Introduction
My Deer Friend Nokotan (しかのこのこのここしたんたん) has been a hot topic in the anime world this summer, thanks to its quirky humor and one unforgettable scene that exploded into meme stardom. The anime, which began airing in July 2024, was already popular before its release, but a clever marketing strategy helped it reach new heights by embracing the chaotic nature of meme culture. So, how did this bizarre show about a deer-girl hybrid manage to capture the internet's attention? Let’s dive into the absurd world of My Deer Friend Nokotan and see how it became a meme sensation.
What's My Deer Friend Nokotan All About?
Nokotan and Koshitan.
At first glance, My Deer Friend Nokotan seems like your typical high school slice-of-life anime, but it doesn't take long to realize that it’s anything but ordinary. The story follows Torako Koshi, a popular high school student who has worked hard to leave her delinquent past behind. All she wants is a peaceful, drama-free school life. However, her plans are thrown into chaos when she encounters Nokotan, a strange girl with deer antlers who’s hanging from power lines on her way to school. Nokotan, who can literally sniff out Torako's past, quickly becomes the biggest threat to Torako’s carefully crafted reputation.
Nokotan’s antlers were stuck in the power lines.
Koshitan meets Nokotan for the first time.
The series is a mix of surreal humor and slice-of-life elements, with a strong focus on the absurd. Nokotan’s antlers, her bizarre antics, and the strange situations she drags Torako into are the heart of the comedy. The anime, directed by Masahiko Ohta (known for Minami-ke), uses a blend of traditional 2D animation and CGI to bring its unique world to life. The 3D animation, especially when depicting the deer, is deliberately jarring, making the absurdity of the show even more pronounced.
The Meme That Took Over the Internet
Torako’s dance, paired with Shikairo Days, is truly catchy.
My Deer Friend Nokotan was destined to be a hit even before its first episode aired, thanks to a well-crafted marketing campaign. The first big push came in May 2024, when the opening theme song, Shikairo Days, was released. The song, a catchy tune that perfectly captures the chaotic energy of the show, quickly went viral on social media. But it wasn’t just the song that caught people’s attention—it was a specific scene where Torako dances alongside a deer.
In the scene, Torako’s dancing contrasts sharply with the blank, expressionless face of a CGI deer, creating a surreal and hilarious visual that was just begging to be memed. The marketing team behind My Deer Friend Nokotan knew exactly what they were doing when they posted this clip on TikTok. The video, paired with Shikairo Days, spread like wildfire, racking up views and inspiring countless parodies, animations, and redraws.
This scene became the perfect meme material because it’s simple, weird, and endlessly replicable. People could easily mimic the dance, add their own spin to it, or mash it up with other popular memes. This kind of viral moment isn’t new in the world of anime—remember the Chika Dance from Kaguya-sama: Love Is War or the Hare Hare Yukai from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya? But what made My Deer Friend Nokotan stand out was how it embraced this trend from the start, using it as a core part of its promotional strategy.
A Marketing Strategy Built for Meme Culture
Unfortunately for Torako, things like these are a daily occurrence as long as Nokotan is around.
The success of the Shikairo Days meme wasn’t just a happy accident. The PR team behind My Deer Friend Nokotan clearly understands meme culture and knows how to tap into it. By releasing the dance clip on TikTok, a platform where viral dances thrive, they ensured that the scene would get maximum exposure. And it worked—the meme became so popular that it overshadowed the actual plot of the show for many viewers.
「しかのこのこのここしたんたん」OP 『シカ色デイズ』 踊ってみた【オリジナル振付】
シカ色デイズ（Shikairo Days） - 奈良公園バージョン (My Deer Friend Nokotan)
But why did this work so well? The answer lies in the nature of memes themselves. Memes are all about being easily shareable and remixable. The dance scene from My Deer Friend Nokotan hit that sweet spot—it was weird enough to catch your attention but simple enough to be copied and spread. Plus, the contrast between the perfectly animated Torako and the uncanny CGI deer made the scene both funny and memorable.
As the meme spread, it created a chain reaction that kept the show in the spotlight. Fans started creating their own versions of the dance, adding new elements or combining it with other popular memes. The result was a flood of content that kept My Deer Friend Nokotan trending long after its initial release.
Does the Show Live Up to the Hype?
Nokotan makes her entrance as the new entrance student and destroys the door in the process.
With all the buzz around the meme, you might be wondering if My Deer Friend Nokotan actually delivers as an anime. The answer is… it depends on what you’re looking for. If you enjoy absurd, over-the-top humor with a touch of surrealism, then this show will be right up your alley. The dynamic between Torako and Nokotan provides plenty of laughs, and the animation, while intentionally jarring at times, adds to the overall wackiness of the series.
Torako was a delinquent in junior high—and yep, you’re not mistaken, that is Mikey in the background.
However, if you’re hoping for deep character development or a plot with substance, you might find My Deer Friend Nokotan a bit lacking. The show leans heavily on its absurd humor, which can start to feel repetitive after a while. Jokes about Torako’s delinquent past and Nokotan’s deer-like behavior are funny at first, but they don’t evolve much over the course of the series. The show is more about the experience—the weirdness, the unpredictability—than about telling a coherent story.
TVアニメ「しかのこのこのここしたんたん」虎視虎子（こしたん）オリジナルソング「それゆけ元ヤンこしたん」
1HOUR ENDURANCE：OP theme "Shikairo Days" Intro | My Deer Friend Nokotan | It's Anime
My Deer Friend Nokotan is a perfect example of how anime can use meme culture to its advantage. By creating a scene that was practically designed to go viral, the show’s marketing team ensured that it would be a hit before it even aired. The combination of a catchy song, a simple yet bizarre dance, and the inherent weirdness of the show’s premise made it an instant meme sensation.
But beyond the memes, My Deer Friend Nokotan is a fun, if somewhat shallow, watch. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re in the mood for something that doesn’t take itself too seriously and leans into its own absurdity, then this anime is worth checking out. Just be prepared for a lot of deer jokes.
And if you want to see more of Nokotan and Koshitan, you can buy more of Nokotan merchandise here at ZenPlus, which will be delivered to you straight from Japan!
What do you think?
Why does Nokotan have antlers?
Is Nokotan a half-human and half-deer?
Why does Torako pretend to be a good student?
Let us know in the comments or drop us a line on social media: X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook! We’d love to hear from you!
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About the Writer
Cristy is a freelance artist and writer who has been obsessed with anime and manga since childhood. Her love for these imaginative worlds fuels her creative endeavors, and she shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
