Home News One

The Viral Resurgence: 5 Facts About The "Guy With Hand On Shoulder Meme" That Explain Its 2024 Popularity

• minute read
Contents

The "Guy With Hand On Shoulder Meme"—a simple, powerful image of one man offering reassurance or a stark explanation to another—has become one of the most recognizable and widely used meme templates on the internet as of December 19, 2025. This template, also known as the Akakichi no Eleven Redraws, is a masterclass in visual storytelling, perfectly capturing moments of ironic advice, unexpected truth, or profound, if slightly awkward, comfort.

Despite its modern virality, this iconic image is not a recent creation. Its surprising origin dates back over five decades to a relatively obscure sports anime, making its current popularity a fascinating case study in how internet culture can resurrect and repurpose forgotten media. The meme’s massive 2024 resurgence, driven by a global "redraw" trend, cemented its place in the pantheon of timeless reaction images.

The Surprising 1970s Origin Story and Character Biography

The image at the heart of the "Hand on Shoulder Meme" is a single frame of animation from the early 1970s. Its sudden rediscovery and subsequent transformation into a global phenomenon is a testament to the internet’s ability to find humor in the most unexpected places.

The Anime Source: Akakichi no Eleven (Crimson-Blooded Eleven)

The original image comes from the 1970 Japanese soccer anime, Akakichi no Eleven, which translates to "Crimson-Blooded Eleven." The series, based on a manga by Ikki Kajiwara and Mitsuyoshi Sonoda, ran for 52 episodes between 1970 and 1971.

The specific frame that became the viral meme is found in Episode 43 of the series. The scene depicts a dramatic moment of dialogue and emotional exchange, though the meme often strips away the original context to apply its own humorous narrative.

The Man Behind the Meme: Kojuro Yamagata

The character with the distinctively large chin who is placing his hand on the other man’s shoulder is identified as Kojuro Yamagata. Yamagata is a character from the Shinsei High School soccer team in the anime. His exaggerated facial features, particularly the prominent chin, are a hallmark of the character design style of that era and are a key element that contributes to the meme's comedic impact today.

  • Full Name: Kojuro Yamagata
  • Source Anime: Akakichi no Eleven (Crimson-Blooded Eleven)
  • Debut: 1970 (Anime)
  • Meme Role: The Explainer, The Confidant, The Reassurer, The Bearer of Bad News
  • Iconic Feature: Exaggerated, large chin design
  • Meme Scene Episode: Episode 43

The Viral Explosion: Why the Meme Resurged in 2024

For decades, the frame from Akakichi no Eleven was just a forgotten moment in anime history. However, thanks to the collective effort of internet sleuths and meme curators, the image went from obscurity to a global trend in a matter of months, with its popularity peaking in 2024.

The "Redraw" Phenomenon

The primary driver of the meme’s 2024 virality was the "redraw" trend. Once the source was definitively identified, artists and fans across platforms like Reddit, Twitter (now X), and Instagram began recreating the two-character pose using characters from their favorite media.

This trend transformed the simple template into a versatile canvas for fandoms. Popular variations included:

  • Anime Redraws: The pose was instantly adapted using characters from major franchises like Naruto, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, and My Hero Academia.
  • Gaming Redraws: Characters from popular video games were placed into the roles, often to explain a frustrating game mechanic or a niche lore detail.
  • Pop Culture Redraws: Even non-anime characters from movies, TV shows, and Western cartoons were used, demonstrating the template's universal appeal.

This constant stream of fresh, fan-created content ensured the meme remained relevant and highly visible throughout 2024 and into 2025, continually introducing it to new audiences and niche communities.

The Psychology of the Hand on Shoulder Meme Template

What makes the "Man Putting Hand On Shoulder" template so enduringly effective? Its power lies in its simple, yet highly flexible, visual language. The pose itself is a universal gesture, but the specific framing and character designs add layers of interpretive humor.

The Role of Kojuro Yamagata (The Explainer)

The big-chinned man, Kojuro Yamagata, is almost always cast as the person delivering the message. His posture—often leaning in with a serious or slightly intense expression—suggests authority, expertise, or a deeply held conviction. He is the "Bro Explaining" the situation, whether it’s a profound philosophical truth or a ridiculous, hyper-specific fandom detail.

The Role of the Character with Their Back Turned (The Receiver)

The second character, who has their back to the viewer, represents the audience or the person being addressed. This character’s body language—a slight slump or turn—suggests they are either reluctantly listening, absorbing a shocking revelation, or about to turn around with a look of confusion, disbelief, or sudden clarity. This ambiguity allows the meme to be used in a wide variety of scenarios, from reassuring a friend to delivering an ironic burn.

Topical Authority and Key Entities

The meme's staying power is rooted in its ability to connect two distinct entities: the "Explainer" (the subject of the meme) and the "Receiver" (the audience's stand-in). This structure is perfect for conveying:

  • Niche Knowledge: Explaining complex video game lore or obscure anime facts.
  • Ironic Reassurance: Telling someone "It's okay, everyone does this," when "this" is a highly embarrassing or strange habit.
  • The Uncomfortable Truth: Delivering a reality check that the receiver is clearly not prepared for.

The popularity of "Akakichi no Eleven Redraws" demonstrates a key trend in modern meme culture: the blending of nostalgia (a 1970s anime) with contemporary, highly personalized content (the redraws). This meme’s journey from a single frame of animation to a viral art project in 2024 and 2025 is a fascinating cultural phenomenon.

The Viral Resurgence: 5 Facts About the
guy with hand on shoulder meme
guy with hand on shoulder meme

Detail Author:

  • Name : Dr. Keanu Mayert II
  • Username : hlebsack
  • Email : camryn87@upton.info
  • Birthdate : 1974-04-28
  • Address : 233 Marta Island Suite 801 Lake Linda, MT 63319
  • Phone : (323) 373-5005
  • Company : Wiegand-Hauck
  • Job : Assembler
  • Bio : Ad doloribus est unde et rem reiciendis sed. Cum doloribus possimus et cupiditate et est. Dolore ex enim quasi rem.

Socials

facebook:

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/greenfeldere
  • username : greenfeldere
  • bio : Voluptatum perferendis quidem sit est ratione. Harum nam esse ut vel. Asperiores quo totam dolores.
  • followers : 124
  • following : 2498

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@greenfeldere
  • username : greenfeldere
  • bio : Voluptate quasi sit aut. Impedit perspiciatis laboriosam sit optio itaque.
  • followers : 2962
  • following : 1283

linkedin:

Random Posts