# Gromit Mug > Gromit Mug is a 2020 meme treating a ceramic Wallace & Gromit dog-shaped mug as impossibly desirable through ironic humor, becoming a genuine collector obsession online. The Gromit Mug is a ceramic mug shaped like the face of Gromit, the silent, long-suffering dog from the claymation series *Wallace & Gromit*. Starting in early 2020, ironic memes treating the mug as an impossibly desirable object spread across Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit, with a massive boost after YouTuber Pyrocynical purchased one in April 2020[3]. What began as absurdist humor about a piece of kitchenware turned into genuine collector obsession, complete with a dedicated subreddit and fan art community[1]. ## Origin On January 9, 2020, Instagram user longvagine posted a meme comparing the pros and cons of marriage, listing "have to share the dino mug with wife" as the sole con[3]. Before March 9, 2020, an unknown user edited this format, swapping the dinosaur mug for the Gromit Mug[3]. On March 9, Facebook meme pages "Incoming memes" and "Imaginary memes with unsanitary themes" reposted the edited version, pulling in over 4,100 reactions and 1,700 shares on the first page alone[3]. The joke hit a nerve. The Gromit Mug, with its dopey expression and undeniable charm, was the perfect object for ironic worship. - **Platform:** Instagram (earliest meme), Facebook (viral spread), Reddit /r/pyrocynical (fandom hub) - **Creator:** Unknown (original meme edit), Pyrocynical (popularizer) - **Date:** 2020 ## Overview The Gromit Mug is an officially licensed ceramic mug produced by Half Moon Bay Shop, shaped to look like the head of Gromit from Aardman Animations' *Wallace & Gromit* franchise[3]. Some versions of the mug feature a thermochromic nose that turns red when filled with a hot drink[1]. The meme itself centers on the idea that this mug is the most valuable, important object in existence. Posts treat it with exaggerated reverence, framing it as a holy relic or life-altering possession. The humor works because the object is so mundane and wholesome. It's a cartoon dog mug, and the internet decided it was worth more than marriage. ## How It Spread Through March 2020, the Gromit Mug meme picked up steam with reposts across Instagram and Reddit[3]. On April 2, a Redditor shared it to /r/pyrocynical, and on April 14, YouTuber Pyrocynical posted two photos of himself holding the actual mug to Instagram, pulling 182,000 likes[3]. That post turned the Gromit Mug into an in-joke staple of the /r/pyrocynical subreddit. The earliest derivative, a deep-fried photo of Pyrocynical captioned "Gromit Mug Gromit Mug," appeared the same day[3]. By May 2020, the subreddit was fully on board. A "Mods Are Asleep" post featuring the mug pulled over 9,500 upvotes[3]. The meme stayed mostly contained to /r/pyrocynical until mid-July 2020, when it broke out to the wider internet. A repost of the original meme on July 3 hit 13,100 upvotes, and fan art and shitposts flooded the subreddit in the following days[3]. The meme crossed into /r/okbuddyretard through reposts and original content, reaching a different audience entirely[3]. On July 22, 2020, meme creator Dolan Dark posted poll results about the mug to his Instagram, where the post pulled 284,000 likes[3]. This was the biggest single signal boost the meme received. A second wave hit in late November 2020 when Redditor Fartsniffer234 posted a photograph of their broken Gromit Mug, sparking a fresh round of memes mourning the loss[3]. In March 2021, Twitter account @ShapedInternet created a self-replicating tweet asking users to choose between a Gromit Mug and a monkey-shaped mug. Users voted by tweeting their choice, which spread the meme organically through timelines[3]. The Gromit vs. Monkey debate produced its own spinoff memes, including an Average Fan vs. Average Enjoyer edit favoring the Gromit Mug[3]. ## How to Use The Gromit Mug meme typically follows one of a few formats: 1. **Object worship:** Post a photo of the mug (or a 3D render, Minecraft recreation, or drawing) with exaggerated reverence. Treat it like a priceless artifact. The more dramatic the framing, the funnier it is. 2. **Pros vs. cons format:** Present some major life decision where the only downside involves giving up or sharing the Gromit Mug. Marriage, a new job, moving countries. The mug always outweighs everything. 3. **Deep-fried or bass-boosted edits:** People commonly post high-intensity, ironic edits featuring the mug with dramatic trap music or distorted visuals[2]. 