Nyan Cat

File:Nyan cat doodle.PNG

On April 2, 2011, the GIF animation of the cat was posted by 25-year-old Christopher Torres of Dallas, Texas, who uses the name "prguitarman", on his website LOL-Comics.{{cite web |url=http://www.prguitarman.com/index.php?id=348 |title=Pop Tart / Nyan Cat! |author=prguitarman |website=LOL-comics |date=April 2, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906230851/http://www.prguitarman.com/index.php?id=348 |archive-date=September 6, 2012 }} Torres explained in an interview where the idea for the animation came from: "I was doing a donation drive for the Red Cross and in-between drawings in my Livestream video chat, two different people mentioned I should draw a 'Pop Tart' and a 'cat'." In response, he created a hybrid image of a Pop-Tart and a cat, which was developed a few days later into the animated GIF.

Nyan Cat was based on a real cat: Torres' pet cat Marty, who died in November 2012 from feline infectious peritonitis.{{cite web |url=http://mashable.com/2012/11/02/rip-marty-nyan-cat/ |title=RIP Marty --The Inspiration for Nyan Cat |publisher=mashable.com |date=November 2, 2012 |access-date=November 2, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://petslady.com/articles/meme_memory_rip_marty_nyan_cats_inspiration_59757 |title=From Meme To Memory: RIP Marty, Nyan Cat's Inspiration |publisher=petslady.com |date=November 2, 2012 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |archive-date=May 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531110518/http://petslady.com/articles/meme_memory_rip_marty_nyan_cats_inspiration_59757 |url-status=dead }}

The original version of the song "Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya!" was uploaded by user "daniwell""daniwell" is variously credited on the web as daniwellP and Daniwell-P; the account that uploaded the song "Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya!" uses the name daniwell. to the Japanese video site Niconico on July 25, 2010.ニコニコ動画(原宿).【初音ミク】Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya!【オリジナループ】. From [http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm11509720 nicovideo.jp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606032401/http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm11509720 |date=2011-06-06 }} July 25, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2011. The song features the Vocaloid virtual singer Hatsune Miku.{{Cite web |date=31 August 2011 |title=Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya! / daniwellP {{!}} KARENT |url=https://karent.jp/album/785 |access-date=25 October 2024 |website=Karent |publisher=Crypton Future Media}} The Japanese word {{nihongo||にゃ|nya}} (wikt:にゃん) is onomatopoeic, imitating the call of a cat (equivalent to English "meow"). The song was later included in the rhythm game Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F, released by Sega in August 2012.{{cite news |title=Watch The Nyan Cat Song In Hatsune Miku Project Diva f |url=https://www.siliconera.com/watch-the-nyan-cat-song-in-hatsune-miku-project-diva-f/ |access-date=15 April 2020 |work=Siliconera |date=9 August 2012}}

On January 30, 2011, a user named "Momomomo" uploaded a cover of "Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya!" featuring the UTAU voice Momone Momo.[http://www.vocaloidism.com/2011/05/22/nyan-cat-hit-10m-views/ Nyan Cat hit 10M views] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110620190935/http://www.vocaloidism.com/2011/05/22/nyan-cat-hit-10m-views/ |date=2011-06-20 }} Vocaloidism, May 22, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2011.

【UTAU】Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya!【桃音モモ】【ミクカバー】 ‐ ニコニコ動画(原宿). From [http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm13455867 nicovideo.jp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426193037/http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm13455867 |date=2011-04-26 }}, January 31, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2011. The voice source used to create the Momone Momo voice was a Japanese woman named Momoko Fujimoto.{{cite interview |last1=Fujimoto |first1=Momoko |last2=Oyamano |first2=Mayo |interviewer=Yotsumoto Toshimi |date=6 August 2011 |language=Japanese |title=これがソラリスの海か！ "音源系女子"ガールズトーク |trans-title=This is the ocean of Solaris! A Girl's Talk with the "Sound System Girls" |work={{ill|ASCII.jp|ja}} |url=https://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/624/624499/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813005403/http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/624/624499/ |archive-date=13 August 2011 |url-status=live}}

