Sad Hamster / Hamster With Big Eyes

About

Sad Hamster, also known as Hamster With Big Eyes and Violin Hamster, refers to a series of TikTok videos featuring a grey hamster (not a mouse) with comically oversized eyes, similar to Hampter. The animal is often paired with the song "Woe Is Me!" composed by Richard Myhill, best known for its use in SpongeBob SquarePants. Since early February 2024, the animal has been used in exploitables and reaction image memes on the platform.

Origin

The image is an edit of a hamster named Tifa owned by Instagram user monyo_melo.^[7] On February 8th, 2024, TikToker afekix posted a video featuring the hamster with comically oversized eyes that made it appear on the verge of tears, soundtracking the video with the song "Woe Is Me!" The video gained over 6.2 million likes in one month (shown below).

Spread

On February 9th, 2024, Twitter / X user Doguindolink^[6] reposted the clip, gaining over 170 likes in 11 days. On February 11th, TikToker @Schmetterling471^[1] reposted the clip as a TikTok, gaining over gained over 39,000 likes in nine days (shown below).

The hamster quickly became the subject of multiple viral TikToks. On February 17th, 2024, TikToker @pookiesooperdooper^[2] posted a video drawing over the hamster, gaining over 317,000 likes in three days (shown below, left). On February 19th, user bakingthursdays^[3] posted a video of themselves making a dessert in the shape of the hamster, gaining over 17,000 likes in a matter of hours (shown below, right).

The hamster also became the subject of multiple comedy videos on the app. On February 19th, TikToker ishanvyas99^[4] posted an Inside Out edit featuring the hamster, gaining over 69,000 views in one day (shown below, left). On February 16th, user @duckpreneur^[5] posted an edit using the hamster in a reaction image meme, gaining over 21,000 views in four days (shown below, right).

Various Examples

Template

Search Interest

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External References