How Dumb Ways to Die Became an Icon

Dumb Ways to Die is currently the most widely shared PSA of all time, and that's for a good reason. Advertisements, PSA's specifically, tend to be very serious and scarring to those the view it. But Dumb Ways to Die is NOT your traditional ad.
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TIMESTAMPS:
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0:00 - Ads Suck
1:01 - Dumb Ways to Die
1:42 - The Creation
3:12 - Why It Worked
4:38 - Video Aftermath
5:12 - Games & Follow Ups
7:23 - Selling Out
8:58 - So Many Dumb Ways to Die
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Music List:
pastebin.com/WRLZ3n1d

[@TheDigitalApple]

The only PSA we actually took to heart.

[@adama3265]

Yeah

[@Abypar]

@@adama3265 hey thats my pfp!

[@Abypar]

@Aby_Permana you too!

[@FlowBroVR]

Fr

[@AlexanderHulettHulett-xp3yb]

@@FlowBroVRFr Fr.

[@fgfofficial482]

I find it hysterical how despite this being a massive and popular PSA franchise, people on TikTok find even dumber ways to die

[@argon2532]

Oh, the unfortunate irony.

[@Jeff_WeedEater]

Pink sauce

[@jonaut5705]

@@Jeff_WeedEater boat jumping

[@Gam1ngM3nace]

​@@Jeff_WeedEaterSkull breaker challenge

[@Kirbydogs9]

Yeah, I thought he was going to mention that. Even using the song while potentially killing each other is the best idea TikTok has had yet!

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

_Dumb Ways to Die_ is pretty much like _Happy Tree Friends_ of the mobile apps games and advertisements. The difference is that HTF is comically gruesome for the sake of shock value while DWTD demonstrated the deaths for safety measures.

[@FillieYT]

And they both have nfts

[@Suqarr]

Anything good always ends up doing nfts :(

[@Kanohyx]

i grew up with both , no wonder why i don't have a reaction to general content with shock value

[@vincentcriscenzo1709]

Finding your your favorite childhood characters got turned into NFTs is like finding out your favorite actor got addicted to meth.

[@DespicableGru469]

Yeah some stuff like a couple of the Dumb Ways To Die spinoffs and espically the NFTs were very money hungry

[@AustinSnellAustinSnell]

​@deacon685don't do meth

[@malcolmcotie5918]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@TheRandomYTDude]

​@@AustinSnellAustinSnelldon't say that about waltuh

[@alex.g7317]

@@AustinSnellAustinSnellwhy? I don’t want to make meth-cooks obsolete! They need money 😢

[@ryandelaney3547]

It's so sad to see another one of my favorite franchises go down being sold, having too many spinoffs, and making NFTs.. Hopefully they'll make something good in the next few years.

[@metaknight3116]

Ehh they got off easy compared to other mobile games

[@mightyx5441]

​@@metaknight3116yeah imagine a anrgry bird, temple run, subway surfers, and cut the ripe nft, movie, or corrupted coporation

[@metaknight3116]

@calokifilm6392 because angry birds had way more crappy spin-offs, then got deleted off the App Store, and PVZ got bought by EA.

[@muzankibutsuji8919]

Tbh it wasn't even that bad. NFT aside, just making spinoffs or collaborating is rather light and you can't blame the for spreading a bit.

[@Agudname]

They should do a trends where the dumb ways are trends like eating pink sauce or nywell chicken

[@lt_gamer6035]

That song has been stuck in everyone's heads for 11 years

[@Mega_Gaming1337]

i know right

[@ThisChannelIsAbandoned300]

Going from a PSA for Train Safety, to becoming a million dollar Franchise.

[@Ranger_void]

the song brings back so much memories its kinda sad how advertisements are just messed up and companies don't do nothing about it making good ads become less popular and less recognize and then the bad ads just pop up in peoples face. Dumb ways to die was remembered because it was very cool and the song makes me bounce my head a lot it sad how advertainments are terrible.

[@Azurethewolf168]

It was remembered because it was totally unconventional and unique to the more gritty and realistic ads of then and even today.

[@CommanderNoob]

I feel like a PSA that essentially calls people who die in stupid ways stupid idiots is a PSA that hits harder.

[@zarasty]

As someone who used to play dumb ways to die every day, this just sent me to nostalgia lane

[@Jeff_WeedEater]

I remember always singing the theme song all the time in school Gud times

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Same.

