The downside of the technology is that currently there is no official setting for 360° rotation. It is also difficult to do large angle turns for complex images or characters. Live2D has been used in a wide variety of video games, visual novels, virtual YouTuber channels, and other media. Well-known examples of Live2D media and software include FaceRig, Nekopara, Azur Lane, and virtual YouTubers (as popularized by Nijisanji and Hololive). Live2D was first introduced in 2008 for the need of interactive media. Since then, the technology has also changed how games enhance user experience through lively characters and expressions. In 2009, Cubism (now Live2D) released their very first Live2D application, Live2D vector. The application transforms vector graphic to make flat character image achieve three-dimensional head turning and moving effects. Although such character can only perform limited activities, it performs much better than static pictures or slideshows. User can also customize their own moving character by adjusting parameters through software or collecting materials such as images of different angles of a character. Of course, vector graphics still have many limitations. Although the occupied capacity resources are reduced, the rendering of complex images consumes a lot of CPU. Another disadvantage is that it cannot present certain styles of paintings, such as oil painting and gouache styles. The first application of Live2D technique is HibikiDokei released by sandwichproject (), an alarm app released in 2010.

The alarm app has a girl character named 'hibiki' that talks and moves. In 2011, Live2D adopted PSP game Ore no Im?to ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Portable released by NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc became the first game the O.I.U system derived from Live2D technology was applied in a game, where the character moves and changes positions and expression while talking to the player.

Characters moved expressively on the screen and seamlessly like an anime, which surprised players and triggered the popularity of Live2D. Software developer Tetsuya Nakashiro had been independently developing Live2D software, and founded the company Cyber Noise (or Cybernoids, Japanese:) in 2006 with support from the Exploratory IT Human Resources Project of the Japanese Information Technology Promotion Agency (IPA). Because of its novelty and lack of uptake, Cyber Noise was unsuccessful. In 2011, Live2D software received attention after its use in the PSP game Ore no Im?to ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai Portable. It subsequently received interest as a library for Android and iOS. #Magia record live2d models for android#.