Improbably, one of the biggest viral hits of the 2000s has returned this holiday season: Charlie the Unicorn.
Created by FilmCow's Jason Steele, the original Flash animated short “Charlie the Unicorn” premiered on Newgrounds in 2005 and crashed into the vernacular culture of terminal millennials online. Steele's Charlie Shorts had a tight formula that featured a pair of tooth-eroding pink and blue unicorns who relentlessly pestered the skeptical, foul-mouthed Charlie into traveling with them on incessantly whimsical adventures packed with classic random humor from mid years. At the climax of each short, Charlie, despite himself, gave in to his relentless joy and began to have fun, at which point he was hit on the head and had one of his organs trafficked.
When you write it all down like that it really makes you think: Did you know? Skibidi bath is fine.
Steele followed up with a few sequels, parodies and spin-offs throughout the 2000s and early teens, finally culminating in a Charlie “finale” in 2021. But lo and behold, on the second day of Christmas my YouTube algorithm told me said “Charlie, the unicorn enjoys.” a moment of peace.” And spoilers, but the title is accurate.
In the new video, nothing bad happens to Charlie and he is allowed to seriously engage in a moment of true fantasy without any negative consequences.
I'm happy for him. I wish it also for you, the reader, and for all of us, this holiday season and in the new year to come.