We specialize in showcasing subliminal videos from shared sources and providing our commentary, explanation, and often skepticism on them.
If you are new here you can get started with the categories on the right to watch videos we’ve found on topics which interest you most, you can also keep reading here for some links to our most popular videos.
However, lets start with a definition and a basic explanation.
A quite accepted definition of subliminal video generally comes from Wikipedia:
Subliminal stimuli literally [means] “below threshold”, [i.e.] below an individual’s threshold for conscious perception.Visual stimuli may be quickly flashed before an individual can process them, or flashed and then masked, thereby interrupting the processing.
To present this definition in a more down to earth way, what we usually mean by subliminal video is a video, movie, or animation which has been altered to contain a subliminal message.
This message is beyond the processing capabilities of your conscious levels of perception, often just flashed for a split second, or typically just for 1-2 frames in the motion picture.
The theory is, and that even this brief exposure is enough to make an impression on your unconscious mind without you realizing, and that subliminal suggestion can be used to push you towards making choices the manipulator would want you to make.
We will look a little bit more in-depth into the applications which are possible, but typically it is claimed that subliminal messages have been heavily used in the media, especially for branding and advertising, they have been used by politicians to sway voters, by businesses, and have heavily featured in movies and often children’s animation – whether as an attempt at being funny we just don’t know.
There is also a growing trend of using them for self improvement (instead of manipulation, which is a much nicer and more beneficial way to use them!).
There is plenty of research to support this; the message is still taken in and processed by your subconscious mind.
Quickly watch this video which talks about research conducted by Professor Gavan Ftizsimons of Duke University – their study showed results to show that exposure to Apple’s logo stimulated higher levels of creativity than exposure to IBM’s logo.
Another video, hosted on HowStuffWorks.com, talks about the political use and implications of subliminal messages during the campaign trail.
In a large study into the use of subliminal imagery in videos, Dr Bahador Bahrami from the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience concluded that if there is ‘spare capacity’, in terms of attention, the brain will allocate that resource to subliminal activity. Here is a write up from the BBC about how our brains can process subliminal images and more results from Dr Bahrami’s study.
Subliminal suggestion has many applications. It first really came into the mainstream during James Vicary’s early studies into subliminal persuasion. He found that by flashing brief messages to a movie screening he could dramatically increase the sales of popcorn and coca cola.
This really brought the power of subliminal videos into the mainstream.
Advertising: Since then they have been heavily reported within advertising commercials around the world, however they are banned now by advertising standards agencies in the UK, USA, and Australia.. you can no longer flash messages, however the lines still blur.. is a simple innuendo or subtle suggestion a subliminal message or not?
Movies: Subliminal messages are used in movies for two reasons. Either for advertising purposes where big brands would pay to be shown in the movie, or to enhance the movie’s point. The best illustration of both enhancing the movies point and explaining subliminal messages comes from Fight Club, the cult movie that is filled with subliminal messages.
One of the scenes is where Tyler, a main character played by Brad Pitt, works in a theater and subliminally inserts a picture of male genitalia inside a children’s cartoon. The image of genitalia is shown just for the briefest point of a second, enough that the human eye would miss it, but we would still understand we saw something. The children in the movie started to cry. The point of the scene was to show us what Tyler was like, and fit in extremely well in the movie.
Songs: Many songs incorporate subliminal messages. Take a look at some of our examples and you will quickly realize that most artists either embed subliminal messages about Satan or sexually suggestive subliminal messages so they can get more sails of their albums and songs.
Self Improvement: Subliminal messages have started being used in self help heavily during the start of this century as the internet expanded and people realized that they can use subliminal messages to enhance their minds. If big brands and famous artists use them, then why shouldn’t we, right? Subliminal audio can help people deal with all sorts of problems, ranging from helping them increase their confidence and self belief, deal with phobias or addictions, or to mimic the mindset successful people have.
Browse Over 200 Subliminal Videos in Our Compete Collections
- The Simpsons
- Happy Feet
- Coca Cola
- Barak Obama
- George Bush
- Britney Spears
- Lady Gaga
- Michael Jackson
- The Beatles
- Lil Wayne
- Jonas Brothers
- Derren Brown
- Hannah Montana
- Family Guy
- South Park
- Mario Subliminal Videos
Most Popular Videos
- Disney Subliminal Messages – The definitive guide to Disney’s use of subliminal images, and text within its animated childrens movies. It is long debated as to why they are included, but take a look at the evidence and decide for yourself.
- Pocahontas – Yes, Disney has supposedly used subliminal images in a lot of it’s movies, watch the Pocahontas analysis here.
- Lion King – Mostly instances of adult messages blended into the background… a LOT of instances in-fact.
- Beauty and the Beast – Some quite long and in-depth videos examining instances within Beauty and the Beast
- Aladdin – This contains a few Aladdin hidden messages, including one very famous one where Aladdin suggests that “teenagers should take off their clothes”.
- Spongebob – Spongebob is apparently littered with subliminal innuendo and passive suggestions – make your own mind up here.
- Barak Obama – Watch a series of videos, compiled over time which show how Barak Obama has been both a victim of subliminal targetting on the campaign trail, but also how he might have used subliminal persuasion tactics himself too.
- Coca Cola – Here are some very controversial, and indeed now famous instances of Coca Cola using subliminal suggestions in their advertising and branding.
- Subliminal Messages in Songs – A collection of music videos and songs which reportedly contain subliminal statements.
- Subliminal Messages in Movies – A collection of other movies (other than Disney!) which are claimed to feature hidden messages, text, statements, and suggestions.
Most Popular Articles
- A Brief History of Subliminal Messages
- James Vicary’s Subliminal Experiments
- Subliminal Videos for Personal Development
- Free Gifts – If you are interested in subliminal audio as a tool for personal development then take a look here.
External Reference Sources:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-9898078-37.html - CNET news coverage about research into subliminal branding and advertising. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0909/09092801 - A study which concludes that negative subliminal messages can have an impact upon the unconscious brain. http://www.onewomanmarketing.com/subliminal-advertising-studies - Nicely written article about subliminal advertising along with some examples. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070308121938.htm - Article from Science Daily which states subliminal branding can leave an impression upon the brain. http://www.subliminalmp3s.com/how-subliminal-audio-works - Article about how subliminal messages work that explains them in more detail.