[@Euroneurogreece3097]

Same myan.

[@sanjakuzmanovic3729]

With the NFTs you could say the franchise died in a dumb way.

[@Emma_The_H0ppin_H00ligan]

Ngl when i was a kid i LOVED dumb ways to die, when i first watched it i had the sound turned off so i would just constantly sing it extremely off-key lol. I also remember this one time i asked my mom to sew me a dress because i wanted to be the guy who sold his kidneys for halloween but i didn't actually TELL her that part so when i told her i wanted to use red thread for the dress she wouldn't let me because it would clash with the blue fabric so i completely scrapped the idea and went as a cat instead

[@ringer1324]

I remember when I was obsessed with these games and ads. Dumb Ways To Die was goated

[@sourlab]

This man that reviews bad mobile games has better video essays than some actual KZbinrs which do video essays

[@T3rr0r626]

I also do video essays lol

[@elainetiamson4373]

Lol

[@ContinuedOak]

This was absolutely a cultural shift here in Australia

[@Slender.E.N]

T3rr0r: can you remember what ad you saw before watching this video? me with an ad blocker:

[@mustafayeni2979]

When I was a child I was really scared of this game because my sister showed this to me during nighttime when the lights were out after she told me about the elevator game thing, so after that I was TERRIFIED of death and stuff

[@Gu550rG3m]

Same, I was scared for a month.

[@eko9554]

The aesthetic is something I really like and reminds me of the 2010s

[@Azurethewolf168]

Yeah, it’s that amateur design that you can tell was made by a small but dedicated team

[@felixmcjuandice]

This the only PSA, that is fun to watch, makes you learn to not be an idiot, and easy to understand for kids. Kids will understand anything, when it's about singing about it.

[@voguishthrone5887]

Man… I remember getting so freaked out about Dumb Ways to Die I would get so scared and lash out as mad whenever I heard the jingle at the start of the game. I was just so… scared for some reason that is honestly so funny to look back at now

[@FriedCuttlefish]

As an Australian I approve of Dumb Ways To Die And as someone who was around during it's peak I cry of happiness that it happened in the first place.

[@lilharm]

Imagine if you had to answer a question about the ad you watched or be forced to watch another

[@chorizochomper7520]

0:48 Don't be dissing my boy Dr. Amigo

[@Thulumari]

This game actually reminded me not to stick a fork in the toaster when the intrusive thought popped into my head.

[@leyulis8882]

I once almost took a pop tart off with a metal claw thing

[@Azurethewolf168]

Just use your hand lol

[@Thulumari]

@@Azurethewolf168 I don’t wanna burn my hand sometimes 😞

[@Azurethewolf168]

@@Thulumari damn

[@imaweiner1293]

Honestly, selling it off was the best thing they could do. As you stated, it wasn't made to be profitable, so it was only right for them to sell it off and likely put the profits towards bettering their railways and further raising awareness.

[@permacoo3760]

True

[@shiningfilmzph]

This generation needs another one like dumb ways to die (mostly with these tiktok trends killing people for the stupidest reasons)

[@Ozzbim]

try the grimace shake right now boi

[@andy_bg234]

At least they still teach kids good things 😁👍🏻

[@leyulis8882]

And yet they still do Tiktok challenges

[@chiyomi1502]

I been watching you for a year and you make the best commentary ever i hope you get something from working so hard

[@bloxycrew7697]

The way you talked about memorable ads, it reminded me of the puppymonkeybaby ad

[@DespicableGru469]

Did not know that Dumb Ways To Die started as a PSA, I found its history quite intresting, pretty epic video as always🎉

[@drowsytheawsum]

I remember my mom not liking dumb ways to die due to the violence/blood when I used to play it loads when I was younger. I still love that game

[@chadgorosaurus4898]

Most iconic PSA to ever exist

[@UnhingedStickFigure]

It’s insane how dumb ways to die predict the challenges on tik tok YEARS before it was invent

[@hudysex]

Dumb Ways to Die Became our childhood game

[@aidenyang3330]

Fun fact: the happy tree friends dwtd parody gives a message to be careful around cigarettes,alcohol, and junk food.

