Movies

Why 2024 Was the Year of the Viral Animal

BBG News

As a cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of cinema, both on-screen and behind the scenes, Moo Deng’s meteoric rise to fame feels akin to watching a blockbuster hit unfold. The sheer scale of her global appeal is unprecedented, especially for a hippopotamus.

Known by millions across the globe, she goes by the name Moo Deng. This celebrity is both enigmatic and controversy-free. Her radiant skin, extravagant lifestyle filled with playful frolics and indulgent feasts, and her distinctively shareable visage have earned her internet icon status. However, it’s important to clarify that she is not a human celebrity – Moo Deng happens to be a hippopotamus.

Back then, seven years ago, I found myself captivated by the buzz surrounding a unique creature named Fiona the hippo. The Cincinnati Zoo had proposed her as a strong contender for Time’s Animal of the Year!

But 2024 seems to be on a different level of feral fascination.

From Thailand, there’s a chubby pygmy hippo, affectionately known as something like “bouncy pork,” who gained popularity particularly in challenging times. As David Barash, a retired psychology professor from the University of Washington, explains to TIME, animals, whether viewed online or in person, can offer therapeutic benefits in various ways. They can serve as a soothing diversion when people are feeling down due to global concerns.

And distract Moo Deng did.

Initially, a fresh topic of photos and videos shared on Khao Kheow Open Zoo’s social media channels gained traction, eventually transforming into an internationally recognized internet sensation, affectionately known as the world’s newest ‘It girl.’ Enthusiasts couldn’t get enough of her teething, tumbling, and playful activities, causing a massive surge in followers across the zoo’s TikTok, Facebook, X, and Instagram accounts.

Moo Deng sparked an outpouring of fan art, merchandise, and even beauty trends. The zoo experienced unprecedented visitor numbers, leading to increased safety measures and adjusted visiting times. A continuous live stream was established for her most devoted followers to have 24/7 access.

According to Jin Lee, a sociologist specializing in media at Curtin University in Australia, Moo Deng’s initial popularity might be attributed to the fact that her relationship with her caretaker appeared genuine instead of being staged or contrived for online attention. As Lee explains, “He spent considerable time with her and began sharing things about her.” This authenticity seems to be something that people are drawn to.

Moo Deng’s influence has spread across great distances: She found herself in movie set stills, was chosen as the symbol for hydration by the U.S. Labor Department, and in September was humorously imitated on Saturday Night Live. In November, one of Thailand’s major music firms, GMM, created a cheerful theme song for Moo Deng in four languages – Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and English – which have accumulated hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube collectively.

Tony Sampson, a researcher specializing in digital media at the University of Essex, describes digital virality as “emotional contagion.” Essentially, content that evokes some sort of emotion tends to be shared more effectively than just informational posts. Not only positive emotions like joy or surprise, but also negative ones such as anger and frustration spread quickly. However, it might be beneficial for people to occasionally step away from these intense feelings.

Sampson notes that this year might have a unique feel due to the abundance of disheartening news. Notably, on his social networks, he’s observed a rise in somber posts stemming from the political climate and ongoing conflicts. Interestingly, despite these gloomy circumstances, his most-liked post was a simple image of a bird chirping at his window.

It’s not surprising at all that Moo Deng wasn’t the only one grabbing global attention this year. A group of captivating creatures, such as Pesto the enormous penguin, Nibi the fashionable beaver, Biscuits the friendly seal, Hua Hua the colossal panda, and even Haggis, a baby pygmy hippo born in Scotland in October, have also gained prominence online. The list doesn’t end there, but it seems that these internet sensations all share a common trait: people tend to attribute human-like qualities and feelings to them.

Austrian ethologist Konrad Lorenz introduced the idea of ‘baby schema’ or ‘Kindchenschema’, which refers to our natural attraction to certain facial and bodily characteristics that make a creature appear adorable – such as large eyes, chubby cheeks, and awkward movements. Many of Moo Deng’s most well-liked posts revolve around comparing her to a toddler, from learning to walk to calling for her mother to throwing fits. One post even humorously suggested she carried a leaf on her snout as a source of emotional comfort.

Anthropomorphism can sometimes lead to misunderstanding an animal’s true experiences, as Barash cautions. However, if the appeal of Moo Deng stems from her perceived relatability, this isn’t necessarily a negative aspect, Barash proposes – and it isn’t always inaccurate. Fortunately, animal behaviorists are growing more accepting of the truth: many animals exhibit similar mental states to humans.

Maybe we could all do with our own emotional-support leaf. Or maybe Moo Deng is already just that.

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2024-12-27 09:06

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