Cagney Carnation is a boss from the 2017 run-and-gun game Cuphead, famously known for his drastic visual transformation from a smiling, gentle flower into a jagged, roaring monster. The meme typically employs a two-panel format comparing the 'before and after' of a situation, person, or mood. The left side represents something polite, small, or unassuming, while the right side captures the moment that same entity becomes unhinged, aggressive, or overwhelming. It is widely used across social media to describe sudden mood swings, the reality of customer service jobs, or how a minor inconvenience can turn a peaceful day into total chaos.