AboutWhat does the meme depict?

The "All Your Base Are Belong to Us" meme is a famous phrase derived from an awkward English translation in the 1989 video game Zero Wing. Originating as "all of your bases are now under our control," this phrase is notorious for its grammatically incorrect form. It appears in the game's introduction where the antagonist, a leader named CATS, declares control over the protagonist's bases. The meme specifically highlights this dialogue, capturing its viral spread across various digital platforms, including image macros and animations, as it humorously showcases the translation error.

OriginWho did it first?

The "All Your Base Are Belong to Us" phrase and accompanying game footage originate from Zero Wing, a side-scrolling shoot'em up arcade game ported in 1992 to the SEGA Mega Drive. The infamous quoted dialogue occurs during the introduction sequence when CATS, the antagonist, communicates with the ship's captain, stating, "all your base are belong to us." The meme's initial spread is attributed to an animated GIF of this scene first appearing on Rage Games around early 1998. Websites such as Zany Video Game Quotes (Zany Video Game Quotes, Wired, RetroGames.com) played significant roles in further popularizing the GIF from late 1998 through early 1999.^[1]

Origin: 1998