The Anime Filter meme phenomenon took the internet by storm, primarily driven by the 'Anime Style' filter on Snapchat and similar AI-driven effects on TikTok and Instagram. These filters use augmented reality to map anime-like features—such as oversized eyes, simplified facial structures, and expressive mouths—onto human faces in real-time. The meme trend usually involves a side-by-side comparison where the 'reality' side looks mundane while the 'anime' side looks like a dramatic shonen protagonist. Users often apply the filter to pets, historical figures, or even inanimate objects to see how the AI interprets them, leading to viral moments and widespread 'waifu' and 'husbando' jokes across social media platforms.