If you’ve spent more than five minutes in the Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF) fandom, you’ve seen it. You know the one. The camera is shaky, the lighting is dim, and a man with a pink mustache—or at least, the 2015 version of Markiplier—is losing his absolute mind. He screams, "Was that the bite of '87?!" with a level of shock usually reserved for witnessing a natural disaster. It’s iconic. It’s a piece of internet history. But the was that the bite of 87 gif isn't just a funny loop of a YouTuber screaming; it is the perfect intersection of accidental comedy, lore confusion, and the explosive growth of gaming culture.
Honestly, it’s kinda weird how a single sentence became a permanent fixture of meme culture. Scott Cawthon, the creator of FNAF, probably didn't realize that one specific plot point would spark a decade of debate. Or maybe he did. He's sneaky like that.
The Moment Everything Went Wrong (or Right)
Let’s set the scene. It’s 2015. Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 had just dropped. Everyone thought they knew the story. We were all waiting for the "Bite of '87," a legendary event mentioned in the very first game where an animatronic bit off someone's frontal lobe. When Markiplier reached the ending of the fourth game—specifically the Night 5 minigame—he saw Fredbear crush a child's head.
He lost it.
The was that the bite of 87 gif captures that exact moment of realization. His eyes go wide. His mouth hangs open. It’s pure, unadulterated shock. But here’s the kicker: he was technically wrong. Most lore experts, including MatPat from Game Theory and the general consensus of the FNAF community, eventually realized that the event in FNAF 4 was actually the "Bite of '83."
It’s hilarious. Markiplier’s most famous quote is based on a chronological error.
The gif works because of the sheer intensity. You see the pixelated chaos on the top half of the screen and Mark’s face on the bottom. It’s a 2-second masterclass in "Wait, what?" Most people use it now to react to literally anything mildly surprising. Someone drops a glass? Was that the bite of 87? A cat jumps off a fridge? Was that the bite of 87? It’s basically shorthand for "I cannot believe what I just saw."
Why This Specific Gif Ranks Above All Others
You’ve got to wonder why this specific clip stayed relevant. There are thousands of gaming reaction gifs. Why this one?
Basically, it’s the pacing. The way Markiplier leans into the mic creates a physical presence that most reaction shots lack. It’s loud even without the audio. You can hear the gif. When you search for the was that the bite of 87 gif, you aren’t just looking for a file; you’re looking for a vibe. It represents an era where YouTube was raw and FNAF was the biggest mystery on the planet.
Complexity matters here too. The gif is often edited. You’ll find versions where Markiplier is replaced by other characters, or where the "bite" is replaced by something nonsensical like a sandwich. This "remixability" is what gives a meme its legs. If a meme can’t be changed, it dies. This one? It’s immortal.
Lore vs. Legend: The Science of the Bite
Let's get nerdy for a second. In the original Five Nights at Freddy's, Phone Guy mentions the Bite of '87. He says the victim survived but lost their frontal lobe. Fast forward to the scene in the gif. The victim in FNAF 4—the Crying Child—does not seem like he’s just losing a piece of his brain; his whole head gets crunched.
Experts like Dawko and various lore-heavy Redditors spent years arguing over this. If the gif shows the Bite of '83, then who did the '87 bite? Most people point to Mangle or Toy Chica in FNAF 2.
The fact that the was that the bite of 87 gif is actually a clip of the Bite of '83 adds a layer of irony that the internet loves. It’s a "confidently wrong" moment frozen in time. Markiplier himself has acknowledged the meme many times, even leaning into it during his later playthroughs and the FNAF movie promotion. He knows. We know. It’s a shared joke.
How to Find the High-Quality Versions
If you’re trying to find the best version of the was that the bite of 87 gif for your Discord or Twitter (X) replies, don’t just grab the first low-res version you see.
- Tenor and Giphy: These are the standard spots. Search "Markiplier Bite" and you'll find the stabilized versions that don't look like they were filmed on a potato.
- Discord Stickers: Many FNAF-themed servers have custom stickers that cut out the background, leaving just Mark’s floating head. It’s terrifying. It’s perfect.
