Ballin gay

Release

"Ballin'" was released on June 28, 2019.

Animan, the creator of Animan Studios, has been making his cartoons since 2011, evident in an interview with him published on November 6th, 2011, by the website the Seattle Gay Scene. Founded by a shadowy figure known only as "Mr. The cartoon was mixed with the song "La Cumbia de Free Fire" by Bukano, specifically the lyrics "Vámonos De Fiesta A Factory." Also the song "Ballin'" by Mustard and Roddy Rich was used which has the primary lyrics "I Put the New Forgis on the Jeep." Both were used to create a series of video and image memes on TikTok, similar to other Thugposting memes like Ambatukam, Dreamybull, Thug Shaker and The Erotic Barber, among others.

At the same time, it speaks to the power of meme culture and social media to elevate marginal voices and subversive ideas into the cultural spotlight, if only briefly.

Moreover, Axel‘s thicc-as-hell ass and the joyful frenzy it inspires feel like a cheeky rebuke to societal hang-ups around sexuality, body image and desire.

The song in the edited clip, which later went viral known as "Vámonos De Fiesta A Factory," comes from a July 5th, 2020 parody song by the Peruvian YouTuber @Bukanoyt.

Vámonos De Fiesta A Factory

On January 6th, 2023, TikToker quepro_1019 posted a moldy version of a cowboy-themed Animan Studios cartoon with the caption, "España corrida de toro 2022," earning roughly 77,900 likes in one month (since deleted).

The video used the song "Ballin" by Mustard and Roddy Rich as its sound. This only encouraged fans to create cheeky workarounds like creatively censored edits and winking references, further fueling the meme‘s memetic mutation as it spread.

The Future of Adult Animation in the Meme Age

In many ways, the Axel in Harlem phenomenon feels emblematic of larger trends at the intersection of technology, media and sexuality.

In a rare 2011 interview with the Seattle Gay Scene, he declined to reveal his real name or face, preferring to let his boundary-pushing art speak for itself. For instance, on January 23rd, 2023, TikToker l_o_r_d_v_e_l_i_k_a_n posted "Axel in Harlem" set to "Ballin'," gaining roughly 1.3 million plays and 179,200 likes in ten days (shown below).

Redraws and Fan Art

The scene from the viral animation was later used as a template for other memes, like in a tweet by Twitter user Etan10954548, which replaces the men staring with Pokémon game protagonists and Vaporeon.

Let‘s take a deep dive into the story behind this salacious viral hit.

The Mysterious World of Animan Studios

Axel in Harlem is the creation of the enigmatic Animan Studios, a purveyor of sexually explicit cartoon shorts starring gay characters with some rather exaggerated assets, to put it mildly. Film Festival (an "indie porn festival for every body").

In the interview, Mr.

Animan revealed that he was American but living overseas and that his "retro 1960s style" was reminiscent of his time growing up in that era. This secrecy has only added to the studio‘s allure among fans, who see Mr. Animan as a sort of shadowy rebel figure, defiantly creating provocative queer content outside the mainstream.

Animan Studios‘ signature style often features men with ridiculously large and curvy posteriors, engaged in all manner of bawdy, slapstick sexual hijinks.

The website hosts an array of gay, cartoon pornography that alludes to a Hanna-Barbera art style. This track comes from Mustard's third album, "Perfect Ten."

Artist Collaboration

The song "Ballin'" is a collaboration between Mustard, an American record producer and DJ, and Roddy Ricch, an American rapper, singer, and songwriter.

Chart Performance

"Ballin'" was a huge chart success.

By gleefully indulging in the risqué and the taboo, Animan has built a devoted cult following among those who crave something different in their cartoon viewing.

The Meme Heard ‘Round the World

The Axel in Harlem short itself actually dates back to 2016, but it wasn‘t until 2023 that it truly burst into the collective consciousness of the extremely online.