The organizing principle for 2015's Rewind video was to create a snapshot of the year on YouTube that moves forward and backward, following four unique paths. In the first three paths, the camera leads the viewer through a visual recap of the most recognizable trends of 2015 before physically “rewinding” and moving backward through the same spaces. The fourth path takes us even further into the past, through 10 years of YouTube history. Throughout the video, music guides the journey, as the soundtrack reflects and gives deeper meaning to the visuals. In the trip down 10 years of history, an original arrangement from Avicii expresses the nostalgia of a decade of unforgettable moments on the platform.

Throughout the five-month creative development process, the production team worked hand-in-hand with The Hood Internet and Aviici to break down some of the most anthemic songs of the year (Justin Beiber’s “What Do You Mean?”, “Lean On” by Major Lazer & DJ Snake, “Cheerleader” by Omi, “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd and “Watch Me (Whip Nae/Nae)” by Silento ) and then re-assemble them to create the ultimate 2015 musical mashup. Equipped with the track, the production team puzzled together a sprawling shoot that took place over 21 days, spanned 18 countries and featured 150+ YouTube creators, viral stars, and traditional celebrities – including the likes of James Corden, Karlie Kloss, Omi and T-pain. The release of the video in December was timed with a multifaceted distribution approach, including cross-promotion from the massive creator base who posted custom stills, GIFs and behind-the-scenes content from the video.

#YouTubeRewind became the #1 trending topic globally on Twitter before the video was even released and garnered 143K mentions online within the first two hours of its launch. The hero video is approaching 95M views and 3M+ positive engagements on YouTube alone. All told, the total reach of the campaign has been a resounding 1B+ total social impressions. Rewind 2015 stands as a testament to the fact that YouTube is not only a platform for sharing video content, but a cultural movement that touches all parts of the globe.