Actor

An actor is an individual on-screen visual representation of a character in a visual novel. The term is used to more broadly refer to on-screen characters that includes 3D modelled characters, character rigs, FMV characters, and most commonly Sprite characters.

Common Types of Actors

Sprites

For more information, see Sprite.

• Digitally illustrated with tools such as Clip Studio Paint, Adobe Photoshop, etc.
• Pre-Rendered 3D Modelled, created with Blender, 3DS Max, etc.
• Preassembled from Prefabricated Parts, using tools like VisuStella Character Generator or Mannequinn
• Assembled from organically prefabricated parts programmatically using in-engine scripting, such as Ren'Py's Live Composite or NaniNovel's Layered Actors.
• Assembled from logically prefabricated parts programmatically using engine features, such as NaniNovel's Diced-Sprites.

Actors

• Character rigs, a layered collection of posable images, often by managed by middleware, such as Live2D, Spine, or E-MOTE.
• Pre-rendered videos or animations, or FMV characters, often of live actors.
• 3D Models, often rigged and animated in-engine.