Italian Brainrot is one of the internet's most bizarre and captivating viral trends of 2025. At its core, this phenomenon blends AI-generated chaos, surreal humor, and a hyper-saturated aesthetic, centered around absurd animal-object hybrids with Italian-sounding names.
The trend features AI-generated videos and images of bizarre creatures like a sneaker-wearing shark named "Tralalero Tralalalá" or a crocodile-warplane hybrid called "Bombardiro Crocodilo" set to distorted Italian opera and nonsensical voiceovers. These surreal creations have taken over platforms like TikTok, resonating with users seeking randomness, overstimulation, and entertainment that defies logic.
The Italian Brainrot trend gained popularity in early 2025, reportedly starting when TikTok user @eZburger401 uploaded a video featuring "Tralalero Tralala" (the shark with sneakers) accompanied by a text-to-speech song. From this initial video, the trend exploded as other creators began generating their own bizarre animal characters with Italian-sounding names.
Why Is Italian Brainrot So Popular?
The striking, AI-generated visuals grab attention immediately with their vibrant colors and bizarre designs.
The trend embraces nonsensical content that provides a break from reality and conventional humor.
The open-ended nature allows anyone to contribute their own creatures to the expanding universe.
The short, chaotic videos are perfect for TikTok's fast-paced, scroll-heavy environment.
"Italian Brainrot should be viewed through a postmodernist lens as it challenges our assumptions about what is true and what constitutes acceptable discourse."
— Adam Aleksic, Social Media Linguist
Italian Brainrot and AI Technology
Italian Brainrot exemplifies the growing influence of AI generation tools in creating internet culture. These characters are typically created using AI image generators like Midjourney or DALL-E, video animation tools that bring still images to life, and text-to-speech software for the distinctive voiceovers. The accessibility of these tools has democratized content creation, allowing anyone to participate in the trend with minimal technical knowledge.