YouTube user "saraj00n" (whose real name is Sara June){{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/249299/profiles_in_geekdom_chris_torres_creator_of_nyan_cat.html |title=Profiles in Geekdom: Chris Torres, Creator of Nyan Cat |publisher=PCWorld |date=February 4, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308054835/http://www.pcworld.com/article/249299/profiles_in_geekdom_chris_torres_creator_of_nyan_cat.html |archive-date=2012-03-08 |url-status=live }} combined the cat animation with the "Momomomo" version of the song "Nyanyanyanyanyanyanya!", and uploaded it to YouTube on April 5, 2011, three days after Torres had uploaded his animation, giving it the title "Nyan Cat". The video rapidly became a success after being featured on websites including G4 and CollegeHumor. Christopher Torres said: "Originally, its name was Pop Tart Cat, and I will continue to call it so, but the Internet has reached a decision to name it Nyan Cat, and I'm happy with that choice, too."{{cite web |url=http://popgoestheweek.com/2011/04/pop-profile-the-brains-behind-the-viral-phenomenon-nyan-cat/ |title=POP Profile: The Guy Behind The Viral Phenomenon "Nyan Cat" |publisher=Pop goes the Week |date=April 19, 2011|access-date=October 28, 2011}}

In March 2019, ownership of the YouTube channel hosting the original Nyan Cat video was transferred to Means TV, a worker-owned video streaming service.{{cite web |url=https://theintercept.com/2019/03/21/means-tv-anti-capitalist-streaming-service/ |title=Means TV, with a boost from the Nyan Cat, launches a post-capitalist streaming service|publisher=Theintercept.com |date=March 21, 2019|access-date=April 10, 2019}}

In November 2023, the original Nyan Cat video ceased to be available on the saraj00n YouTube channel, and its new location was given as the YouTube channel NyanCat.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/prguitarman/status/1723178422531133856?s=46&t=J6v0Pxe0RuKRi2JlG7NYHA |title=Chris @PRguitarman on X |publisher=X.com |date=November 11, 2023 |access-date=November 11, 2023}}

In February 2021, it was reported that the GIF's original creator, Chris Torres, had created an updated version and sold it as a non-fungible token (NFT) for 300 ether, the equivalent of US$587,000 at the time of sale.{{cite web |url= https://gizmodo.com/one-of-a-kind-nyan-cat-gif-sold-in-crypto-art-auction-t-1846312536 |title= Remastered Nyan Cat Gif Sold for the Equivalent of $587,000 in a Crypto Art Auction |author = Stanley, Alise |website= Gizomodo |date= 19 February 2021 |access-date= 28 February 2021}}

The Nyan Cat music video reached ninth place in Business Insider{{'}}s top ten viral videos of April 2011, with 7.2 million total views.{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/top-viral-videos-of-april-2011-5|title=Top viral videos of April: What's A "Nyan Cat"?|website=Business Insider|date=May 3, 2011|access-date=November 13, 2011}} The original YouTube video has received 205 million views {{As of|2023|05|3|lc=yes|df=US}}. Nyan Cat won a Webby Award in 2012 for "Meme of the Year".{{cite web |title=Special Achievement: Meme of the Year: Nyan Cat |url=https://www.webbyawards.com/winners/2012/special-achievement/meme-of-the-year/nyan-cat/ |website=webbyawards.com |access-date=13 December 2019}}

