(Photo : Ethan Schulteis, aka "The Amagi")

Born on August 25, 2002, in Hartford, Wisconsin, Ethan McGregor Schulteis (known professionally as The Amagi) enjoyed a well-rounded upbringing thanks to his supportive parents, Tim and Shelly. They encouraged him to explore a variety of activities, which included baseball, soccer, wrestling, cross country, track, Boy Scouts, karate, and community theater. His father worked at a family business while his mother, employed at their local church, influenced Ethan's early involvement in community volunteering, mission trips, and Sunday school teaching.

As Ethan grew older, he began to narrow his focus toward community theater, cross country, and track. Simultaneously, his fascination with YouTube blossomed, and he started multiple channels with friends and neighbors. During these early years, YouTube was primarily a hobby, but it was also the beginning of his journey to becoming a prominent content creator.

In late elementary school, Ethan discovered "Avatar: The Last Airbender," a popular Nickelodeon show that would shape his aspirations. Inspired by the world of animation, he pursued an animation course and created his first animated show, "The Amagi." Despite his initial lack of success, Ethan continued experimenting with YouTube content, eventually reaching 10,000 subscribers. As a high school freshman, he dabbled in music, posting two covers that garnered over 100,000 views each.

Ethan's trajectory changed dramatically in 2019 when "Avatar: The Last Airbender" experienced a resurgence in popularity after being added to Netflix. Seizing this opportunity, he revitalized his YouTube channel, "The Amagi," with a video on Lavabending, an ability in the Avatar universe. The video went viral, amassing over a million views and setting the stage for Ethan's future success.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to the world, but it also created unique opportunities for content creators like Ethan Schulteis - The Amagi. As millions of people around the globe were confined to their homes, the demand for online content surged, and Ethan astutely capitalized on this trend to elevate his YouTube channel, "The Amagi," to new heights.

While Ethan had already gained a modest following with his YouTube channel, the pandemic acted as a catalyst for his exponential growth. With many people seeking entertainment and solace during the crisis, they turned to online platforms like YouTube to fill the void left by traditional entertainment sources. This shift in consumption habits allowed channels like "The Amagi" to thrive, and Ethan quickly adapted his content strategy to meet the growing demand.

Recognizing the surge in viewership, Ethan doubled down on his focus on the Avatar franchise, creating over 150 videos in a short period. This dedication paid off as his channel's subscribers rapidly increased from 10,000 to 100,000 by June 28, 2020. His strategic decision to hire a voice actor named Jeremy also proved instrumental in allowing him to produce content at a faster rate, ensuring that he could keep up with the heightened demand.

As the pandemic persisted, Ethan understood that his success was intrinsically linked to the shifting dynamics of online content consumption. In response, he made the bold decision to transition from focusing exclusively on the Avatar franchise to covering a broader range of anime series. This move not only allowed him to diversify his content, but it also enabled him to appeal to a wider audience, many of whom were actively seeking new forms of entertainment during the pandemic.

Ethan's risk paid off well when his video "The Life of Kurama (Naruto)" exploded in popularity, reaching #22 on trending and amassing over 17 million views. By January 31, 2021, his channel had reached 500,000 subscribers, further demonstrating how adeptly he had capitalized on the unique circumstances brought about by the pandemic.

Ethan's ability to adapt to the changing landscape of online content consumption during the pandemic was instrumental in his channel's growth. Not only did he expand his content portfolio to include a variety of popular anime series, but he also strategically invested in his business by hiring additional team members, including voice actors, writers, and graphic designers. Some of these professionals had previously worked for Frederator Media, a content production company acquired by Wow Unlimited Media. This decision allowed Ethan to further refine the quality and consistency of his content, solidifying his reputation as a leading anime content creator.