About the Sad Cat Dancing Meme
The Sad Cat Dancing meme is a captivating internet trend that falls under the umbrella of redraw memes. It uniquely reimagines scenes inspired by the popular Chainsaw Man manga series. Initially born as a creative offshoot, the sad cat dancing meme quickly evolved into a distinct and highly exploitable format. Throughout the early 2020s, it became a beloved canvas for artists to showcase their interpretations and redraws, solidifying its place in internet culture.
Origin: Kobeni’s Unlikely Dance
The genesis of the sad cat dancing meme can be traced back to January 16th, 2021. Benedique, a video game creator, uploaded a YouTube video[1] titled “Chainsaw Man Dance Game.” This video presented a humorous concept: the character Kobeni from Chainsaw Man participating in a Dance Dance Revolution-style game. However, in this rendition, Kobeni wasn’t enjoying herself; she was depicted dancing sadly while tears streamed down her face. This peculiar and amusing scenario resonated with fans of the manga, particularly because it playfully referenced a significant moment for Kobeni within the series. The “Chainsaw Man Dance Game” video became a hit, amassing over 3 million views within a year, largely fueled by the manga’s enthusiastic fanbase.
Building upon the virality of Kobeni’s dance, and drawing inspiration from the then-popular Ankha Zone meme, creator Ha Anime released a video on November 18th, 2021.[2] Titled “Not Kobeni dance, but let’s still make her dance,” this video featured the same character, Kobeni, now adorned with cat ears, dancing in a similarly melancholic style. Crucially, the movements in Ha Anime’s video became the foundational dance sequence that would define the sad cat dancing meme as it is known today. This “Not Kobeni” dance video rapidly gained traction, accumulating 6 million views in just 10 months, demonstrating the growing appeal of this specific dance animation.
Spread: Dokun27’s Viral Iteration
The sad cat dancing meme truly took off and solidified its current form on August 22nd, 2022, thanks to artist Dokun27.[3] Dokun27’s version introduced the song “Gypsy In My Mind” as the soundtrack for the dance. His animation depicted a female character who reluctantly puts on cat ears, seemingly after being persuaded or perhaps even pressured to do so, before launching into the now-iconic sad cat dance. This rendition struck a chord with online audiences. Dokun27’s tweet featuring the dance video garnered over 122,000 likes on Twitter within a mere two weeks. This surge in popularity cemented the “Gypsy In My Mind” version as the definitive template and ignited the widespread redraw trend that continues to this day.
와르자 슬픈고양이 댄스 (아인이 만들어줌) pic.twitter.com/2QyAas3N6I
— 왈도쿤 (@Dokun27) August 22, 2022
Following Dokun27’s viral success, numerous artists and creators began to put their own spin on the sad cat dancing meme. On September 7th, 2022, Twitter artist Darkra[4] shared a particularly noteworthy example. Darkra’s version featured a Night-Elf Druid from the popular game World of Warcraft. In a clever twist, Darkra’s character didn’t require fake cat ears or a tail, as Night-Elf Druids in World of Warcraft already possess feline characteristics in their animal forms. This creative adaptation resonated with fans of World of Warcraft and the meme itself, earning over 1,500 likes in just one day and further demonstrating the meme’s versatility and broad appeal across different fandoms and online communities.
This druid doesn’t need fake cat ears!OC: LulusaSong : never dull – gypsy in my mindAnimation:
bronceleteEdition: crisisbeat4Based on : @Dokun27Art by me.#sadcatdance #druid pic.twitter.com/DHX03nsRGy— Darkra-SFW (@Darkrasfw) September 7, 2022
Various Examples of the Sad Cat Dancing Meme
The sad cat dancing meme has inspired a wide array of creative interpretations across the internet. Artists have reimagined the dance with characters from various franchises, original creations, and even real-life figures. These examples showcase the meme’s adaptability and its capacity to be incorporated into diverse contexts. From simple redraws to more elaborate animations, the sad cat dancing meme continues to be a source of amusement and creative expression online.
Katie
sad cat dance pic.twitter.com/7AbxNCHzyJ
— q (
kyubumlee) <a href="https://twitter.com/kyubumlee/status/1562328383769481216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2022</a>
ProjektMelody Does The Sad Cat Dance! #projektmelody #sadcatdance pic.twitter.com/9bn0BlfYTS
— BigBangstudio (@BigBangStudio69) September 2, 2022
Conclusion
The sad cat dancing meme is a testament to the organic and often unexpected nature of internet trends. Starting from a niche fan creation based on Chainsaw Man, it blossomed into a widespread phenomenon embraced by diverse online communities. Its simple yet expressive animation, paired with the catchy tune of “Gypsy In My Mind,” provides a relatable and humorous template for expressing a range of emotions, from reluctance to playful sadness. The meme’s enduring popularity highlights the internet’s capacity to transform specific moments into universally understood and endlessly adaptable forms of online communication and creative expression.
External References
[1] YouTube – Kobeni Dance
[2] YouTube – Not Kobeni Dance