Due to the video's popularity, many new remixes and cover versions have been made, some several hours long. There are also ringtones, wallpapers and applications created for operating systems and devices, including a progress bar substitute for Windows which would show up in various places such as the file transfer progress indicator in Windows Explorer, following a request on the subreddit "Somebody Make This".{{cite web |last=Brandrick |first=Chris |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/235674/nyan_cat_invades_windows_7_dances_along_progress_bars.html |title=Nyan Cat Invades Windows 7, Dances Along Progress Bars |publisher=PCWorld |date=2011-07-13 |access-date=2011-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719160627/http://www.pcworld.com/article/235674/nyan_cat_invades_windows_7_dances_along_progress_bars.html |archive-date=2012-07-19 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Robberts |first1=Eric |title=Nyan Cat Progress Bar |url=https://ekm.co/2011/07/nyan-cat-progress-bar/ |website=EKM.CO |date=12 July 2011 |access-date=19 April 2022 }}{{Cite web |url=https://i.reddit.com/r/SomebodyMakeThis/comments/i3bdk/smt_a_nyan_cat_loading_bar_ui_mod_for_windows/ |title=[SMT] A Nyan Cat loading bar UI mod for Windows |date=19 June 2011 |access-date=2022-04-19 |archive-date=2021-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213203709/https://i.reddit.com/r/SomebodyMakeThis/comments/i3bdk/smt_a_nyan_cat_loading_bar_ui_mod_for_windows/ |url-status=bot: unknown }} (June 19, 2011) Video games were developed for iPhone, iPad,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/appsblog/2011/may/13/apps-rush-thomas-friends-squirrel-nutkin |title=Apps rush: Nutkin, Nyan Cat and more | location=London | work=The Guardian |first=Stuart |last=Dredge |date=May 14, 2011|access-date=November 13, 2011}} Symbian,{{cite web |url=http://pdadevice.com/nyan-cat-on-the-nokia-cell-phone.html |title=Nyan Cat on the Nokia Cell Phone |publisher=Pdadevice.com |date=2011-07-02 |access-date=2011-09-22}} Android,{{cite web |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.istomgames.engine&hl=en|title=Nyan Cat: Lost In Space |access-date=April 10, 2015}} Windows Phone,{{cite web|url=http://www.wpcentral.com/nyan-cat-strays-marketplace|title=Nyan Cat strays into the Marketplace|work=wpcentral.com|access-date=November 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019092722/http://www.wpcentral.com/nyan-cat-strays-marketplace|archive-date=October 19, 2014|url-status=dead}} and HP webOS,{{cite web |url=https://developer.palm.com/appredirect/?packageid=com.taytabbb.nyan&applicationid=9147 |title=Nyan Cat for HP webOS |publisher=Developer.palm.com |access-date=2011-07-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810065425/https://developer.palm.com/appredirect/?packageid=com.taytabbb.nyan&applicationid=9147 |archive-date=2011-08-10 }} and a variety of flash games and mobile games such as "Snake" replicas using the cat's rainbow tail[https://archive.org/details/nyake "nyake" – Internet Archive] or endless runners like "Nyan Cat: Lost in Space". "Nyan Cat Adventure", by 21st Street Games is an officially licensed game.{{cite web |url=http://thegamerplex.com/temp/nyan-cat-adventure-xbox-360-indie-game-review/|title=Nyan Cat Adventure (Xbox 360 – Indie Game) Review |work=thegamerplex.com|access-date=December 21, 2011|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406192105/http://thegamerplex.com/temp/nyan-cat-adventure-xbox-360-indie-game-review/|archive-date=April 6, 2012}} An officially licensed cryptocurrency entitled "Nyancoin" with the domain name nyanco.in (later nyan-coin.org) was launched in January 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/23/nyancoin_crytpocurrency/|first=Simon|last=Sharwood|title=Cryptocurrencies now being pooped out by cartoon cat|work=The Register|date=January 23, 2014|access-date=January 24, 2014}}

Christopher Torres initially criticized the website www.nyan.cat, which originally featured a similar-looking cat with the pop tart replaced by a slice of toast,[https://web.archive.org/web/20110531001830/http://nyan.cat/ Non-Stop Nyan Cat!] The original nyan.cat, archived by the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 January 2014. and the same background music. The site, which uses the .cat sponsored top-level domain, was described by Torres as "plagiarized".[http://nyan.cat/ nyan.cat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531001830/http://nyan.cat/ |date=2011-05-31 }} Retrieved November 13, 2011.{{cite web |url=http://prguitarman.tumblr.com/post/4954865409/huy-hong-so-tremendously-humbled-thank-you-lies |title=Huy Hong: so tremendously humbled, thank you. Lies and thievery |work=prguitarman.tumblr.com |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426062757/http://prguitarman.tumblr.com/post/4954865409/huy-hong-so-tremendously-humbled-thank-you-lies |archive-date=April 26, 2012 }} Since 2012 the website has been operated by Torres, and shows the authentic version of the cat.

