The Unexpected History Of "Brother May I Have Some Oats": From Obscure Painting To 2025 Short Film

The "Brother May I Have Some Oats" meme is one of the internet’s most enduring and bizarre phenomena, a simple, polite request for breakfast that has ballooned into a sprawling mythology, a viral YouTube series, and, as of late 2025, even a short film. What began as a captioned image of two pigs in 2016 has transcended its origins, becoming a cultural touchstone that speaks to themes of scarcity, brotherhood, and the absurd nature of online humor. This deep dive, updated for December 2025, explores the complete, unexpected journey of the humble oat request, from its mysterious artistic roots to its modern cinematic adaptation.

The Core Entities: A Character Profile of the Oats Universe

The "Brother May I Have Some Oats" universe, often referred to simply as the "Oats Series," is populated by a small cast of characters who have become central figures in internet lore. While the meme's initial popularity stemmed from the image itself, its longevity is owed to the animated series that followed.

• Older Pig (Dave Oat): The protagonist and primary source of the meme. He is characterized by his insatiable, constant desire for oats, often begging his younger brother. In the expanded lore, he is sometimes named Dave Oat and is said to have raised his sibling. He is noted for his power, having consumed the mythical Oats of Gold.
• Younger Brother: The long-suffering sibling who is constantly the target of the Older Pig's requests. He represents the one who possesses the sought-after resource.
• The Original Painting (A Pair of Pigs): The visual foundation of the meme. It is an oil painting of two large, long-bodied pigs, believed to be from around c.1850, with the artist currently listed as Unknown. The gloomy, classic art style provides an ironic contrast to the simple, modern meme caption.
• The Voice Actor (@burialgoods): The distinctive, gravelly voice that popularized the animated version of the meme. YouTuber @burialgoods is responsible for the viral audio that cemented the meme’s place in internet culture, with one of his related videos garnering millions of views.
• The Creator (Joe Capo): The YouTuber/animator often credited with turning the single image into a full-fledged animated series, expanding the lore and characters.

Phase 1: The Obscure Origin and the Rise of Copypasta (2016-2017)

The meme's initial spark was a perfect storm of classic art and absurd text.

The journey began on October 10, 2016, when Twitter user @markyannna posted the image of the two pigs with the accompanying caption, "brother may I have some oats." The image quickly found a home on the internet's more niche and chaotic corners, particularly on 4chan’s /s4s/ (Shit 4chan Says) and /r9k/ (Robot 9000) boards. The phrase evolved into a copypasta expression, a block of text that is copied and pasted across the web.

The humor is often described as an "anti-joke"—a joke where the punchline is the lack of a punchline, or simply the bizarre juxtaposition of a polite, mundane request against a dramatic, old-world aesthetic. The phrase became a shorthand for a friendly, yet desperate, plea for a share of resources or fortune, with "oats" symbolizing anything from wealth to attention. This early stage was also known as Oatposting among early adopters.

Phase 2: The YouTube Animation and Mythological Expansion (2017-2024)

The meme’s second life, and its true global virality, came through animated adaptations that gave the characters a voice and a backstory.

In 2017, the animated series, primarily created by Joe Capo, began to take shape on YouTube. The animations, featuring the now-iconic voice work of @burialgoods, transformed the static image into a narrative of obsession. The simple request, "Brother, may I have some of your oats?", became a recurring, almost ritualistic opening to each short.

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The series expanded the lore significantly, introducing concepts like the Oats of Gold and the Older Pig's relentless quest for freedom and sustenance. This narrative depth allowed the meme to resonate beyond a simple image caption, creating a dedicated fanbase across platforms like Reddit and Imgur. The constant, unfulfilled request for oats—a humble, common food—satirized themes of entitlement, poverty, and the endless pursuit of satisfaction.

The brother dynamic, where one pig is perpetually starving while the other possesses the bounty, is often interpreted as a commentary on economic inequality or a simple, absurd representation of sibling rivalry. The use of the formal address "brother" adds a layer of mock-seriousness to the ridiculous situation, cementing its status as a piece of unique internet culture.

Phase 3: The Meme's Resurgence and 2025 Cinematic Adaptation

In a testament to its enduring cultural footprint, the "Brother May I Have Some Oats" meme has recently resurfaced in a surprising, high-art form, proving its staying power well into the mid-2020s.

The latest and most official sign of the meme's continued relevance is the 2025 short film adaptation, "Brother, may I have some oats too? (2025)." This six-minute film, directed by Nelson van Herzele and featuring actors Lars van der Wolf, Dries Vanderhulst, and Luiz Fassin, demonstrates how deeply the meme has penetrated global consciousness. The fact that a simple copypasta from a decade ago can inspire a formal cinematic project is a powerful statement on the evolution of digital folklore.

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The meme’s longevity is secured by its ability to be infinitely adaptable. It functions as a friendly request in one context, a satirical commentary on sharing wealth in another, and a source of deep, absurd topical authority for its dedicated fanbase. The phrase is now a versatile tool in the internet's linguistic arsenal, used to express everything from genuine hunger to a need for emotional support or a simple, inside joke among communities.

The story of "Brother May I Have Some Oats" is a quintessential internet success story: a random, obscure piece of media combined with a simple, memorable phrase, nurtured by dedicated creators, and given a life of its own through animation and community engagement. From an unknown 19th-century painting to a 2025 film, the enduring power of the pigs’ plea for breakfast remains one of the internet's most wonderfully strange legacies.