Trending now: Italian brainrot, NFL schedule release videos, 100 men vs 1 gorilla & more

Technical Dance Trends

Dance

What it is: Videos featuring the "Pop Muzik" audio are gaining popularity, showcasing a unique dance trend. What makes these moves distinct is their origin: a professionally choreographed routine that was used in a prestigious competition hosted by New York City Dance Alliance. Additionally, the song "Assumptions" is a top-used Shorts audio, as creators are using it to perform "the whisk," a ballroom dance step.

Why it matters: Both the "Pop Muzik" and "Assumptions" trends suggest a new era of technically informed choreography trends may be emerging. This challenges the more casual, social-media-driven dance steps that have been prevalent in recent years.

Le Poisson Steve

Animation

What it is: “Le Poisson Steve” is a video by animator vigz and musician tomo that shows an orange fish named Steve with a catchy chiptune song that narrates his characteristics. After premiering on Shorts on April 4 – where it has been watched over 4M times – it has inspired a trend of artists recreating the video across various formats.

Why it matters: The combination of catchy audio and easily replicable, character-driven animation transformed "Le Poisson Steve" into a viral sensation with an engaged fan community. While in the past we've highlighted the rise of breakthrough, highly produced animated series on YouTube (Hazbin Hotel, Amazing Digital Circus), "Le Poisson Steve" illustrates how animation creators can establish lower-lift trends that resonate with casual creators.

NFL Schedule Release Videos

Sports

What it is: The NFL schedule release, an annual offseason event, has evolved from a simple list of dates into a highly anticipated video release for teams. Teams are increasingly leveraging YouTube communities and formats to announce their schedules. This year, many teams leaned into gaming and internet trends to reveal their matchups. For example, the Los Angeles Chargers created a Minecraft-themed announcement, and other teams referenced Mario Kart and Oregon Trail, incorporating internet jokes and city-specific humor.

Why it matters: The shift from simple announcements to the schedule releases of today signifies an evolution in how sports organizations view using video to connect with broader audiences. The viral videos allow the NFL to reach beyond traditional football fans and engage with a diverse range of YouTube audiences.

Ballerina Cappuccina

Meme

What it is: "Ballerina Cappuccina" is a character from a surreal meme trend known as "Italian brainrot," featuring absurd AI-generated characters that combine animals, humans, objects, and exaggerated Italian names. Ballerina Cappuccina herself is a ballerina with a cappuccino cup for a head, who has gained significant attention. The trend’s appeal comes from its expanding lore, high "riffability" (potential for variations), and nonsensical humor, making it a creative space for creators.

Why it matters: Creators are bringing this meme to life in various forms, including full costumes, public appearances, and beauty content. This character has also inspired a creator-made Brazilian funk remix that has grown in popularity, leading to a "funk catwalk trend" where creators mimic Ballerina Cappuccina's signature walk. The rising popularity of Ballerina Cappuccina highlights how a niche, surreal meme can spark widespread participation, becoming a collaborative short-form content phenomenon.

Grow a Garden

Gaming

What it is: The popular Roblox game "Grow a Garden," released in March, has continued to resonate with younger users on Shorts. A major draw of Grow a Garden is its social, shareable mechanics — collecting and selling rare items, showcasing farm layouts, and using features like “steal a fruit” to interact with other players. The game's cozy, hobby-based gameplay aligns with the broader rise of "cozy gaming” with creators actively posting tutorials and walk-throughs to further drive engagement.

Why it matters: The game's sustained traction highlights a broader trend: virtual worlds as "third places" where younger users engage in shared, low-stakes hobbies. Alongside other titles, "Grow a Garden" underscores the enduring power of cozy, community-driven content in the Shorts ecosystem.

Interactive "Game Videos"

Gaming

What it is: An emerging cohort of creators is developing interactive videos with game-like dynamics that are central to the viewer experience. In the past few months, two creators, Lagarto Films and Firerama, have gained millions of views on their respective series, “YOU CONTROL THIS VIDEO WITH YOUR KEYBOARD” and “This Video is a Game.” Lagarto Films uses keyboard inputs and timestamps to create short narratives with multiple endings within a single video. Firerama designs games that run on YouTube, prompting users to steer through 360° VR mazes with their keyboard or by dragging a "player piece" using subtitles.

Why it matters: This trend is a revival of interactive video concepts on YouTube, showing creators' desire to experiment within the platform's interface. These videos explore nontraditional uses of the platform and introduce interactive experiences to a new generation open to this unique blend of passive viewing and active play.

100 Men vs. 1 Gorilla

Meme

What it is: A hypothetical debate sparked conversation this month: can 100 men beat one silverback gorilla in hand-to-hand combat? This question has quickly spread across the platform. Creators are using simulations, animations, skits, and memes to visually explore this abstract quandary, turning the theoretical into the theatrical.

Why it matters: This scenario, like previous trending debates, allows creators and viewers to engage in a lighthearted digital discussion. Viewers find joy in taking a side, similar to sports fandoms. Shorts in particular has expanded the way these debates play out because the format offers a way to quickly and visually riff on the scenario.