"Interspecies Love" is one of the cornerstones of the viral pass-along phenomenon. A cousin to the overwhelmingly cute "Baby Animals" email so popular in the 90's, this imagery seems to have a profound ability to capture the hearts (and emails) of friends, relatives and co-workers alike.
So why is Interspecies Love just so damn touching? I asked myself this question after being forwarded (several times) this astonishing video about 2 men and their reunion with a lion cub they raised and then released to the wild. I watched it in a cafe and by the end of the video, 6 people had gathered around my screen and all were crying.
Whether it's a lion kissing a tourist, a giant bear cuddling a newborn baby, the "it's so cute I could die" video of a baby hippo raised by an old turtle, or a dog nursing baby tigers -- there is just no doubting the emotional impact of seeing two different species coming together and showing some love.
I came across the answer when I discovered this amazing photo of two tiny insects, separated from their pack, sharing a quiet sip of water together. It made me realize why the Olympics were born and why so many religions talk about "the peaceful kingdom." They remind us that our planet is really not so big, and all creatures (whether 2, 4 or 8 legged) can happily coexist.
What's Driving This Trend
- Interspecies Love
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating content and products that highlight the emotional impact of animals from different species showing love and connection.
- Viral Pass-along Phenomenon
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in developing marketing strategies and platforms that capitalize on the viral nature of heartwarming interspecies videos.
- Emotional Impact
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in designing experiences and products that evoke emotional responses through the depiction of animals forming unexpected bonds.
Who This Affects Most
- Entertainment
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating new formats and platforms to distribute and monetize heartwarming interspecies videos.
- Social Media
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in developing algorithms and features that leverage the viral potential of interspecies love videos to increase user engagement.
- Eco-tourism
- Opportunity for disruptive innovation in designing unique nature-based experiences that showcase and promote encounters between humans and diverse animal species.
