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			{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2022}}
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			{{short description\|Animated internet meme}}
			] of the animation]]
			"'''Badgers'''", also known informally as "'''Badger Badger Badger'''" or "'''The Badger Song'''", is an animated ] by British animator ], also known as Mr Weebl. It consists of 12 ] ] doing ], a ] in front of a tree, and a ] in the ]. The ] is accompanied by a bass line, above which a ] sings the names of what is shown on ].<ref name="Silverman">{{cite news \|url=http://www.chron.com/business/article/Computing-1497072.php \|title=Youth culture finding unity with online animations \|first=Dwight \|last=Silverman \|date=14 February 2004 \|work=] \|access-date=24 November 2015}}</ref>

			The cartoon went live on ] on 2 September 2003 at 3:49 a.m. GMT.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web \|date=25 August 2023 \|title=The lost era of memes \|url=https://www.fasthosts.co.uk/blog/the-lost-era-of-memes/ \|access-date=31 August 2023 \|website=Fasthosts}}</ref> The cartoon ] indefinitely.
	'''Badgers''' (aka "Badger Badger Badger") is a ] animation by ], the creator of ], consisting mainly of images of ] doing ], a mushroom in front of a tree, and a snake in the desert.

			According to Mr Weebl, the inspiration behind "The Badger Song" comes from the song '']'' by ]:<ref name=":0" /> " has a duck quacking throughout. I decided that the tune needed an annoying squeak sound in the background. The lyrics were meant to be a placeholder, but much like ] by ], the placeholder became the actual thing."
	The cartoon was released via the ] weekly ] ] on ], ]. It spread wildly as an ] ].

			==Critical reception==
	==Lyrics==
			The cartoon brought Picking to the attention of ], for whom Picking produced '']''.<ref name="Silverman"/> That cartoon series, together with the dancing badgers, helped Picking's website, ], win a People's Choice award from users of ] in the UK.<ref name="Dennis">{{cite news \|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2005/jan/21/uknews.onlinesupplement \|title=Dancing badgers help Weebl's website win award \|author=Jon Dennis \|date=21 January 2005 \|work=] \|access-date=16 April 2008}}</ref> "Badger Badger Badger" was also listed as one of the top five internet fads of all time by ] in 2009.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/fp;2;fpid;10004;o;0;id;1510015981 \|title=PC World - Shortlist - Internet fads \|publisher=Pcworld.idg.com.au \|access-date=9 July 2009 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070415203238/http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php/fp%3B2%3Bfpid%3B10004%3Bo%3B0%3Bid%3B1510015981 \|archive-date=15 April 2007 \|url-status=dead}}</ref>

			==Follow-up versions==
	The lyrics of the animation are set to a ]-style techno music loop written by Jonti. The first snake line in the lyrics is under wide dispute; various interpretations include "Argh! It's a snake", "Argh snake! Argh snake!", and "Panic - a snake!". Jonti himself says that the line is "Argh snake! Argh snake!"
			There have been several follow-ups to the "Badger Badger Badger" cartoon posted to the Weebl's Stuff website. "Badgers 2" was created in 2003 and features ] badgers on a black background with a scratching sound added to the music.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/badgers2/ \|title=Badgers 2 - a Halloween version \|publisher=Weebls-stuff.com \|access-date=9 July 2009 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717001519/http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/badgers2/ \|archive-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> A Christmas-themed version, with the badgers dressed in Santa Claus suits, the mushroom replaced with a present, and the snake replaced with baby Jesus in a nativity scene, is also available and was made for the 2004 Weebl Advent Calendar.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.weebls-stuff.com/testy/AdventCalendar/day24.html \|title=Badgers Christmas version \|publisher=Weebls-stuff.com \|access-date=9 July 2009 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717001208/http://www.weebls-stuff.com/testy/AdventCalendar/day24.html \|archive-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> "Badgers on a Plane" consists of a scene from a '']'' trailer that includes badgers and a mushroom, which have been digitally edited into the scene, tumbling from their seats while a bit of the song plays in the background.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/trailer/ \|title=trailer - Weebl's Stuff \|publisher=Weebls-stuff.com \|access-date=9 July 2009 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717001907/http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/trailer/ \|archive-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> In 2007, "Big Ass Badgers" was released to spoof the '']'' film.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/Big+Ass+Badgers/ \|title=Big Ass Badgers - Weebl's Stuff \|publisher=Weebls-stuff.com \|access-date=9 July 2009 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717001654/http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/Big+Ass+Badgers/ \|archive-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> Also in 2007, a live-action version of the cartoon called "Baby Badgers" was released to promote the new Badger toys.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/Baby+Badgers/ \|title=Baby Badgers \|publisher=Weebls-stuff.com \|access-date=9 July 2009 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717001807/http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/Baby+Badgers/ \|archive-date=17 July 2009}}</ref>

