Iirc Gorillaz and Vocaloids were massively successful experiments in this domain.

I think some of the critique in the former was lost (i.e. Weezer), but it definitely opened the gates for popular digital avatars.

There is a streamer who has a very expensive live tracking setup who actually streams entirely from inside (what is basically) a game emulating a stream room. The content itself isn't really my cup of tea, but the visuals are already beyond the uncanny valley.

https://www.ginx.tv/en/twitch/who-is-code-miko-the-virtual-s...

"Hololive" is another example. They're all real people, but using digital appearances and personas.