Kyoto– fix8, provider of rich, interactive media tools for user generated content, and online video communications player developer Stickam Japan, announced their partnership at the Red Herring Japan technology conference held July 22 – 24, to combine the former’s interactive avatar creator with the latter’s live video broadcast technology. The collaboration will enable Stickam Japan users to animate live video with virtual costumes and props as well as to create photorealistic avatars upon downloading of fix8’s software. fix8’s software animates human expressions and gestures in real-time and requires only a PC and a webcam; it also works across instant messaging services including MSN, Yahoo and Skype. fix8-animated videos can be saved and posted on social networking or blog sites. The companies will cross-market the service in the US and Japan while fix8 will also create unique avatars, accessories and images for the Stickam community as a premium software offering.