Case Study: BeybladeGeeks

If you’ve searched “Beyblade” on YouTube in the last decade or so, a channel that has likely popped up is BeybladeGeeks.

But who are they exactly? BeybladeGeeks, or BBG for short, are a small group of Canadian adults that review, unbox, and battle with Beyblade products. Over the years, they have amassed a very generous collection of Beyblades and other spinning top toys which they make their videos about. BBG have been to Hong Kong, Japan, and other countries to participate in Beyblade events and check out markets. Today, they boast over 1.8 million subscribers and nearly one billion views.

Brendan, Steven and William got started on YouTube in March of 2011. Their first few videos weren’t too much to write home about, even according to them. Essentially they would get together on weekends to make a short little video of whatever Beyblade activity they were doing, whether it be battling, unboxing a new top, or being goofy and making fun skits.

Although they started small, before long, the BBG had amassed a small but considerable following of fans who watched them create explosive Beyblade battles, do fun challenges like eating Vaseline . . .

. . . and generally giving watchers the inside view of a couple friends who like Beyblading together. Things would get bigger as time went on and more Beyblades were released.

Sadly, however, in November of 2013, news would break that BBG William had passed away. Brendan and Steven would take a brief hiatus before making a now-deleted video statement about the news, and shortly afterwards continuing to create Beyblade content for the channel.

Despite this setback, Brendan and Steven continued making videos, putting their all into keeping up the energy. It certainly paid off as Beyblade would move into a dark age, with little to nothing being known about what was to come after the second generation, Metal Fight, had ended. Hasbro was still releasing Metal Fight but for a short time, BBG took a foray into Top Plate, a Beyblade competitor by Korean company Sonokong. This wouldn’t last long as shortly after, the first video on Beyblade's third generation, Beyblade Burst, would be released.

Moving into the Burst era, BBG’s success would be pretty much unhindered. A lot of fans of the Metal Series would move on however their loss was made up for in leagues by new Beyblade fans who were interested in Burst. The Beyblade Burst series itself would last for much longer than any other Beyblade generation and BBG were right there to make battle videos, unboxings and reviews for the new generation of Beybladers.

Currently, BeybladeGeeks are getting into the new fourth generation of Beyblade, known as Beyblade X. With Burst finishing up soon, it’s likely we will see an homage to Burst and an address to fans in a BBG Talks episode along with all of the hype for Beyblade X and its crazy new system.

With BeybladeGeeks, being a YouTube channel and producing content that is watched subjectively by viewers interested, it’s difficult to nail a solid definition for what they’re best content is. In my opinion for this post, I don't believe there is "best" BeybladeGeeks video. Contrarily, I'd love to share what I think are the videos that best showcase what BeybladeGeeks are all about.

One of the biggest steps in BBG’s development was the EPIC BEYBLADE BATTLE: Vulcan Leone AD145DS vs. Gravity Perseus DF145FS battle video.

BBG featured their staple style of battle video that stayed pretty consistent throughout the years: Intro sequence showing the Beyblades of the video, battles taking place on the ottoman with the camera situated above, instant replays after epic moments, and a point counter at the bottom of screen after each battle ends. Aside from that, this battle is most notable for the insane revival jump of Vulcan Leone in the final round.

Another key video is the 【TRIPLE 230WD MARATHON】Flash Sagittario VS. Duo Uranus VS. Flame Byxis w/ Metal Face - EPIC!!!

The BBG spend 11 minutes battling in a variety of stadiums whilst only using the, at the time, three Beyblades with the tallest spin track, 230, measuring 23 millimeters in height. There is virtually no editing as the three bladers battle on until William has to go to work, with several epic moments throughout. While there aren't any notable changes in style here, this video really shows how Beyblade brings people together as BBG have the time of their lives in the video.

One of their videos, while not really being about Beyblading, does do a great job at showing the fun and friendship BBG had. This video is known affectionately as the Basalt Horogium Cake Drop Test.

This video sees BBG attempting to destroy the hardened topper they had received on a Basalt Horogium styled cake as congratulations for reaching 40 million views and 40 thousand subscribers. Brendan, Steven, and William take things outdoors to try and break the cake topper they had left out for too long. While there isn’t any Beyblading in this video, it really shows off the personality and energy of the BBG, just goofing around and tossing a cake topper all over the street.

On paper, the concept of some dudes playing with spinning tops and posting videos about it online doesn't sound like it would be very successful, but the BeybladeGeeks made it work. What really drives this forward aside from the fans of course is the popularity of Beyblade, as it has a considerable amount of fans, young and old, from all of its generations as far back as 1999, all over the world.

The most commendable and admirable thing that anyone can take away from their success is the importance of perseverance and never giving up when things get rough. It was a tough time after William passed, and for a brief period, it was unclear if BeybladeGeeks would continue to make videos. But Brendan and Steven were able to get back up and continue to make great Beyblade videos, reaching milestones that most YouTubers could only dream of.

"Okay, listen. Like, [Haters] can’t do their own thing, and they’re just jealous of what you are doing. Honestly, you don’t have to care about the smallest little things that haters do; they don’t affect you. You just have to do your own thing, because in the end, you can’t please everyone. You can only please the close people around you. Who cares about haters, man? You don’t need to care about haters.” - William Ma, April 2013.

Be sure to check out BeybladeGeeks on YouTube; every image in the blog post will take you the place it originated!

Also check my YouTube channels out at

https://www.youtube.com/@HenryInTheTunnel

and

https://www.youtube.com/@MetalTopsInc

Thanks for reading, don't be a hater, and have a great day!