Dramatic Chipmunk
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{short description|Internet comedy viral video}}
File:Dramatic Chipmunk.png after turning its head]]
Dramatic Chipmunk is a viral Internet video.{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9733431-7.html |title=Five-second 'Dramatic gopher' video takes the Web by storm |publisher=CBS Interactive |work=CNET |access-date=8 July 2015 |archive-date=1 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101202321/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9733431-7.html |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=10&p=3659&more=1&c=1&t.b.=1&bp=1 |title=NME Music Blogs |work=NME.COM |access-date=8 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017214438/http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=10&p=3659&more=1&c=1&t.b.=1&bp=1 |archive-date=17 October 2012 |url-status=dead}} The video is a five-second clip of a prairie dog (erroneously referred to as a chipmunk) turning its head while the camera zooms in and dramatic music is played.
Origins
The clip became widely known through uploads on YouTube and CollegeHumor on June 19, 2007. An earlier and identical version, titled as Dramatic Look, had been uploaded to YouTube on June 6, 2007.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Kyi0WNg40 |via=YouTube |title=Dramatic Look |work=magnets99 |date=6 June 2007 |language=en}}
The clip of the prairie dog is from the Japanese television show Hello! Morning featuring Mini-Moni's segment, Mini-Moni Chiccha.{{cite news |url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/spot-the-memes-in-weezers-pork-and-beans/news-story/631567e9e5ef1df10bc86bb1f16c0dcb?sv=1128012ec3b0cb0ceabf491583772363 |title=Spot the memes in Weezer's Pork and Beans |work=News.com.au |date=23 October 2009 |access-date=10 March 2020}} The clip has a prairie dog inside a transparent box being shown to the hosts in the studio. CollegeHumor also released a longer clip under the title Undramatic Chipmunk, showing how the video looked in the original Japanese version.[http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1764504 Undramatic Chipmunk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527225339/http://www.collegehumor.com/video%3A1764504 |date=27 May 2010 }}
The audio used in Dramatic Chipmunk - sometimes known as the "Dun dun duuun!" sting - is taken from the score of the 1974 Mel Brooks film Young Frankenstein,{{cite news |last1=Tait |first1=Amelia |title=Dun, Dun Duuun! Where did pop culture's most dramatic sound come from? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jan/18/dun-dun-duuun-where-did-pop-cultures-most-dramatic-sound-come-from |access-date=7 January 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=18 January 2022}} which was composed by two-time Oscar nominee (and longtime Brooks collaborator) John Morris, and orchestrated by Morris and EGOT recipient Jonathan Tunick.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF_tsgUrL5c&t=280s |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106124612/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF_tsgUrL5c |archive-date=6 November 2019 |url-status=dead |time=4:40 |title=Young Frankenstein – Original Isolated Score – John Morris |date=4 September 2016 |work=YouTube |access-date=30 May 2017}}[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072431/fullcredits#cast IMDB Full Cast and Crew for Young Frankenstein]{{cite web |url=http://picturebookproductions.com/pbp/About/Bios/Jonathan.shtml |title=PBP – Jonathan Tunick |work=picturebookproductions.com |access-date=8 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073920/http://picturebookproductions.com/pbp/About/Bios/Jonathan.shtml |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}
Popularity
Since its release, the video has received over fifty million views.Determining an exact figure is impossible, because the video is uploaded multiple times on different websites. The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Y73sPHKxw most popular version on YouTube] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125105324/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Y73sPHKxw |date=25 November 2016 }} had over 36 million views {{as of|October 2014|lc=yes}}. [https://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=8CA3E1AA8D7D0C6F Other versions on YouTube] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605174652/http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=8CA3E1AA8D7D0C6F |date=5 June 2014 }} have received millions of views each. People Magazine named the Dramatic Chipmunk as one of The 10 Wildest YouTube Stars of 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20160055_20160129_20371497,00.html |title=The 10 Wildest YouTube Stars – THE DRAMATIC CHIPMUNK|work=People.com |access-date=8 July 2015 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192256/http://www.people.com/people/package/gallery/0,,20160055_20160129_20371497,00.html |url-status=dead}}
In 2008, South Park released an episode named “Canada on Strike”. The Dramatic Chipmunk (referred to here as "Dramatic Look Gopher) was featured alongside other Internet celebrities (including Tay Zonday, Tron Guy and the viral "Sneezing Baby Panda") claiming his "internet money."
In 2008, The Powerpuff Girls released their 10th anniversary and series finale special, “The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!”. At the start of the special, Mojo Jojo is seen referencing the Dramatic Chipmunk meme when he is first introduced.
Since 2013, the Minnesota Golden Gophers have been known to play the Dramatic Chipmunk video on the Jumbotron during home football games to distract opposing kickers.{{cite web |url=http://btn.com/2013/11/25/minnesota-uses-dramatic-gopher-vs-badgers/ |title=Minnesota unveils 'Dramatic Gopher' vs. Wisconsin |work=Big Ten Network |date=25 November 2013 |access-date=8 July 2015}}
In the video game Overwatch, the Wrecking Ball character – an enhanced-intelligent hamster that pilots a mecha – was given a highlight introduction in April 2019 that spoofs the Dramatic Chipmunk meme.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/overwatch/dramatic-chipmunk |title=Overwatch's Wrecking Ball is now Dramatic Hammond |first=Ian |last=Boudreau |date=21 April 2019 |access-date=21 April 2019 |work=PCGamesN}}
Notes
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