About
Dr. Livesey (rus. Доктор Ливси) is a character from the 1988 soviet animated film Treasure Island based on a novel of the same name. In 2021, during the virality of Treasure Island memes among Russian-speaking internet users, Dr. Livesey achieved recognition as a Chad character and became a prominent subject of memes. In August 2022, the character achieved global recognition with the Dr. Livesey Walk meme format.
Origin
In 1988, Kyiv-based Soviet film studio Kievnauchfilm released Treasure Island (rus. Остров Сокровищ), a two-part animated adaptation of the 1883 novel of the same name by Robert Louis Stevenson.[1] In the film, Dr. Livesey (rus. Доктор Ливси), a character from the original novel, is interpreted as a boundlessly optimistic, enthusiastic, quick-to-laugh physician who also excels at strategizing and combat (supercut video shown below). The character is voiced by Yevgeny Papernyy.
A dossier card for the character reads:
Doctor Livesey
A very kind and merry person.
Social personality type.
Not married.
Spread
In Russia
On December 10th, 2018, VK[2] meme page Treasure Island Memes For Every Occasion (rus. МеМы По ОсТрОвУ сОкРоВиЩ нА кАжДыЙ дЕнЬ) was launched, posting memes based on Treasure Island and referencing it. The page accumulated over 76,000 followers and is considered the main driver behind the major popularity of Treasure Island memes among Russian-speaking users in 2020.[3] In the group, Dr. Livesey achieved particular popularity among the cartoon’s cast of characters, appearing in multiple meme formats and his dialogue inspiring references.
On December 11th, 2018, the earliest found meme featuring the character, a Team Fortress 2 meme distributing the characters as TF2 mercenaries, was posted in the group,[4] gaining over 80 likes (shown below, left). In the following years, multiple viral memes featuring the character were posted in the group; for example, on June 5th, 2022, VK[5] user Lyona Maev posted a collection of Livesey Laughing memes that gained over 860 likes in two years (one meme shown below, center). On May 6th, 2021, a Think Mark redraw referencing a scene with the character was posted in the group,[6] gaining over 2,100 likes and 550 shares in one year (shown below, right).
In August 2021, Creepy Dr. Livesey memes, a remake of Traumatized Mr. Incredible meme format, gained major popularity in the group, spreading to Twitter in the following months. On July 29th, 2021, the page posted[7] the first such meme that gained over 1,900 likes in one year (shown below, left; more examples shown below, center and right).
«People who type 
/ People who type (:»
Global Spread
Dr. Livesey Walk
On July 2nd, 2022, TikTok[8] user weirdyunus posted a fancam of Dr. Livesey set to the phonk song «Why Not» by Ghostface Playa that gained over 154,000 views and 8,900 likes in one month (shown below, left).
On July 23rd, TikTok[9] user @pec_vr posted an object-labeling meme based on weirdyunus’ edit that received over 320,000 views and 33,000 likes in three weeks (shown below, center). On July 25th, @pec_vr uploaded[10] a crop of weirdyunus’ fancam that received over 242,000 views and 17,100 likes in two weeks.
In late July 2022, @pec_vr’s crop gained popularity as source material for memes. For example, on July 28th, TIkTok[11] user @kingleojk posted an object-labeling meme that received over 468,000 views and 59,000 likes in two weeks (shown below, right).
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7115901127719144706
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7123769375823334702
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7125356958412082478
The words «rum» and «death» should mean the same thing to you.
On August 2nd, Twitter[12] user @PeteyHatesYou reuploaded the fancam, with the tweet gaining over 62,000 views, 1,600 retweets and 6,700 likes in two weeks (seen below). Also that day, YouTube[19] user rpowNiko posted a looped, 39-second long version of the edit that received over 350,000 views in two weeks.
This video is fucking mesmerizing pic.twitter.com/OXZApiLVY8
— Pe̵t̷e̵y̶ (@PeteyHatesYou) August 3, 2022
On August 7th, 2022, Twitter[13] user @JackdawJackal reposted the loop, writing, «This is how I NEED to walk EVERYWHERE.» The tweet gained over 268,000 views, 5,100 retweets and 27,200 likes in two days (shown below).
This is how I NEED to walk EVERYWHERE pic.twitter.com/8luXImEMyk
— JayNico the Immovable (@JackdawJackal) August 7, 2022
In the following days, the video achieved popularity on Twitter as source material for captions[14] and as animation reference,[15] with users recognizing Dr. Livesey as a Chad or Sigma character.[16]
Dr. Livesey Meme Formats
The Words «Rum» and «Death» Should Mean the Same Thing to You
During his first scene in the film, Dr. Livesey examines the character Billy Bones, an alcoholic, telling him that he should quit drinking if he wishes to continue living. The phrase «the words «rum» and «death» should mean the same thing to you» became a subject of references in memes, and is the character’s single best-known quote (examples shown below).
Dr. Livesey Laugh
In the animated film, Dr. Livesey is an optimist who is quick to laugh independent of the circumstances. Dr. Livesey’s laugh has been a popular subject of references in memes (examples shown below).
