Social media platform YouTube has unveiled its newest Yoodle project in time for the spooky season.
Made together with creative studio Entropico, the video titled "The Analog Horror Project" dives into the horror subgenre dubbed Analog Horror, highlighting its characteristics and celebrating the creators that have revolutionized it on the platform.
Analog has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, with views on "analog horror" or "analogue horror" videos surging by over 100,000% since 2020.
Notably, more analog horror videos have also been uploaded, reaching dozens per day.
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The social media giant saw the opportunity to spotlight the creators behind this genre, as they share their experiences in contributing to it.
To kick things up a notch this Halloween, YouTube and Entropico will also be incorporating user-generated content (UCG) into their brand marketing strategy, using hidden links within the video that lead to other analog horror content.
By doing this, YouTube not only brings engagement, but also champions its hardworking creators and brings a unique Halloween experience for its viewers.
The video, which was posted before its official launch, has since amassed 12 million views without the need for paid media.
Senior Creative Producer Sele Leota shares the process behind the campaign, incorporating an element that would encourage social engagement after they pitched their concept.
"Back in the late 90s to early 2000s I used to be obsessed with Webpage Puzzles. It was a type of puzzle where there were clues and interactive elements hidden around a webpage and sometimes within the website’s source code, and often the solutions were hidden URLs that would advance the puzzle," Leota explained.
Leota continued, saying that this element "felt right up the alley of this creator community," prompting the idea of doing something similar with their own project.
An Analog Horror Masterclass
The 10-minute short film follows YouTube creator Spencer Lackey as himself, viewing popular Analog Horror videos and breaking down the elements and defining characteristics of the intriguing genre.
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Split into four tapes, it dives into story structure, the aesthetic appeal, as well as the mystique of Analog Horror that makes it such a hit among horror fans.
Filmed found footage-style, Lackey eventually finds himself in some paranormal business, utilizing room cameras to give viewers textbook scares of the genre.
By the end of it, Lackey is haunted by his own creations and chraracters, cementing his status as a pioneer of analog horror.
"Creating ‘The Analog Horror Project’ was an exhilarating journey. We pushed the boundaries of Analog Horror to bring something truly unique and terrifying to the YouTube community," he shared.
Recently, Snickers and BBDO NY launched their own series of spooky spots.