Trollface

Vectorization of the original Trollface by Carlos Ramirez

Trollface is a black-and-white cartoon drawing of a smiling face that became a popular internet meme. It is most commonly used to represent trolling, which means intentionally provoking or annoying others online for fun. The face has a large, exaggerated grin and a mischievous expression.

Origin

Trollface was created by Carlos Ramirez, an artist from Oakland, California. He first posted the image on September 19, 2008, on his DeviantArt page as part of a short comic titled "Trolls." The comic was meant to make fun of pointless arguments that people have on the internet. The last panel of the comic featured the now-famous face, which quickly gained attention and was shared widely online.

Rise to Popularity

After it was posted, Trollface began appearing on internet forums and imageboards like 4chan and Reddit. It became especially popular in "rage comics," which are simple comics made using repeated cartoon faces to show different emotions or situations. Trollface was often used as the final punchline, showing someone who had tricked or annoyed another person on purpose.

By the early 2010s, Trollface had become one of the most recognizable internet memes. People used it in reaction images, joke websites, videos, animations, and even merchandise like T-shirts, mugs, and posters. It was usually accompanied by captions like “Problem?” or “U mad?”

Copyright and Legal Use

In 2010, Carlos Ramirez registered the image for copyright protection. He began receiving payments through licensing and took legal action against people or companies using Trollface without permission. In interviews, Ramirez said he made tens of thousands of dollars from licensing deals. However, many internet users continued to use the image freely without knowing about the copyright.

Cultural Impact

Trollface became a symbol of early internet culture. It is one of the most well-known "rage faces" from the late 2000s and early 2010s, along with other memes like "Forever Alone" and "Y U NO Guy." Although the meme is not as widely used today, it still appears in online communities, nostalgic posts, and meme history discussions. It has also been referenced in games, animations, and parody videos.

Current Use

Even though its peak popularity has passed, Trollface still appears in memes and online jokes. It is sometimes used ironically to represent older internet humor or as a symbol of internet trolling in general.

Trivia

• Carlos Ramirez originally made the comic using Microsoft Paint.

• The image is often copied or redrawn by others, but the original version remains the most well-known.

• Some people mistakenly believe Trollface came from a specific comic series, but it started as a one-off joke.

Conclusion

Trollface is one of the most iconic images of early meme culture. Created in 2008, it spread rapidly and became closely connected to internet trolling. Its simple design and clear expression helped it become a lasting symbol of a unique era of internet humor.