Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a 1988 horror comedy film about alien invaders who look like circus clowns, and Shorty is the smallest member of the group. Clips of the Klowns, their voices and their laughs circulated for years through cult film screenings, DVD releases and later soundboards and meme edits. Unlike a classic cartoon laugh like the Woody Woodpecker Laugh, Shorty's giggle feels menacing as well as goofy, which is why horror and comedy creators keep reusing it for pranks, reactions and Halloween videos today.