2011 / Meme / Pixel animation and single-serving site
Nyan Cat
A Pop-Tart cat flew through space until your browser became a rainbow loop.
The original is hosted off-site; this page provides context and a link to it.
What was this?
A pixel cat with a pastry body flies through a star field, leaving a rainbow trail as the “nyan” refrain loops. Its simple premise made it easy to recognize and remix.
Why it spread
Nyan Cat moved between YouTube, Tumblr, blogs, games, browser skins, remixes, and the nyan.cat timer site. The format became an ambient piece of the web rather than merely a video to watch once.
What happened
A pixel cat with a pastry body flies through a star field, leaving a rainbow trail as the “nyan” refrain loops. Its simple premise made it easy to recognize and remix.
Where it came from
Illustrator Chris Torres posted the Pop-Tart Cat animation on his LOL-COMICS site in April 2011. A separate YouTube upload paired it with the Japanese Vocaloid song “Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya,” and the combination quickly became Nyan Cat.
Why it mattered
Nyan Cat became a widely shared example of loop-based internet animation: cute, musical, editable, and easy to repeat. It also demonstrates why provenance matters, since its art, animation, and music came from distinct creators.
How it spread
Nyan Cat moved between YouTube, Tumblr, blogs, games, browser skins, remixes, and the nyan.cat timer site. The format became an ambient piece of the web rather than merely a video to watch once.
Keep going
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