Dancing Spiderman: The Viral GIF Sensation That Shook the Early Internet

About

Dancing Spiderman refers to a widely recognized animated GIF featuring the iconic Marvel superhero, Spider-Man, performing a dance routine against a plain white backdrop. This simple yet captivating animation became an early internet phenomenon, showcasing the burgeoning culture of online memes and viral content.

Origin

The original GIF file surfaced on the London-based blog Pants On Head[1] in June 2002. This seemingly unassuming image quickly gained traction, significantly boosting traffic to the blog. Pants On Head acknowledged the GIF’s popularity in a subsequent blog post[2] on July 12th, 2002, highlighting its role in their website’s early success.

Alt text: Animated GIF of Dancing Spiderman performing energetic dance moves on a white background.

The dance choreography itself draws inspiration from a CGI animation originally created for the Korean pop group C.L.E.O’s single “Illusion.” This original music video and dance sequence were rediscovered and shared on YouTube by users Bbjenks on May 1st, 2009 (account now inactive) and sergiu521 on September 25, 2010. The GIF animation captures a segment of this dance routine, specifically from approximately 0:35 to 0:48 in the video.

[This video has been removed]

The animation of Spider-Man’s dance moves was achieved using D-Player, a dance simulation software developed by Korean company SpaceIllusion. Notably, SpaceIllusion offered a free, downloadable Spider-Man character model compatible with their software, making it accessible for creators to animate the superhero in dance sequences.

Spread and Viral Evolution

In the months following its initial appearance, the Dancing Spiderman GIF transcended its original form, evolving into various creative iterations, most notably through Flash animations. One of the earliest and most popular adaptations, titled “Spiderman Baila Aserejé”[3], incorporated flashing disco lights and set the GIF to the tune of “Aserejé,” the hit song by the Andalusian-Spanish pop group Las Ketchup.[4] This mashup further amplified the GIF’s comedic and viral appeal.

Another significant Flash animation, “Spiderman Will Make You Gay”[5], emerged from the B3TA forum in September 2002, created by Rob Manuel. This version added a humorous dubbed audio track featuring repetitive lyrics: “I’m not gay, I’m not gay, but I dance around in a gay, gay way. I’m not gay, no, no way, but watching me dance will make you gay!” The animation then concluded with the text “SPIDERMAN has made you GAY,” playing on early internet humor and meme culture.

Throughout the early 2000s, the GIF continued its journey across numerous online discussion forums and Bulletin Board System (BBS) communities, solidifying its place in early internet culture. It eventually reached the GIF-sharing community YTMND (Yesterday, Today, My New Diction) on September 13th, 2005. User SuperORB uploaded a YTMND site titled “Work It Spidey”[6], marking the GIF’s arrival on this platform known for remixing and looping internet content. Between 2005 and 2008, the “Dancing Spiderman” meme flourished on YTMND, spawning at least 20 derivative sites. The most viewed among these was “Crippled Spiderman VS Dancing Spiderman! What.”[7], highlighting the meme’s versatility and enduring comedic value.

Notable YTMNDs

The Dancing Spiderman GIF’s journey didn’t stop there. It transitioned to the burgeoning video-sharing platform YouTube, where it experienced another wave of popularity. On YouTube, countless derivative videos emerged, each setting the animation to diverse audio tracks, ranging from popular songs to humorous sound effects. This demonstrated the meme’s adaptability and continued relevance in evolving online spaces. For a broader collection of video examples, explore the dedicated video gallery.

Alt text: Second animated GIF of Dancing Spiderman showing different dance moves, highlighting the meme’s repetitive and hypnotic nature.

Search Interest Over Time

Analyzing Google Trends data reveals a gradual decline in search queries for “Dancing Spider Man” over the years. This trend is typical for internet memes; as new trends emerge, older memes naturally experience a decrease in widespread search interest. However, “Dancing Spiderman” remains a recognizable piece of internet history, often resurfacing in nostalgic discussions about early meme culture and viral content.

Conclusion

The Dancing Spiderman GIF stands as a significant artifact of early internet culture. Originating from a simple dance animation, it rapidly spread and evolved, becoming a versatile meme that resonated across various online platforms. From Flash animations to YTMND remixes and YouTube videos, Dancing Spiderman showcased the creative and often humorous ways internet users engaged with and transformed online content. While search interest may have waned, the Dancing Spiderman GIF endures as a nostalgic reminder of the internet’s early, vibrant meme landscape and the enduring appeal of a superhero with surprisingly groovy moves.