Noot Noot - How a Childrens TV Show was Reborn as a Meme

Warning Language! Proceed with Caution

NOOT NOOT is the onomatopoeic sound that the cartoon character Pingu makes. The children's television show also entitled Pingu ran from 1986 through to 2010 to much acclaim. Noot Noot is the only method of communication between the penguins of the show and due to it's frequency it has been dubbed as a catchphrase.

We first begin to see the use of Noot Noot within the Youtube Poop community during 2008. Footage from the show is edited to create zany effects and to create humorous scenarios that did not occur. The phrase has also been incorporated into a number of other memes - such as MLG, Simulator Game Parodies and the Lost Episode - and a many online communities. What makes Noot Noot so popular is that the sound can easily be altered and there is over a decade worth of footage to alter. This meme has now become a staple within many online communities to the extent that can no longer exist on it's own but rather exists as a variant of other memes.

An example of the Youtube Poop's take on Noot Noot

Surprisingly, the phrase Noot Noot only began to gain momentum in 2011 when the term was defined in the Urban Dictionary. The entry was made on June 23rd 2011 by Enw Ffug who defined it as "Pingu's main method of communication". On August the 11th 2011, youtuber SoloWooper~! uploaded the first known compilation in which Pingu says Noot Noot. In less than three years the video has received over 140,000 views.

SoloWooper~!'s Famous Noot Noot Video

The phrase started to have relevancy on other social media platforms on July 23rd 2011, when the first notable Noot Noot Facebook page was created. It was entitled "Having a 'Noot Noot' sesh with Pingu" and as of 2016 it has over 40,000 likes even though it is no longer active.  

Noot Noot then began another meme on Marth 13th 2013, when youtuber Richmeister uploaded the video "Nice legs, daisy dukes, makes a man go NOOT NOOT". This features the pop song STARSTRUKK by 3OH!3 edited with NOOT NOOTS where the whistles should be. This spawned a plethora of variations and created first instance of editing a music video and adding another befitting sound meme, which extremely popular even today.  

Richneisters Noot Noot Video

On March 13th 2014, the tumblr blog noot-noot-mother-fucker was launched featuring pop songs such as Jason Derulo's "Talk Dirty to Me" and Frozen's Let it Go except Noot Noot replaces the key phrases in each song. This sparked the Noot Noot remix trend on tumblr which resulted in over 6,000 notes(likes, comments or shares) being added to the most successful videos.

 An example of remixed songs with Noot Noot

 Noot Noot is still as relevent as it was at the beginning of it's meme relevancy and Google Trends show's that it is only growing in popularity.


If you liked what you read, there will be another two posts on the way so stay tuned!
  

When First World Problems become a meme

First world problem memes are based off the frustrations and annoyances expressed by individuals in privileged, wealthy countries. It is used to make light of trivial inconveniences, especially when you're comparing it with third world countries. The origins of the term "First World Problems" dates back to 1995 where it was first sung in "Omissions of the Omen" by Matthew Good's band. Since then, first world memes have been known as minor problems that exist in an industrialised nation that third worlders would probably roll their eyes at. It mostly involves annoying issues or minor problems. Can't differentiate between first world and third world real problems? Here's an example:

There's a big difference.

This meme embellishes dark humor to draw in the laughs, it's not exactly a nice meme. It makes light of dire situations across developing countries. Now let's have a look at exactly what a first world problem meme could be. 

Normally this would be followed by "#FirstWorldProblems" on social media sites. These annoyances at insignificant problems can really make one chuckle when you're stuck in bigger problems. Like an assessment that's due. I know! Let's look at another one since they're so entertaining to look at!

This is a variation of the first world problem meme. Rather than portraying a first world individual being frustrated, it depicts an image of a child in disbelief. It emphasises how our minor issues would be a gift to the third world people. However, the amusment comes from the caption. This one talks about the disbelief in having water fights, rather than fighting to survive for water.