Line #13 Main/ASMRVideo


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/asmrtall_6.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:Some examples of ASMR triggers.\
3	Top: Writing on a chalkboard.\
4	Middle: [[WebVideo/EphemeralRift Stirring salt with a mortar and pestle.]]\
5	Bottom: Crinkling heavy fabric.]]
6	%%
7	ASMR videos are a popular, if rather niche, genre of online content. They're specifically designed to provoke the ASMR response[[note]]'''A'''utonomous '''S'''ensory '''M'''eridian '''R'''esponse, a relaxing reaction to a variety of sensations and noises, sometimes described as "brain tingles" and typically felt as a tingling sensation on the scalp, neck, and/or upper spine, although it sometimes shows up as marked drowsiness[[/note]] in the viewer by incorporating a wide variety of what are referred to as trigger sounds, with some of the most popular being sounds of crinkling, tapping, scratching, sizzling, or even eating, as well as whispering or speaking softly. Videos can be as simple as the creator simply making the sounds, or be as involved as roleplay scenarios featuring costuming, props, and sets or greenscreen backgrounds.
8
9	Creators from across the world post videos covering a ''wide'' variety of topics while featuring tons of ASMR triggers, and many channels exist specifically to cater to ASMR fans. Some people have also discovered that media outside the ASMR community can give the same reaction and have made videos documenting this. ''Series/TheJoyOfPainting'' is one well-known example due to Bob Ross' baritone voice and soft, soothing manner of speech. There are also [=YouTube=] channels dedicated to "unintentional ASMR", featuring videos where someone is doing something completely non-ASMR-related, but still produces the response due to the way they're speaking or the sounds made by what they're doing.
10
11	Often used interchangeably with ASMR is "mukbang." Mukbang is a form of video where someone films themselves eating food (usually in large quantities) while talking to their viewers, either in a live-stream format or FakeInteractivity format. The trend began in UsefulNotes/SouthKorea but spread to other parts of the internet as well. Mukbang is not the same as ASMR, but many people find that it produces a similar effect as it involves similar triggers as ASMR videos. While mukbang does have a fanbase, it has been criticized for encouraging unhealthy binge eating, and along with being turned off by the sound of eating, people who aren't accustomed to East Asian cultures' acceptance of slurping may be turned off by that sound in particular. The ASMR video genre itself also has its detractors, with common criticisms being simply finding the concept creepy, weird, or silly. Also, many people have strongly negative reactions to the ASMR response or certain trigger sounds, especially [[TheMisophonic misophonia sufferers]].
12
13	While ASMR content really got its start on Platform/YouTube, it's seen growth on Platform/{{Twitch}} and Platform/TikTok as well. Several [[VirtualYouTuber VTubers]] (including members of WebAnimation/{{Hololive}} and WebAnimation/{{NIJISANJI}}) do ASMR-focused streams, and some [=TikTok=] creators do live shoots producing ASMR content.
14
15	'''ASMR video creators with pages on the wiki:'''
16
17	[[index]]
18	* WebVideo/AmarasAudios
19	* WebVideo/{{Babblebrook}} by Platform/YouTube user Goodnight Moon
20	* WebVideo/EphemeralRift
21	* WebVideo/FakeASMR
22	* WebVideo/HollowVA
23	* AudioPlay/IrisAudio
24	* WebVideo/VirtualBarberShop by Listening Point
25	* Creator/MissShadowLovely
26	* AudioPlay/CyberpunkASMR by Platform/YouTube user [=EpicASMR=]
27	* Creator/SweetAsHoney
28	* AudioPlay/AlienAbductionRolePlay by Platform/YouTube user Macalda Reye
29	* WebVideo/SeafoamKittensASMR
30	* Podcast/SibyllineSounds
31	* WebVideo/TestSubjectSeriesASMR by Taylor ASMR
32	* WebVideo/TuckerBudzyn
33	* AudioPlay/VividlyASMR
34	* AudioPlay/WholesomeGirlfriendASMR
35	[[/index]]
36
37	----
38	!!ASMR videos provide examples of:
39
40	* AfraidOfDoctors: {{Inverted\|Trope}}. Doctors' visits for things such as eye exams, cranial nerve tests, and even checks for hair lice are very common topics for ASMR videos, and are intentionally made to be as inviting and comforting as possible to enhance the feeling of relaxation.
41	%%* AlienAbduction: This is a popular subgenre, but is not as popular as other roleplays such as doctor visits.
42	* BobRossRib: Due to Bob Ross's popularity within the community, homages by videomakers who dress up as him are common.
