Teemo was one of the early champions in League of Legends, released by Riot Games in 2009, and quickly became one of its most recognisable mascots. The word senpai comes from Japanese school and workplace hierarchy and is widely used in anime fandom for someone admired from afar. Combining the two created a fandom crossover that fits streaming culture, where short character callouts are clipped, shared on soundboards and reused as reactions. Its brevity helps it survive as a quick punchline long after a match ends.