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Reddit’s r/behindthegifs puts your favorite wacky GIFs in context

Ever wonder why everyone was kicking that trashcan?

 

Cynthia McKelvey

Internet Culture

Posted on Sep 10, 2016   Updated on May 26, 2021, 1:20 am CDT

Part of what makes gifs so glorious is their total lack of context. It makes them funnier, more versatile to use as a part of conversation when you can apply your own context.

But if you’ve ever really wanted to know the true story behind your favorite GIFs, look no further than Reddit‘s r/behindthegifs.

Take, for instance, this trashcan with a rather unpopular opinion:

/r/behindthegifs

Or this one, about an ambitious turtle.

View post on imgur.com

A lot of the submissions are dominated by one user, KatSwenski, who took a multi-GIF approach to solving the dumpster fire that is 2016.

Doggy Duplicator (Happy Dog Day!)

Swenski also made this one, about a robot scorned.

Karen No

All of Swenski’s comics are viewable on her website, where she also takes commissions.

But the inspiration for the subreddit started with a simple premise.

I’ve checked, and sadly, there is no better way

And now it’s become a way to explain the unexplainable.

HAHEHEUHA THAT TICKLES

The Daily Dot has reached out to Swenski about her impressive GIF backstories and is awaiting a response.

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*First Published: Sep 10, 2016, 4:08 pm CDT