YouTube Marketing Tips 6: Controversy Is Viral

We're going to talk about the video again that we covered in YouTube Marketing Tips 5... a video called "Rainbow" that has 300,000 views:



Do you know why it has so many views? Does it seem like it doesn't make sense why this video has 300,000 views?


Here's my thought:

I think it makes sense in another way other than the fact that he posted three of them. Go to his channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/scareykatt) and you see that people have been upset by his icon.

Next, I'd imagine that the gay community saw it as a statement and started spreading it, possibly just as a moment to reflect their pride.

So you now have people who hate it and people who love it watching. It became a controversy.

I know that this works, because he did the same thing one month later with Disgusting Teeth (75,000 views):



You'll notice that this video just disappears. It's 0 seconds long. Yet people still click on it based only on the image. It's controversial. You know it's probably just a still (especially if it's only 0 seconds long), but you still click it. You'll also notice that it's rated 1 star. People didn't like the fact that it's just a short image.

TheAnimationEmpire - Who Would Win 3: Superman or Himself?

This was actually a main story line in Superman 3. Superman fought himself. Clark Kent beat Superman.

Welcome to episode 3 of Who Would Win! Who Would Win 3: Superman or Himself? Leave a text comment or video comment to vote!



Check out the 3D logo animation we made for the introduction of this video. We are sticking with the intro from the second episode. We think it's cooler. Please subscribe! Thanks!

I found myself wishing Enchanted was an animated film

So who has seen Enchanted?

http://imdb.com/title/tt0461770/

Who here wishes that it was an animated film?

SLIGHT POTENTIAL SPOILER WARNING


When I was first watching it, I really wished it would stay as an animation. But, alas, it became a live-action movie, as advertised.

It was basically Snow White, with the wicked witch queen, the good prince, the queen turning into an old hag, the apple, Giselle communicating with the animals, and even the fact that she had to be awakened by true love’s kiss. However, they mixed in having the animals talk (Cinderella), the slipper (Cinderella), the stupid evil sidekick (Beauty and the Beast and others), the queen turning into a dragon (Sleeping Beauty), and more.

So maybe it would have been too close to Snow White for an animated film, but still. It made me want Disney to do another one. In the meantime, check out Happily Never After on DVD if you haven’t yet (more on that later):

http://imdb.com/title/tt0308353/


---------------------------


So, Enchanted is actually a delight, so you probably won’t wish it was an animated film once it’s over. It’s a simple/lame idea, but they sell it very well with some good wit.

It’s doing fairly well at $52 million right now (and the #1 spot):

http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=enchanted.htm


---------------------------


They got the perfect director for it, Kevin Lima:

http://imdb.com/name/nm0510674/

Kevin started off animating/designing on Sporty Goofy (86), Brave Little Toaster (87), Oliver & Company (88), Little Mermaid (89), Rover Dangerfield (Why? 91), and Beauty & the Beast (91). He also wrote for Oliver & Company and Aladdin (92).

He then went into directing Goofy Movie (95) and the magnificent Tarzan (99). That led him to live action directing with 102 Dalmatians (2000).

So he was the perfect choice for a Disney movie that is both animated and live action.


---------------------------


Enchanted stars Amy Adams. You may have seen her in Talladega Nights, as the attractive baby sitter with glasses (the eventual love interest). You may have also seen her as the briefly seen fiancée in Catch Me if You Can. She’s been in lots of other stuff, but this is her first starring role, so you’ll probably say, “I’ve seen her, but I don’t know where.” If you’re still wondering, take a look at her credits to find out where else you may have seen her:

http://imdb.com/name/nm0010736/


---------------------------



Enchanted was produced by Barry Sonnenfeld, who directed some of the greatest movies of all time: Addams Family 1 & 2, For Love or Money, Get Shorty, Men & Black 1 & 2, Wild Wild West, and RV. He’s produced some of those movies as well as Lemony Snicket (and others).

http://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Producer&id=barrysonnenfeld.htm

Before directing/producing, he was a legendary cinematographer:

http://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Cinematographer&id=barrysonnenfeld.htm



- TAE

YouTube Marketing Tips 5: Two is Better Than One

There is a video called "Rainbow" that has over 320,000 views:



Do you know why? Does it seem like it doesn't make sense why this video has 300,000 views?


Here's my thought:

I think it makes sense. Go to his channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/scareykatt) and you see that people have been upset by his icon. He posted three of the rainbow videos, so that they all show each other more (they all show up when you watch one or when you watch a similar video).

So if you watch any related video, you see three videos of the rainbow. This makes people curious, so they watch the one with the most views.

