TheBurntPeanut was the most-watched VTuber in 2025, beating out names like Sakura Miko, Usada Pekora and Kuzuha.

Digital animation is nothing new — from Mickey Mouse to Spongebob and beyond. Neither is livestreaming, with hundreds of thousands of people using platforms like Twitch to share content. What’s new?

At 5:30 a.m., Monica sleepily switches off her alarm and staggers to the bathroom to wash her face. In her head, she’s already begun running through her script for the day. By the time she sits down ...