4. **Collection posts:** Share your real Gromit Mug in the wild. The r/gromitmug subreddit features photos, videos, and creative staging of the mug in unexpected places like ponds, gardens, or Minecraft worlds[1]. ## Cultural Impact The Gromit Mug tapped into a broader 2020s trend of ironic appreciation becoming sincere. What started as mocking the idea of caring deeply about a cartoon dog mug turned into actual collector culture[2]. The r/gromitmug subreddit developed into an active community sharing photos, fan art, 3D renders, and videos featuring the mug in creative scenarios[1]. The mug also fits into a wider *Wallace & Gromit* meme ecosystem that exploded in the 2020s. As one writer put it, people post "bass-boosted videos of a Gromit mug sitting on a table while dramatic trap music played," and what starts ironic turns real[2]. The tactile, handmade quality of the mug, with its visible sculpted detail and chunky aesthetic, appealed to an internet tired of sleek digital everything[2]. Demand for the mugs spiked during the meme's peak. Limited edition versions originally released in UK supermarkets in 2005 had already become collector's items on eBay[1]. The meme wave created a second market for both vintage and new versions, including a "Gromit mug on a mug" variant that went viral on Reddit[1]. ## Fun Facts - Gromit's animated performance in the *Wallace & Gromit* films is handled by about 30 animators. His paws are the hardest part to animate[1]. - In the Netherlands, you can buy "Gromit Gouda," a cheese brand named after the character[1]. - Some original Gromit Mugs feature a thermochromic nose. Pour hot tea or coffee in, and Gromit's nose turns bright red[1]. - The meme stayed largely contained to one subreddit (/r/pyrocynical) for nearly three months before breaking out to the wider internet in July 2020[3]. - Dolan Dark's Instagram poll about the mug reached 284,000 likes, making it one of the biggest single engagement spikes in the meme's history[3]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the Gromit Mug meme? The Gromit Mug meme treats a ceramic mug shaped like Gromit from *Wallace & Gromit* as an absurdly valuable, life-defining object. Posts exaggerate its importance through ironic worship, deep-fried edits, and collection photos[3]. ### Where did the Gromit Mug meme come from? The meme traces back to early 2020, when an anonymous user edited an existing "pros and cons of marriage" meme to feature the Gromit Mug instead of a dinosaur mug. Facebook meme pages spread the edit on March 9, 2020[3]. ### What does the Gromit Mug meme mean? It's primarily about ironic object worship. The humor comes from treating a mundane cartoon-dog mug as the most precious item imaginable. Over time, the irony became mixed with genuine affection[2]. ### How do you use the Gromit Mug meme? Post the mug with exaggerated reverence, use it in a pros/cons format where it outweighs major life decisions, or share creative real-world photos of your own mug. Deep-fried and bass-boosted edits are also common[1]. ### Is the Gromit Mug meme still popular? The meme peaked in mid-to-late 2020 with surges in November 2020 and March 2021. The r/gromitmug subreddit and broader *Wallace & Gromit* meme culture keep the format alive in a lower-key way[1]. ### Who popularized the Gromit Mug meme? YouTuber Pyrocynical gave it its biggest early boost by posting photos with the mug on April 14, 2020, which received 182,000 likes and turned the mug into a mascot for his subreddit[3]. ### Can you actually buy a Gromit Mug? Yes. The official mug is made by Half Moon Bay Shop and sold through Amazon and other retailers. Vintage versions from the 2005 UK supermarket release are harder to find and often appear on eBay[1]. ### Does the Gromit Mug's nose really change color? Some versions feature a thermochromic nose that turns red when hot liquid is poured in. Not all current versions have this feature[1]. ### What is the Gromit Mug on a Mug? A meta-variant: a standard coffee mug with a photo of the Gromit Mug printed on it. This recursive joke became popular on Reddit and is sold on Amazon[1]. ### What role did Dolan Dark play in the meme? On July 22, 2020, meme creator Dolan Dark posted Gromit Mug poll results to his Instagram, where the post hit 284,000 likes and helped push the meme beyond Reddit[3]. ## References 1. [Gromit Mug: A Collectable Turned Popular Meme | Roast Love]() 2. [Why Wallace and Gromit Memes Still Own the Internet After Thirty Years - Muver Pro]() 3. [Amazon.co.uk]() 4. [Gromit Mug - Know Your Meme]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/gromit-mug Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library