Other people caught on, and one video parodied this to the tune of 36,000 views:





We achieved a similar effect on Extra Fruity, where we have two of the exact same video; one has 110K views, and one has 50K views.

Extra Fruity (original with 50K views):



Extra Fruity Improved (newer version with 110K views):



We didn't intentionally post more than one version of a video. However, we benefited from it, just like ScareyKatt did. We realized our first post was too low quality, but it already had 3K views, so we left it up. Likewise, don't be afraid to post multiple versions that are slightly different in case you have a different ending you want to try out or something else. Let your videos compete against each other, and see what happens.

However, we don't recommend posting five versions of the exact same video. At least, don't do it more than once. It could get annoying very fast and alienate your viewers if you go nuts with it.

- TAE

EleFat - final project E4 EleFat

This includes a cute animation of EleFat getting frightened by the box and a really cool composited animation near the end. Grant has done it again.

- TAE

TheAnimationEmpire - Who Would Win 2: Superman or Batman?

What if the baterang was made of Kriptonite?

So, Who Would Win in a fight? Superman or Batman? Add your text comments or video comments to vote!!!




We made the 3D logo a little more rigid and steel-like (and didn't use the goofy song).

Bullets - E4 Stings Entry

Pastrami hits another one out of the park. I love the eyes!

- TAE

Bird and Egg - E4 sting entry 2007

Pastrami knocks this one out of the park. Great animation!

YouTube Marketing Tips 4: Ask People to Watch Your Videos

We started off by posting comments in the most popular videos asking people to click our name and watch a specific video. You can also do that on channel comments.

If you ask people to watch your videos on channel and video comments, you should make sure you are also writing a comment that is specific to the video/channel you're on in addition to your advertisement. Otherwise you'll get a lot of negative feedback (you'll still get some though).

It makes more sense if you're advertising a video that is similar to the one you're on. Plus, make sure you are telling them what video to watch, probably the one featured on your channel. People might be willing to watch one video if they like the name of it and your short description. But they won't just go to your channel without a good reason.

- TAE

TheAnimationEmpire - Who Would Win 1: Punky Brewster or Pippi Longstocking?

Would Punky beat down Pippi? Would Pippi's powers prevail?

Who Would Win... in a fight, Punky Brewster or Pippi Longstocking? It all comes back to Punky and Pippi.

Give us your answer of who you think would win in a comment or video response, and we'll keep track in the comments. (Just click the video to see the comments.)



Please subscribe. Thanks!
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=TheAnimationEmpire

We created the 3D logo and music introduction. Yes, Justin's wearing a Thundercats shirt.

Series created by MattyO and Ed 'word' Price. Episode directed by MattyO, written by Ed, and starring Ed, MattyO (voice only), and a bunch of people who we're not sure whether or not they want their names credited (to them: if you do, let us know).

Want to watch another 3D animation (cuz you just watched our 3D logo animation)?

Join the 3D animated world of Fruits and Bugs...
Fruits VS Bugs - Episode 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfbGzAuOTlM
Fruits VS Bugs - Episode 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsfR7C-ql5k
Fruits VS Bugs - Agents Always Win:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKJI4iUszt0
Extra Fruity:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Ko5-IgUWA

Watch the 3D animation process in Making of the MGM Logo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KC0e08DDoc

There's a great new product coming out called Email:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQwL3UTUo58

Who Would Win in a fight?
Punky Brewster or Pippi Longstocking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYV8jxt336I
Superman or Batman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kULzNzsCZA
Superman or Himself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQXSZRKFlk0
Ash - Pokemon or Ash - Army of Darkness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYZC93kVQ94
Abraham Lincoln or Ronald Reagan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kipU3FSjTgo
Walt Disney or Bill Gates:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Po7U8T0JSE

Check out our silly music video, Bucket Full of Cheese:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEShg_kigmc

Our first actual VLog sketch, Following Directions...
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypMT4FPiO7o
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFEfbV-30YE

Here's our Short Short that is nostalgic and insulting, Punky Brewster VS Pippi Longstocking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N1qk-Huwao

Do phones annoy you? Get... Mad At Phone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc9JSZa6byw

And our random 27-second short, Taking Care of Business:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mkmxx6XbNio

Do you like Andy Samberg from Saturday Night Live? We blog about him about every day:
http://www.andysamberg.blogspot.com/

Do you dig Nintendo? Check out NintenDolts, the Nintendo Video Archive:
http://www.nintendolts.blogspot.com/

Visit The Animation Empire for all of our videos and websites: http://www.theanimationempire.com/

Monster - Boujou test

Another video from Grant. This one shows off Boujou (Costs $10K), which is motion tracking software that matches the 3D camera to the video camera so that you can composite 3D into an actual environment.

