What Is the Smalltown Boy Trend?
The scream-and-dance duet to Bronski Beat’s 1984 song, and the AI pet version that went viral in October 2026.
Last updated: 2026-10-17
The Smalltown Boy trend is a short dance routine set to “Smalltown Boy”, Bronski Beat’s 1984 synth-pop hit. Two dancers take turns rushing up to the camera and screaming silently on Jimmy Somerville’s high falsetto, then dance side by side in an 80s style and lunge at the lens. It started as a dance duet by two people in August 2026 and went viral in October 2026 as an AI version starring two cats. Since then people have been making it with their own pets from two photos, and Smalltown Boy AI makes that video from yours.
Where the Smalltown Boy Trend Started
The routine comes from an Instagram post by the make-up artist Elvira (@elvira.mua.music) and the dancer Siarhei Dratvitski (@mr_unvrs), both based in Warsaw, posted on August 4, 2026 with the caption “Don’t cry. Dance!”. It has more than 220,000 likes.
On October 2, 2026, the AI creator @bellvtrix.ai posted the same routine with two cats, made with Higgsfield’s Genjutsu feature and crediting the original dancers. That post passed 1.3 million likes and 9,000 comments. Two days later, @mr_unvrs posted a side-by-side of his video and the cat version, and from there the AI pet versions spread on Instagram and TikTok: tabbies and tuxedo cats, dogs on their hind legs, rabbits in bows, and owners swapping in their own photo. Google searches for “smalltown boy ai” started climbing around October 5, 2026.
The Song: Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy”
“Smalltown Boy” was the debut single of the British band Bronski Beat, released on May 25, 1984 on London Records and later included on their album The Age of Consent. It was written by Steve Bronski, Jimmy Somerville and Larry Steinbachek and reached number three in the UK. The lyrics tell of a young man who is bullied and leaves home; the bright hi-NRG beat under them, and Somerville’s soaring “run away, turn away” falsetto, is what the screams in the trend are timed to.
The song had a TikTok moment before: in spring 2024, around its 40th anniversary, it soundtracked a challenge in which young people asked their parents to dance like it was the 80s. That trend is a different one: a single parent dancing at home. The 2026 trend is the scripted scream-and-dance duet.
The Routine, Beat by Beat
The original and the AI versions follow the same six shots:
- Dancer A rushes up to the lens in a high close-up, hands (or paws) on the head, mouth wide open on the high note, while dancer B dances behind.
- A reaches both hands toward the camera.
- Hard cut: B takes the lens and screams back, while A dances in the background.
- Wide shot: both dance side by side, A on the left and B on the right, with an 80s arm swing.
- A low-angle shot from the ground looking up at them.
- Both lunge at the camera and reach into the lens.
The screams are silent: the sound is the song itself. That is why the AI versions work with any two animals or people, as long as each one gets a turn at the camera.
Variations People Make
- Cats. The most common version: two cats standing on their hind legs, often in hats, bows or sweaters.
- Dogs and mixed pairs. A big size gap, like a pug next to a husky or a cat next to a dog, makes the joke land harder.
- Rabbits and other pets. Any animal with a face the camera can see works.
- You and your pet. Owners put their own photo in one slot and their pet in the other.
- People. Friends, couples and parent-and-child pairs recreate the original duet, filmed or made with AI.
How to Make Your Own Smalltown Boy AI Video
The first AI pet versions were made in general AI video apps, with the creator writing the routine into a prompt. On the Smalltown Boy AI homepage you upload one photo of each pet, pick a setting (the red fence yard, a small-town sidewalk, a living room or a beach at sunset) and a length of 6, 10 or 15 seconds, and get a vertical 9:16 video of the routine with an 80s-style instrumental beat. Then you add the Smalltown Boy sound in TikTok or Reels. The step-by-step guide is on How to Make a Smalltown Boy AI Video.
Join the Trend Responsibly
- Use photos of your own pets, or get permission before putting another person in a video.
- Do not use photos of celebrities, other public figures or anyone under 18.
- Credit the original dancers if you recreate their routine, and label your clip as AI-generated when you post it.
Smalltown Boy Trend FAQ
Who started the Smalltown Boy trend?
The routine is from an Instagram post by @elvira.mua.music and @mr_unvrs on August 4, 2026. The AI cat version that made it a meme was posted by @bellvtrix.ai on October 2, 2026.
Is the scream real?
No. In the original and in the AI versions the screams are silent and timed to Jimmy Somerville’s falsetto in the song.
Is Smalltown Boy AI the official app of the trend?
No. There is no official app. Smalltown Boy AI is an independent tool and is not affiliated with Bronski Beat, Instagram, TikTok, Higgsfield, ByteDance or the creators named on this page.
Does my video include the song?
No. Your video comes with an AI-made 80s-style instrumental beat. Add the real song from the TikTok or Reels sound library when you post.
Can I make it with a dog?
Yes. Dogs, rabbits and mixed pairs work too; each animal stands up on its back legs and keeps its own fur and markings.