Trending now: an alien singing competition, animation memes, on-the-go makeup & more
Mar 06, 2025 – [[read-time]] minute read
Alien Stage
Anime
What this is: Another original animated web series has entered the international arena: “Alien Stage,” from female South Korean creators VIVINOS and QMENG. The YouTube-exclusive sci-fi anime show tells the story of a fatal singing competition set on an alien planet. The show largely developed a South Korean fan base after debuting in 2022. However, it broke through internationally in 2024, with viewers shipping the relationship between characters Ivan and Till.
Why it matters: The show’s appeal comes, in part, from its unconventional blend of popular genres: It is an intergalactic queer musical horror melodrama that borrows conceptual aspects from Japanese virtual idol culture, and taps into “elimination anxiety” from reality competitions. It also has many of the characteristics that have defined other growing digital franchises of late: It is an independent animated series, includes “hidden” horror, and leaves space for fans to actively contribute to the lore.
On-the-Go Makeup
Beauty
What it is: Get Ready With Me (GRWM) videos has been a long-standing format where beauty creators share their routines from start to finish. Similar to previous beauty trends like “airplane skincare” routines, a fresh twist on the format has Shorts creators challenging themselves to do their makeup while commuting to events.
Creators are playfully riffing on this format by sharing different POVs, like running late for work or dates. We’ve even seen other creators level up the challenge by doing their makeup in the harsh winter weather and even involving family members in the chaos.
Why it matters: At its core, on-the-go makeup features a relatable experience for many makeup users who've had to rush to their next destination. Content like this connects viewers as it makes them feel seen while also inspires them to successfully pull off a fresh face despite time being against them.
Animation Memes
Memes
What this is: When most of us think of memes, we understand them to be joke templates, but animation memes are less about comedy and more about creativity. An animation meme refers to a brief animation of a character – usually an Original Character (OC) – dancing and/or singing along to music or audio; it's intended to be easily adopted by other animators with their own characters.
In this emerging meme format, artists pair easily identifiable visuals with an undeniable earworm, creating highly reproducible, satisfying-to-the-senses content that can be mimicked across communities.
Why it matters: The broader landscape of animation culture may explain why this meme format is having a breakthrough moment. As we’ve seen with titles like “Hazbin Hotel” and “Amazing Digital Circus,” there’s considerable interest in indie animation content that lends itself to fans creating their own edits. Animation memes have come at the perfect time to meet the demand for and familiarity with this content, as they often take pieces of pop culture and turn them into a striking visual that can be replicated and recognized across various audiences and formats.
Sprunki
Gaming
What this is: Sprunki is a mod of an interactive music-making app called Incredibox. In Incredibox, each instrument is personified as a singing character, and users can rearrange them in a sandbox environment. Sprunki swaps in a set of original characters and samples, converting it into a secret horror game. It was originally made by a fifteen-year-old developer who goes by NyankoBf, though further development was recently canceled.
Why it matters: Sprunki’s continued popularity — even after cancellation — is a testament to how resilient fan communities can be. On YouTube, games like Sprunki become platforms for other users’ creativity, inviting viewers to create their own characters and write their own stories within its universe. The game’s hidden layer of horror incentivizes both players and YouTube viewers to invest themselves more deeply in its story, synergizing with a platform culture heavily influenced by collaborative storytelling projects like The SCP Foundation or The Backrooms.
Doechii the Vlogger
Celebrity
What this is: On the heels of Doechii's big Grammys win, viewers have rediscovered her older YT vlogs. Fans have dived into the Doechii archive, including a 8 year old “boyfriend tag” video and a vlog from 2020, featuring the artist's prophecy about joining the music industry after being fired. Doechii had also posted vlogs about her financial journey, struggles as an artist, storytimes, and moving to L.A.
Why it matters: Doechii's YouTube channel serves as a detailed diary and road map chronicling the milestones of a burgeoning artist on her way to success.