Draw My Life

Draw My Life is an internet meme that began in 2013, following the upload of a video from YouTube celebrity, Sam Pepper.[1] Despite only coming to attention in 2013, YouTuber and musician BriBry arguably made the first notable Draw My Life, back in 2011.

Following the video, several other popular YouTube celebrities began uploading Draw My Life videos,[2] some of which were featured on popular online news publications.[3][4]

The videos are shot in fast-motion photography and consist of someone drawing figures on a whiteboard, which represent events in the person's life.[4] Often, the videos reveal previously hidden upsetting or unfortunate histories or stories, and end in the author thanking their audience for aiding in their success.

Eventually, Draw My Life videos for fictional characters and non-YouTubers such as Harry Potter and Avatar Korra were created.[5][6]

In December 2013 a Draw My Life video making iPad app was released on the App Store called Draw My Life App.[7]

Notable Draw My Life videos

Note: views are accurate as of March 6, 2014

YouTuber Date Views Ref
Sam Pepper January 8, 2013 ~1,623,747 [1]
Caspar Lee January 19, 2013 ~1,758,935
Felix Kjellberg of PewDiePie January 31, 2013 ~12,716,468[8]
Phil Lester (AmazingPhil) February 1, 2013 ~1,757,875
Emma Blackery February 1, 2013 ~526,636
Anthony Padilla February 7, 2013 ~12,797,014 [9]
Jim Chapman February 10, 2013 ~1,231,416
Germán Garmendia March 1, 2013 ~19,688,451 [10]
Shane Dawson March 2, 2013 ~6,083,992 [11]
Joe Penna March 21, 2013 ~712,861 [12]
Jenna Marbles March 28, 2013 ~11,370,602 [8]
Timothy Chantarangsu April 1, 2013 ~2,105,675 [13]
Grace Helbig April 3, 2013 ~1,189,804 [8]
Hannah Hart April 4, 2013 ~852,155 [8]
Philip DeFranco April 10, 2013 ~2,039,739 [14]
Ryan Higa April 10, 2013 ~17,673,161 [15]
DeStorm Power April 12, 2013 ~1,653,220 [16]
Zoe Sugg (Zoella) April 14, 2013 ~2,994,955
Alfie Deyes (PointlessBlog) April 21, 2013 ~1,306,417
Oli White April 26, 2013 ~485,938
Dan Howell (danisnotonfire) April 29, 2013 ~2,509,037
Markiplier May 4, 2013 ~1,793,745
Bethany Mota (MacBarbie07) January 25, 2015 ~6,815,763
Michelle Phan May 19, 2013 ~5,265,948 [17]
Tanya Burr May 22, 2013 ~812,177
Rebecca Black June 28, 2013 ~3,139,187
Lia Marie Johnson July 6, 2013 ~1,533,353
Jack Douglass July 19, 2013 ~790,839
Jordan Maron (CaptainSparklez) January 20, 2014 ~1,863,807 [18]
Norman Thavaud September 4, 2014 6,000,000 [19]
Olajide "KSI" Olatunji (KSIOlajidebt) October 25, 2014 ~8,145,130 [20]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sam Pepper (January 8, 2013). "Draw My Life Sam Pepper". Sam Pepper. YouTube. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Draw My Life search results on YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  3. ↑ Kleinman, Alexis (April 13, 2013). "Watch The Top YouTube Videos Of The Week: A 100-Pound Chocolate Bar, Surprise Shark And More". Huffington Post. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ed Carrasco (April 11, 2013). "THE 5 BEST ‘DRAW MY LIFE’ VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE". New Media Rockstars. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  5. ↑ Perle, Elizabeth (May 7, 2013). "Harry Potter Tries His Hand At YouTube Phenomenon 'Draw My Life' (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  6. ↑ James A (October 10, 2014). "Draw my Life - Korra". Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  7. ↑ "First App Fully Designed For And Based Off The "Draw My Life Meme"".
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Ed Carrasco (April 12, 2013). "5 MORE OF THE BEST ‘DRAW MY LIFE’ VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE (page 2)". New Media Rockstars. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  9. ↑ Padilla, Anthony (February 7, 2013). "Draw My Life - Anthony Padilla". YouTube. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ 10, 2015
  11. ↑ Amanda Walgrove (March 22, 2013). "Shane Dawson Draws His Life". Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  12. ↑ Amanda Walgrove (March 22, 2013). " MysteryGuitarMan’s "Draw My Life" Video Reveals His Journey To Becoming A YouTuber". What's Trending?. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  13. ↑ Ed Carrasco (April 11, 2013). "THE 5 BEST ‘DRAW MY LIFE’ VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE (page 3)". New Media Rockstars. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  14. ↑ Amanda Walgrove (April 11, 2013). "Philip DeFranco’s Draw My Life Plus The Top 5 YouTube Videos Of April 11, 2013". What's Trending?. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  15. ↑ Ed Carrasco (April 12, 2013). "5 MORE OF THE BEST ‘DRAW MY LIFE’ VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE". New Media Rockstars. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  16. ↑ Yolanda Robinson (April 15, 2013). "Draw My Life – Destrom Power". Socialvoom. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  17. ↑ Yolanda Robinson (May 21, 2013). "New Video: Draw My Life". michellephan.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  18. ↑ Jordan Maron (January 20, 2014). "Draw My Life - CaptainSparklez". YouTube. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  19. ↑ Norman Thavaud (September 11, 2014). "NORMAN - MA VIE EN DESSIN". Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  20. ↑ Olajide "KSI" Olajide (October 25, 2014). "Q&A Saturday - Draw My Life". Retrieved October 25, 2014.