TOKYO, April 11 — Fans waved glow sticks at an animated character on stage, having packed a sold-out Hollywood concert hall to see their virtual idol perform — showcasing the global ambitions of Japan’s “VTuber” subculture.

Pink-haired musician and livestreamer Mori Calliope looks just like a character from an anime cartoon, brought to life on stage through a hologram-like illusion.

Platforms like Netflix have helped take Japanese anime mainstream — and Calliope’s Tokyo-based talent agency wants its roster of virtual YouTubers, or VTubers, to be the country’s next big cultural export.