Creepy Dr. Livesey
Creepy Dr. Livesey refers to memes that imagine Dr. Livesey as a terrifying entity. The format gained initial popularity in VK group Treasure Island Memes for Every Occasion in Summer 2021. Creepy Dr. Livesey memes usually utilized an edited image of Livesey taken from his dossier card that appears in the film. For example, on May 23rd, 2021, VK[17] user Rikkardo Kharatov posted a Five Nights at Freddy’s meme that gained over 1,900 likes and 250 shares in one year (shown below, left). On June 8th, 2021, VK[18] user Veles Polyanovskyy posted a meme that received over 2,300 reactions and 600 shares (shown below, right).
In August 2021, a comparison format and a remake of Traumatized Mr. Incredible format gained popularity in the community, with memes later spreading to Twitter (examples shown below).
Various Examples
Me (gods drunkest driver) logging off of VRC to practice driving drunk from a bar in real life. pic.twitter.com/P41Wz7jr22
— Yogurt Cap (@cap_yogurt)
August 10, 2022
Me and my homies on our way to draw large women without shame pic.twitter.com/sgAZfqgrgD
— 📺【ＴｅｌｌｙＢｏｔ】📺 (@GMCC1233) August 11, 2022
Search Interest
External References
Treasure Island, 1988 / dir. David Cherkassky / Kievnauchfilm
Soviet children enjoyed Gigachad energy long before Gigachad even appeared.
“If you do not stop drinking, you will die very soon. The word ‘rum’ and the word ‘death’ mean the same thing to you.” These are the words Dr. Livesey introduced himself with in the Soviet cartoon ‘Treasure Island’, an adaptation of Robert Stevenson’s famous novel.
‘Treasure Island’ was popular in the Soviet Union as a book as well as a cartoon, broadcasted innumerable times on TV and created by Kievnauchfilm (‘Kiev Educational Movies’ studio) in 1988.
Treasure Island, 1988 / dir. David Cherkassky / Kievnauchfilm
Doctor Livesey, who is one of the main characters in the book, is presented in the cartoon as being a truly jovial guy. Always laughing (even when examining his patients) with a broad white-toothed grin, he brings his enemies down with a playful ease – the Doctor is proficient in fencing and is a good shooter. Dapper and sporting a white wig at all times (because he is not only a doctor, but also a magistrate of his local community), Dr. Livesey plays a pivotal role in getting the treasure and helping Jim, the protagonist, flee from the vengeful pirates.
Treasure Island, 1988 / dir. David Cherkassky / Kievnauchfilm
The Soviet cartoon’s Doctor Livesey gained a new popularity when the Internet discovered him as a true “Gigachad”. In July 2022, a short clip from the cartoon, set to a phonk song ‘Why Not’ by Ghostface Playa, called «I adore him)))» went viral as the ‘Dr. Livesey walk’. The video was posted by a TikToker ‘weirdyunus’ and got over 4.5 million views on TikTok alone.
In the clip, Jim Hawkins, Doctor Livesey and Squire Trelawney are walking into the ‘Admiral Benbow’ inn, moving with a certain swagger. Doctor Livesey’s overly confident gait and a flashing smile immediately reveal his Gigachad energy and hundreds of new memes were born.
Dr. Livesey’s energetic image also turned out to be very appropriate in the context of ‘sygma male’ memes. As Aroged.com put it, the sygma Doctor Livesey “moves away from a thoughtful loner and becomes energetic, smiling, courageous and self-confident”. As a twitter user wrote, “This meme needs to go viral to promote courageous sigma guys, who aren’t afraid to take action.”
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Слово ром и слово смерть..для вас означает одно и тоже…
Корабль с черным флагом пришел в сонную бухту
Трюмы ломилось…Было невтерпеж..
Шла дележка на заброшенном пляже….
И вдруг кто-то схватился за нож
Флибустьеру не страшно сложить голову в битве
Но если в таверне вдруг закончится ром
Ему будет плохо и по детски обидно
Он будет ходит с грустным лицом
15 человек на сундук мертвеца
Не так уж и много,но все же не мало
Пей и дьявол доведет до конца
Доведет до конца и проводит к началу
15 человек на сундук мертвеца
Там где ваше большое вселенское горе
Я к тебе не вернусь никогда
Я ушел за удачей в Карибское море!
Корабль с черным флагом покинул сонную бухту
Кто-то отправился шагать по доске
Все поделили до последней монеты
Тела остались лежать на песке
А флибустьеру не страшно сложить голову в битве
Но если в таверне вдруг закончится ром
Ему будет пллохо и по детски обидно
Он будет ходит с грустным лицом
15 человек на сундук мертвеца
Не так уж и много,но все же не мало
Пей и дьявол доведет до конца
Доведет до конца и проводит к началу
15 человек на сундук мертвеца
Там где ваше большое вселенское горе
Я к тебе не вернусь никогда
Я ушел за удачей в Карибское море!
The word rum and the word death .. for you means the same thing …
A ship with a black flag came into the sleepy bay
The holds were breaking … It was unbearable ..
There was a division on an abandoned beach ….
