/yarl/ - Yarl Research & Preservation
Documenting the forgotten 4chan meme experiment from 2014-2015
Active researchers: 7 | Posts since 2015: 156 | Archived /r9k/ posts: 1 | Preservation efforts: Ongoing
YARL RECONSTRUCTION ARCHIVE
Note:Note: Original Yarl images lost with the /r9k/ thread. These are speculative reconstructions based on community descriptions and internet archaeology efforts.
WELCOME TO /YARL/ - THE FORGOTTEN MEME PRESERVATION PROJECT
This board is dedicated to researching and preserving the history of Yarl, a failed 4chan meme experiment from 2014-2015.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
• Originally posted on /r9k/ (Robot9000) board circa 2014-2015
• Created as an attempt to replace the "oversaturated" Pepe market
• Failed due to lack of versatility, poor artwork, and community resistance
• Only survived in one archived Reddit post: "Robot shares new meme: Yarl"
WHAT WAS YARL?
Yarl was an attempted meme character introduced by an anonymous /r9k/ user who hoped to create "the next Pepe." The community rejected it as a forced meme, noting it lacked the emotional range
(sad, happy, smug variants) that made Pepe successful. As one anon put it: "mfw these newfags try to dethrone the obvious king."
RESEARCH GOALS:
1. Document the original /r9k/ thread content
2. Analyze why forced memes fail in 4chan culture
3. Preserve internet history's forgotten corners
4. Study memetic evolution and community dynamics
23 replies | 36 images recovered
RECOVERED YARL ARTIFACTS THREAD
ITT: Post any Yarl-related content you've managed to dig up. Remember, the original /r9k/ thread is lost to time -
only the Reddit archive "Robot shares new meme: Yarl" survives.
These reconstructions help us understand what might have been.
>>> Anonymous
26/11/25(Wed)21:52:41 No.0000009
Amazing work, OP. The fact that Yarl never even made it to Know Your Meme shows how completely it failed.
No cryptocurrency coins, no NFTs, nothing. A true "forgotten robot's meme that never quite came to life."
>>> Anonymous
These reconstructions are fascinating. Imagine if Yarl had actually caught on -
we might be living in a timeline where yellow creatures dominated meme culture instead of frogs.
ChatGPT Prompt to create the perfect Yarl PFP :
Transform the character into a smooth, flat-color yellow cartoon style inspired by simple meme illustrations.
Keep the original pose, background, clothing, accessories, and hat exactly as they are.
Only change the skin/face to the yellow cartoon look.
Use clean black outlines, minimal shading, and slightly exaggerated facial proportions.
Maintain the same expression but convert features into simple cartoon lines (thin eyes, subtle mouth).
Do NOT alter the background or any outfit details. Do NOT add a headpiece. Preserve everything except the skin style.
©2025