43	* BrownNote: Some ASMR videos have effects that could hurt someone. For example, candlelight can trigger seizures for some due to the way it flickers when it's filmed as it's a natural form of EpilepticFlashingLights. Any video that could provoke the wrong triggers will come with a warning.
44	* EarCleaning: Both the traditional Japanese manner and more modern versions have been fodder for ASMR videos, with the tools being brushed across the mic to create the desired sounds.
45	* CoolBigSis: Some videos roleplay scenarios in which an older sibling does something caring for the viewer, such as "Big Sister Does Your Makeup".
46	* {{Cosplay}}: Artists may dress up and act as a character from an existing work or their own character for roleplays.
47	* DarkerAndEdgier: Some videos are horror themed, putting the viewer in dangerous or frightening situations, UpCloseWithTheMonster being the defining trope in such videos. The best example being AudioPlay/AlienAbductionRolePlay.
48	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The original Virtual Barbershop recording could be considered an originator of the concept, however it's notable for having NONE of the usual features- there is no video, no one whispers, the listener is expected to close their eyes for the full effect and they refer to the effect as "cetera". Newcomers discovering it may be quite surprised at how different it is from modern ASMR.
49	* ExtremeCloseUp: Many videos use camera angles that zoom in on the artist's hands or face, to simulate being close enough to be touched. The artist will also often lean in very close to the camera, sometimes as part of a roleplay, other times to whisper into the microphone(s).
50	* EverythingSoundsSexierInFrench: ...and Russian, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Japanese, etc.
51	* FakeInteractivity: It is standard in the genre for the "performer" to ask questions of and/or speak to the viewer, to enhance the feeling of communicating with the "performer".
52	* {{Fanservice}}: This sometimes factors into the theme of a video. For instance, some ASMR videos revolve around the creator being on a beach or showing off a clothing haul, which will involve the creator wearing swimsuits, low-cut and/or midriff-baring shirts, and the like. Other times, an [=ASMRtist=] will create a video cosplaying as a character known for having a fanservicey costume, such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBSReHa2-bI this cosplay]] of Leeloo from ''Film/TheFifthElement'', or a scenario in which such dress would be the norm, such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC1OyZOg7Ro&t=2218s cosplaying an attendant at a hot spring spa]].
53	* HandyFeet: Some female ASMR [[Platform/YouTube Youtubers]] center their videos around picking up and manipulating small items with their bare feet and toes.
54	* IntimateHairBrushing: Hair brushing is a popular theme due to its inherently soothing nature and the sound of the brush moving through the hair being a good trigger. Depending on the video, the [=ASMRtist=] may brush another person's hair, a wig on a mannequin head, or simulate brushing the viewer's hair by moving the brush around the camera and editing in the sound.
55	* {{Iyashikei}}: Many videos try to relax the viewer by providing roleplays in idyllic settings. However, increasing numbers of videos subvert this by combining the soft sounds with scary, dangerous, or annoying situations, usually for humour or storytelling purposes.
56	* ManipulativeEditing: British ASMR creator Sophie Michelle [[https://twitter.com/beyondapearl/status/1066091666862411777?lang=en fell victim to this]]. In late 2018 she gave an interview on Creator/Channel4 talking about ASMR and her career making videos. The studio later edited the footage in a manner that was quite unflattering and showed said footage without her consent on ''Series/{{Gogglebox}}'', which led to the people on that show rudely criticizing her and her work.
57	* MundaneMadeAwesome: Cooking, cleaning, folding towels...as long as the trigger is there, people will watch it.
58	* NapInducingSpeak: ASMR is often used as much as a sleep aid as for the tingle response, and some creators, such as Jojo's ASMR, [[InvokedTrope intentionally style their output to this effect]] and/or mention it in video titles.
59	* {{Narrator}}: Some ASMR videos feature a scripted off-screen narration accompanying what the creator is doing on-screen. The aforementioned clothing haul videos are one particular instance, with the creator modeling the clothes while the narration describes how they were obtained, why they're liked, etc.
60	* OffTheShelfFX: Many ASMR performers are on a budget so they use household items, their personal property, and/or props that you could find at a "dollar store". Anything goes as long as it can provide the desired triggers. Some videos are just narration over StockFootage or video the creator shot themselves. Jojo's ASMR has a parody in his "The Struggles Of An [=ASMRtist=]" video of how [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sA_lN5Xdf4&t=128s he can't go shopping without tapping random items around the store to see how they sound for a video]].
61	* PickACard:
62	** [=JoJo's=] ASMR has several videos where he demonstrates magic tricks with playing cards, using both his whispered dialogue and the sounds of the cards moving as triggers.
63	** In a variant, ediyasmr does videos where she places single Tarot cards under stones or crystals, asking the viewer to choose the card based on the rock they're most drawn to. The viewer can then skip ahead in the video to the point where their card is chosen for a reading.