It's cheaper to key frame your camera. =^)

- TAE

Beowulf Update

Anybody seen Beowulf?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf_%282007_film%29

I haven’t been able to catch it yet. What did you think of it?

It had a budget of $150 million.

It’s probably going to hit a little lower than my assessment (around $120 million, domestic), currently at $56 million, domestic.

http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=beowulf.htm

It’s also doing okay internationally, so I think it will end at around $160 million world-wide, making a small profit over the cost. Then they’ll make a decent profit back in DVD sales.


I assessed the movie as receiving a low box office, because I’m a firm believer that adults aren’t interested in viewing animated films that are marketed for them and not their children.

- TAE

YouTube Marketing Tips 3: Boring Videos don't do well

You may have a video that is very well done with a lot of great effects. It might have a wonderful story. But, guess what. If it's boring, nobody will watch it.

Do you have a walking scene? Does your character walk along a street? Yeah, that's boring. Take that out. Is there a lot of dialogue that doesn't involve jokes or shouting. Yeah, that's boring.

Cabbageman614 just posted a video of him and his friends hitting each other with sticks, and it did better than many of his other videos with better stories and effects. Why? Because it was slightly amusing. Stuff was happening, and fun music was used. You're probably going to keep watching it, and you'll probably smile. And, guess what? Very little effort went into the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX2PzOoCenw

We'll be the first to admit that we've filmed our fair share of boring videos. =^)

A good way to think about it is to see if you can keep someone's attention for every two-second section of your video. This isn't a movie. Your audience isn't captive. You've got to keep reminding them to keep watching every two seconds or so.

- TAE

Nuts eps 0001 of 1000

This one is truly nuts.

TheAnimationEmpire - Making of the MysteryGuitarMan 3D Logo

Mystery Guitar Man goodness.

174 images. 72 video effects. 53 titles. 6 videos. 5.5 minutes. 1 Earth.

MysteryGuitarMan has used this 3D logo animation in...
Menage a MGM
Wanted
Joe Castillo - Movie Extra Extraordinaire

By the way, this is the 3D animated MGM logo made for MysteryGuitarMan. This documentary was created before "The Puzzle," so it doesn't talk about how he went back to wearing hats.




Special thanks fo Gnamp for modeling and animating this logo for us as part of his internship:
http://www.youtube.com/gnamp

The logo animation can also be viewed by itself on his channel.

Top Honors:

#50 - Most Discussed (Today) - Film & Animation
#24 - Most Discussed (Today) - Film & Animation - English

Please subscribe to TheAnimationEmpire! Thanks for watching!

----------------
Some of the referenced videos... (go to the video page for the links)

Organized Community Hate
A Message from the Creators
The Puzzle
A Message to ED
MGM's Seal of Approval
The Fake MGM (LisaNova)
A Cheeky Joke (Golem image from Gnamp)
Me Breathing Fire (also Gnamp)
I Want You So Hard (image of Jack Black)


Some of the famouser YouTubers referenced: MysteryGuitarMan, TheHill88, VisibleMode, and xgobobeanx (in comment form).

Pop-culture references incude: Fruits VS Bugs, Metro-Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), Money Tree, Bill Cosby, Monica Lewinski, Steve Irwin (Crocodile Hunter), Lord of the Rings, Punky Brewster, Live.com, Gundam, Kirby, Crash Bandicoot, The Legend of Zelda, Dilbert, Santa Claus, Jack Nicholson, WWE (Kurt Angle), George Bush, Hilary Clinton, Superman, Spider-man, Jack Black, and Jurassic Park.

The logo model and animation were done in Anim8or, but you should go to http://www.blender.org/ if you're looking for free 3D software. The logo background was done in Photoshop. This video was mostly edited with Movie Maker, with a bit of Adobe Premiere. The 3D character at the beginning was modeled and animated in 3D Studio Max. We probably use Max the most, followed by Maya, and then Blender. All music in this video is royalty free.

TheAnimationEmpire - Fruits VS Bugs: Episode 2 of 2

The journey continues as Agent Carl Coconut occupies the Nelson family dog, Agent Gary Grape battles the Trooper Bugs, and Agents Peter Pear, Angie Orange, and Brett Banana head upstairs to take on the Influence Bug. Also features appearances from Agents Adam Apple, Paul Pineapple, and Penny Peach.

Copyright 2007 The Animation Empire, Inc.



