The Uncrankable Legacy: 5 Ways 'Shinji, Crank That Soulja Boy' Defined Modern Anime Memes

The internet is a strange, wonderful place, where the deepest psychological trauma of a classic anime can collide with one of the most infectious hip-hop dance anthems of the 21st century. As of this current date in late 2025, the phrase "Shinji, Crank That Soulja Boy" remains a cultural touchstone, a perfect encapsulation of the bizarre, high-effort-low-effort humor that defines online communities. This simple, misattributed line—never spoken in the original anime—has transcended its status as a mere joke to become a foundational piece of the *Neon Genesis Evangelion* meme canon, proving that nothing is sacred when a viral dub meets a generation of remix artists.

The meme’s enduring power lies in its ability to take a moment of intense, awkward tension from a notoriously heavy series and inject it with pure, unadulterated absurdity. It’s a cultural mashup that only the internet could produce, pairing the existential dread of giant robot pilots with the irresistible beat of Soulja Boy Tell 'Em's 2007 smash hit, "Crank That (Soulja Boy)."

The Core Entities: A Biographical Profile of the Meme’s Stars

To truly appreciate the "Shinji, Crank That Soulja Boy" phenomenon, one must understand the disparate—and deeply influential—elements that comprise it. The meme is a three-way collision between two iconic anime characters and a revolutionary hip-hop artist.

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• Shinji Ikari (The Reluctant Dancer): The protagonist of *Neon Genesis Evangelion*. Shinji is known for his crippling anxiety, existential angst, and his famous catchphrase, "I mustn't run away." His character arc is defined by his inability to connect with others and his forced role as the pilot of the Evangelion Unit-01 (Eva-01). The meme ironically casts him as a passive participant in a moment of pure, unthinking joy, completely undermining his trademark emotional paralysis.
• Asuka Langley Soryu (The Imperious Commander): The pilot of Evangelion Unit-02 and the source of the meme's command. Asuka is characterized by her fiery temper, intense pride, and need for validation, often expressed through her aggressive interactions with Shinji. The original scene from Episode 11, "The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still," is a moment of intense emotional friction between the two. The dub replaces her demanding, critical dialogue with the absurd, all-caps command to "Crank That Soulja Boy," perfectly leveraging her bossy persona.
• Soulja Boy Tell 'Em (The Architect of Viral Culture): Born DeAndre Cortez Way, Soulja Boy is the artist behind the 2007 debut single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)." The song was a cultural flashpoint, famous for popularizing the "Crank That" dance and for being one of the first major hits to leverage the power of the internet and user-generated content (UGC) for viral success. His early adoption of platforms like YouTube and MySpace laid the groundwork for modern meme culture, making his inclusion in a 2010s anime meme a fitting, cyclical homage.

The Anatomy of the Meme: From Anime Angst to Hip-Hop Hilarity

The "Shinji, Crank That Soulja Boy" meme is a masterclass in contextual subversion. It takes a deeply serious, non-sequitur moment and transforms it into a moment of internet gold. The original scene takes place during a power outage in Tokyo-3. Asuka, frustrated and demanding, is confronting Shinji. The core of the meme is the audio overlay, replacing the original Japanese or English dub lines with a voice shouting the iconic phrase, followed by the opening strains of the "Crank That" song.

The genius is in the visual setup. Shinji is often depicted with a look of bewildered resignation, which perfectly matches the energy of being unexpectedly commanded to perform a viral dance. The final punchline usually involves a sudden, jarring cut to the actual "Crank That" music video, or a crudely animated version of Shinji performing the dance moves, including the signature "Superman" motion.

The Cultural Impact of the 'Crank That' Phenomenon

The longevity of this meme is inextricably linked to the cultural powerhouse that is the original song. "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" wasn't just a number one hit; it was a revolution in how music was consumed and shared. Soulja Boy was one of the first artists to truly harness the power of social media and the burgeoning video platforms of the mid-2000s, turning a simple dance into a global phenomenon.

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This history is crucial to the *Evangelion* meme’s success. The phrase "Crank That Soulja Boy" carries an inherent weight of nostalgia and viral energy. When Asuka commands Shinji to "crank that," she is not just telling him to dance; she is demanding he submit to the universal, inescapable force of early internet meme culture, a perfect thematic foil to Shinji's desire to isolate himself from the world.

The Enduring Legacy in Modern Meme Culture (2025 and Beyond)

Unlike many memes that fade after a few weeks, "Shinji, Crank That Soulja Boy" has become a "meta-meme"—a joke about the nature of anime memes itself. Its continued relevance, even in late 2025, is a testament to its flexibility and the enduring popularity of its source material, *Neon Genesis Evangelion*.

• The 'Uncrank That' Parody: A popular derivative of the meme involves an "uncrank that" version, where Asuka commands Shinji to "uncrank that Soulja Boy." This is often paired with the music playing in reverse, adding another layer of surreal humor and demonstrating the meme's ability to remix itself.
• Cross-Fandom Adaptation: The template—a demanding character ordering a reluctant one to perform a bizarre, outdated dance—has been applied to countless other fandoms. You can find versions featuring characters from *Ultrakill*, *Payday: The Heist*, and even mashups with new viral characters like Wednesday Addams, proving the structural integrity of the joke.
• Topical Authority and LSI Keywords: The meme acts as a central hub connecting key entities in internet culture. Discussions about the meme naturally pull in related topics like toxic anime relationships (Shinji and Asuka), mecha anime tropes, viral dubs, and the evolution of rap memes, cementing its topical authority within the anime and internet history niches. Entities such as Eva-01, Nerv, Lil B (another early internet rap figure), and the Rebuild of Evangelion films are often referenced in the surrounding commentary, enriching the overall context.

The meme’s ultimate message is a form of therapeutic dark humor: in a world filled with existential dread, giant alien Angels, and the crushing weight of responsibility, sometimes the only logical response is to simply "crank that." It's a comedic coping mechanism that turns the high-stakes drama of a psychological thriller into a low-stakes, high-energy dance party.

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The Anonymous Creator: The Nature of Viral Dubs

While the original creator of the "Shinji, Crank That Soulja Boy" dub remains largely unknown—a common fate for many early viral video artists—their contribution to internet culture is undeniable. The earliest known versions point to a viral tweet or a short YouTube upload from the early 2010s. The anonymity of the creator is, in itself, a commentary on the nature of viral content: the message and the joke often become more famous and important than the person who first delivered them.

The meme continues to thrive because it speaks to a universal truth of the internet: the joy of taking something serious and making it incredibly silly. It’s a perpetual engine of comedy, ensuring that for years to come, whenever someone mentions *Neon Genesis Evangelion*, there will always be a voice in the back of a fan's head, shouting the unforgettable command: "Shinji, crank that Soulja Boy!"