Watch Pepe the frog

Pepe the Frog is a documentary film that explores the rise and fall of the Pepe meme, which became a symbol of hate and bigotry in the 2016 US presidential election. The film examines the origins of the meme and its journey from a harmless cartoon character to a symbol of hate used by far-right groups. The film is directed by Arthur Jones and produced by Giorgio Angelini. Jones, a cartoonist and filmmaker, first encountered Pepe in the early 2000s when the meme was still a harmless creation shared by a small group of online users. Over time, Pepe gained popularity, appearing in social media, comics, and merchandise. However, in 2016, the meme was hijacked by white supremacists and alt-right groups, leading to its association with hate, racism, and bigotry.

The film features interviews with Pepe's creator, Matt Furie, who created the character as a laid-back, carefree frog in his comic book series "Boy's Club". Furie's creation became a viral sensation, and Pepe soon became a part of internet culture, appearing on message boards, social media, and online forums.

However, as the popularity of the meme grew, so did its use by far-right groups, who reshaped Pepe's image into one of hate and racism. The film explores how this happened, examining how the meme was used to promote extremist views and conspiracy theories during the 2016 US presidential election.

The film also features interviews with experts in internet culture and political extremism, who shed light on the ways in which memes and other forms of online content can be weaponized for political gain. The experts explain how social media algorithms can amplify harmful content, allowing it to spread quickly and widely, and discuss the responsibility that social media platforms have in monitoring and regulating harmful content.

Throughout the film, Jones uses animated sequences to illustrate various aspects of the Pepe meme and its impact on internet culture. The animations are stylized and colorful, using Pepe and other familiar internet memes to create a playful and engaging visual style.

Pepe the Frog is a thought-provoking and timely documentary film that explores the dark side of internet culture and the power of memes to shape public opinion. It raises important questions about the role of social media in shaping public discourse and highlights the need for increased awareness and regulation of harmful content online.