Telling a Bigger Story
A multi-panel meme expands upon the simple narrative structure of a two-panel meme, using a sequence of three, four, or even more images to create a more developed story or a more nuanced joke. This format, arranged like a comic strip, allows for a clear beginning, middle, and end, making it ideal for depicting sequences of events, dialogues, or escalating reactions.
Many of the most popular and enduring meme templates are multi-panel formats sourced directly from films and animated shows, as their cinematic nature provides a ready-made narrative sequence.
Common Film-Sourced Formats
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“Gru’s Plan” from Despicable Me: This four-panel meme shows the character Gru presenting a plan on a flip chart. The first two panels show the logical steps. In the third panel, he reads the final step, which is surprisingly negative. In the fourth panel, he looks back at the chart in confusion, having realized the flaw in his own plan. It is used to describe a plan that backfires in an obvious way.
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“Expanding Brain”: This template uses a sequence of images to show a brain becoming progressively larger and more illuminated. It’s used to humorously rank different options, ideas, or opinions, with the final, most “enlightened” state often being the most absurd or ridiculous choice. This is often used by cinephiles to compare levels of film appreciation, from a casual viewer to a deep-cut film theorist.
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“Panels of Mr. Incredible” from The Incredibles: A series of panels shows the character Mr. Incredible becoming increasingly gaunt and distressed (‘becoming uncanny’), used to represent a dawning, horrifying realization.