The 'Nico Nico Nii' meme originates from the anime series 'Love Live! School Idol Project,' specifically performed by the character Yazawa Nico. The phrase is her signature 'idol persona' catchphrase, accompanied by a specific finger-pointing gesture meant to represent a cute and cheerful personality. While originally intended to be endearing, the internet adopted it as a symbol of 'cringe' culture, leading to countless remixes, bait-and-switch videos, and parodies. It is frequently used to mock overly sweet anime tropes or as a humorous way to signal an obsession with Japanese idol culture, maintaining its status as one of the most recognizable anime memes worldwide.