Mapping / Alternate Future

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About

Mapping, or Alternate Future, is a form of animated video usually found on YouTube where countries on a map are personified as characters in a story. The countries can speak, and fight wars with each other, with their territories on the map highlighted in different colors to show what they're doing. Sometimes, polandball characters are used to show the countries in a physical, anthropomorphized, form. Many maps of various continents, regions, and the world are used, with different historical settings, although "Alternate Future of Europe" being most common. The videos are usually made as part of a series, and fictional countries are used often.

Users who create mapping videos are known as mappers by each other, who have formed a community around their fandom.

History

Mapping/Alternate Future videos began with Youtube user MervueMeringue in 2008, when he uploaded a World War 1 and 2 simulation video ^[1], which features the countries on the map talking. He would later start a series called "Alternate History of Europe" ^[2] in 2010, which became popular over time. It wasn't until 2012, however, that other users started creating their own mapping videos, and formed a community. On October 7, 2012, a wiki ^[3] was created for the community.

Fandom

Creators of mapping videos often spend time on their wiki ^[3], where they create wiki pages expanding upon their videos, usually for countries and history. They also play "map games," where they roleplay as countries on a map in a historical or fictional setting.