The 'Perry the Platypus' meme stems from the long-running animated series Phineas and Ferb, specifically the recurring gag where the antagonist, Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz, fails to recognize his nemesis until he puts on his signature brown fedora. The 'A Platypus? Perry the Platypus!' sequence has become an internet staple for illustrating how a minor change can completely transform someone's perception. It is widely used to joke about weak disguises, sudden realizations, or when someone puts on their 'work mode' gear. The meme perfectly captures the absurdity of situational irony through the lens of early 2010s nostalgia.