Anime Memes More Iconic Than Their Original Series, Ranked

In every anime that comes out, there’s a tenfold increase in related memes, as enthusiasts delve into each episode and snatch screenshots or lines for optimal meme-making. Iconic series such as “Attack on Titan”, “Jujutsu Kaisen”, and “Dragon Ball Z” have been extensively memed by fans until they seem saturated, whereas shows like “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure” appear more like a never-ending stream of memes.

Occasionally, a meme can gain such widespread popularity that it transcends its original source, with viewers unaware of the clip’s true origin. While this anonymity might make tracing origins challenging, these viral sensations often leave an indelible mark, resulting in a devoted fanbase for any particular series. Here are seven anime memes that have become much more iconic than their respective shows.

7. “A-” (Nichijou)

In a nutshell, there’s nothing quite like Nichijou compared to other memes. Launched in 2011, Nichijou: My Ordinary Life stands out as the epitome of absurd anime humor. While many series have their lines, catchphrases, or images used outside of context and turned into memes, Nichijo is so bizarrely entertaining that an entire meme can stem from a single scene.

In Episode 22, Yūko Aioi tries to stroke a dog, but it nips her hand instead. The animators really went above and beyond, as Yūko’s response sent ripples of energy through the air, followed by the camera moving around the surroundings before focusing on her face. The animation was stunningly beautiful, similar to that found in shonen genres, and Yūko let out a single, echoing “a.

6. Speed Racer’s Motivational Speech

For some newer enthusiasts of anime, the “Speed Racer” franchise might be more familiar through the 2008 live-action film by the Wachowski sisters instead of the original 1967 anime. However, both new and seasoned fans may find themselves at odds over which version outshines the other. Nonetheless, “Speed Racer” invites everyone to forget their differences and simply enjoy the thrill of the ride!

The “stop crying” meme has gained notoriety on the internet. Fans have extracted a seven-second clip from the English dub of an anime, where Speed Racer, the main character, offers consoling words. This brief scene has been transformed into an online phenomenon. Despite its seemingly ordinary nature, it’s the dry delivery of the voice acting that makes it hilarious and popular online.

5. The Ghost Stories English Dub

It’s quite simple to compile a Top 10 list of the most memorable memes from the English version of the Ghost Stories. The notoriety surrounding the original Japanese series is widespread, so to put it simply, the show failed in Japan, allowing the English voice actors an incredible amount of freedom to create a wild and humorous dub.

The English dub version of this series has provided us with some memorable lines such as ‘Flee! She’s a ghost and she’s tough’, ‘A police station… I never thought I’d be glad to see one of those places’, and the cleverly layered, ‘Ah, it turns out it’s in Japanese.’ A much larger number of people have become familiar with the tales from Ghost Stories through its dubbed version compared to those who have personally experienced the original.

4. S Stands for (Blend S)

The shows themselves aren’t the only sources of meme-worthy content; occasionally, an anime’s opening theme song (OP) gains legendary status on the internet. For instance, in 2017, the anime titled “Blend S” was released. Quickly following its release, a tidal wave of memes swept across the internet as people transformed the initially cute OP into an internet-haunting spectacle.

Grin, Sweet Sis, Seemingly Sinister, Shocking, Server – so began the OP by Blend A, followed by ‘Bon Appétit♡S’. Leveraging the humorous potential of alliteration, meme creators expanded the phrase with various words. The memes spanned from playful humor, such as urging others to subscribe to YouTuber Pewdiepie, to unsettling jokes that would be inappropriate for this context.

3. “Hello, Everynyan!” (Azumanga Daioh)

I’ve noticed that anime, whether it’s dubbed in English or subtitled, has gained a life of its own on the internet, often serving as a meme. It seems fans can’t get enough of how Japanese shows tackle the English language, particularly when it’s evident that a Japanese actor is trying to mimic an English or American accent.

2002’s Azumanga Daioh reached its peak with this anime scene becoming incredibly popular online. In one of the show’s funny moments, Chiyo-Father, a peculiar yellow cat-like character, says, “Hello everyone. How are you? Fine thank you. I wish I were a bird.” This clip spread like wildfire on the internet.

2. Truck-kun

Instead of focusing on characters such as Goku, Saitama, or Satoru Gojo, consider Truck-kun as the most powerful anime character ever. The “Truck-kun” meme often represents the isekai genre, where a character gets run over by a truck and perishes only to miraculously wake up in another world.

Truck-kun has become a phenomenon in its own right, with its origin being a subject of intense discussion among fans. Many are unsure about where it first appeared. Fans have incorporated Truck-kun into lists ranking anime characters who could defeat Goku, and even included it as a character in the Super Smash Bros series.

1. “Is This a Meme?” (The Brave Fighter Of Sun Fighbird)

Yutaro Katori from “The Brave Fighter Of Sun Fighbird” inquires, “Does this take the top spot on the list?”. The 1991 anime “The Brave Fighter Of Sun Fighbird” may be unfamiliar to newer fans, but they’ve probably come across the meme of its protagonist questioning, “Is that a dove?”, while a butterfly flutters nearby.

The phrase ‘Is this a pigeon?’ is one of the most well-known anime memes ever made, even spreading beyond the anime community. Due to its misinterpretation over time, it strayed from Yutaro’s original meaning, but instead, a new legend was created. This popular quote has overshadowed the original series and will probably continue to be used for many years to come.

2025-02-04 00:41