			A "Euro 2004 Edition" was also created during the ] football championship, where the badgers wore ] football jerseys to "] footy footy" and "England! England! Goal! A goal! Oh, it's a goal, scored by England, England..."<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/footy/ \|title=footy - Weebl's Stuff \|publisher=Weebls-stuff.com \|access-date=9 July 2009 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717001330/http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/footy/ \|archive-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> A new version titled "Footy 2010" was created for the ] with ]s drowning out the audio.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.weebls-stuff.com/songs/Footy+2010/ \|title=Footy 2010 \|publisher=Weebls-stuff.com \|date=18 June 2010 \|access-date=22 June 2010 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621005759/http://www.weebls-stuff.com/songs/Footy%2B2010/ \|archive-date=21 June 2010 \|url-status=live}}</ref> Another version, titled "Realistic Football Badgers", was created in response to England's ] loss.
	A few people claim that the lyrics actually say "Magic" instead of "Badger", but careful listening reveals that this is plainly not the case. The words are more distinct on the CD version of "Badger Badger Badger" which was published on the album '']'' by Weebl and Chums (Jonti and ]).

			The song is referenced in the January 2004 comic strips of JD Fraser's ]. A few of the characters interpreted "the song goes on about badgers, mushrooms and a snake" and that the song does not make sense.
	There is some contention that rather than "Badger" the words are actually "Badgers", plural. However, the most common belief is that "Badger" is in the singular. Stanzas 2—4 contain only eleven repetitions of "Badger" rather than the regular twelve due to a beat being skipped between the mushroom scene and the badger scene. The sound between the beats is thought to be either an intake of breath or the indefinite article "a".

			A parody by a group called Fifth District, titled "Potter Potter Potter", depicts several images of ] dancing on the ] Campus, one image of ] dancing in another area of the campus, and ] advancing menacingly toward the figures of the bespectacled wizarding teen, with a ] tree and flying ]s in the background. The chant is "Potter Potter Potter Potter", "Weasley! Weasley!", and "Snape! Snape! Oh, it's a Snape!".<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://thefifthdistrict.com/potter/ \|title=Potter Potter Potter \|publisher=The Fifth District \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820154607/http://thefifthdistrict.com/potter/ \|archive-date=20 August 2006 \|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	The audio doesn't match up exactly with the visuals. This becomes plainly discernible after 30 minutes of continuous playing. At this point, the audio is at the twelfth "badger" in the first line while the visuals show the mushroom. Over the next few hours, the visuals continue to play faster than the audio, achieving maximum separation at 4 hours 12 minutes. Thereafter the gap begins to close, and becomes synchronized again at about 8 hours 30 minutes. This process continues cyclically.

			In 2011, a ] version called "Guess I Got My Badger Back" was released based on "Swagga" by ] & ].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.weebls-stuff.com/songs/Guess+I+got+My+Badger+Back/ \|title=Guess I got My Badger Back \|publisher=Weebls-stuff.com \|date=21 March 2011 \|access-date=27 March 2010}}</ref> On 6 April 2011, he uploaded a 3D version.
	===Football Badgers===
	] as shown during "England England"]]
	During ], Jonti released a special edition called ''Football Badgers'' to support the ]. The badgers are seen wearing England shirts and playing football, scoring endless goals against a snake goalkeeper. Instead of "badger badger badger", we hear "footy footy footy", "England England!", "Goal, its a goal, Ooh its a goal! <nowiki> </nowiki>England England England...", etc. Each time England scores a goal, the animation displays England's score increased by one, essentially showing how many times the animation has looped.

			A new version of the song was launched on the ] website, where the Monsters appear on the screen as "Moshi Moshi" is sung instead. Occasionally, there is a break where "Monster", or even rarer, "Moshling", is said instead.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.moshimonsters.com/community/blog/entry/moshi_moshi_moshi \|title=Moshi Moshi Moshi \|date=15 April 2011}}</ref>
	===Christmas Badgers===
	On ], ], Jonti released another special edition of Badgers for a ] ] ], for which he made one animation for each of the 24 days before ]. "Christmas Badgers" was the animation for ]. The badgers are dancing while wearing ] suits; then there are presents under a tree; and then the exclamation "]!" appears, followed by a ]. The lyrics go "Santa Santa Santa", "Presents, presents!", and "]! It's a Christ! Ooh, it's a Christ..."

