I love memes, but what I love even more than that is getting my research geek on and finding meme origins and seeing just how they took off. Plus it makes my internet search history look a little more respectable. But just a smidge. Here's a look at the origin of 5 memes based on memorable cartoon moments.
And It's Gone--South Park
This meme is based on a scene from the South Park episode “Margaritaville”. The phrase is used by a teller at South Park Bank Savings and Loans as a way to 'delicately' break the news to customers that their all of their money has been lost. I think we can all agree that the banking industry is full of a bunch of jerks. It first appeared as a meme on quickmeme and actually had the caption 'You post your new meme idea. You think it’s going to do great / Aaaand it’s gone.' So a meme that originated with a meme about unsuccessful memes is now a very successful meme. Very clever, internet.
Futurama Fry / Not Sure If X--Futurama
Futurama Fry shows a squinting Fry combined with a 'not sure if X or just Y' internal monologue. The image was taken from the Season 2 episode titled “The Lesser of Two Evils and is the face Fry makes after he's busted rummaging through Leela's underwear drawer. The image was first used as an 'I see what you did there" before it was made even meme-ier with the classic 'Not sure if trolling or just stupid.' And with a catchphrase like that there was absolutely no way the internet would not embrace it.
I Must Go, My People Need Me--The Simpsons
One thing that the internet is not lacking is images of creatures in midair. So there was a caption need to fill, people! What better choice than one that adds serious dramatic tension to an otherwise silly image. HIGH-larious. This phrase originated from an episode of Bart's favorite show “The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show”, and was uttered by a Poochie, a dog with Homer's voice. The Simpson's is a total meme making MACHINE, yo!
Leekspin / Loituma Girl--Bleach
I mean what else are you supposed to do when you see Orihime from Bleach randomly spinning a leek? Provide a soundtrack of course! And when you think anime you definitely think of the traditional Finnish folk song levan Polkka. Off course you do. Here's the original:
And you bet your leek-spinning ass that variations soon followed. All so strangely riveting...
Chocolate!--Spongebob Squarepants
This exclamation about everyone's favorite brown and creamy sweet (wait..ew!) was first uttered in the Spongebob episode “Chocolate with Nuts” SpongeBob and his pal Patrick Star try to sell chocolate bars in order to GET RICH QUICK! Along their travels they encounter Tom Smith, a fish who flips out when he hears that chocolate is being sold. Because sure... why not? It's Spongebob and nothing has to ever make sense. The YTMND community presciently latched onto the absurd moment and a meme was born!
What's your favorite cartoon meme? Let me know @desijedeikin or in the comments below!
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