This creator gained 4,000,000 subscribers in 90 days.
No studio. No camera. No fancy gear.
Just Discord screenshots that he turned into viral gold.
Here's how a cat named Beluga broke YouTube:
Before June 2021, Beluga (the human) was gaining around 800 subscribers monthly.
His first videos? A Minecraft documentary, a reaction to a goose attack, and some commentary on Dream.
Nothing special at all.
Then something unexpected changed YouTube's algorithm forever:
In June, he posted "Discord Ban Speedrun."
It hit 1M views in ONE HOUR. By September: 4M subscribers.
That's 44,000 new subs DAILY for 3 months straight.
All with just 50 videos made from his bedroom.
What growth hack did this teenager discover?
While others fought to make polished content with expensive gear, Beluga did the opposite.
He created stories using Discord screenshots.
No fancy equipment. No expensive software. Just Discord and basic editing.
But his formula contained one brilliant twist:
He created fictional characters having Discord conversations.
The main character? A cat named Beluga in ridiculous situations.
He added sound effects and clever timing to make static screenshots feel alive.
The genius was in the accessibility:
His content was instantly recognizable to Discord users.
The relatability was off the charts.
Every Discord user has experienced these conversations.
But there was more to his strategy than just relatability...
He mastered what YouTube calls "session time."
His videos were short (2-3 min) but packed with rapid messages and constant sound effects.
In one 10-second clip, there could be 11 different sound changes. This stimulation kept viewers glued to the screen.
Look away for a second, you'd miss context.
Messages appeared and vanished so quickly that viewers often rewound...
Which counted as extra watch time.
But his thumbnail strategy revealed an even more counterintuitive insight:
While others made polished, professional thumbnails...
Beluga's were intentionally blurry, poorly cropped screenshots.
They looked amateur - that's exactly why they worked.
They stood out in recommendations.
His title formula multiplied this effect tenfold:
• Average Length: 33 characters (half of YouTube average)
• Used inclusive language ("when you...")
• Included odd specific numbers (9.17 seconds, 97.1% success)
These weird numbers made titles more intriguing than round ones.
The psychological trigger behind his approach? 
His thumbnails always paused right before something interesting happened.
They captured "cliffhanger moments" triggering curiosity.
Together with his title strategy, his content became irresistible.
Why did this approach crush the competition?
Beluga designed content to be binged.
Though each video was short, viewers watched 3-4 in a row.
YouTube's algorithm loves this - it keeps people on the platform longer.
He created recurring characters and storylines across videos.
The hidden catalyst behind his success?
His genius was turning limitations into advantages:
• No equipment? Used Discord screenshots
• No film crew? Created format needing just one person
• No editing skills? Made simplicity his brand
His success proved content quality isn't about production value.
The Beluga formula works for any creator:
1. Find formats your audience understands
2. Create binge-worthy content
3. Use titles/thumbnails to create curiosity
4. Focus on relatability over production
5. Post consistently
One suggestion I'd make to Beluga?
He's missing out on potential customers for his merch store by not using a link-in-bio software optimized for conversions.
It's one of the easiest things to set up, but so many creators leave money on the table by going without one.
It's why we built GetAllMyLinks.
We applied the same principles of simplicity and effectiveness that made Beluga's content work to solve the biggest challenge creators face:
Turning social media attention into actual business outcomes.
See why 100,000+ creators trust us below.
https://getallmylinks.com/
Video credits (YouTube):
• Man Attacked By Goose (almost dies)
• Discord Ban Speedrun (97.1% effective)
• When a Hacker Finds Your Password...
• Discord Nitro Speedrun (97.1% success)
• When a Hacker Finds Your Password...
• Never Steal Someone's Profile Picture...
• Discord Mods Be Like...
Images:
• Beluga cat discord " Sticker for Sale by IzabeAlvin | Redbubble
• When Your Discord Username is Taken... | The Beluga Cinematic Universe Wiki | Fandom
• Beluga Cat Discord Posters for Sale | Redbubble