[@Stupididiot67]

That’s liberal propoganda. Drink and drive don’t be a pansy

[@aupotato_msm]

funny how a 3 minute train safety psa has an entire fandom

[@koopatroopa051]

"With the funny little characters dying horrible painful deaths." *Happy Tree Friends music intensifies"

[@brobroblox3776]

I watched this in kindergarten, I live in Australia, It traumatized me and I was so scared of trains after that. I don’t know who thought this was good for kids, it’s so disturbing

[@giorgospapoutsakis5271]

Dude you're not being down to earth if something carefully put together just for kids traumatizes you I don't know what it'll do if they used a serious psa that's actually guaranteed to affect you a negative way,im sorry but i disagree because people actually want to watch it again and not what other PSAs do

[@brobroblox3776]

@@giorgospapoutsakis5271 you are clearly a kid go and watch it it WILL traumatize you

[@brobroblox3776]

@@giorgospapoutsakis5271 bro deleted his comment 💀 I’ll repost it for you: Dude you're not being down to earth if something carefully put together just for kids traumatizes you I don't know what it'll do if they used a serious psa that's actually guaranteed to affect you a negative way,im sorry but i disagree because people actually want to watch it again and not what other PSAs do

[@Ashley._17.]

if you're traumatized, then that's good. Now you know not to act stupid around trians A message from metro

[@radiaator5708]

Nice video i loved it! keep up the work! 😊

[@user-yu5re1yd9w]

Dumb ways to die reminds me that the most effective PSA's set a firm example, but one that is fun and memorable so we understand why the message is important.

[@Legorunner]

I remember recording the psa song with my 1st Nokia phone from my mom's computer, because I liked the song.

[@weely31]

i'd like to thank you for talking about the topics that interest us but didn't need to know.

[@blitzenthereviewingguy3082]

Franchises like Dumb Ways to Die are what make me proud to be Australian, it is a shame that they fell into NFTs though

[@Knightmare404]

What's wrong with that? it's just another product like the others.

[@PotaTo_Wurld]

Like everyone :(

[@mightyx5441]

​@@PotaTo_Wurldbro your pfp made me jump

[@shitanotosaurus]

@@Knightmare404 found the nft bro

[@Knightmare404]

@@shitanotosaurus I don't know man, calling me names isn't really an argument :/

[@Frozzfire_Blackheart]

My request/suggestion has been accepted (finally) ty t3rror for making this video

[@PinkMrSaturn]

I always thought the kidney dude (Dunce) was holding a head of lettuce until I got back into DWTD in 2020 and realized that he was holding money.

[@venom_1072]

I literally still bump that shit in my Spotify favorites playlist

[@TheXppp1]

I didn't realize this was a PSA until you mentioned it

[@hungariancountryball2928]

Dumb ways to die is such an amazing game

[@belowfactual]

If their theme song us not playing in my funeral I refuse to die

[@2ballm]

3:41 i like how you add clod to the last chorus

[@BrassThunder981]

I remember a few months after I discovered KZbin, I just watched Dumb Ways to Die related videos. It was also how I discovered Jacksepticeye & Annoying Orange.

[@mistorbear]

HEY APPLE, HEY, HEY APPLE, APPLE HEY, APPLE

[@BrassThunder981]

@@mistorbear What? What? What is it?

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

​@@BrassThunder981 Knife!

[@BrassThunder981]

@@poweroffriendship2.0 🔪 🍎 . Also, holy crap, the Mr. Friendship replied to my comment!

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

@@BrassThunder981 👍

[@HalfSkullStars]

The ending was emotional

[@UltimaDoombotMK1]

I am in Malaysia, so the ad I got was for some shopping app which offered free shipping on loads of stuff for a promotion of some kind. Yes, perfectly forgettable, but then again it is ruthlessly crammed down your throat every 3rd video you watch and also I saw it less than a minute ago, which is why I remembered it. You are correct, though, I do not want to get that app.

[@OPterro9002nintendofan]

Hi live in a Australia and metro hasn’t used the dumb ways to die characters for a while and I haven’t seen any of the characters (I think)

[@wilale]

Ads really killed the game, rest in peace

[@chippy6792]

4:56 honestly, comparing it to the other parodies, that one is one of the best

[@btw578]

Theres only one ad that made me buy their stuff and it was a scrub daddy ad those people really are cookin something else

[@Fr3akykas]

THE GOAT IS BACK WITH A GOATED VIDEO

[@texanarchy666]

You know its a good ad when i never even knew it was an ad

[@waiyitang209]

man those videos I watched about is just classic

[@felidel22]

nicely done t3rr0r

[@JasperTedVidalTale]

Excellent icon ways video

[@electrifiedwits]

alt title: how a ad bout rail safety became arguably one of the most iconic games

[@arch_caff]

These days Dumb Ways to Die feels kinda dead. There used to be posters and wallpapers all over stations around Melbourne, but now the posters are gone and the wallpapers have eroded. Whenever I see them a part of me wilts away.

