Trunks from Dragon Ball has become the center of a popular internet meme, affectionately (and sometimes humorously) known as “The Drink.” This moniker, which might seem bizarre to those outside the loop, has taken the online anime community by storm. But why exactly is Trunks, the Saiyan and Earthling hybrid, suddenly being called “The Drink”? Let’s dive into the origins, spread, and meaning behind this viral nickname.
The Genesis of “The Drink” Nickname
The label “The Drink” was first applied to Trunks by the YouTuber kobyshinobi in a video posted in December 2023. In this video, kobyshinobi showcased various Dragon Ball characters, each humorously rebranded with nicknames in the format “Niggas call me the X.” When Trunks appeared at the 0:04 mark, he was captioned with the now-iconic phrase: “Niggas call me the drink.” This initial video quickly garnered attention, accumulating over 398,000 views in just nine months and planting the seed for the meme’s widespread adoption.
But the video didn’t just present the nickname; it also offered an explanation. According to kobyshinobi, “The Drink” is a reference to Trunks’ impeccable and fashionable style, often described as being “dripped out.” The video description elaborates on this concept, drawing a clever analogy:
Trunks is the drink. When you order a drink from a restaurant, it’s a given that it comes with ice, whether it comes in a paper cup or a glass cup. Aside from that jewelry flex, that ice makes the cup very cold. This causes the water vapor molecules in the air surrounding the outside of the cup to condense and become liquid, forming droplets that can drip down the sides of the cup, the operative word here being “drip”. This is a flex about fashion sense and having the wealth to dress to impress. Let’s be real, there’s hardly anyone else in Dragon Ball that can claim to be anywhere near as dripped up as Trunks in any of his appearances, guy wears his mom’s jackets and still looks clean.
This explanation connects “The Drink” to the slang term “drip,” which signifies an extremely stylish and impressive fashion sense, often associated with expensive clothing and accessories. The ice in a drink analogy perfectly illustrates this “drip” – the condensation forming and dripping down the glass is akin to Trunks’ style being so “cold” and impressive that it “drips.” Kobyshinobi’s explanation emphasizes that Trunks, known for his distinctive outfits and confident demeanor, is arguably the most fashion-forward character in the Dragon Ball universe, effortlessly pulling off even his mother Bulma’s hand-me-down jackets.
Meme’s Viral Spread
Following kobyshinobi’s initial video, the “Trunks ‘The Drink'” nickname rapidly permeated online Dragon Ball communities. Just days after the original video, on December 22nd, 2023, Reddit users on the r/Dragonballsuper subreddit began referencing the nickname when asked to describe Trunks, demonstrating its quick uptake within the fandom.
The meme’s momentum continued to build throughout 2024. Kobyshinobi himself further fueled the fire by releasing a parody song in May 2024 titled “The Drink (Cup).” This song, a spoof of Ice Spice’s track “Think U the Shit (Fart),” repurposed the “The Drink” meme into a catchy musical format, amassing over 390,000 views in four months. A longer version of the parody song followed in June, reaching over 800,000 views in just three months, solidifying “The Drink” as a prominent meme.
Further evidence of the meme’s virality emerged on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter). In July 2024, a Redditor on r/Ningen, a subreddit focused on Dragon Ball humor, posted an image macro asking for a simple explanation of “The Drink” nickname, receiving over 2,500 upvotes. This query highlights the meme’s growing popularity and the curiosity surrounding its meaning. By September, the meme had fully integrated into online conversations, with X users like @Bojack198 and @Mettalix using “THEY CALL HIM THE DRINK” in posts related to Trunks, even in the context of Dragon Ball Fighter Z gameplay. These tweets, particularly @Mettalix‘s, which included a screenshot of someone asking “WHAT THE F— DOES THE DRINK MEAN,” garnered significant engagement, with over 14,000 likes, underscoring the meme’s widespread recognition and humorous appeal.
The meme’s versatility is further demonstrated by its adaptation into various formats. On September 7th, 2024, X user @funnyhoodvidss paired the nickname with photorealistic Trunks artwork, creating a humorous scenario with the caption: “‘Ayo bruh can you pass the drink?’ How I be lookin at gang:”. This tweet gained over 29,000 likes, showcasing the meme’s adaptability to different visual styles and comedic contexts. Even the popular “This Is Where I Watched My Parents Die, Raphael” meme format was incorporated, with X user @BeatnikBlades posting a version referencing “The Drink,” which received over 67,000 likes in a single day. This rapid proliferation and adaptation across different platforms and meme formats cemented “Trunks ‘The Drink'” as a significant and evolving internet phenomenon within the Dragon Ball fandom.
Examples of “The Drink” Meme in Use
The “Trunks ‘The Drink'” meme manifests in diverse creative expressions online. Fans utilize the nickname in various ways, often juxtaposing it with images of Trunks in different art styles and scenarios.
These examples demonstrate the meme’s flexibility and the community’s imaginative engagement with it. From simple text macros to elaborate fan art, “The Drink” moniker has become a versatile tool for Dragon Ball fans to express humor and appreciation for Trunks’ character, particularly his stylish persona.
Inspiration from “The Sandwich” Meme
The “Trunks ‘The Drink'” meme appears to draw inspiration from another nonsensical yet popular meme: “Niggas Call Me ‘The Sandwich’.” This meme, featuring a black-and-white image of former U.S. President Donald Trump, gained traction in 2021. The humor of “The Sandwich” meme lies in its absurdity and the lack of any logical connection between Donald Trump and the nickname. Similarly, “The Drink” applied to Trunks, while having a fashion-related explanation, also carries a layer of playful absurdity. Both memes utilize the “Niggas call me ‘the X'” format to create unexpected and humorous character associations, highlighting the internet’s penchant for embracing and popularizing seemingly random and illogical humor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Trunks being called “The Drink” is a meme rooted in the humorous observation of his fashionable “drip” and popularized by the internet meme culture. Originating from a YouTuber’s comedic video, the nickname quickly spread across Dragon Ball online communities, evolving into various formats and expressions. While seemingly random at first glance, “The Drink” nickname cleverly plays on internet slang and the character’s stylish appearance, solidifying its place as a beloved and enduring meme within the Dragon Ball fandom, much like its comedic predecessor “The Sandwich.”
External References
[1] YouTube – kobyshinobi
[2] Reddit – Dragonballsuper
[3] YouTube – kobyshinobi
[4] YouTube – kobyshinobi
[5] Reddit – Ningen
[6] X – Bojack198
[7] X – Mettalix_
[8] X – funnyhoodvidss
[9] X – BeatnikBlades
