The 'Approved by Knuckles' meme stems from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, particularly gaining steam through the 'Sonic Boom' TV series and the live-action films. It features Knuckles the Echidna—known for his serious yet gullible personality—providing a literal or figurative stamp of approval on a concept. This template is widely used in gaming communities and social media to ironically or sincerely endorse a statement, meme, or opinion. It captures the character's tough-guy persona while adding a humorous layer of authority to whatever is being 'approved.'