What Is The 'Animan Studios' Meme? The 'Axel In Harlem' Video And Others Explained (2024)

Recontextualizing adult media is a meme trend that isn't dying out anytime soon, evident in the latest meme amid the genre called Axel in Harlem. The adult cartoon showing a man walking with an over-sized rear end was made by Animan Studios, and for some meme enjoyers, it's becoming the new Ambatukam.

Redraws, fan art and TikTok videos are all using the Animan Studios scene where Axel is getting stared down by three men on a sidewalk. The creativity is blossoming across Twitter and Facebook as this meme is becoming mainstream.

It's not just "Axel in Harlem" that's getting memed. Another cartoon showing a cowboy is getting lit up too. Need to know more about where this meme came from, who Mr. Animan is and why it's such a big meme right now? Let's explain.

Who Is Mr. Animan And What Is Animan Studios?

Mr. Animan is a man of mystery. According to a 2011 interview from the Seattle Gay Scene, Animan is a pseudonym and the artist refuses to give his legal name. This is because he fears that his "animation gig" would have repercussions on his job status.

However, Mr. Animan did reveal in his interview that he's American but lives overseas. Granted, this interview is from 2011, so who knows where the elusive Mr. Animan is right now. One thing's for sure, though — he's still active on Tumblr and Twitter, which is where he posts most of his explicit animations other than on his website.

Where Did The "Axel In Harlem" Meme Come From?

As of right now, one Animan Studios animation sticks out from the rest, entitled "Axel in Harlem." It follows the story of a Black man named Axel who, according to Mr. Animan, is "the neighborhood man-slu*t [who] attracts men like a magnet." Of course, the now notorious cartoon shows Axel strutting down a Manhattan sidewalk as other men ogle at his behind. They follow him up an elevator to their final destination.

The "Axel in Harlem" cartoon was first shared to Tumblr in April 2016. Years later, in 2020, it spread to Twitter, finally landing on Facebook and TikTok in its most censored and memeable form.

What Is The Guy Walking Meme With The "Vámonos De Fiesta A Factory" Song?

"Axel in Harlem" is also well-known in Latin and South America. In fact, Spanish and Portuguese-speaking meme creators are pretty much the reason that Animan Studios is such a big meme right now. On Facebook and TikTok, they started sharing the opening sequence of the cartoon set to the Peruvian song "La Cumbia de Free Fire" by Bukano, specifically the lyrics "Vámonos De Fiesta A Factory." Thereafter, the song became associated with the meme.

@bark.xd Animan Studio me salvó la vida #fyp #parati #navidadxiaomi #edit #animanstudios blank" title="♬ sonido original – Bukano" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/sonido-original-7126708738936851206?refer=embed">♬ sonido original – Bukano
@dani_el_gil Vamono de fiesta a factory #meme #animanstudios #fyp ♬ sonido original – Bukano

What Is The TikTok "Ballin'" Meme With The Guy Walking?

English-speaking TikTokers decided to choose a different song for Axel walking through Harlem, namely the song "Ballin'" by Mustard and Roddy Rich. Thereafter, the song became associated with the meme and both songs propelled the trend going forward.

@pxpithiccems brandon > dreamy #animanstudios #dreamybullxx #brandoncurington #thugshaker @husain_sallami ♬ Animan Studio – ︎︎
@un_knowncookie2 #animan #animanstudio #animanstudios #ballin #cowboy #viral #meme #momento ♬ Animan Studio – ︎︎

What Is The Animan Studios Meme With The Cowboys?

Other than "Axel in Harlem," there's another animation of Animan's that's gaining meme attention, and it features a bunch of cowboys similar to Ram Ranch. The animation is titled "The Sheriff of Lone Gulch" and many are ironically calling it Red Dead Redemption despite no other correlation to the game than the wild, wild west.

@haveyouseengavin_ Only in Blackwater💀💯 #animan #animanstudios #onlyinohio #fyp ♬ Animan Studio – ︎︎
@haribo0154 #animanstudios #yugonmakemebus ♬ Animan Studio – ︎︎

What Other Animan Studios Memes Are There?

The biggest Animan Studios meme format outside of videos is redraws in which illustrators and artists are re-editng the screencaps of Axel walking and the three men staring. They're inserting different characters from many TV shows, movies, video games and more into the template.

For the full history of Animan Studios, be sure to check out our entry on the meme here for even more information.

What Is The 'Animan Studios' Meme? The 'Axel In Harlem' Video And Others Explained (2024)

FAQs

What is Animan Axel in Harlem? ›

Axel in Harlem by Animan is a touching and powerful story that left a deep impression on me. This coming-of-age novel takes readers on a journey through the eyes of a 16-year-old boy as he navigates the ups and downs of life in Harlem.

What is Animan Studios? ›

Animam Studios, an online video platform specializing in adult humor videos, has gained immense popularity across social media platforms.

When was Axel in Harlem made? ›

Axel in Harlem (Short 2016) - IMDb.

What Harlem Shake means? ›

The “Harlem Shake” was coined in 1981 by a Harlem resident known as “Al B” who claimed that the dance is meant to imitate the shake of an alcoholic. The dance was initially even called the “Albie” after its creator, but the name Harlem Shake caught on, and it soon became a symbol of the hip-hop of the time.

Where is Animan Studios headquarters? ›

Formed in 2002, Ánima is a family entertainment company, headquartered in Mexico City, with studios in Madrid, Canary Islands, and Buenos Aires.

Who runs Cartoon Network? ›

Cartoon Network, often abbreviated as CN, is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., a division that also has the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, Cartoonito, Discovery Family, Adult Swim, and Toonami under its purview.

Does Axel have a brother? ›

Not much is known about Axel's life prior to or as the outbreak began, except that he had a brother and was imprisoned for armed robbery. One day, he robbed a store with a water pistol, and the police found him hiding at his brother's house the next day with the water pistol.

When was Harlem born? ›

Harlem was originally settled by the Dutch in 1658, but was largely farmland and undeveloped territory for approximately 200 years. As New York's population grew, residential and commercial expansion moved northward, and development of the Harlem territory was evitable.

When did a rage in Harlem come out? ›

A Rage in Harlem is a 1991 American crime film directed by Bill Duke and loosely based on Chester Himes' novel A Rage in Harlem.

What does Cartoon Network Studios do? ›

Cartoon Network Studios is an industry leader in the creation of animated television for kids, tweens, and adults, and has expanded into preschool and family co-viewing films.

What happened to the Cartoon Network studio? ›

Animation used for classic franchises. On July 9, 2023, Miller announced via Twitter that the Cartoon Network Studios Burbank building would close its doors on August 1, with all operations being transferred to Warner Bros. Animation as both CNS and WBA would be moving to the new Warner Bros. Second Century building.

What is cartoon animation video? ›

Animated videos are videos created with original designs, drawings, illustrations or computer-generated effects that have been made to move in an eye-catching way using any number of artistic styles. Although they may integrate live action video, they don't require any live action recording to convey an idea or story.

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