KUALA LUMPUR – Streaming content creators in Asean will have a powerful platform to launch their products regionally and globally with Project Kavvaii, a new programme that aims to discover and develop the next big virtual idol – a content creator who uses a digital avatar.
Project Kawaii seeks to provide potential talent with full resources to be the best virtual idol in the region and represent Asean on the world stage by charting a career trajectory, searching for potential clients, providing marketing support, tracking monetary channels from their streams, and supporting the business side of streaming.
The open audition for Project Kavvaii’s first virtual idol commences today 10 March and runs up to 28 March 2021 in Asean and the rest of Asia. Besides getting full access to a support team, the virtual idol will also receive a complete streaming setup and secure a one-year contract with airasia as a paid content creator.
Rudy Khaw, Chief Brand Officer of airasia Group said: “We have transformed from an airline to a lifestyle brand with the airasia super app and now, we continue to innovate and be a game-changer as a virtual talent producer. Virtual idol is not a new phenomenon across the globe, but the community in Asean is still expanding, and as a digital company we believe this is an opportune time to fast-track their growth leveraging on our digital capabilities such as artificial intelligence and facial recognition.
“Certainly, the success of a virtual idol is about talent, not just the technology behind it. So we are looking for those who are multi-talented, creative and have a larger-than-life personality to connect with virtual idol fans across Asean and beyond! This is your chance to be a full-fledged virtual idol and a part of a creative team that will shape the future of streaming content in the region.”
Airasia’s first virtual idol is created by a renowned illustrator artist in the virtual idol community, Yueko and the character will be rigged and animated by industry veteran Iron Vertex to fit the personality of the virtual idol. Project Kavvaii’s first virtual idol is expected to start streaming in the second quarter of 2021.
All entrants must submit a 5-minute video to introduce themselves. For the full terms and conditions and to submit your entry, visit airasia.com/projectkavvaii.
In 2019, airasia unveiled AVA (AirAsia Virtual Allstar) a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence to respond to guest inquiries instantly including managing 25,000 queries at any time in 15 languages. AVA was built in-house by the AirAsia Software Engineering and Technology (AASET) and Customer Happiness team using technology from Ada, a Toronto based company that specialises in AI-powered customer experience.
