Nyan Cat began in April 2011 when YouTube user saraj00n combined daniwellP song Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya, sung by Vocaloid Hatsune Miku, with a pixel animation by prguitarman of a cat with a Pop Tart body flying through space. The video went viral that year, spawning remixes, games, merchandise and endless reuploads across social media. Its simple loop and rainbow visual became shorthand for early 2010s meme culture, and creators still reuse the audio for retro, kawaii and absurd humor because it is instantly recognizable within seconds.