How to Make Yukkuri Videos, the Japanese Explainer Format

A Yukkuri video is a Japanese explainer or commentary video in which two characters with synthetic voices talk a topic through over still images, captions and simple motion. The classic version uses the AquesTalk voice and two well-known fan characters, edited in a free tool called YukkuriMovieMaker. How to make Yukkuri videos, in short: write a dialogue script, generate the voices, place the characters and images on a timeline, and add captions. The format has been one of Japan's biggest faceless genres for more than a decade, covering history, science, true crime, finance and games.

What a Yukkuri video is

Two characters split the roles: one asks the questions a viewer would ask, the other explains. That back-and-forth makes long, dense topics easy to follow and keeps a ten to twenty minute video moving. Visually it's simple, with character portraits in the corner, a picture or diagram in the middle, and a caption line for every sentence. The appeal is the script, not the animation, which is exactly why it suits creators who don't want to appear on camera.

The classic workflow

1. 1Research the topic and write a dialogue script, alternating the two characters line by line.
2. 2Load the script into YukkuriMovieMaker 4 and generate each line with the AquesTalk voice.
3. 3Place the character portraits, then add a background image or diagram for every few lines.
4. 4Adjust the voice timing, add captions, sound effects and background music.
5. 5Export the video and add a thumbnail with the characters' faces and a big title.

The editing tool itself is free, but commercial use has conditions. According to the developer's FAQ, monetizing videos made with regular YukkuriMovieMaker 4 requires buying an AquesTalk licence, whether or not you use the AquesTalk voices. The Lite edition without AquesTalk installed is free for commercial use. Check the current terms on the official site before you publish monetized videos.

Licences and character rules

The classic Yukkuri characters are fan versions of characters from an existing game series, and their use depends on the guidelines published by that series' rights holder. Many channels now use original characters or other voice software characters with their own terms instead. Whatever you pick, read the voice licence and the character guidelines, and keep a copy of both. That protects your channel when a video starts earning.

Making a Japanese explainer with AI

If the script and the editing are what eat your week, an AI video tool can take over both. In FacelessGenie you type a topic, choose Japanese as the language and one of the Japanese voices, pick a visual style, and it writes the script, narrates it, generates images for every scene, and adds captions and music. You still choose the topic and check the facts, which is where a good explainer channel earns its trust.

1. 1Open the long-form AI images format for a 16:9 YouTube video, or the short version for vertical.
2. 2Paste your topic, set the language to Japanese and pick a Japanese voice.
3. 3Generate the script, check every fact, and edit any line that sounds unnatural when read aloud.
4. 4Generate the video with captions and music, then make a thumbnail with a clear question as the title.

Getting a Yukkuri-style channel monetized

Explainer channels in this style are monetized all the time, but YouTube's rules on inauthentic content target videos that are mass-produced from a template with little variation. Give every video its own research, structure and point of view, avoid reading out other people's articles, and vary your visuals. For the thresholds and the review process, see YouTube monetization requirements.