Snapchat filters have become incredibly popular in recent years, with users constantly searching for the latest and greatest filters to enhance their snaps. One filter that has been particularly popular lately is the animoji and memoji filters, which allow users to map their facial expressions onto an animated character in real-time.
What are animoji and memoji?
Animoji are animated emoji characters that mimic the user’s facial expressions and voice using Apple’s TrueDepth camera system found on the iPhone X and newer models. Some of the most popular animoji include the dog, cat, rabbit, panda, and poop emoji. Animoji will move its head and mouth to match what the user is doing, allowing for expressive and amusing snaps.
Memoji are similar to animoji, but instead of an emoji, it’s an animated avatar that resembles the user. Users can customize their memoji with different hairstyles, eye colors, accessories and more to create a mini-me version of themselves. Just like animoji, memoji will mimic the user’s facial expressions to create fun personalized snaps.
Why are these filters so popular?
There are several reasons why animoji and memoji filters have become so popular on Snapchat:
- They are exclusive to iOS devices, making them a coveted Snapchat feature among iPhone users.
- The technology behind them is impressive and intriguing.
- They are innovative, fun ways to communicate and express oneself.
- Users enjoy morphing their face into a cute animal or cartoonish character.
- They allow users to create snaps that are distinctively different from photos or videos.
- Celebrities and influencers often use them in creative ways, further driving popularity.
Ultimately, animoji and memoji appeal to Snapchat users’ desire for novelty and creative self-expression. Although the craze over them may eventually fade, for now they remain incredibly popular filters on the platform.
When were these filters introduced?
Here is a brief timeline of when these Snapchat filters were introduced:
- September 2017 – Apple introduces the first set of Animoji on the iPhone X, including the monkey, robot, dog, cat, alien, and poop emoji.
- February 2018 – Snapchat rolls out its first Bitmoji Deluxe update, allowing more customization options for personalized avatars.
- May 2018 – Snapchat launches original Animoji and Memoji-inspired Lenses, letting users control a 3D mask with their face.
- July 2018 – Apple expands its Animoji library to include the koala, tiger, T-rex, and ghost for iPhone X users.
- October 2018 – Snapchat adds seven new Lenses inspired by Apple’s Memoji, with options like a unicorn, alien, and more.
- February 2019 – Snapchat fully launches the Cameos feature, an animated selfie tool similar to Memoji.
- July 2019 – Apple introduces Memoji stickers and more customization for memoji avatars.
- September 2019 – Snapchat adds an Animoji feature for some Android phones using its integrated 3D lenses.
As new model iPhones and iOS updates are released, Apple continues expanding its Animoji options. Snapchat also consistently adds innovative new lenses inspired by the Memoji craze started by Apple.
How did these filters get so popular on Snapchat?
There are a few key reasons why animoji and memoji filters became popular on Snapchat:
- Exclusivity – The animoji filters were initially exclusive to Apple’s iPhone X device, giving iOS users early access.
- Innovation – These filters introduced realistic facial mapping and motion capture technology new to mobile apps.
- Celebrity/Influencer use – High profile Snapchat users experimented with these filters early on in funny ways.
- Ease of use – The filters are directly integrated into the Snapchat app camera, making them seamless to use.
- Personalization – Memoji allows users to make avatars that look uniquely like themselves.
- Versatility – Animoji and memoji work for both still images and video snaps.
- Virality – Snapchatters enjoy sending these snaps to friends who may not have tried the filters yet.
Ultimately, the novelty, exclusivity and convenience of the filters led to widespread adoption and popularity on Snapchat. Users were delighted at the ability to map their facial features onto a cute puppy or quirky alien in a way not possible before animoji and memoji.
What are the most popular specific filters?
Here are some of the most popular specific animoji and memoji filters on Snapchat:
- Dog – The cute dog animoji with tongue hanging out remains a classic.
- Rainbow vomiting unicorn – This sparkly unicorn memoji spewing rainbows is a hit.
- Panda – The adorable panda animoji is perfect for flashing cute expressions.
- Pig – The pig animoji is a top choice thanks to its hilarious snorting sounds.
- Robot – The animoji robot is a futuristic filter great for dance videos.
- Cowboy/cowgirl – These customizable memoji are modeled after Woody from Toy Story.
- Mouse – The bucktoothed animoji mouse is a favorite for its cheeky character.
- Fox – The fox animoji has an emoji-like expression that users love mimicking.
- Alien – Whether animoji or memoji, little green aliens are always popular.
- Poop – The smiling pile of poop animoji is fun for ironic humor.
Snapchat has dozens of animoji and memoji to choose from, but these tend to be the most ubiquitous and popular options found across the platform.
What are some brand examples using these filters?