64	* SpecialGuest:
65	** It's quite common for ASMR creators to feature other creators in their videos, either in a scripted or roleplay situation or simply for them to do things with each other to produce triggers.
66	** Most of itsblitzzz's ASMR videos are based around her doing hairplay and light massage on a guest. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DnPh68VGyQ In one such video]], her guest was Music/MelanieMartinez. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCArmQehR30 Later]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdOG2BmaQTY videos]] featured singer/songwriters [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devendra_Banhart Devendra Banhart]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Missal Donna Missal]].
67	* TheUnintelligible:
68	** Some videos have the [=ASMRtist=] whispering or mumbling in incoherent nonsense speech to use the flow of the spoken sounds as the trigger.
69	** Some of them do this unintentionally. To quote a Youtube commenter:
70	--->There is a fine between 'soft spoken' and 'I literally cannot hear what you're saying.'
71	* UpCloseWithTheMonster: Some horror-themed ASMR videos are based around very close interactions with a certain monster or creature. Vampires and aliens are especially prominent for this type.
72	** Behind the Moons provides one for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWN_l7V7RSU each]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcpSl_oUn30 creature]].
73	** {{Downplayed\|Trope}} by [[Characters/HololiveMoriCalliopeCh Mori Calliope]], whose videos are largely normal ASMR content although her character is an associate of the Grim Reaper and she plays with her fans being called "Deadbeats" by mentioning them being skeletons.
74	* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Some ASMR videos build on their cozy appeal by being themed around encouraging words and messages of affirmation.
75	* YouTasteDelicious:
76	** ASMR creators that emphasize what are generally called "wet mouth sounds" will do things such as making "ear eating" and kissing sounds into the microphone.
77	** Most horror ASMR videos where the [=ASMRtist=] is playing a vampire will have the "vampire" telling the listener how amazing their blood tastes after feeding.
78
79	!!In-Universe mentions of the trope:
80
81	[[AC:LiveActionTelevision]]
82	* ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'': In "[[Recap/BrooklynNineNineS7E08TheTakeback The Takeback]]", [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s6Bgz9F-cs Jake pretends]] to be "Matt Daniel", a fictional Twitch [=ASMRist=] (though the show calls him an ASMR Performer), complaining about the noise in his hotel room he's supposedly streaming from, with Doug Judy acting as his agent. This is actually a ruse to get the concierge to leave her computer alone long enough for someone to hack into it.
83	* ''Series/JoePeraTalksWithYou'': Joe Pera speaks in a quiet, soothing voice, but three particular episodes are specifically dedicated to lulling the viewer to sleep, as well as being funny: "Joe Pera Talks You To Sleep", the animated special that preceded the live-action series; the season one episode "Joe Pera Talks You Back To Sleep"; and a special called "Relaxing Old Footage with Joe Pera", released to calm people down during the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic.
84	* In an episode of ''Series/SantaClaritaDiet'', Abbie insists to her parents that college is not her only option if she wants future financial success by citing her classmate who dropped out and now makes ASMR videos, and makes enough money to pay her parents' mortgage. She describes it as a "Non-Sexual Fetish".
85	* One of the videos on a ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' sketch depicting a [=TikTok=] scroll is of an [=ASMRtist=] (played by James Austin Johnson) doing a [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Homer Simpson]] impression.
86	* On an episode of ''Series/WouldILieToYou'' one of the "This is My..." mystery guests was [=ASMRtist=] [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvge4UTW-x1hiTO3JJMc96Q ASMR Angel]], invited onto the program by guest/comedian Joe Lycett as he finds relaxation through watching her videos.
87	* ''Series/WillAndGrace'': In "Lies and Whispers", Will's surrogate (played by Music/DemiLovato) shoots [=ASMR=] videos, and invites Jack and Karen to join her in a live podcast, where they get into a whispered argument.
88
89	[[AC:Podcasts]]
90	* ''Podcast/OnTheThreshold'': MadArtist Zoey Evans is inspired by the sudden prevalence of ASMR to investigate what other mental phenomena remain largely undiscovered and seeks to [[BrownNote stimulate those experiences through her VR art]]. Unfortunately the states she tries to induce like [[MadOracle "the inversion of religious ecstasy"]] and [[EternalRecurrence "mnemonokyklosia"]] are infinitely less pleasant than ASMR.
91
92	[[AC:VideoGames]]
93	* ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'': During the second Halloween event, you can answer to Ibaraki's pleas by teasing her using "[[ArousedByTheirVoice Shuten Douji's]] ASMR voice".
