The Lorax was created by Dr. Seuss and first appeared in his 1971 picture book, where the small orange creature speaks for the trees in a forest threatened by industrial greed. The character returned in the 2012 animated film The Lorax, voiced by Danny DeVito, which introduced his gruff voice to a new generation. Clips of his introduction have since circulated widely in short videos and memes, especially in jokes about deforestation, gardening, and environmental protection, keeping the character recognizable long after the film's release.