The 'Top 10 Anime List Parody' meme emerged as a satirical response to the saturation of countdown videos on YouTube, most notably those from channels like WatchMojo. By applying hyperbolic titles like 'Top 10 Anime Betrayals' or 'Top 10 Most Powerful Anime Characters' to completely unrelated imagery—such as screenshots from Western cartoons like Shrek or historical events—the meme mocks the formulaic and dramatic nature of internet clickbait. It gained massive traction in the mid-2010s across platforms like Twitter, Tumblr, and Reddit, often used to highlight the absurdity of a situation by framing it through the lens of high-stakes shonen anime tropes. It remains a versatile format for shitposting and making light of pop culture and niche internet drama.