Danmaku Avatar: Enabling Co-Viewing Experiences in Virtual Reality via Danmaku

With the evolution of social interaction needs, danmaku comments on 2D screens have emerged in Asia, offering users a virtual coviewing experience. With advancements in virtual reality (VR) technology, there is an increasing demand for similar co-viewing experiences in VR settings. In this study, we designed the Danmaku Avatar System to explore the adaptation of danmaku into VR environments to enhance shared viewing experiences. Comparative experiments showed that danmaku avatars substantially improved social presence and increased the desire for communication. These findings lay the groundwork for further refining danmaku representations in VR, advancing virtual social interactions and immersive viewing experiences.