Many major brands have leveraged animoji and memoji filters in creative Snapchat campaigns, including:
Brand | Filter Example |
---|---|
Disney | Princess, Woody, and other Disney character memojis |
Amazon Prime | A dog animoji with Prime logo hat and accessories |
Gucci | Chic Gucci-ified memoji with branded clothing and bags |
Pepsi | Pepsi can memoji costumes for various holiday campaigns |
Warner Bros. | Animoji masks for The Lego Movie 2 release |
Android-themed memoji lenses during new phone launches |
These are just a few examples of brands leveraging Snapchat’s animoji and memoji filters to promote products in an eye-catching, humorous way tailored to the app’s users.
Are these still the most popular filters on Snapchat?
Animoji and memoji filters have remained among the most popular on Snapchat, but some new filter trends have emerged more recently:
- Cartoon lenses – Filters adding cartoon effects, 2D animation, and other drawings.
- Anime lenses – Filters inspired by popular anime characters with big expressive eyes.
- VSCO lenses – Filters replicating the vintage, muted aesthetics of the VSCO app.
- Beautification lenses – Subtle filters smoothing skin, adjusting face shape, etc.
- Abstraction lenses – Artistic filters digitally distorting and abstracting faces.
- Makeup lenses – Realistic makeup looks and fantasy special effects makeup.
- Caption lenses – Snaps with animated text captions and overlay effects.
However, animoji and memoji have shown impressive staying power. The ability to control a 3D character with your face remains novel and engaging. Snapchat will likely continue advancing its facial tracking and VR technology to keep these filters popular.
How are people getting creative with these filters?
People have found very creative ways to use animoji and memoji filters beyond just direct selfie snaps, including:
- Music videos – Songs set to animoji characters lip syncing and dancing.
- Comedy sketches – Filming hands or props interacting with memoji faces.
- Mini-movies – Creating storylines and narratives with animoji characters.
- News recaps – Summarizing events with animoji reporters and politicians.
- Gaming highlights – Capturing Fortnite or Call of Duty wins with animoji reactions.
- Sports commentary – Discussing games and matches via animoji broadcaster figures.
- Instructional videos – Using memoji characters to explain tutorials or lessons.
Influencers have especially pushed the creative boundaries for these filters, blurring the line between human selfie videos and animoji/memoji narrative content.
What are some tips for using these filters best?
Here are some tips to master animoji and memoji filters on Snapchat:
- Lighting – Get good overhead lighting on your face to improve facial tracking.
- Angles – Position your face fully in frame to give the filters enough capture area.
- Expressions – Exaggerate your facial expressions more than usual so they translate.
- Backgrounds – Have an interesting but simple background to complement the animoji/memoji in frame.
- Stabilization – Use a tripod mount or steady surface so the camera stays still.
- Customization – Take time to customize your memoji to look recognizably like you.
- Timing – Keep snaps around 5-10 seconds max so the motions remain engaging.
Taking a few minutes to set up proper positioning, lighting, and camera stability goes a long way in making these filters look their best.
Do people prefer animoji or memoji?
Based on popularity and usage on Snapchat, memoji filters seem to have slightly overtaken animoji in demand and favor among users. There are a few possible reasons for this:
- Personalization – Memoji allow for customized facial features, hair, and other traits.
- Relatability – Seeing yourself as a mini avatar feels more personal than an emoji animal.
- Longevity – Animoji feel more like a novelty, while memoji remain fresh and engaging.
- Storytelling – Memoji lend themselves better to narrative content created around a character.
However, both types of filters remain popular and they each have distinct advantages. Animoji are likely preferred for their humor and ease of conveying reactions. But memoji allow for more creative, personalized content over the long term.
Will these continue to be popular in the future?
It’s highly likely that animoji, memoji, and similar augmented reality filters will only continue growing in popularity on Snapchat and other apps. A few reasons why they have staying power:
- Technology improvements – Facial tracking and rendering will only get more advanced over time.
- Mainstream adoption – These filters are becoming a communication norm, especially among younger users.
- Multi-purpose use – They work for casual Snaps but also professional content creation.
- New contexts – AR glasses and goggles will open up new settings for using these virtually.
- Creativity potential – They remain one of the best ways for creative and humorous self-expression online.
As long as cameras and lenses can map facial expressions onto digital avatars, people will continue enjoying augmenting their likeness with these virtual characters. The possibilities are endless for how these could evolve in tandem with augmented reality technology.
Conclusion
Animoji and memoji filters represent a shift toward augmented reality communication that is likely here to stay on social platforms. As Snapchat rolls out innovative new lenses daily, these filters in particular deliver a uniquely engaging way for users to get creative with self-expression. And brands are taking notice by launching clever ad campaigns starring their own memoji mascots. While the appeal may evolve over time, animoji and memoji filters currently remain incredibly popular across Snapchat.