The image features a classic animated character, who appears to be steering a ship's wheel while delivering a message in a speech bubble. The monochrome filter and the drawing style suggest it's a still from an old animated cartoon, emphasizing the timeless visual appeal of early animation.
In the speech bubble, the character is making a statement that reads, "Listen kids, if it 'needs to be normalized' then it ain't normal." The phrase itself plays with language and societal concepts of what is considered 'normal'. This is ironic because the speaker, being an anthropomorphic animal typically considered out-of-the-ordinary in the real world, challenges the concept.
The humor in the image arises from the contradiction between the character's status as a fictional cartoon animal and the message about normality. Typically, a cartoon character is far from what most would consider 'normal' in everyday life, rendering the statement paradoxical and whimsically self-aware.
Additionally, the phrase "needs to be normalized" is often applied to societal behaviors or practices that are less common or are emerging into public acceptance. By critiquing this notion, the meme taps into contemporary discussions about culture and normality, often generating laughter through its simplification of a complex issue.
The humor is also derived from the way such a profound and potentially controversial statement is being made by a character most associate with lighthearted entertainment rather than serious debate. This creates a juxtaposition between the character's usual role and the unexpectedly pointed commentary.
Lastly, the bottom right corner attributes the image to "Declaration of Memes," indicating that the picture is created with the intention of being humorous or thought-provoking in line with internet meme culture. This context clues the viewer into interpreting the image not just as a cartoon still but as a piece of satirical commentary, which is often the source of humor in memes. Listen kids if it needs to be normalized then it ain t normal