00:00

'Any average viewer who stumbles upon the Amazing World of Gumball might just think it's another kid show, but beneath the surface lies some of the darkest episodes in cartoon history..'

Great intro!

This intro is good because it gets right to the point of the video. When viewers click, they immediately hear about exactly what the title promised, the darkest episodes. Saying something like "beneath the surface are some of the darkest episodes in cartoon history" also grabs attention because it makes people curious. They’ll start wondering what's so dark about a cartoon that seems pretty innocent, and they'll want to keep watching to find out. Great intro!

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00:08

Great editing, but...

What you're seeing here is simply good editing. There are plenty of effects, and the pacing is pretty fast. I get why the audience likes this, especially since cartoons themselves are often quick and flashy. But you should know this isn't the most important thing for making a successful video. Sure, it looks nice, and it's fun to watch, but if your script is strong and the editing is a bit simpler, you can still be very successful. In the end, it's all about the story and how you tell it. So, always prioritize the script and your storytelling. If you've got an editor who can deliver this kind of editing, that's great, but it's definitely not a must-have.

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00:28

Changing background music

Have you ever watched a horror movie without sound, or with some funny music underneath? If not, try it sometime just for fun because you’ll notice that the movie you once found terrifying suddenly isn’t scary at all. And that’s all because of the background music. Like I mentioned earlier, the editing and all the high-quality effects they use aren’t really necessary. But using the right background music? That’s a must. Especially with a topic like this video, talking about the darkest Gumball episodes—you want to pull the viewer into the story. And music helps to do exactly that. Also, at 00:33, they even take it a step further with an extra sound effect. Honestly, I’d rather have an editor who is great in stuff like that than someone who just knows how to make things look super polished.

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1:12

Nice voice-over

I’m hearing a really good voice-over here. Someone who tells the story with full energy, but also knows exactly when to slow down and build a bit of tension. There’s a lot of variation in pitch, which keeps the video from feeling flat or monotone.

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1:25

This is very important

'But later that night, things get even weirder...'

If there’s one thing that really helps you tell a good story, it’s this. A lot of people still underestimate how important it is to use strong hooks in your video. This gives the viewer a reason to keep watching, and makes it almost impossible for them to click away at that moment. It creates questions in their mind and helps boost your average view duration, which is a super strong signal for YouTube. I know this is something you see a lot in other niches too, but I’m going to keep pointing it out because it’s seriously one of the most important parts of storytelling.