In the hidden depths of YouTube exists a chilling animated series that may have eluded your attention, but it’s finally making its way to Netflix next week.
There’s an abundance of unsettling material on YouTube—just take a glance at the Schoolboy 9 documentary—but few capture the essence of psychological dread as effectively as The Amazing Digital Circus.
Created by Glitch, The Amazing Digital Circus debuted on the platform in October 2023. The pilot episode, a compelling 25-minute animated short, resonated deeply with viewers hungry for unique and disturbing content. Think Harlan Ellison meets Toy Story, infused with a surreal and eerie twist.
This series unfolds in a surreal animated circus setting, where a group of humans becomes ensnared in a CGI realm after donning “headsets” in the real world.
Under the control of an AI named Caine, the contorted and grotesque characters strive to uncover their location and find a way to escape.
It’s a surreal nightmare cloaked in a childlike aesthetic, continuing the trend set by other notable YouTube productions like Happy Tree Friends and Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared.
If you haven’t yet experienced this Proustian fever dream style of animation, The Amazing Digital Circus is an ideal starting point. At its launch, Episode 1 went viral, quickly becoming one of the most-viewed animated pilots on the platform, amassing nearly 350 million views.
Fortunately, Episodes 1-3 will be available on Netflix from October 4, coinciding with the release of Episode 3 on YouTube. Episodes 4-9 will also arrive on Netflix the same day they premiere on YouTube.
It’s important to note that while Netflix is not producing new episodes, it is licensing the series for streaming. As one Reddit user claiming to be a Glitch employee stated: “Glitch employee here, Netflix has 0% control over the show, creative control, or anything.
“We maintain EVERYTHING and it’s 1000% ours. Not a single Netflix employee will ever handle anything in production.”
However, be forewarned: before you dive into this circus, prepare for some dark themes ahead. The show has cultivated a significant and dedicated fanbase within just a year of its release, but it’s evident that it’s not intended for the fainthearted.
“So I was not ready to be so strangely emotionally moved by that Digital Circus thing,” remarked one user on X comment. “I feel f**ked up right now.”
“The Amazing Digital Circus is so f**ked up I love it,” commented another viewer.
“I FINALLY watched The Amazing Digital Circus for the first time – the first episode. It’s PHENOMENAL. The animation is great, the voice acting is spot-on, the themes the series touches on are disturbing at times, and the music is incredible!” shared a third user.
Additionally, you might want to explore other chilling YouTube documentaries after immersing yourself in smartschoolboy9 and see if the strange story of Eugene and Martha Grimes is real.
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