“Me Core” is a new TikTok trend where users make videos about their most embarrassing or cringeworthy moments. But for many anime fans, it’s also become a way to proudly showcase their niche interests and obsessions with their favorite Japanese animated shows and movies. “Me Core” can be a fun way for people to connect with others and share their experiences.
We have a core self that can frequently get hidden by societal standards and demands. But through concentrating on our core identities, we can reclaim our values and identity. Being genuine to yourself, uncompromising, and honest is what the #MeCore movement is all about. It’s about accepting your limitations and weaknesses, establishing appropriate boundaries, and safeguarding your own energy. It also involves looking after your bodily and emotional health.
What Is the ‘Me Core’ Trend All About?
The “me core” trend involves TikTok users creating relatable videos that humorously highlight their niche hobbies, habits, fashion choices, or general vibes. It’s a way of leaning into perceived “cringy” or unconventional aspects of yourself rather than trying to fit a conventional mold.
People might make light of their obsession with a particular fandom, their penchant for wearing mismatched socks, their addiction to certain snack food, or any other idiosyncratic part of their identity. The trend is about being unapologetically yourself and finding the comedy in your personal “core.”
As stated in the Urban Dictionary, “me core” is a term frequently employed by users of Pinterest and We Heart It to characterize or symbolize themselves through the compilation of images for mood boards. Nevertheless, at this very moment, the hashtag #MeCore has more than 306 million views on TikTok.
The collection of clips in #MeCore is hand-picked to relate to a certain mood or identity in a sarcastic and slightly disturbed manner, rather than an aesthetic that anybody might copy. This is what distinguishes it from previous -cores.
Anime References in Me Core Videos
While #MeCore covers all kinds of niche interests and personalities, anime fans have certainly made their mark on the trend. Countless videos feature anime references, cosplay, and a celebration of the quirky qualities that come with being a devoted fan.
Some popular examples include users reenacting famous scenes from shows like Naruto, mimicking the over-the-top mannerisms of powerful shonen heroes, or imagining themselves in various anime world scenarios. Cosplay is also frequently featured, with creators dressing up as their favorite characters in intricate homemade outfits.
Beyond just costumes and references, many MeCore anime videos tap into the mindset and lifestyle of a diehard fan. Users might satirize their obsession with collecting manga or figures, their ability to quote entire shows line-for-line, or their tendency to fanboy/fangirl over new content releases.
What Do ‘Me Core’ Videos Look Like?
Popular “me core” TikToks feature users performing skits, trying out aesthetic looks, or dancing and lip-syncing while embodying exaggerated versions of their personalities or lifestyles. From nerdy hobbyists to edgy alt kids to frat bros, no interest or identity is off-limits for accurate, satirical depiction.
A few of the videos tagged with #MeCore, for instance, use moments from movies like Little Women, Lady Bird, Black Swan, and The Hunger Games to reflect girlhood and female anger. The material could appear gloomy on paper, but the tone is very different from the #CoreCore videos’ gloomy self-reflection. Rather, when put to Cary Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” #MeCore seems funny and humorous while yet being very personal and emotional.
Here are some #mecore videos:
@rafie_islam_7 Sexy Gojo 👀💥 #jujutsukaisen #anime #viral #fyp #tiktok #bdtiktokofficial #animeedit #fyp #foryou #rafie_islam_7
♬ original sound – RAFIE EDITZ
@pekachu_u Gojo satoru in real life✴️ #anime #jujutsukaisen #gojousatoru #foryou @foryoupageofficialy #cosplay
♬ original sound – 𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝚰𝐍𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐄
@sofialopezbe nah cause this is the cutest trend ever!. #CapCut
♬ original sound – beasuser – beasuser
@xu_aiden Football ⚽ #gojo #gojousatoru #cosplay #cosplayer #xu__yuxi #coolboy #cute #handsome #foryou #fyp #explore
♬ original sound – as_efxx
@aliceehuynh hahahah jkk ill make a happier one later 🌝🤍 #mecore #CapCut #fyp
♬ original sound – beasuser – beasuser
Why Is #MeCore So Popular?
While TikTok trends come and go, the “me core” mentality promotes a positive message about self-acceptance that will hopefully stick around. we all have our own quirks and micro-obsessions that can make us feel a bit odd or left-of-center at times. Seeing others leaning into those qualities with humor and confidence is both amusing and refreshingly validating. That’s why this trend has become so popular.
