On November 25, 2019, Mark Fischbach (Markiplier) and Ethan Nestor-Darling (CrankGamePlays) created the YouTube channel, Unus Annus. The channel name is Latin for “one year”. The slogan “Memento Mori” is Latin for “remember that you have to die”. There was a black and white aesthetic, with Ethan adopting the “Unus” persona and Mark being the “Annus” persona. Uploading a video a day, they did a variety of activities from getting pepper-sprayed to making a pee sauna. The purpose of the channel was to do a variety of videos within a year, ultimately deleting the whole channel at the end of the year.
I remember going on to YouTube one day and seeing the first video they uploaded in my recommended feed. Considering it was a video of them cooking with sex toys, I couldn’t help but click on the video. That was the start of me diving into the rabbit hole that was Unus Annus. I had already watched videos of Mark and Ethan before this entire project, so I was really excited about this project.
I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a channel as much as I did with Unus Annus. YouTube channels have to be careful about what they put on their videos because of the guidelines and fear of demonetization. Since Unus Annus was going to be deleted anyway, Mark and Ethan didn’t have to worry about that. They could do things they couldn’t do on any of their main channels.
I remember Mark saying that anyone could do this concept, but they wouldn’t do it as well as they did and I agree. Mark and Ethan are unique and creative individuals with a wonderful team behind their videos, it would be hard to think of ideas to do. The concept of Unus Annus itself is something I can only imagine Mark and Ethan doing. Recording and uploading videos on a daily basis is very stressful and yet they did it, while also continuing to upload on their main channels.
At the end of each video, was a ticking clock counting down to the end of Unus Annus. On the last day, there was a 12-hour live stream counting down to the final moments of the channel, deleting it once the clock stopped ticking. There even was a coffin created that was split black and white, the signature colors of Unus Annus. Any official associated social media accounts were either deleted or put on private, so nobody could access them.
Despite its deletion, Unus Annus lives in the memories of the fans. Memes and video compilations on YouTube are posted on the internet. Nothing lasts forever and we all die someday. But it’s better to cherish all the fond memories and fleeting moments instead of regretting them.
The clock is always ticking.
Memento Mori.
Tell us what you think by tagging us @HerCampusSJSU!