			On 6 March 2013, Canadian musician ] released a previously unreleased cover of the song while recording the album '']''.<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0apsOhWV2M \|title=Deconstructing Badgers \|via=YouTube \|date=6 March 2013}}</ref>
	==Meme time==

			Another adaptation of the song, "]", was released on 19 May 2013, in response to proposed ]. The song features vocals and guitar from ] and visuals reminiscent of the 1980 film '']'', in addition to vocals from ] and ].<ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EllYgcWmcAY \|title=Save the Badger Badger Badger \|via=YouTube \|date=19 May 2013}}</ref> Some of the song's lyrics are changed.
	During its time as ] ] du jour, people recited the lyrics both online and in conversation, the tune sticking in people's heads. People are reputed to have reenacted the actions of the badgers and a live action version featuring a group of ] students has circulated on the Internet. It is not uncommon for people to assume that the animation promotes ], or was created under the influence of ], because of its combination of bizarre and apparently unrelated ] with references to mushrooms.

			On 2 September 2023, Weebl's Stuff uploaded "20 Years of Badgers" in honour of the original video's 20th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=20 Years of Badger \|url=https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/897466 \|access-date=2023-09-04 \|website=Newgrounds.com \|language=en}}</ref>
	===Alternative interpretation===

	Coincidentally, the flash animation could be understood to be a ] ]. Badger is the ] designation for the ], a ]-era ] ]. This bomber was also the ] that would deliver ]. Hence, one would see the bomber flying in, “badger, badger, badger” and when the ] was dropped all one would see would be a ].

	==Domain war – ''badgerbadgerbadger.com'' vs. ''badgerx3.com'' ==

	Shortly after the animation was first published, a person known as "Kay0909" created the site ''badgerbadgerbadger.com'' and placed a copy of the badgers animation there, without permission from Jonti. Kay used the hosting services of Joako.net, who ultimately owned the domain name. Kay later reached an agreement with Jonti, which permitted Kay to use the animation provided only Google advertisments were shown on the site and he linked back to the original ''weebls-stuff.com'' site. Kay registered his own domain, ''badgerx3.com'' (hosted at ipaska.com) and made ''badgerbadgerbadger.com'' visits automatically redirect to there.

	Due to a disagreement over advert revenues, Joako locked Kay out of ''badgerbadgerbadger.com'' and took over the site. Joako removed the redirection, claimed Kay had "hacked" the site, claimed ''badgerbadgerbadger.com'' was the "official" site for the badgers animation and wrote to Kay's new hosting providers, demanding they take down ''badgerx3.com''.

	Jonti has publicly stated his support for ''badgerx3.com'', due to giving his permission to Kay rather than Joako, and Joako's violation of Jonti's requirements.

	==See also==		==See also==
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			==References==
	*], another popular internet cartoon that parodies some elements of the badger cartoon.
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Latest revision as of 18:45, 20 November 2024

Animated internet meme

"Badgers", also known informally as "Badger Badger Badger" or "The Badger Song", is an animated meme by British animator Jonti Picking, also known as Mr Weebl. It consists of 12 animated cartoon badgers doing callisthenics, a mushroom in front of a tree, and a snake in the desert. The cartoon is accompanied by a bass line, above which a voiceover sings the names of what is shown on screen.

The cartoon went live on B3ta.com on 2 September 2003 at 3:49 a.m. GMT. The cartoon loops indefinitely.

According to Mr Weebl, the inspiration behind "The Badger Song" comes from the song Saturday Night by Whigfield: " has a duck quacking throughout. I decided that the tune needed an annoying squeak sound in the background. The lyrics were meant to be a placeholder, but much like The Riddle by Nik Kershaw, the placeholder became the actual thing."

Critical reception

The cartoon brought Picking to the attention of MTV Europe, for whom Picking produced Weebl and Bob. That cartoon series, together with the dancing badgers, helped Picking's website, Weebl's Stuff, win a People's Choice award from users of Yahoo! in the UK. "Badger Badger Badger" was also listed as one of the top five internet fads of all time by PC World in 2009.

Follow-up versions

There have been several follow-ups to the "Badger Badger Badger" cartoon posted to the Weebl's Stuff website. "Badgers 2" was created in 2003 and features zombie badgers on a black background with a scratching sound added to the music. A Christmas-themed version, with the badgers dressed in Santa Claus suits, the mushroom replaced with a present, and the snake replaced with baby Jesus in a nativity scene, is also available and was made for the 2004 Weebl Advent Calendar. "Badgers on a Plane" consists of a scene from a Snakes on a Plane trailer that includes badgers and a mushroom, which have been digitally edited into the scene, tumbling from their seats while a bit of the song plays in the background. In 2007, "Big Ass Badgers" was released to spoof the Transformers film. Also in 2007, a live-action version of the cartoon called "Baby Badgers" was released to promote the new Badger toys.

A "Euro 2004 Edition" was also created during the UEFA Euro 2004 football championship, where the badgers wore England football jerseys to "footy footy footy" and "England! England! Goal! A goal! Oh, it's a goal, scored by England, England..." A new version titled "Footy 2010" was created for the 2010 FIFA World Cup with vuvuzelas drowning out the audio. Another version, titled "Realistic Football Badgers", was created in response to England's 2014 FIFA World Cup loss.