For the anime community in particular, #MeCore provides an outlet to joyfully embrace the “cringeworthy” sides of being an ardent fan. Whether dressing up in elaborate cosplay, imitating iconic scenes, or cleverly making fun of common fan behaviors, these videos allow anime enthusiasts to revel in their niche interests without shame. Anime fans can finally feel seen and appreciated rather than judged for their passion.
Although many of these videos include Ryan Gosling—who, for some reason, Gen Z males admire on TikTok—the trend is not limited to girls, unlike the several “girl” trends that have recently been popular. People are becoming nostalgic for their childhood favorite programs and characters, as well as current favorites that they find humorous or relevant, thanks to this trend. So, TikToker’s #MeCore videos wind up touching thousands of others, and some of them even have millions of likes, even if they initially represent their true personalities.
Why Do People Find #MeCore Trend So Relatable
While the specific quirks and interests showcased in #mecore videos may be niche, the core essence of this trend is something nearly everybody can relate to on a deeper level. At the end of the day, we all have our own idiosyncrasies that shape our identity and make us unique individuals.
Part of what makes #mecore so universally resonant is that it taps into the very human experience of feeling like an outsider or “other” because of your passions, habits, or personality traits. We’ve all been there – possessing niche hobbies, unconventional fashion senses, dorky tendencies, or any number of other “cringeworthy” traits that can make you feel a bit weird or left-of-center at times.
Seeing #mecore videos that lean hard into those qualities, no matter how quirky or cringeworthy, is both immensely validating and cathartic. Viewers think “Hey, I’m not the only one who’s obsessed with this random thing!” or “I do that weird habit too!” There’s comfort in knowing you’re not alone in your personal brand of idiosyncrasies. That’s why people find #MeCore trend so relatable.
The Positive Impact of #MeCore
Being prideful or self-centered is not the point of the #MeCore trend. Making sure you’re taking care of yourself first will allow you to give other people the best version of yourself. When you’re well and content, you’re more likely to build meaningful relationships, lend a helping hand to those around you, and change the world for the better.
There is a solid reason why videos on TikTok using the hashtag #MeCore have received over 640 million views. Aiming at the hyper-connected Gen Zers who waste over four hours or more on social media daily, #MeCore serves as an antidote to the dominance of unrealistically idealized content commonly seen online.
Beyond just talking about the talk of body positivity, #mecore videos actually model what it looks like to find genuine humor, joy, and confidence in our idiosyncrasies. Rather than masking or downplaying them, #mecore encourages people to live out loud without apology.
At its core (no pun intended), #mecore encourages a refreshingly healthy mentality around self-love, self-expression, and radical self-acceptance.
FAQs
Isn’t #mecore just making fun of people’s interests?
No, the intent behind #mecore is not to mock or make fun of people in a mean-spirited way. It’s about satirizing our own quirks, habits, and interests through a lens of humor and self-deprecating relatability. The message is one of confidence and embracing your identity.
Is #mecore just a flash-in-the-pan trend?
No, while hashtag trends come and go, the broader spirit of #mecore – finding confidence through radical self-acceptance and self-expression – is a much more lasting and impactful message. The core values of the trend could persist even as the hashtag fades.
Are there any risks with #mecore content?
Yes, as with any internet trend, there are potential risks if #mecore crosses the line into mean-spirited mockery or harmful stereotyping. Creators should be mindful about punching up, not down, and not targeting or marginalizing already vulnerable groups.
How do I avoid taking #mecore too far?
The healthiest #mecore content comes from a place of self-love and finding the humor in your own quirks and interests. If your videos come across as overly self-deprecating or express genuine insecurities, it may be better to re-evaluate your approach.
What kind of content do #mecore videos feature?
Popular #mecore videos spotlight creators’ exaggerated personalities, quirky interests/aesthetics, and niche obsessions through comedy skits, dances, lip-syncing, and other expressive performances.
Conclusion
You know, there’s this funny old saying where you don’t want to be exactly like everyone else, but you still want to be enough like everyone else that you fit in. I believe that me-core follows this philosophy, and I mean it in the most positive way possible. Watching the sheer number of media snippets put to “Call Me Maybe” is mind-boggling, and I can relate to each one.
The trend gives individuals a platform to talk about the highs and lows of being human, find common ground, and support one another—all while listening to some sick tunes from the ’10s and celebrating niche interests like anime fandom. For many creators, inserting anime references allows them to satirize and take pride in their “cringeworthy” but deeply-loved habits and obsessions. That is truly lovely. Trends like mecore should last long because loving oneself is so awesome.
