You're doomscrolling memes on one of the 5 social media apps on your roster and you come across a blue cat or a pink rabbit in an absurdly chaotic situation. If this has been you, you’ve probably bumped into a meme from the show: The Amazing World of Gumball.
Since its debut in 2011, The Amazing World of Gumball has become a breeding ground for internet humor, with fans taking scenes straight from the show and transforming them into viral content.
But what is it about this seemingly light-hearted cartoon that keeps churning out viral jokes like a factory of hilarity? In an era where internet culture thrives on randomness, The Amazing World of Gumball fits right in—offering chronically online creators a perfect blend of self-referential humor, exaggerated reactions, and relatable absurdity.
From out-of-context moments to full-blown parodies, Gumball has evolved from a beloved kids' show into an ever-evolving hub of online culture.
The meme-ification of Gumball: How a cartoon became a viral sensation
The Amazing World of Gumball is a British-American animated TV show that follows the life of a blue cat, Gumball Watterson, and his eclectic family. Known for its distinct animation style and quirky sense of humor, the show often breaks the fourth wall, embraces meta-commentary, and plays with absurd scenarios, making it not only prime commentary material but the kind that you can find as a reference in an upcoming episode.
The first wave of Gumball memes started surfacing on platforms like Reddit and Tumblr, where users would take stills from the show’s more exaggerated moments and add their own humorous captions.
One of the early memes to gain traction involved Gumball’s infamous “What the What?!” reaction—perfectly encapsulating the collective confusion and frustration of internet users. Soon after, other characters, such as Darwin (his aquatic best friend/brother) and Richard (the perpetually lazy dad), joined the viral roster, providing even more content to fuel the trend.
One standout viral moment is the Gumball Becomes a Meme episode, a self-referential commentary on the very nature of internet culture. In this episode, Gumball accidentally becomes a part of the trend himself, his face plastered across the web, and everyone in Elmore starts using his exaggerated expressions in ridiculous scenarios.
This episode essentially solidified The Amazing World of Gumball as a meme-generating machine and gave its online community a direct shout-out from the creators themselves. It’s like the show was practically winking at us all.
The versatility of Gumball lies in the show’s unpredictable narrative style. One moment Gumball and his family are dealing with mundane suburban life, and the next, they’re caught in a hyperbolic crisis that’s so absurd, that it's bound to be viral. These surreal shifts, combined with Gumball’s expressive face, make it easy for internet users to turn everyday moments into viral hits.
A notable example is the "This is fine" moment, where Gumball's exaggerated acceptance of disaster is awfully similar to the collective resignation on our faces during moments of chaos, much like the original cartoon dog in flames.
Platforms like Pinterest and Reddit are treasure troves for Gumball jokes, with entire communities dedicated to collecting and sharing the funniest moments from the show (and if you've clicked on this article, we might be calling you out).
On Reddit, r/gumballmemes has become a hub for die-hard fans and internet enthusiasts alike, with users constantly uploading new takes on old episodes. These memes cover a range of topics, from political commentary to personal struggles, employing Gumball’s chaotic energy as a relatable vehicle for humor.
Trending
In the fast-paced world of memes (it can be saturated, I know), few shows have managed to maintain relevance the way The Amazing World of Gumball has. Its ability to embrace internet culture, paired with its outlandish humor and expressive characters, makes it the perfect source for witty humor.
So next time you see Gumball plastered across your timeline, remember—it's more than just a kids' show, it's comedy at its peak.
Reply
