If you've spent any time on IrelandChinese social media, you would've found it impossible to miss this unique style of reaction images.
They're often cartoonishly drawn outlines around a black-and-white photo, and they've become a part of everyday usage on platforms like Weibo and Wechat.
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Turns out, this image style has been a decade in the making, from its start as a 4chan-inspired meme, to the most enduring piece of Chinese digital culture.
SEE ALSO: 'The Emoji Movie' inserts itself into 'Handmaid's Tale' because brands are dumbThe comic's start can be traced to Wang Nima, the pseudonymous founder of a rage comic-style webtoon site called Baozou Manhua, which literally translates to "rage comics."
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable The site was founded in 2008, after U.S.-based Wang realised there wasn't yet anything like a rage comic in China's nascent social media scene that could succinctly express emotions as efficiently.
"I think the essence of [rage comics] is in helping people express their discontent towards some things -- it exaggerates.
"I intend to give the masses a 'spear', so they can say hi to creativity," he said in a 2012 interview.
Wang's website has since grown exponentially -- it now has nearly 9 million fans on Weibo, and claims to have nearly a billion views on all the videos it has produced, according to its website.
Via GiphyBaozou Manhuaalso reshares viral user-generated content on its Weibo account and website, meaning its trove of pictures will virtually never run dry.
We've now seen popular actors get worked into the fold. Here are the photos of several popular Asian actors -- from Chinese singer Jacky Cheung, to Filipino actor Gerry Alanguilan, and Korean actor Choi Seong-guk appropriated in hilarious forms:
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable But the humble reaction image took a while to take off in the country.
Meng Qiang, the 24-year-old founder of UBiaoQing, a Chinese search engine for reaction images, said back in 2008, people were still on dumb phones and couldn't send and receive pictures on their mobiles.
Rage comics were mainly circulated on the desktop.
But with Weibo, a Twitter-like network, Chinese rage comics could really take off.
"There are some situations when you just can't get your point across with just some words and emoji," said Meng.
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Meng's UBiaoQing website and WeChat mini-program now has around 8,000 to 10,000 visitors a day; his search engine looks for reaction images online using crawlers, and automatically tags them when they're uploaded by moderators.
Meng added that celebrities are now adapting these reaction images to engage with fans.
"Most celebrities welcome the public's use of their looks in reaction images, and openly use reaction images with their pictures on them," he said.
Authorities are starting to use popular reaction images to communicate, too. A civil defence department made a set of reaction images featuring firemen last year, while Beijing highway police used rage comics in public service messages as early as 2013.
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable 
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable To engage readers, state-run news outlets and bloggers are also using reaction images in their articles.
"It's a sign of their variety and how interesting they are, and how they're leading a trend," Meng adds. "Reaction images are suited for people of different ages and communities...and I think reaction image culture is only going to become more colourful and well-loved."
Use Gmail Offline and Enable Email Scheduling & Snoozing
Elon Musk's X run amok with conspiracy theories after Trump shooting
Best earbuds deal: Amazon Echo Buds with ANC on sale at $35
Chinese boba tea chain Chagee files for US IPO, reports rapid expansion · TechNode
Google's new AI model is being used to remove image watermarks
X may add dislike and downvote buttons
Cybertruck owner discovers new way the Tesla EV can rip your finger off
Huawei sees 22.4% revenue growth in 2024, while profits fall 28% · TechNode
The State of PC Gaming in 2016
Wordle today: The answer and hints for July 15
Eufy L60 robot vacuum: Get it for $279.95 at Amazon
NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 15
Elon Musk's X run amok with conspiracy theories after Trump shooting
Tesla suspends sales of imported vehicles in China due to tariffs · TechNode
MapQuest is letting you name the Gulf of Mexico whatever you want
China’s state broadcaster takes small stake in iQIYI as revenue falls · TechNode
House of the Dragon Season 2, episode 5: The moment Alicent *knows* what happened to Aegon
Huawei launches Pura X with a unique 16:10 wide foldable display · TechNode
5 Ways to Access a Locked Windows Account
Stellantis
'Thanks for nothing': Actor takes on politician around marriage equalityCapcom Cup's growing prize pool has reached nearly $350,000Man perfectly demonstrates how to not act in front of a bearIn their own words: Brangelina's love through the yearsCustomer confounded by a messed up coffee and Baileys orderA candy has officially trumped our Republican candidateEggo waffles were recalled and someone needs to tell the kids from 'Stranger Things'Daniel Radcliffe talks Trump and racism in HollywoodElizabeth Warren takes Wells Fargo CEO to the woodshed over fake accountsGoPro's new Hero 5 Black and Hero 5 Session are pretty sweet.Instagram's drafts feature is finally open to everyoneAirbnb and its critics take to TV as tensions escalateThat super diverse lamb ad? Some people reckon it's discriminatory.We don't want to ruin your day, but Justin Bieber and Sofia Richie broke upNote7 owners: Samsung is forcing a software update to limit your batteryCapcom Cup's growing prize pool has reached nearly $350,0009 times Brangelina were the actual bestMakerBot unveils first new 3D printers since 2014Capcom Cup's growing prize pool has reached nearly $350,000NYT mini crossword answers for June 7, 2025 Pork Products in the Work of Harper Lee See elBulli Chef Ferran Adrià’s Food Drawings At an Academic’s Party, Come for the Riddles, Stay for the Fights The Morning News Roundup for Wednesday, March 5, 2014 The Morning News Roundup for February 27, 2014 What We’re Loving: NASCAR, Nukes, Nobility In Case You Missed It: A Look Back at Our February Essays Happy Birthday, Gabriel García Márquez Murder, She Wrote by Sadie Stein TikTok has turned against resin artists in the name of sustainability What We’re Loving: Science, Spicer, Sea Maidens, Sandwiches by The Paris Review Cloudflare has a plan to end CAPTCHAs, but we should just keep them 'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for August 1 The History of the Pancake Bell The Morning News Roundup for February 26, 2014 'Barbenheimer' is still going strong at the box office after its second weekend Chase Twichell’s “To the Reader: Twilight” by Sadie Stein A Visit to the Max Factor Museum Nintendo Switch successor could launch next year Amazon gives workers new wellness program, but not extra time
1.9679s , 10161.3359375 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Ireland】,Openness Information Network