94
95	[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]
96	* ''Webcomic/{{Paranatural}}'': When [[http://www.paranatural.net/comic/chapter-5-page-170 Isabel snoops on a teacher's computer]], [[FunnyBackgroundEvent one of the tabs on the open web browser]] is titled "10 Hour Goth Barber ASMR".
97	* ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'': When Claire [[https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3870 tries smoking marijuana for the first time with Tai]], they get into what is, per Claire, [[https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3871 a very stereotypical stoned conversation]].
98	-->'''Claire:''' Are we gonna put on some Music/{{Phish}} and stare at a lava lamp now?\
99	'''Tai:''' ''No.'' [-I listen to ASMR podcasts and watch Platform/YouTube videos about the ocean-].
100	* Ellipsis Stephens, creator of ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'', updated her blog on the comic's site with a long post about [[https://goblinscomic.com/blog/this-is-what-asmr-actually-is her experiences with ASMR]], including revealing that she was involved in the original discussion that led to the name and acronym being created.
101	* ''Webcomic/EnnuiGo'': A particularly naughty request from Sarah leads Hashim to ask if she's been watching balloon animal ASMR videos again.
102
103	[[AC:WebAnimation]]
104	* WebAnimation/{{hololive}}: While many {{Virtual YouTuber}}s do ASMR content, [[Characters/HololiveJapanGenerationTwo Oozora Subaru's]] initial attempts (animated [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf5NVgE-fpg here]]) were a hilarious failure as, between her [[NoIndoorVoice speaking in a gravelly voice]] and not knowing what she was doing, she sounded more like a bad WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck impression than anything. However, she's improved greatly since then, and has also wholeheartedly embraced the "[[AscendedMeme Subaru is a duck]]" meme that sprang from her first tries.
105	* ''WebAnimation/RWBYChibi'': In [[https://youtu.be/p1-_61UTx00 one of the shorts]], Jaune tries to record an ASMR video (an ActorAllusion because his VA records them), only to be constantly interrupted by other Hunters loudly barging into his room.
106	* ''[[WebAnimation/Supermarioglitchy4sSuperMario64Bloopers SMG4]]'': Parodied in "Mario does Literally Anything for Views" where [=SMG4=], chasing trends to break 5 million subscribers, gets Mario to do an ASMR video in spite of both of them being clueless about what they even are. Mario proceeds to make strange mouth noises into the microphone. Ironically, it proves to be one of their few successful efforts. [=SMG4=] also attempt to get Mario to make a Mukbang video but [[BigEater Mario keeps eating everything too quickly to even see, let alone film.]]
107
108	[[AC:WebVideo]]
109	* WebVideo/BrandonRogers has an EasterSpecial ASMR with Sam.
110	* ''WebVideo/GameGrumps'' have [[https://youtu.be/Xni3HQ_nzSc an extended conversation]] about ASMR, and have a ''Ten Minute Power Hour'' episode [[https://youtu.be/jSjaKrYQuDI dedicated to it]].
111	* During her first subathon, fox vtuber WebVideo/{{Nebride}} made it one of the goals to have official ASMR streams after viewers repeatedly praised her voice and her cozy vibes during the unwindings of her dance streams. Her "colored" series of ASMR stream [=VODs=] are uploaded on her [=YouTube=] channel.
112	* ''WebVideo/AuralnautsStarWars''[='=]s take on Kylo Ren has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69IuXVx-Tfk a video]], which he provides various forms of relaxation for the listener.
113	* WebVideo/RhettAndLink have made a few videos where they try out different forms of ASMR (sometimes featuring a popular [=ASMRtist=]) and have a video [[https://youtu.be/0t6mQVej0WU where they discuss the phenomenon]].
114	* ''WebVideo/{{React}}'' has several videos with [=YouTubers=] and other celebrities reacting to ASMR videos.
115
116	[[AC:WebOriginal]]
117	* Mental Floss has an article on [[Series/TheJoyOfPainting Bob Ross]] and the ASMR PeripheryDemographic: [[http://mentalfloss.com/article/65661/how-bob-ross-became-asmr-youtube-star How Bob Ross Became an ASMR YouTube Star]].
118	* In [[LetsPlay/TheDerpCrew ZeRoyalViking]]'s "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9tOOa9Pbls I Bought an ASMR Microphone and Tested It on My Friends]]", he and fellow Derpers Tom Fawkes, John Page, and frequent collaborator [=RitzPlays=] mess around with a binaural microphone doing goofy takes on ASMR video dialogue.
119
120	[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
121	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Parodied in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS34E12MyLifeAsAVlog My Life as a Vlog]]". Patty and Selma do an ASMR video, leaning into FanDisservice with incredibly disgusting visuals.

Context Main / ASMRVideo