AI Italian Brain Rot Explained A Viral Internet Craze

In the first half of 2025, an AI-generated cartoon ballerina with a cappuccino teacup for a head, known as Ballerina Cappuccina, captured the attention of millions. She amassed over 55 million views and 4 million likes on TikTok, primarily from a tween audience. Her theme song, sung by a deep, computer-generated male voice, is a mix of Italian and nonsensical gibberish.

This character is a leading figure in the viral internet phenomenon called “Italian Brain Rot,” a series of memes featuring bizarre AI-generated animal-object hybrids narrated with absurdist, pseudo-Italian phrases. The trend has become a unique cultural signifier for young people, often baffling older generations.

A Nonsensical AI Generated Realm

The Italian Brain Rot universe began with a character named Tralalero Tralala, a shark wearing blue Nike sneakers on its fins, set to a crude Italian song. This sparked the creation of other characters, including Bombardiro Crocodilo, a crocodile-headed military plane, and Lirilì Larilà, a cactus-bodied elephant in slippers. These characters have inspired countless videos and storylines, with their catchphrases entering the mainstream slang of Generation Alpha.

Fabian Mosele, a 26-year-old Italian animator, became a prominent creator in this space. One of his videos featuring the characters at a rave gained over 70 million views. Mosele notes that while the trend feels fleeting, its impact on pop culture is real. The phenomenon has even jumped platforms, inspiring a popular game on the online platform Roblox called “Steal a Brainrot,” where players collect the characters.

It’s Not Supposed to Make Sense

The trend has also manifested in the physical world through fan-made toys and even live plays. While most of the content is intentionally silly, some clips have sparked controversy, such as a Bombardiro Crocodilo video that was criticized for seemingly referencing the war in Gaza. However, the core appeal lies in its absurdity. Mosele explains that viewers aren't concerned with the meaning or translation of the Italian gibberish. “It’s funny because it’s nonsense,” he said. “Seeing something so dark, in a way, and out of the ordinary, that breaks all the norms of what we would expect to see on TV — that’s just super appealing.”

The Rise of Brain Rot

Italian Brain Rot is part of a larger trend. The term “brain rot” was named the 2024 Oxford University Press word of the year, defined as intellectual numbness from consuming too much trivial content. This category includes other viral content like split-screen videos mixing gameplay with TV shows or the animated series “Skibidi Toilet.” While the term may sound alarming, especially amid growing concerns about the harms of social media for teens, some experts argue the fear is misplaced.

Emilie Owens, a children’s media researcher, suggests that concern over new youth trends is a historical pattern, previously seen with comic books, television, and even novels. She believes the appeal of brain rot is a direct rejection of the modern pressure on young people to constantly be productive and self-optimize. “It’s very normal for everyone to need to switch their brains off now and again,” Owens said.