[@Azurethewolf168]

Yeah of course, the times change. It wasn’t anything but a fad that was gonna die soon.

[@arayangodfrey1971]

Dumb Ways to Die is so nostalgic!

[@ChiknNuggs_EditZ]

Dumb ways to die is so nostalgic 😢 I remember playing dumb ways to die and we had so much fun. 😢

[@Carbon_01]

Nice vid keep it up

[@TOGFszn]

After I noticed dumb ways to die was Australian I realised why the blue guy has his hair on fire

[@frendamikoto]

honestly the way some people die nowadays tells me they clearly never watched this. it should be mandatory viewing lol

[@instentproductions3180]

hearing terror actuialy laught at the end is insane guys. he's havin fun this truly is insane

[@Sunny-ff9vw]

Amazing! Now I know why they are so popular! 😊

[@AngelG_Drawingz]

That video helped me from not taking my toast out with a metallic object

[@MrMagnacharge]

This was a ad? and a psa i was thinking someone was like "man i wana make a funny music video of beans dieing"

[@shadowbonnie2314]

7:09 When I was growing up as a kid to even now all I knew was the ad campaign and the first two games, the rest of the games and anything else basically never existed to my knowledge until now... fascinating though tbh.

[@jojogacha974]

never even knew this was a psa.

[@acooldude109]

As an Australian, this makes me feel like Australia is actually have popular stuff.

[@Azurethewolf168]

Yeah it does, kangaroos

[@katzzy6482]

Hii!!! I live in melbourne and I'd just like to add that at some train stations here there are signs of DWTD, like on escalators and stuff to promote being careful around escalators,, p cool

[@N0bdi3]

Miss that dumb ways to die game bro part of my childhood its sad to see that is sold😢

[@FlowBroVR]

DWTD will always be a legendary song

[@Greenandpinkisagoodcombo1]

The only psa that actually made 6 year old me be safe around trains

[@gmodmachinimas11]

"do you remember the ad you watched before this video" Me with an Ad-blocker: no.

[@user-ui9qy6cw5y]

"can you remember what ad you saw on this video" Me who didn't even get an ad: yes

[@swellybelly5970]

glad your finally branching out to your own style of videos instead of the same kids mobile game videos.

[@LilDoofy]

There are only 2 kinds of PSAs -A mother shooting her child so her criminal son can’t skip school -Dumb ways to die (Yes the first one actually exist)

[@Notdog610]

And THE PENGUIN SECRET AGENCY FROM HIT 2004 GAME CLUB PENGUIN (2004)!!!!!!!!!

[@taghreedali1948]

Literally the top comment of the ad says about how this was never meant to be a popular IP.

[@epicstar86]

Still can't believe they are releasing new DWTD games to this day

[@arpitaroy6011]

The song is just legendary

[@minizone3239]

Remember over 200 million people watched dumb ways to die, Yet people still die in dumb ways

[@brandonnoname648]

I got a PSA wanting this 😂

[@SONICBOOM1889]

I remember playing Dumb Ways To Die the day it released on the app store. I was a MASSIVE FAN of the game...

[@GreenKnight07]

0:19 yes, i Remember Lego Eggman doing a cool Little rap. Whoever came up with this idea needs a promotion

[@Ashley._17.]

I started to play the games back i 2014. Now i saw the song first i liked it a lot but didn't think much about it until i heared their were GAMES based of this song, and i was hocked on these games. I played the first game, the second game, and the drawing game.

[@BryceplaysRoblox]

One time i saw a disturbing advertisement that I won't forget

[@Pizzagobbler95]

4:22 idk this ad is pretty memorable to

[@friendlyneighborhoodnoob]

For a franchise focused on dumb ways to die, Beanland doesn't seem to have that much variation

[@Krillabee]

I miss this era 😭

[@shadowbonnie2314]

4:53 Never knew people made parodies of Deb Ways to Die, damn...

[@yeet4234]

I never even knew that it was a psa let alone an add

[@Weirdoeevee]

Me who has KZbin premium: Ads don’t effect me anymore.

[@elfboy-productionzz6815]

I didn’t know it was a PSA, I just thought it was just some music video that became a mobile game