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Meme Database

A prairie dog turning dramatically toward the camera

Dramatic Chipmunk

Golden Age of Memes

Video Meme

YouTube

animal meme, prairie dog, dramatic look, reaction video, viral video, micro-clip

A five-second clip of a prairie dog turning dramatically, paired with suspenseful music, became a viral reaction meme.

A cartoon cat enthusiastically playing bongos.

Bongo Cat

Mobile & Social Media Era

Animated Meme

Twitter

bongo cat, animated meme, music, wholesome meme, cat-like blob, instruments, viral video

Originated from a 2018 Twitter post, Bongo Cat became a musical meme sensation.

Pixelated cat with a Pop-Tart body flying through space

Nyan Cat

Golden Age of Memes

Animated Meme

YouTube

nyan cat, pixel art, pop tart cat, rainbow, space, japanese music, vocaloid, loop, christopher torres

A looped pixel animation of a Pop-Tart-bodied cat flying through space took the internet by storm.

A man sitting at a table with a sign that reads "Change My Mind."

Change My Mind

Mobile & Social Media Era

Image Macro

Twitter

change my mind, steven crowder, debate, opinion, template, exploitable, political meme, controversial

The meme originated from a 2018 photograph of Steven Crowder at Texas Christian University.

Screenshot of the World of Warcraft character Leeroy Jenkins

Leeroy Jenkins

Golden Age of Memes

Video Meme

WarcraftMovies.com / YouTube

leeroy jenkins, world of warcraft, gaming, ben schulz, viral video, MMO, raid fail, battle cry

A chaotic World of Warcraft video featuring a player screaming his name and sabotaging a raid turned into a legendary gaming meme.

Line directed at Wesley Crusher in *Star Trek: The Next Generation*

“Shut Up, Wesley” (TNG Catchphrase)

Early Internet

Text Meme

Forums, Social Media, GIF platforms

Star Trek, TNG, Picard, Wesley Crusher, catchphrase, dismissal, Wil Wheaton

A command from Picard to Wesley became a meme-like catchphrase in Trek fandom and beyond.

A young boy smiling while holding and eating corn on the cob.

Corn Kid

Contemporary Meme Culture

Video Meme

TikTok

Corn Kid, It's Corn, Recess Therapy, viral interview, wholesome meme, Tariq

Emerged from an August 2022 Recess Therapy interview; popularized through a remix by The Gregory Brothers.

A cartoon character from the "Little Miss" series with a humorous or self-deprecating caption.

Little Miss Memes

Contemporary Meme Culture

Image Macro

Tumblr, Instagram, TikTok

Little Miss Memes, Mr. Men, self-deprecating humor, Instagram trend, mental health humor, juulpuppy

Began on Instagram in mid-2022, popularized by user @juulpuppy; spread across various social media platforms.

A collage of disparate video clips overlaid with emotional music, creating a chaotic yet poignant montage.

Corecore

Contemporary Meme Culture

Video Meme

TikTok

Corecore, TikTok, internet aesthetic, digital collage, anti-capitalism, nichetok, montage editing

Emerged on TikTok in 2022 as a collage-style meme aesthetic reflecting modern digital culture.

A cat with a closed mouth in one image and an open, 'O'-shaped mouth in another, creating a popping effect.

Popcat

Contemporary Meme Culture

Image Macro

Twitter, Reddit, Instagram

Popcat, Oatmeal, cat meme, internet culture, reaction image, clicker game

Originated from images shared on Discord in October 2020; gained popularity on Reddit and Twitter.

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