Keyword – anthropomorphic virtual characters

Evelin, Horváth :

Virtual Characters at the Boundary of Reality

This study investigates the phenomenon of anthropomorphic virtual characters through three interrelated dimensions: ontological, aesthetic and social. The ontological analysis highlights that although these characters do not exist in the physical world, their identities are real and active within the digital sphere; consequently, users often perceive them in ways comparable to human agents. The aesthetic dimension explores how their flawless, idealised appearance influences recipients’ self-evaluation and their relationship to prevailingbeauty ideals, emphasising the tension between virtual perfection and realistic human body standards. The social dimension focuses on parasocial relationships, illustrating the role of perceived authenticity, attraction and the experience of social media interactions. The study demonstrates that the boundaries between reality and virtuality are increasingly blurred across all three dimensions: on an instinctive level, similar emotional responses emerge toward both human and nonhuman agents, whereas conscious perception tends to reinforce a preference for human forms of attachment.

Keywords: aesthetics, anthropomorphic virtual characters, ontology, parasocial relationship, virtual influencers