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What is the origin story of the Nyan Cat meme?
The Nyan Cat journey began on April 2, 2011, during a Red Cross charity livestream event where artist Christopher Torres received two separate suggestions to draw a cat and a Pop-Tart. Torres combined these ideas and created an animated GIF featuring a cat with a Pop-Tart body surrounded by colorful lines, based on his own Russian Blue cat named Marty. The original animation was initially posted to Torres’ website LOL-Comics and his social media accounts, where it quickly gained attention.
The true viral moment came when YouTube user saraj00n combined Torres’ animation with the Japanese pop song “Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya!” by Daniwell-P and uploaded it on April 5, 2011. This combination of quirky animation and catchy music created the perfect storm for viral success, leading to features on major websites like CollegeHumor and G4, which helped cement Nyan Cat’s place in internet history.
Why did Nyan Cat become such a viral sensation?
Nyan Cat’s meteoric rise to fame was immediate and overwhelming, with Torres waking up to hundreds of emails the day after posting his creation. The meme’s simple yet captivating combination of a Pop-Tart bodied cat flying through space leaving a rainbow trail, paired with an incredibly catchy Japanese pop song, created an instantly memorable internet experience that resonated with millions of viewers.
The meme’s popularity was further amplified by its adaptability and the creative ways people engaged with it. For instance, a unique phenomenon occurred when viewers discovered that playing Slipknot’s “Psychosocial” video muted while playing Nyan Cat’s audio created an entertaining mashup, leading to thousands of comments flooding Slipknot’s video with “NYAN” references. This organic community engagement helped establish Nyan Cat as one of the most enduring memes of the early 2010s.
Who created the original Nyan Cat animation?
Christopher Torres, known online as “prguitarman,” created the original Nyan Cat animation in Dallas, Texas, when he was 25 years old. The inspiration for the character came from Torres’ beloved Russian Blue cat named Marty, who was known for his energetic personality and adventurous spirit. Sadly, Marty passed away in November 2012 due to feline infectious peritonitis, but his legacy lives on through the iconic meme.
Torres was already an established online creator with a following on his LOL-Comics website before Nyan Cat’s creation. The animation was initially called “Pop Tart Cat,” but Torres embraced the internet’s decision to rename it “Nyan Cat,” showing his appreciation for how the community had adopted and transformed his creation.
What’s the catchy music behind Nyan Cat called?
The iconic music accompanying Nyan Cat is titled “Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya!” created by the artist Daniwell-P. The specific version used in the viral video was the “Momomomo” version of the song, which was combined with Torres’ animation by YouTube user saraj00n on April 5, 2011. This musical addition transformed the simple GIF into a complete audiovisual experience.
The repetitive and hypnotic nature of the song, combined with its Japanese pop style, perfectly complemented the looping animation and helped create the complete package that made Nyan Cat such a memorable internet phenomenon. The song became so synonymous with the meme that it’s nearly impossible to see the animation without hearing the tune in one’s head.
Is Nyan Cat copyrighted or trademarked?
Nyan Cat is indeed protected by copyright and trademark rights held by Chris Torres. This became particularly relevant when Torres entered the NFT space, where he maintained full creative rights while selling digital versions of his work. The protection of these rights became important as numerous businesses, including Warner Brothers, had previously used the meme without permission in various products.
Torres has been particularly adamant about ensuring creators are properly acknowledged for their work, and most NFT platforms allow artists to retain their copyright and trademarked work. This protection has allowed Torres to maintain control over his creation while still allowing for the cultural sharing and celebration of the meme.
What makes Nyan Cat merchandise so popular among meme collectors?
Nyan Cat merchandise appeals to collectors because it represents one of the internet’s most beloved and enduring memes, combining nostalgia for the early 2010s internet culture with playful, colorful design elements. The character’s simple yet distinctive design, featuring the Pop-Tart body and rainbow trail, translates exceptionally well to various merchandise formats.
The meme’s sustained popularity over more than a decade has created a strong collector’s market, particularly after the successful NFT sale that validated Nyan Cat’s lasting cultural significance. When the original Nyan Cat NFT sold for approximately $590,000, it demonstrated the significant value collectors place on authentic pieces of internet history.
How did Nyan Cat influence internet culture and pop art?
Nyan Cat has become one of the most important internet phenomena ever, demonstrating the power of simple, shareable content to capture global attention and maintain relevance over time. The meme’s influence extended beyond simple entertainment, helping to establish a new paradigm for how digital artists could monetize their creations, particularly through NFTs where Torres’ successful sale helped pave the way for other meme creators to profit from their work.
The meme’s impact on internet culture is evident in its countless adaptations, remixes, and parodies, inspiring creative works across various platforms and mediums. Its enduring presence has made it a symbol of early internet culture, with its influence visible in everything from video games to digital art movements.
What are the most iconic Nyan Cat variations?
The original Nyan Cat sparked numerous creative variations and remixes that expanded the meme’s universe. One of the most notable variations emerged when fans discovered the entertaining combination of playing Slipknot’s “Psychosocial” music video muted while playing the Nyan Cat audio, leading to a massive flood of “NYAN” comments on Slipknot’s video.
The meme’s adaptability led to various official and fan-made games, including “Nyan Cat: Lost In Space” by isTom Games. These adaptations helped extend the meme’s popularity and demonstrated its versatility as a creative inspiration for different forms of digital entertainment.
When did Nyan Cat become an NFT, and what happened?
In February 2021, Chris Torres remastered the original Nyan Cat animation for its 10th anniversary and sold it as an NFT on the Foundation platform for approximately $590,000 (300 ETH). The sale represented Torres’ first venture into crypto art and helped establish a new paradigm for meme creators to monetize their work. The buyer remained anonymous, identified only by their crypto wallet address, and became the sole owner of this unique digital piece.
The NFT sale was particularly significant because it allowed Torres to profit from his creation while maintaining copyright and trademark rights. The platform also enabled Torres to continue earning from subsequent resales of the NFT, establishing a new model for sustainable artist compensation in the digital age. This successful sale opened the door for a new meme economy in the crypto world and demonstrated the significant value collectors place on iconic pieces of internet history.