Is Raikou of the Dragons Real? The Truth Behind the Meme

If you’ve scrolled TikTok recently, you might have stumbled across an “anime” called Raikou of the Dragons. It sounds convincing—fan art, a wiki, even a plot summary. But here’s the catch: the whole thing is a hoax. This article traces how a 2010 fan creation became a 2025 TikTok meme, and what it tells us about internet culture.

First fan wiki creation: June 2010 ·
Remaster date: June 2025 ·
Reddit community: r/Raikouofthedragons ·
Wattpad story published: July 19, 2025 ·
Know Your Meme editorial: July 23, 2025 ·
Official anime status: None (fan creation)

The following table recaps the key data points verified by multiple sources.

Is Raikou of the Dragons a real anime?

The short answer: no. Raikou of the Dragons is a fake anime series created to prank the anime community. It started as a fan concept in 2010, then exploded on TikTok in July 2025 after a creator named Ian Burp posted an announcement video.

The viral TikTok phenomenon

• On July 16, 2025, TikToker @ianburp posted a video announcing the “show.” Know Your Meme (internet culture encyclopedia) reports it gained over 15 million views.
• Users began posting cosplay, fan edits, and “oi oi oi oi” sound clips, treating the fake anime as real.
• Within 48 hours, reportedly over 5,000 TikTok videos were made about it (YouTube fan documentary).

Official sources confirm it is not real

No major studio has ever announced a series called Raikou of the Dragons. The Know Your Meme editorial (July 23, 2025) states the meme’s purpose is to “gaslight them into believing the series exists.” The Reddit community r/Raikouofthedragons makes clear it’s all a coordinated joke.

The pattern is consistent: no official studio has ever acknowledged the series.

What is the plot of Raikou of the Dragons?

Multiple “versions” of the plot exist, all user-generated. Two main sources stand out.

The story according to the Fandom wiki

• The Fandom wiki (fan-created lore) describes a tragedy-romance set in a world of half-dragon hybrids called Dracohominids.
• The main character Raikou is a Dracohominid group leader; Sumiko Kuronami is a part-dragon character.
• The plot involves finding an elixir called “The Other Eye.”
• Other characters include Mizuki and Hiromi, who have become fan favorites.

The Wattpad fanfiction plot

• On July 19, 2025, a Wattpad story titled “Raikou of The Dragons” was published by user Sylvee2435 (Wattpad fanfiction platform).
• It reinterprets the premise as an original fan fiction narrative.
• The existence of multiple plots reinforces that none is “canon.”

The implication: the “plot” varies by creator because there is no official source material. Each fan adds their own spin.

What does ‘oi oi oi oi’ mean?

This phrase became the audio signature of the Raikou of the Dragons meme.

Origin of the phrase in anime

• “Oi” ( ) is a Japanese interjection used to call someone’s attention, similar to “hey” in English (Wikipedia – Japanese language interjections).
• It is often used in anime by characters expressing surprise or annoyance.

Use in the Raikou of the Dragons meme

• TikTok users repeated “oi oi oi oi” in videos pretending to react to the fake anime, creating a recognizable sound meme.
• The phrase spread alongside cosplay and fan art, often as a caption or spoken line.
• It helped drive the viral nature of the hoax on the platform.

The effectiveness of the meme relied on this shared audio identifier.

What does Raikou mean?

The name carries multiple layers, which adds to the confusion.

Japanese meaning

• Raikou ( ) can mean “thunder” or “lightning” in Japanese (Jisho.org – Japanese dictionary).
• It conveys power and speed, fitting for a dragon-themed character.

Raikou as a Pokémon

• Raikou is also the name of a Legendary Pokémon from the second generation (Bulbapedia – Pokémon community wiki).
• The Pokémon connection likely contributed to the name’s recognition and the meme’s plausibility.

In the context of the fan anime

• The fan wiki presents Raikou as a half-dragon hybrid (Dracohominid) and leader of his team.
• The name was chosen for its epic connotations rather than any official tie to the Pokémon universe.

The trade-off: the name borrows from existing pop culture, making the fake anime feel more authentic to newcomers.

What is the story behind Raikou?

Understanding the character’s roots reveals how the meme evolved.

Origins of the character

• The Raikou character first appeared in a fan project around June 2010, according to the Fandom wiki (fan-created lore).
• That original wiki later became inactive before being remastered in June 2025, sparking renewed interest.

Development of the fan anime

• The 2025 remaster included expanded lore: Raikou takes commissions and notices many dragons appearing in his world.
• Fans added backstory through wiki edits, Wattpad stories, and social media posts.
• The narrative is intentionally vague, allowing each participant to contribute their own version.

What this means: the “story” is a shared canvas, not a fixed text. This open-endedness is exactly what made the meme virally successful.

Timeline: From 2010 fan project to 2025 TikTok meme

The pattern: a decade-old fan idea, a remaster, a viral trigger, and then mass participation—all without any official anime studio involvement.

Confirmed vs. unclear claims

The imbalance between confirmed and unclear points highlights the community’s reliance on user-generated evidence.

Perspectives from the community

“The point is to gaslight them into believing the series exists.”

– Know Your Meme editorial, July 2025 (Know Your Meme)

“Raikou of the dragons will never be an actual anime. It’s just a joke that got out of hand.”

– Reddit user, r/Raikouofthedragons (Reddit community)

“I thought it was real for a whole week. The wiki looked so professional.”

– TikTok commenter, cited in YouTube fan documentary

For anime fans on TikTok, the lesson is clear: always check the source before jumping on a trend, or you might end up promoting a hoax that never existed in the first place.

Frequently asked questions