What is the viral 'HUE HUE HUE' meme? Meaning before Bootleg Metal Sonic Plush meme explained

If you've been browsing the online forums where Sonic the Hedgehog fans are active, you've undoubtedly come across an odd meme that's trending: the Bootleg Metal Sonic Plush laughing "hue hue hue." You may be wondering why this strangely shaped Sonic plush is laughing and what's going on with it.

Since a viral video brought the meme into the public eye, it has gained popularity. It's not new by any means! It has been circulating on the internet since the late 2010s. It revolves around a shoddy Metal Sonic plush with an abnormally large nose and a minimalist Sonic tune that uncannily mimics the plush's chuckling "hue hue hue."

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The birth of the Bootleg Plush Meme

The Metal Bootleg When Sonic fans discovered this comically awful clone of the legendary character in the late 2010s the iconic Sonic Plush meme was born. This plush was obviously a knockoff, with a rigid, doll-like look and an oddly large snout, far from being a genuine replica. Rather than dismissing it as a regrettable imitation, Sonic fans transformed it into a cherished emblem of meme culture. By 2021, this plush toy had become a sort of inside joke among Sonic fans, appearing in fan art and edits.

However, what does "hue hue hue" mean? The counterfeit plush and a slowed-down version of the Sonic CD song "Stardust Speedway" were included in a video that was uploaded by a YouTuber in late 2024. The music sounds uncannily like the plush toy laughing "hue hue hue" in this abridged version. The fake Metal Sonic plush was soon all over the place, laughing its way into meme culture after this absurd but strangely charming video went viral and moved to Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

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Fan reactions: Hue Hue Hue takes over

The "hue hue hue" trend was quickly adopted by fans, particularly on social media sites like Reddit and Twitter. They started making artwork that featured Metal Sonic with a long nose that was exaggerated, speech bubbles that said "hue hue hue," and the plush being inserted into well-known situations as its trademark laugh played in the background. Soon, memes depicting the plush in various contexts—from battling other Sonic characters to acting out scenes from movies—started to become viral. The plush's dramatic "impaling" of other figures with its nose, which parodies other well-known meme styles, is a fan favorite.

In a recent popular tweet, the plush was seen imitating Sephiroth's famous Super Smash Bros. impaling of Mario, with the comment, "Nah, I'd hue hue hue." After using the plush for a number of ridiculous antics, another TikTok user became viral, garnering millions of views for a pretty straightforward, absurd joke. The strangeness of a distorted Sonic doll giggling uncontrollably has somehow become the 2025 hit meme, whether it be through video edits or artwork.

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From bootleg to mainstream meme stardom

The actual bootleg plush is from Sonic: The Fighters, a less well-known Sonic video game. People are now actively looking for the plush in the hopes of obtaining a piece of meme history, despite its peculiar fame. But once the "hue hue hue" meme became widespread on social media in 2025, its importance largely (and understandably) skyrocketed. Even people who are not familiar with Sonic fans are now unable to avoid its odd laughter and smiling look.

The bootleg doll has unexpectedly gained a second life because of the abundance of memes that include the plush. What began as an odd imitation has developed into a powerful trend that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, not with the new movie, of course.