The song is referenced in the January 2004 comic strips of JD Fraser's User Friendly. A few of the characters interpreted "the song goes on about badgers, mushrooms and a snake" and that the song does not make sense.

A parody by a group called Fifth District, titled "Potter Potter Potter", depicts several images of Harry Potter dancing on the Hogwarts Campus, one image of Ron Weasley dancing in another area of the campus, and Severus Snape advancing menacingly toward the figures of the bespectacled wizarding teen, with a Whomping Willow tree and flying hippogriffs in the background. The chant is "Potter Potter Potter Potter", "Weasley! Weasley!", and "Snape! Snape! Oh, it's a Snape!".

In 2011, a dubstep version called "Guess I Got My Badger Back" was released based on "Swagga" by Excision & Datsik. On 6 April 2011, he uploaded a 3D version.

A new version of the song was launched on the Moshi Monsters website, where the Monsters appear on the screen as "Moshi Moshi" is sung instead. Occasionally, there is a break where "Monster", or even rarer, "Moshling", is said instead.

On 6 March 2013, Canadian musician Devin Townsend released a previously unreleased cover of the song while recording the album Deconstruction.

Another adaptation of the song, "Save the Badger Badger Badger", was released on 19 May 2013, in response to proposed badger culling in the United Kingdom. The song features vocals and guitar from Brian May and visuals reminiscent of the 1980 film Flash Gordon, in addition to vocals from Weebl and Brian Blessed. Some of the song's lyrics are changed.

On 2 September 2023, Weebl's Stuff uploaded "20 Years of Badgers" in honour of the original video's 20th anniversary.

References

^ Silverman, Dwight (14 February 2004). "Youth culture finding unity with online animations". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
^ "The lost era of memes". Fasthosts. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
Jon Dennis (21 January 2005). "Dancing badgers help Weebl's website win award". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 April 2008.
"PC World - Shortlist - Internet fads". Pcworld.idg.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 April 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
"Badgers 2 - a Halloween version". Weebls-stuff.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
"Badgers Christmas version". Weebls-stuff.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
"trailer - Weebl's Stuff". Weebls-stuff.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
"Big Ass Badgers - Weebl's Stuff". Weebls-stuff.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
"Baby Badgers". Weebls-stuff.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
"footy - Weebl's Stuff". Weebls-stuff.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
"Footy 2010". Weebls-stuff.com. 18 June 2010. Archived from the original on 21 June 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
"Potter Potter Potter". The Fifth District. Archived from the original on 20 August 2006.
"Guess I got My Badger Back". Weebls-stuff.com. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
"Moshi Moshi Moshi". 15 April 2011.
"Deconstructing Badgers". 6 March 2013 – via YouTube.
"Save the Badger Badger Badger". 19 May 2013 – via YouTube.
"20 Years of Badger". Newgrounds.com. Retrieved 4 September 2023.

External links

The original Badger animation

v t e Weebl's Stuff
List of Weebl's cartoons	Badgers Save the Badger Badger Badger Weebl and Bob
Related	Jonti Picking Chris Vick

v t e Newgrounds
Games that debuted on Newgrounds	Pico's School (1999) Alien Hominid (2002) Kaboom: The Suicide Bombing Game (2002) Super Smash Flash (2006) Fancy Pants (2006; 2008) Flash Element TD (2007) V-Tech Rampage (2007) Super Meat Boy (2008) Raid Gaza! (2009) Aether (2009) Faith Fighter (2009) Spewer (2009) Loved (2010) The Room Tribute (2010) Super Mario Bros. Crossover (2010) The Scale of the Universe (2010; 2012) Abobo's Big Adventure (2012) Dys4ia (2012) Friday Night Funkin' (TBA)
Films/series that debuted on Newgrounds	"All your base are belong to us" (2001) Xiao Xiao (2001–2002) Broken Saints (2001–2003) Neurotically Yours (2002–present) "Badgers" (2003) Eddsworld (2003–present) "Numa Numa" (2004) Salad Fingers (2004–present) "The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny" (2005) Charlie the Unicorn (2005) Minushi (2007) Saturday Morning Watchmen (2009) Ollie & Scoops (2019–present)
Associated people	Alan Becker Brad Borne Kira Buckland Neil Cicierega John Cooney Michael Cusack David Firth Tom Fulp Max Gilardi Tyler Glaiel Edd Gould Zach Hadel Arin Hanson Jazza Edmund McMillen Chris Niosi Ross O'Donovan Chris O'Neill Dan Paladin Adam Phillips Jonti Picking TomSka
Related articles	The Behemoth Nightmare Cops Adobe Flash Browser games

Categories:

Latest revision as of 18:45, 20 November 2024

Critical reception

Follow-up versions

See also

References

External links