Brian David Gilbert (born January 29, 1994), also known by the initials BDG, is an American YouTuber, comedian, actor, host, and musician. He first gained prominence as a video producer at Polygon (2017–2020), where he created and hosted the comedic web series Unraveled. Since leaving Polygon in 2020, Gilbert has produced a variety of independent comedy, music, and horror videos on his own YouTube channel. He is also known for his collaboration with animator Alan Becker, especially as a writer on Becker’s Influencer Arc animated series in 2024.

Writing Role in the Influencer Arc (Episodes 1–3)

The Influencer Arc (also called The Rise and Fall of Green) is a three-episode mini-series in Alan Becker’s Animator vs. Animation franchise, centered on the creation of the stick figure character Green’s YouTube channel and how it affects his friendships. Brian David Gilbert served as a writer for all three episodes of this arc, which aired on Becker’s YouTube channel from September 7 to October 19, 2024. He co-wrote Episode 1: "Green's Channel!", Episode 2: "IS GREEN OKAY!?", and Episode 3: "Burnout" together with Alan Becker and co-writer Skim. In fact, Alan Becker credited Gilbert with conceiving the initial idea for the Influencer Arc and handling much of the scriptwriting for the series. Gilbert’s contribution helped shape the arc’s storyline, which follows Green’s rise as an online content creator and the challenges that come with sudden internet fame.

Style and Impact

Gilbert’s writing on the Influencer Arc combined humor and narrative depth, infusing Becker’s animation with a tone recognizable to fans of Gilbert’s other work. The episodes are largely dialogue-free stick-figure animations, so Gilbert’s influence is seen in the scenarios, gags, and thematic framing of the story. For example, Episode 2 features a meta-humor moment where a viewer comment saying “No capes!” (a nod to a famous line from The Incredibles) prompts Green to remove a character’s cape during filming. This pop culture reference and comedic beat is characteristic of Gilbert’s playful writing style. Throughout the arc, the narrative satirizes influencer culture and addresses the pitfalls of social media obsession. Green becomes fixated on growing his online audience at the expense of time with his friends, reflecting a cautionary tale about internet fame. Gilbert’s contribution to the script helped balance the slapstick digital antics with a clear underlying theme: by the finale, Green recognizes the value of his real-life friendships and even decides to take a break from social media to make amends. This mix of heartfelt message and clever humor resonated with viewers and added narrative cohesion to the three-part series.

Additional Context

Beyond his work with Alan Becker, Brian David Gilbert has an established career in online media and entertainment. At Polygon, he became well-known for Unraveled, a series of comedic deep-dives into video game lore and oddities. After departing Polygon in late 2020, Gilbert focused on creating content on his own platforms, producing a range of skits, music videos, and short films that often blend comedy with horror or surreal themes. He has collaborated with other creators as well – notably appearing on the Dropout web series Um, Actually as the humorous "fact checker" in its later seasons. Gilbert’s diverse creative background and his talent for blending humor with narrative made him a fitting collaborator for Alan Becker’s Influencer Arc, contributing to a crossover of animation and comedic storytelling that was both unexpected and well-received by the audience.