Nyan Cat began in 2011 as a short animated GIF of a cat with a Pop-Tart body flying through space and leaving a rainbow trail, set to a fast Japanese pop song built around the repeated word nyan, the Japanese sound for a cat's meow. The combination was uploaded to YouTube and quickly became one of the defining early viral memes, spawning remixes, merchandise and countless parodies. It is still used today because the tune is instantly recognisable, endlessly loopable and works alongside other cat memes as shorthand for playful internet humour.
About this sound
The upbeat Nyan Cat theme with its repeating vocal loop, from the viral pop-tart animation, is often used for funny videos and happy meme edits.
This is the short, loopable theme from the Nyan Cat meme, built around a bright, bouncy electronic tune and a simple, high-pitched vocal that repeats nyan over and over. The melody is cheerful and a little silly, with a fast, steady rhythm that feels like it could go on forever, which is why the original animation worked so well. Played on its own, it instantly signals something cute, absurd and internet-famous, and it tends to make a clip feel lighter, faster and more playful. Even a few seconds are enough for most listeners to recognise it and smile, because the tune sticks in the head after it stops.
