Description[]
Beam Attack is a YouTube meme that began in July 2022 and rose in popularity before peaking in August. The meme focuses on a scene where a Waddle Doo, an enemy in the Kirby franchise, misses with its attack against Kirby, the protagonist of the series, while Kirby is charging up a weapon. Waddle Doo is then killed by the weapon as they attempt a second attack and appears in heaven. This is accompanied by the Waddle Doo saying, "Beam Attack!" while performing the attack, followed by the Waddle Doo reassuring itself that it'll hit Kirby next time before being killed.
This scene has been done in different animation styles across many different YouTube videos. The scene is generally reconstructed with humor in mind, focusing on the Waddle Doo's hopeful and cheerful attitude despite its inadequate attempt at hurting Kirby.
History[]
The original scene of a Waddle Doo missing with its attack comes from YouTube user Failboat's video, posted on June 26, 2022, where he plays the game Kirby Planet Robobot while providing humorous commentary and doing voices for characters. In the playthrough at timestamps 2:52, Failboat encounters a Waddle Doo that misses with his attack, all the while Failboat stays just out of range to charge up an attack which he then uses to obliterate the Waddle Doo. Failboat provides the voiceover and adds an edited scene where the Waddle Doo appears in heaven. The video garnered over 852,000 views in just over a month.
The scene was reuploaded by YouTube user Egg egg on the same day. On July 2, YouTube user OrangeCloudDreamer posted an edited version of the scene, the scene being in a pixelated style. The video gained over 190,000 views within a month.
Web usage[]
On July 14th, YouTube user Ch_390 reposted the scene in a video titled "Why Waddle Doo isn't in "Kirby and the Forgotten Land"" which gained over 461,000 views within 4 weeks. On July 29, two YouTube users, Archie and ItsKirbinTime, posted animations based off the clip, the videos gaining over 26,000 views and 161,000 views respectively.
On August 2, YouTube user SuperKirby posted an animation based on the clip, gaining over 200,000 views in just a week. On August 6, YouTube user muffin snake posted an animation based off the scene, which gained over 464,000 views in just 3 days.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This meme is reminiscent of the scenario one might encounter in a video game where the player is at their most powerful stage and is challenged by a seemingly arrogant lower-level enemy, who is then utterly destroyed by the player.
References[]
- Lessons in Meme Culture (August 8, 2022). "Where did "Beam Attack" Kirby Animations Come From?". YouTube. Retrieved on September 2, 2022.
External links[]
- Beam Attack Know Your Meme