The Hampster Dance began as a 1998 web page created by Canadian art student Deidre LaCarte. Rows of animated hamsters danced while a looping, sped-up sample played in the background. That audio drew from Roger Miller’s song “Whistle Stop,” written for Disney’s 1973 animated film Robin Hood. The page spread widely through email and word of mouth during the early web era, later inspiring commercial recordings and numerous remixes. Its simple animation, catchy loop, and distinctive squeaky pitch keep it recognizable in nostalgic memes and short-form videos.