The "Spoffo" and "Swukt" sound effects were inside jokes. One of our animators, Chris Chin, draws comics. He uses these made-up sound effects in his comics.


Go to http://www.FruitsVSBugs.com to purchase DVDs and Downloads of Fruits VS Bugs.

Top Honors:

#29 - Top Rated (Today) - Film & Animation - All
#24 - Top Rated (Today) - Film & Animation -- English
#24 - Most Discussed (Today) - Film & Animation - All
#24 - Most Discussed (Today) - Film & Animation -- English

Our channel got featured on the front page of YouTube the day we posted this video.

Here is our YouTube Episode 2 of the 3D animation, Fruits VS Bugs. It features references to Evil Knievel, Rocky, Tomb Raider, Metroid, Kung Pow, The Matrix, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood), Batman, Super Mario Brothers (Bros.), Star Wars Episode 1, and Metal Gear.

We used 3D Studio Max, Photoshop, Movie Maker, and Premiere. Check out http://www.Blender.org for free 3D animation software.

Our work has been compared to Shrek, Disney, and Pixar films (Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Cars, etc.). We can tell the difference because we don't have their 80 million dollar budget. =^)

No Place to Park

It's hard finding a place to park when you have a large vehicle.

Wonderful Underworld - Aniboom Eyedoll

"Felix Prestigiacomo sings about the joys of being mafioso in this parody of Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)"



Enjoy!

YouTube Marketing Tips Part 2 - Video Responses

Most of the popular YouTubers have gotten popular by responding to really popular videos with their own amusing antics.

Also, you can regularly go through the featured, most viewed of the day, and highly viewed videos to see which ones automatically accept video responses, and then attach any one of your videos as a response there.

- TAE

TheAnimationEmpire - Following Directions: Part 2/2

The contest is over. Thanks for voting, everyone!

The Following Directions videos are the proud winners of the Sketchies Rejects contest.

YouTube Marketing Tips Part 1

There are a lot of YouTube marketing tips. Not everybody can learn marketing.

Great videos are painful to make (and their greatness is highly debatable).

I'm going to list out a lot of things here without giving details. You're going to roll your eyes as you read these, because they seem obvious (they are obvious). However, most people don't understand what you can accomplish with these tools. Compare how you use these tools to how we use these tools. Go to http://www.youtube.com/theanimationempire

You may see a huge difference. If you have any questions, leave a comment on this blog or our channel. I'll lead you through those hoops, but I'm not going to do the discovery work for you.

Here are the marketing tools at your disposal:

- Video Annotations

- Video Comments (your videos)

- Video Comments (other videos)

- Video Responses

- Sharing Videos

- Channel Comments (other channels)

- Your Channel Description (keywords, personal, and synergy)

- Messages

- Friend Requests

- Subscribing Others

- Your Video Descriptions

- Your Video Title

- Your Video Image

- How many similar videos you post (including videos that are almost the same)

- Your Channel Background (we don't use this well)

- Videos (be more personal and/or go bigger)

- Relationships with YouTube stars (We're not stars, but this blog you're reading could be an example of this value)

- Synergy with your other websites and blogs


All these things lead to getting YouTube stars to subscribe to you, to get your stuff featured (we've had a video featured and our channel featured), and to slowly accumulate more views (it becomes a snowball effect).

So, if you don't understand any of this, then leave a comment. I can give you some specific examples to study.

As I get questions, I'll post more tips.

- TAE

Zune Art - tokyo plastic

Here's another Zune Art piece.

- TAE

Bee Movie - 93 Million, US

Even with international sales, Bee Movie is only at $105 million.

http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=beemovie.htm


Since it cost them $150 million to make, they lost on this one.

I attribute it to lack of romance (or any large emotional story arc) and a silly story that’s hard to get into (the “bees suing the humans and everybody learns from the process“ thing). I also thought the story was a bit too preachy, but Happy Feet was even preachier and it came out well. So I think the audience is willing to forgive that pretty easily.

Sim Lemonade Millionaire

Not our game, but this is a pretty good game about how you can sell lemonade. You basically just set up your day with your strategy and watch it happen. The actual game is just in setting up your day.




Link:
Sim Lemonade Millionaire


Enjoy!

A Disneyland Story

I’ve got some good stories after working at Disneyland for three years. Employees can get their friends and family in (there’s a limit, but most employees don’t use them all). One of my favorites is how my friends and I decided to try to iron stomach Tea Cups. So we went to Toon Town and filled up on hotdogs (cheapest food in D Land) and other food. Then we went to Tea Cups on full stomachs. We immediately ripped into it, with three men. We were going pretty fast. People were pointing.



Well, we noticed that one of us was looking a little sick. We told him to stop looking at the blur and to concentrate on the circle in the middle (it stays constant). So he did, but as soon as we were done we all stumble out, and he runs over to the planter on the side. He heaves into it, as a mom and child and a few Asian tourists are watching only a couple feet away. Of course, they turn interesting colors and leave.



The best part of this story is when my friend turns to me and says, “Ed, do you have a towel or something that I can use to wipe my mouth?” I got nothing. I look at my shirt. Definitely not. So I reach out and rip a huge leaf off a nearby bush. He wipes his mouth off and tosses the leaf into the planter.





The end. =^)




- The Emperor

Planet Unicorn

Classic.

GET THE PLANET UNICORN RINGTONE, VISIT:

www.jivjiv.com/planetunicorn

or

www.myspace.com/planetunicorn3

The Masks

They stopped fighting. Must be tea time.

- TAE

Following Directions: Part 1 of 2

The contest is over. Thanks for voting, everyone!

Following Directions is the proud winner of the Sketchies Rejects contest.

Please subscribe! Thanks:
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=TheAnimationEmpire

All Fruits VS Bugs footage is Copyright 2007 The Animation Empire, Inc.

Top Honors:
#68 - Top Rated (Today) - Comedy - All
#82 - Most Discussed (Today) - Comedy - All



Here is Following Directions - Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFEfbV...

References in this video:
Dax Flame (he's annoying, but he's a comedic genius):
http://www.youtube.com/Daxflame
The dance is from Bucket Full of Cheese:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEShg_...
The zoom is from Fruits VS Bugs - Episode 1 of 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfbGzA...
The crying Influence Bug is from Fruits VS Bugs - Agents Always Win:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKJI4i...
The shot of the Influence Bug with a dual light sabre is fom the Second Episode of Fruits VS Bugs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsfR7C...

Fruits VS Bugs: Agents Always Win

"Fruits VS Bugs: Agents Always Win" is our first animated Short Short. It features a few characters from the world of Fruits VS Bugs: Bobby Nelson and the Influence Bug.

Copyright 2007 The Animation Empire, Inc.

Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...

Top Honors:
#63 - Top Rated (Today) - Film & Anim. - All
#16 - Most Discussed (Today) - Film & Anim. - All
#14 - Most Discussed (Today) - Film & Anim. - Eng.
#83 - Most Discussed (This Week) - Film & An. -- All

We used Photoshop, 3D Studio Max, Premiere, and Movie Maker. Check out http://www.blender.org/ for free 3D animation software.

Our work has been compared to Shrek, Disney, and Pixar films (Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Cars, etc.). We can tell the difference because we don't have their 80 million dollar budget. =^)

Want to watch another 3D animation?

Join the 3D animated world of Fruits and Bugs...
Fruits VS Bugs - Episode 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfbGzAuOTlM
Fruits VS Bugs - Episode 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsfR7C-ql5k
Fruits VS Bugs - Agents Always Win:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKJI4iUszt0
Extra Fruity:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Ko5-IgUWA

After Oz - Vancouver Film School (VFS)

This ends well.

Happy -- Vancouver Film School (VFS)

Michael Lewicki pulls out a great piece with light humor but with spectacular lighting and animation.

- TAE

3D Water Splash (Blender)

Here's an example of what you can do in the free 3D software, Blender. Go to http://www.blender.org for more information.

- TAE

NEW UFO FOOTAGE!

Done by the excellent Stiktoonz.

"Exclusive footage of a UFO to Stiktoonz!"

Stampon the Hamster

Another masterpiece from Stik Toonz.

"Stampon the Hamster wishes you a Happy Birthday"

- TAE

Bee Movie

I went and saw Bee Movie last week.



It’s not going to do nearly as well as I expected. It’s well made, and it’s very funny, but it’s missing an emotional connection, and the story is a little lame. The movie quickly becomes man VS nature, similar to Happy Feet. I think this is less over the top than Happy Feet, because the bees actually learn in the process, as well as the humans. However, Happy Feet sold the story on an emotional level with lots of action and adventure. This movie finds its adventure in a courtroom and its emotion in a lame tragic romance between a bee and a human (tragic because they are devoted to each other, but it will never work out).



So, good potential with the DreamWorks animators and Seinfeld writing, but they just head off in this lame direction. It’s cute, it’s funny, and it’s worth watching. But Seinfeld needs to go watch some Shrek and Pixar movies to figure out what sells (or at least an Ice Age or Madagascar movie).

METAL GEAR SOLID: Alert!!!

This is a hilarious video from Willem Works! Solid Snake rules!

- TAE