7 Shocking Facts About 'Think Of A Big Black Man Chasing You'—The Controversial Meme That Saved An Anime
The phrase "Think of a big black man chasing you" is one of the most infamous and widely-shared quotes in internet history, a line that has transcended its original source to become a cultural touchstone in meme communities globally. This is not a line from a blockbuster Hollywood thriller or a profound piece of literature; instead, its shocking origin traces back to one of the most chaotic and creatively unhinged localization projects in the history of Japanese animation. As of the end of 2025, the quote continues to circulate on platforms like YouTube, Reddit, and TikTok, driving millions of views and sparking endless debates about dark humor, cultural appropriation, and the art of the "gag dub."
The entire phenomenon stems from a single, chaotic scene in the English-language version of a 2000 supernatural anime. The story behind this line is a fascinating, almost unbelievable tale of commercial failure, desperate creative freedom, and the birth of a viral sensation that utterly redefined how fans view anime localization. The controversial nature of the quote is precisely what cemented its place in digital folklore, making the Ghost Stories ADV Films dub a legendary piece of media history.
The Complete Dossier: Unpacking the Ghost Stories ADV Dub
To understand the quote, one must first understand the context of the ADV Films dub of the anime Ghost Stories (original Japanese title: Gakkou no Kaidan). The dub itself is the central entity that gave birth to this and countless other controversial lines. This section breaks down the key facts, people, and events that led to its creation:
- Original Anime Title: Gakkou no Kaidan (School Ghost Stories)
- Original Japanese Broadcast: 2000–2001
- Original Genre: Supernatural Horror, Shōjo
- English Dub Distributor: ADV Films (now defunct)
- English Dub Release: 2005
- Dub Director: Ste7en Foster
- Key Voice Actors:
- Hajime Aoyama (Speaker of the Quote): Chris Patton
- Keiichirou Miyanoshita (Recipient of the Quote): Christine Auten
- Satsuki Miyanoshita (Main Protagonist): Hilary Haag
- Momoko Koigakubo: Monica Rial
- Leo Kakinoki: Greg Ayres
- Dub Genre: Black Comedy, Horror Comedy, Gag Dub
- The Quote’s Scene: Hajime encourages Keiichirou to run faster while being chased by a ghost.
1. The Desperate Mandate: "Do Whatever It Takes to Sell the Show"
The primary reason for the dub's radical departure from the original script lies in a desperate commercial situation. The original Gakkou no Kaidan, while a decent horror anime, was a commercial flop in Japan. When ADV Films licensed the show for the North American market, the Japanese production committee, having little faith left in the property, gave them an unprecedented level of creative freedom.
The instruction given to the dubbing team, including director Ste7en Foster, was simple and extreme: "Do whatever it took to sell the show," with the only constraints being that the characters' names and the fate of the ghosts had to remain the same. This opened the door for the voice actors to essentially improvise, leading to a script that was completely rewritten to be a satirical, politically incorrect, and often offensive black comedy.
2. The True Context of the Line: Hajime's Motivational Speech
The infamous line, "Think of a big black man chasing you!" is spoken by the character Hajime Aoyama to the younger character, Keiichirou Miyanoshita, in an attempt to make him run faster. In the scene, the group is being pursued by a terrifying entity, and Keiichirou is struggling to keep up. Hajime’s line is a shocking, non-sequitur attempt at a motivational speech, relying on a deeply uncomfortable and offensive stereotype for a quick, jarring laugh.
This particular moment perfectly encapsulates the ADV dub's entire comedic strategy: replacing the original show's earnest, spooky dialogue with gratuitous, often controversial jokes designed to elicit a strong, immediate reaction. The voice actor for Hajime, Chris Patton, along with the rest of the cast like Hilary Haag and Monica Rial, were encouraged to push the boundaries of decency and humor, turning a standard children's horror show into an adult-oriented parody.
3. From Flop to Viral Sensation: The Meme's Digital Legacy
While the original Ghost Stories anime faded into obscurity, the ADV Films dub achieved cult status and became a massive viral internet sensation years after its 2005 release. The "think of a big black man chasing you" clip, along with other equally shocking moments, became a staple on early YouTube and later on platforms like Reddit and TikTok.
The quote's success as a meme is rooted in several factors:
- Shock Value: The line's blunt, un-PC nature makes it instantly memorable and shareable.
- Tonal Surprise: The joke is delivered in a children's anime, which heightens the comedic and controversial effect.
- Shareability: The short, punchy clip is ideal for modern meme culture and social media consumption.
This digital popularity cemented the dub’s legacy as the ultimate gag dub, influencing later comedy series and abridged series that rely on rewriting existing media for satirical effect. The phrase itself is a shorthand reference to the entire, chaotic history of the dub.
4. The Controversy and the Dark Humor Debate
The line is undeniably controversial and has sparked extensive debate among anime fans and general audiences. It relies on a deeply offensive racial stereotype for its comedic effect, forcing viewers to confront the limits of dark humor and satire.
Proponents of the dub argue that its intentional use of stereotypes and controversial topics is a form of boundary-pushing satire—a type of black comedy where everything is a target. They point to the fact that the dub satirizes a wide range of subjects, including religion, politics, gender, and other races, making the "big black man" line part of a broader, equal-opportunity offensive strategy. Critics, however, argue that the joke is simply racist and relies on harmful tropes, regardless of the intent of the ADV Films writers. This ongoing tension is what keeps the phrase relevant in discussions about media and humor in 2025.
5. The Role of the Voice Actors and Creative Freedom
The voice actors, including Chris Patton (Hajime), were instrumental in crafting the dub's unique, anarchic tone. They have spoken in interviews about the freedom they were given, often recording their lines without a formal script, simply improvising based on the animation and the director’s loose instructions.
This collaborative, improvisational approach is what allowed a line as unhinged as "Think of a big black man chasing you!" to make it into the final cut. The process was more akin to an improv comedy session than a traditional anime localization, resulting in a product that was a total reinvention of the source material. This creative risk, born out of necessity, is now hailed as a masterclass in how to turn a commercial failure into a cultural phenomenon.
6. The Legacy of the Gag Dub in Anime History
The success and infamy of the Ghost Stories dub set a precedent for what is known as a "gag dub"—a localization where the script is entirely rewritten for comedic or satirical purposes, often ignoring the original plot. While ADV Films was not the first to do this, their version of Ghost Stories is arguably the most famous and extreme example.
The show's enduring popularity, fueled by the continuous sharing of clips like the "big black man chasing you" scene, proves that sometimes, a radical, irreverent approach to anime localization can find a massive audience, even if it courts controversy. It remains a fascinating case study in media adaptation, topical authority, and the power of digital word-of-mouth in the 21st century.
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