism Pro users are or createVtubers, followed by games/app developers and animation/video creators.^[21]

Live2D Ltd. provides its software andSDKs under bothcommercial licenses and asfreeware.

• Live2D Cubism
• Live2D Cubism Editor
• Live2D Euclid (released in April 2017, no longer available from October 16, 2018)
• Live2D CubismM
• Live2DViewerEX

• nizima: 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 provides a Live2D preview for users to see and move the model before purchasing.^[22]
• nizima LIVE: nizima LIVE is a PC application that allows anyone to easily move a Live2D model by recognizing and tracking facial expressions. From beginners who are new to the tracking app to intermediate and above who are already familiar with Live2D, you can enjoy it for various purposes, such as VTuber activities and avatars for calls and meetings.
• nizima Action: nizima Action is an online video editor specifically designed for creating short-form Live2D content, allowing users to easily create rich video edits in their browser, and it's perfect for producing short videos of about 1 to 5 minutes.

Animation software is able to combine with the Live2D system to create real-time animatedavatars throughmotion capture,character animation andcomputer-generated imagery, including:

This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding missing information.(October 2023)

• Official website

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

• CS1 Chinese-language sources (zh)
• All articles with dead external links
• Articles with dead external links from August 2025
• Articles with permanently dead external links
• CS1 Chinese (China)-language sources (zh-cn)
• CS1 Japanese-language sources (ja)
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles needing translation from Japanese Wikipedia
• Wikipedia articles with style issues from June 2024
• All articles with style issues
• Articles with multiple maintenance issues
• Use dmy dates from October 2023
• Articles to be expanded from October 2023
• All articles to be expanded
• Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia