By If you somehow missed unus annus, bless your soul — this was a one-of-a-kind YouTube channel by Markiplier and CrankGameplays that wasn’t meant to last. Like, at all. The whole point? Live for exactly one year, then poof — vanish into digital dust.
I still remember the day it launched. It felt like a middle finger to the eternal-scroll lifestyle we’re all caught in. Like, “Hey y’all, what if we actually ended this thing on purpose?” Wild, right?
So, What Exactly Was Unus Annus?
Okay, the name alone sets the tone. Unus annus means “one year” in Latin. Fancy, huh? But these dudes weren’t just flexing with Latin phrases. Nah, they literally built a channel to last 365 days, no more.
And every video, every bit of content, was destined for deletion once the clock hit zero.
I learned about it while scrolling on some random Tuesday — the idea struck me like a lightning bolt. It’s like watching a fireworks show knowing the whole sky will go dark afterward. Bittersweet, messy, beautiful.
Why Delete Everything? That’s Crazy!
Right? It’s nuts. Most creators cling to their work like a toddler to a blanket. But Mark and Ethan? They were like, “Nah, we’re gonna let this thing die. On purpose.”
Why?
- Life is short, so why not celebrate that?
- Makes you stop procrastinating. No “I’ll do that later,” because later won’t exist.
- Creative freedom, baby. No pressure to keep content forever.
I mean, I tried to keep a diary once, but gave up after two weeks — these guys? 365 days of content. Props.
The Daily Madness: What Did They Even Post?
This wasn’t your usual recipe-for-views channel. No sir.
Every day brought something different: weird challenges, deep talks about mortality (yup, heavy stuff for YouTube), pure chaos, and a lot of laughter.
Here’s a quick peek:
- Eating bizarre food combos — I’m talking pickles dipped in Nutella kind of weird.
- Philosophical rants about life and death that somehow hit different coming from Mark.
- Collaborations with other YouTubers.
- Wild stunts — one video had them trying to outrun a goat. I still don’t know why.
The unpredictability was a big part of the charm. Kinda like my cooking skills — sometimes tasty, sometimes a hot mess.
The Count-Down Was Real
Around halfway through, the pressure was mounting. The clock was ticking louder than my old creaky heater in the dead of winter.
Fans freaked out. Comments flooded with both excitement and dread.
I remember one night, watching a video with a bittersweet vibe, thinking, “Man, this is it. This is gonna end.”
And yeah, when the final day came? It was like the internet collectively took a deep breath and said goodbye.
Why Did Unus Annus Hit Home for So Many?
Let me put it this way — unus annus wasn’t just content, it was a mirror reflecting the one thing we all hate thinking about: our own mortality.
It forced you to feel something real.
My buddy Jake said it best: “Watching those vids made me wanna stop wasting time binge-watching cat videos.” Preach, Jake.
The Human Stuff
Mark and Ethan? Genuine folks. No smoke, no mirrors.
I don’t know about you, but I’m suspicious of anyone who seems too polished on YouTube. But these guys? They fumbled, they joked, they got serious — all on the same day.
What Can We Steal from Unus Annus?
Here’s what I took away — and yeah, I totally messed up plenty of times trying to live by it:
- Life’s short. Like, wicked short. Stop putting things off.
- Creating without caring about legacy? Freedom. I tried it once by deleting a tweet immediately — felt great.
- Shared experiences? They’re gold. It’s why the bar at Pete’s Hardware on 5th Ave is still my fave spot for community vibes.
Behind The Curtain: The Grind
Making daily videos is a beast.
Mark and Ethan were grinding non-stop, dealing with creative blocks, personal stress, and sometimes, just plain exhaustion.
One time, Ethan joked about how the only consistent thing was his terrible coffee addiction. I relate, buddy.
The Aftermath — What Happened When Unus Annus Died?
Fast forward to November 14, 2020: the channel, the videos — gone.
Fans were a mess. Some had saved their favorite vids offline — guilty as charged, I was one of them.
It was weird. Like losing a friend but knowing they went out on their own terms.
FAQ-ish Stuff About Unus Annus
- Q: Why the hell did they delete everything?
A: Because that’s the whole point — life’s fleeting, so why pretend otherwise? - Q: Can I still watch the vids?
A: Nope. Unless you’re into the shady business of offline archives. Don’t tell Mark. - Q: Will they do it again?
A: Maybe. Mark hinted at it, but I’m still crossing my fingers.
A Random Thought: What About The Legacy?
I once read on page 42 of the slightly smudged and very out-of-print book Garden Mishaps & Miracles (1998) that impermanence can breed creativity.
That kinda sums up unus annus.
It’s a reminder that sometimes, you gotta burn bright, even if it means burning out.