JILIPP
Jan Philipp Meyer
At just eight years old, Jilipp’s life took a pivotal turn when his mother brought home a secondhand Gameboy from a thrift store. Though the pixelated worlds initially bewildered him, they slowly ignited a fascination that would shape his future. By age 13, he was captivated not only by gaming but by the burgeoning world of Let’s Plays, spending hours watching creators share their gameplay online. A year later, curiosity turned to creation: at 14, he began secretly recording his own videos, hijacking the family PC whenever the house was empty.
His early endeavors were a clandestine operation—hidden from his parents and older brother. The risk of being caught only fueled his determination. When he received a laptop for his birthday, which was officially meant for schoolwork - it became his gateway to refining his craft. By 16, YouTube had consumed his ambitions so deeply that he even reversed his stance on smartphones. Once adamantly opposed to owning one, he now needed it—to manage his channel and immerse himself in the platform’s creative ecosystem.
In 2016, irony struck. Jilipp dropped art class, dismissing it as uninteresting, only to pick up a drawing tablet months later. This pivot marked a dramatic shift in his content: gaming videos faded as anime-inspired art and tutorials took center stage. By 2017, he fully embraced his online persona, adopting the name “Jilipp” and finally confessing his YouTube endeavors to his family. The timing was strategic—with his 18th birthday looming, he was ready to step into adulthood unapologetically, his secret hobby now a public passion.
Little did he know, the very skills he’d honed in the shadows—meticulous video editing, a deep interest for gaming, and storytelling flair—would soon open professional doors. In a twist of fate, his portfolio landed him an internship at astragon Entertainment, where his knack for visual storytelling and tech-savviness got him a steady income. By his early 20s, what began as a hidden hobby had blossomed into a full-time career, securing him a permanent role in the creative industry he’d once only dreamed of.
