Virtual Footwear Throwing

Reliving the Bush Shoe Scandal Through Animated Gifs

It didn’t take long for tech-savvy internet users to make animated gifs surrounding Iraqi journalist, Muntadar al-Zeidi, throwing his shoes at President Bush.  Since December 15, 2008, BoingBoing has received no less than 9 submissions.

Animated gifs of the President Bush shoe-throwing scandal even have Curly from the ‘Three Stooges’ taking a shot at the outgoing, lame-duck president.  Here are a couple of samples for you to enjoy:

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I have two favorite animations. One features President Bush as Neo in the infamous bullet-dodging scene from ‘The Matrix’, except he’s dodging shoes. The other is a link for a video game called ’Flying Babush‘ from a BoingBoing commenter.  In it, you try and nail President Bush with flying footwear. 

President Bush may not be popular, but he sure is going out of his eight-year presidency with a bang—or a ‘shoe’ I should say.

Animated Gifs
The trend of creating animated gifs for viral content presents opportunities for companies to create unique and engaging marketing campaigns.
Internet Memes
The trend of creating internet memes based on real-world incidents provides a platform for brands to connect with their target audience through humor and relatability.
Online Gaming
The trend of developing online games centered around current events opens up opportunities for game developers to create engaging and interactive experiences for players.

Who This Affects Most

Marketing
The marketing industry can leverage the trend of animated gifs to create visually appealing content and engage with their target audience in a unique way.
Entertainment
The entertainment industry can capitalize on the trend of internet memes by incorporating them into TV shows, movies, or online content to appeal to a younger audience.
Gaming
The gaming industry can explore the trend of online gaming based on real-world incidents to develop immersive and interactive gaming experiences for players.
SCORE
2.7 out of 10
GENDER
70% Men30% Women
MARKETTop markets: North America, Europe, Asia
GENERATION
  • Gen Alpha
  • Gen X
  • Gen Z (primary audience)
  • Millennial (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 48%
Activity 26%
Freshness 8%

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