I was on Know Your Meme yesterday and noticed that one of the top video galleries was “Sad Cat Dance”. I thought this would be a good time to check out the origin of this iconic catgirl meme. Unsurprising, it started with Chainsaw Man. Considering the number of Chainsaw Man variations, I am more surprised that the first true version of the meme used original characters!
According to Know Your Meme, the origins of “Sad Cat Dance” came from a YouTube video uploaded in 2021. Benedique uploaded a video inspired by a scene from the Chainsaw Man manga that featured Kobeni playing a game like DDR while crying. Later that year, Ha Anime uploaded a video that combined this scene with the Ankha Zone meme. This led to the addition of a famous dance. Finally, in 2022, the artist Waldo Kun created the first Sad Cat Dance.
In it, Chachan begs Walza to put on the sacred cat ears and bell choker, and then perform the holy dance. First, he begs on his hands and knees, then he does full dogeza, then finally he goes full handstand! It is too much for Walza to handle. She gives in and the god tier meme is born. Walza puts on the cat attire and daces to the song “Gypsy in My Mind”. The rest is history. So, the next time you beg someone to do the Sad Cat Dance, remember how we got here!
So what do you think?