- Green Screen Templates: For creators, there are high-def green screen versions on YouTube. You can overlay Mark’s reaction onto your own gameplay or real-life footage.
The Cultural Impact of a 2-Second Loop
It’s weird to think about a gif having "cultural impact," but in the gaming world, this is a cornerstone. It marked the peak of the "Let’s Play" era. Back then, we didn't have 15-second TikToks as the primary way to consume gaming content; we had 20-minute videos, and we waited for those "Was that the bite of 87" moments.
The gif is a bridge. It connects the older fans who remember the 2014-2015 hype with the new generation of kids who found FNAF through the movie or Security Breach. It’s a universal language. You don't even need to know the lore to understand the emotion of the gif.
Even the FNAF movie (2023) played with these expectations. While they didn't explicitly recreate the meme, the inclusion of a "bite" scene felt like a nod to the fans who have been spamming that gif for years.
Technical Breakdown: Why the Gif Works for SEO
From a technical standpoint, the was that the bite of 87 gif is a powerhouse because it covers multiple "intent" categories.
- Gaming History: People looking for the origins of FNAF lore.
- Reaction Imagery: People who just want a funny face to post in a group chat.
- YouTube Nostalgia: Fans of the "Big Three" (Markiplier, Jacksepticeye, PewDiePie) looking back at the golden age.
If you’re a creator, using this gif is a cheat code for engagement. It’s instantly recognizable. It triggers a nostalgia response. It’s also just objectively funny to see a grown man get that worked up over a 2D pixelated bear.
Avoiding the "Bad" Gifs
Not all gifs are created equal. Avoid the ones with huge, clunky white borders or "Made with Mematic" watermarks if you want your posts to look clean. The best versions of the was that the bite of 87 gif are the ones that crop specifically to Mark’s face right as he says "87." That’s where the peak emotion is.
Also, watch out for "fake" versions. Some people have tried to recreate the moment with AI or deepfakes. They always look slightly off. The original 2015 footage, with its slightly grainy quality and authentic reaction, is always superior. You can't fake that kind of genuine "gamer brain" moment.
How to Use the Gif Effectively
Don’t overdo it.
The was that the bite of 87 gif is a heavy hitter. Use it when something truly baffling happens. If you use it for every minor inconvenience, it loses its power. It’s the "Inception" BWONG of the gaming world. Save it for the big reveals.
- In Group Chats: Use it when a friend drops a massive piece of gossip.
- On Social Media: Use it when a game developer announces a sequel no one expected.
- In Content Creation: Use it as a quick "cutaway" to highlight a confusing moment in your own video.
Final Practical Steps
If you want to keep this piece of history alive or just use it better, here is what you should actually do.
First, go watch the original video. It’s Markiplier’s "WARNING: SCARIEST GAME IN YEARS | Five Nights at Freddy's 4 - Part 7." The context makes the gif even better. You see the tension building for ten minutes before the explosion.
Next, download a high-resolution version of the was that the bite of 87 gif and keep it in your "Favorites" folder on your phone. You never know when you’ll need to question the timeline of a bite-related incident.
Finally, check out the various "Bite of 87" vs "Bite of 83" deep dives on YouTube. Understanding the actual history makes using the gif feel like being part of an inside joke that's ten years in the making.
This meme isn't going anywhere. As long as there are animatronics and people overreacting to them, Markiplier’s face will be there to greet us. It’s a legacy built on a mistake, and honestly, that’s the most "internet" thing possible.
The next time you see something slightly confusing, don't just type it. Send the gif. Let Markiplier do the screaming for you.
Make sure your gif source is reputable to avoid malware—stick to the major platforms like Giphy or Tenor. If you're making your own, use a high-quality source from the original 1080p video upload to ensure the facial expressions are clear. Clearer expressions mean better comedic timing.
Check the file size before uploading to platforms like Discord; sometimes the high-def versions can be too large for non-Nitro users, so having a compressed version on hand is a smart move.
That’s basically the long and short of it. It’s a weird, loud, confusing piece of the web, and it’s perfect just the way it is.