What Is the Buff Doge vs Cheems Meme? Origin & Meaning
Learn about the Buff Doge vs Cheems meme comparing strong past vs weak present. Make your own for free.
The Buff Doge vs Cheems meme is a two-panel comparison format featuring a muscular, powerful-looking Shiba Inu (Buff Doge or Swole Doge) on one side and a small, meek Shiba Inu (Cheems) on the other.
Buff Doge represents something strong, competent, or impressive from the past. Cheems represents the modern, weaker, or less impressive version of the same thing. The meme plays on nostalgia and the feeling that things used to be better.
Origin
The Buff Doge character emerged in 2019 from edited images of muscular dogs combined with the Doge meme aesthetic. Cheems is based on a Shiba Inu named Balltze whose photos became popular for his chubby, dopey expression. The two were combined into a comparison format in 2020.
How It Works
Label Buff Doge with something from the past that was strong, cool, or impressive. Label Cheems with the modern equivalent that is weaker or less impressive. The format works for comparing any two versions of things where one is clearly superior.
Common Uses
The format is popular for comparing: old movies vs remakes, ancient warriors vs modern soldiers, old video games vs new ones, traditional skills vs modern shortcuts, and any "they don't make them like they used to" sentiment.