Japanese TikToker Natuecoco in her signature cat ears and wig.Courtesy of Natuecoco
Our 2024 VRAL program opened by spotlighting Stefan Panhans and Andrea Winkler’s Freeroam À Rebours, Mod#I.1. This 16-minute experimental video from 2016-2017, a “machinima sui generis”, warrants extended analysis in its own right and we highlighted key themes in our extended conversation with the artists. But since contextualizing unique works within broader cultural spheres often proves illuminating, we will situate Freeroam À Rebours within surrounding phenomena that inspire comparative examination and share (perceived) resonances.
As you may know, the phenomenon of NPC (Non-Player Character) streaming was pioneered by the Japanese performer Natuecoco, a content creator known for her distinctive cat ears and colorful wigs, who embarked on an experimental journey in October 2021. In many ways, she set a standard, introducing a template that others followed almost verbatim. Her livestreams, characterized by the obsessive repetition of catchphrases in Japanese and Korean — along with precise, almost robotic movements — captivated a global audience. Her daily performances, lasting up to an hour and a half, would see a surge of interaction as viewers sent tokens to elicit specific responses.
Her online performances, however, began earlier. Also known within the US context as the “Ohio Queen” or “Eringi”, Natuecoco initially established her online presence on Twitch in 2019. Over three years, she amassed over 12,600 followers, though she retired from Twitch streaming in February 2022. Her social media trajectory, marked by an Instagram debut in December 2019 and a TikTok presence from March 2020, has showcased her cosplay selfies and self-portraits, alongside promoting her Twitch activities. However it is herTikTok content that gained significant traction, with one video achieving over 1 million plays in December 2021. In February 2022, Natuecoco shifted her focus to TikTok Live. Collaborating with fellow TikToker Satoyu0704, also known as the “Ohio Final Boss”, she engaged audiences in NPC-like performances, gaining notable popularity. Their partnership became a hallmark in Japanese meme circles on TikTok, with their collaborative content often going viral. According to Know Your Meme, Satoyu0704’s nickname “Ohio Final Boss” emerged due to his catchphrase “Ohayo,” Ohio memes on TikTok, and the broader “Final Boss” trend. This led to Natuecoco being dubbed the “Ohio Queen” as part of their collaborative lore (1).
Natuecoco’s approach to NPC streaming is both innovative and intriguing and remains baffling and hypnotic even today. She adopted the persona of a video game NPC, known for their predictable behavior and repetitive actions. However, Natuecoco added a unique twist, combining her routine with a more nuanced and puzzling performance. The eerie resemblance of her movements to a character in a video game led viewers to refer to her as the “original AI queen”, as Yooni Han wrote in a widely read profile piece for Business Insider in 2023.
The major inspiration of Natuecoco’s ongoing performance is cosplay, which scholars like Frenchy Lunning (2) describe as a multilayered, complex practice comprisin four main dimensions…
Matteo Bittanti
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