Where does the “Mind Blown” meme come from?

This meme is all the more popular because its visual is extremely funny. We see a man in a black turtleneck, half-erased by a green background representing space, miming the explosion of his mind with a delirious facial expression and fireworks effects that one would think came straight out of a tutorial video editing for dummies.

This is all very interesting, but it still doesn’t tell us where the “Mind Blown” meme comes from.

The Origins of an Explosive Meme

The video itself comes from the American show Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Created by Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, this comedy series, which aired on Adult Swim from 2007 to 2010, is known for its absurd humor and offbeat visuals.

The now cult scene is in a segment called “Universe.” Eric Wareheim’s character talks about how the mysteries of the universe impact him, to the point that his mind explains in a festival of lights and special effects (totally mediocre). As if his brain were incapable of grasping the density and depth of the cosmos. It’s beyond all comprehension.

This meme quickly took off on the Internet, where it was hijacked by netizens to express astonishment at surprising facts or complex revelations. It has also been used in reverse, as if what someone is saying is absolutely insane and mind-blowing, when in fact, it is quite flat.

Its success is based on several elements: Tim and Eric’s own absurd humor, the excessive facial expressions, the obvious poverty of the special effects, the slightly dated look of the character, the repeated and somewhat lame sound effects he makes with his mouth, and the ease with which it can be applied to various situations.

Make your own Mind Blown meme

To make your own Mind Blown meme, head over to meme generator platforms like ImgFlip.

Although Mind Blown is most often used as a gif contextually during a conversation, it is entirely possible to create your own version. with a caption on the image.

The reference is so well-known on the internet that you don’t have to use the entire video for your interlocutor to know what you’re referring to. A simple image of Eric Wareheim with his improbable face is more than enough.