In May 2013, Christopher Torres and Charles Schmidt, the creators of Nyan Cat and Keyboard Cat respectively, jointly sued 5th Cell and Warner Bros. for copyright infringement and trademark infringement over the appearance of these characters without permission in the Scribblenauts series of video games. Torres and Schmidt have registered copyrights on their characters and have pending trademark applications on the names.{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22397446# | title = Nyan Cat and Keyboard Cat creators sue Warner Bros | work = BBC News | date = 2013-05-02 | access-date = 2013-05-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130504004241/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22397446 | archive-date = 2013-05-04 | url-status = live }}{{cite web |author=Adi Robertson |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/2/4293484/nyan-cat-keyboard-cat-creators-sue-scribblenauts-over-easter-eggs |title=Nyan Cat and Keyboard Cat creators sue 'Scribblenauts' studio for using their memes |publisher=The Verge |date=2013-02-12 |access-date=2013-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505004006/http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/2/4293484/nyan-cat-keyboard-cat-creators-sue-scribblenauts-over-easter-eggs |archive-date=2013-05-05 |url-status=live }} Torres released a statement saying that he had tried to obtain compensation from 5th Cell and Warner Bros. for commercial use of the character, but was "disrespected and snubbed" multiple times.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamepolitics.com/2013/05/03/nyan-cat-creator-comments-warner-bros-lawsuit#.UYjXYuXSxFl|title=Nyan Cat Creator Comments on Warner Bros. Lawsuit|publisher=GamePolitics|date=2013-05-07|access-date=2013-05-07}}{{cite web |last=Phillips |first=Tom |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-05-02-warner-bros-and-5th-cell-hit-by-keyboard-cat-nyan-cat-lawsuit |title=Warner Bros. and 5th Cell targeted by Keyboard Cat, Nyan Cat lawsuit • News • |publisher=Eurogamer.net |date=2013-05-03 |access-date=2013-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625164012/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-05-02-warner-bros-and-5th-cell-hit-by-keyboard-cat-nyan-cat-lawsuit |archive-date=2013-06-25 |url-status=live }} The suit was settled in September 2013, with Torres and Schmidt being paid for the use of the characters.{{cite web|last=Van Syckle|first=Katie |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/09/keyboard-cat-nyan-cat-win-warner-bros-lawsuit.html|title=Keyboard Cat and Nyan Cat Come Out Ahead in Lawsuit Against Warner Bros.|publisher=Nymag.com|date=2013-09-26|access-date=2013-10-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930195323/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/09/keyboard-cat-nyan-cat-win-warner-bros-lawsuit.html |archive-date=2013-09-30|url-status=live}}

{{Portal|Internet}}

• Robot Unicorn Attack
• Techno Kitten Adventure
• Cats and the Internet
• List of Internet phenomena
• Memz

{{clear}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120906230851/http://www.prguitarman.com/index.php?id=348 Nyan Cat on LOL-Comics], the original GIF animation by prguitarman (Christopher Torres), April 2, 2011.
• {{YouTube|2yJgwwDcgV8| Nyan Cat (New location as of November 2023)}}

Category:2010s fads and trends

Category:2010s viral videos

Category:2011 works

Category:2011 YouTube videos

Category:Fictional cats

Category:Internet characters introduced in 2011

Category:Internet meme characters

Category:Internet memes about cats

Category:Internet memes introduced in 2011

Category:IOS games

Category:Viral music videos

Category:Vocaloid songs

Category:Webby Award winners