And suddenly someone grabbed the knife
Filibuster is not afraid to lay down his head in battle
But if the tavern suddenly ends rum
He will be ill and childishly hurt
He will walk with a sad face
15 people per dead man’s chest
Not so much, but still not a little
Drink and the devil will bring to the end
Will lead to the end and leads to the beginning
15 people per dead man’s chest
Where is your great universal grief
I will never come back to you again
I went for good luck in the Caribbean!
A ship with a black flag left the sleepy bay
Someone went to tread on the board
All divided up to the last coin
The bodies remained lying on the sand
A filibuster is not afraid to lay down his head in battle
But if the tavern suddenly ends rum
He will ploho and childishly hurt
He will walk with a sad face
15 people per dead man’s chest
Not so much, but still not a little
Drink and the devil will bring to the end
Will lead to the end and leads to the beginning
15 people per dead man’s chest
Where is your great universal grief
I will never come back to you again
I went for good luck in the Caribbean!
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the 1988 film adapatation. For the character’s original version, see Dr. Livesey.
| Dr. Livesey | |
|---|---|
| Treasure Island character | |
 |
|
| First appearance |
|
| Created by | Robert Louis Stevenson |
| Based on | Dr. Livesey |
| Adapted by | David Cherkassky |
| Voiced by | Evgeniy Papernyy [ru] (Russian) Steve Bulen (English)[better source needed] |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Doctor |
| Fighting style | Swordfighting and Gunfighting |
| Weapon | Rapier and Flintlock |
| Nationality |  British |
Doctor Livesey (Russian: Доктор Ливси) is a side-character from the 1988 Soviet film adaptation Treasure Island based on the novel character of the same name. He is voiced by Evgeniy Papernyy [ru] in Russian[1] and Steve Bulen in the English dub. His primarily role throughout the film is diagnosing the other character’s health conditions as well as assisting Jim Hawkins and Squire Trelawney in their hunt for Captain Flint’s Treasure. Livesey is primarily recognized for his smile, optimism and infectious laugh which became the subject of an internet meme in 2020s, especially in 2022.
Characteristics and creation[edit]
In the film, his character card provides a brief description of the character, stating: “Dr. Livesey is a very good and cheerful person. The character is sociable. Not married».[2][3]
According to Russia Beyond, Dr. Livesey is presented in the cartoon as a «really funny guy» as he’s always shown to laugh, even while examining his patients with a wide grin. He also defeats his opponents with playful ease as Livesey is capable of sword-fighting and shooting with a flintlock. Elegant and always dressed in a white wig, Dr. Livesey plays a key role in obtaining Captain Flint’s Treasure and helps Jim Hawkins escape from the vengeful pirates led by Long John Silver.[4]
In an interview, the Russian voice actor for Livesey, Evgeniy Papernyy [ru], stated that his friend, playwright Leonid Slutsky, served as the prototype for the character’s voice. Papernyy parodied Slutsky’s voice and the animator David Cherkassky approved of Papernyy’s direction of Livesey’s voice.[5] In comparison with his novel counterpart, he is more serious and cautious, smokes a pipe and isn’t an advocate for a healthy lifestyle.[6][7]
Character biography[edit]
The Doctor first appears at the Admiral Benbow Inn. There, he assists the unconscious Billy Bones who had recently suffered a stroke. Prior to this, Bones already trusted the doctor so he recommended that Jim Hawkins «jump to the doctor» in an emergency. Shortly after arrival, Livesey cheerfully warns Bones to quit his addiction to rum or else he would meet his fate.
Upon arriving at Squire Trelawney’s mansion, Jim informs the doctor and Trelawney about the treasure map that formerly belonged to Captain Flint. Having received the map, Livesey and Trelawny decide to start recruiting a team to organize an expedition to the island.
Later, when Jim finds out about the betrayal of the crew of the Hispaniola led by Long John Silver, he tells his crew about Silver’s plan of rebellion. Livesey and the others manage, despite artillery fire, to leave the ship guarded by pirates and move to the island. Jim and his crew occupy the fort and move to the defense of the position. During the absence of Jim, who left to search for the treasure within the island, Livesey, Trelawney and Captain Smollett steal a rowboat to take refuge at an abandoned fortress where they would win in a shootout against Silver’s pirates after Trelawney tricks them to fall off a cliff.
After Jim gets captured by Silver after sneaking aboard his ship, Silver reveals that Livesey and Ben Gunn had already given the map for the treasure, unaware that the two had already found the treasure earlier that day. Later, when the pirates go looking for treasure in accordance to the map, Livesey sets up a trap with the rest of Jim’s crew and drives the surviving pirates to drop dead with a demonstration of the dangers of smoking. After loading the treasure on the ship, he returns to England with the others.
Reception[edit]
Livesey’s Russian voice actor, Evgeniy Papernyy [ru], spoke about the popularity of Dr. Livesey:
Dr. Livesey is such a grin of 33 teeth and generally an optimist, such a male-male. He was remarkable for the brightness of the character that [animator] Cherkassky created . <…> Thank God that this is happening. This image has become a meme, because it carries such a supply of major, energy and optimism that, God forbid, if it becomes a symbol of a male character.[5]
Thanks to his charming smile, optimism and infectious laughter, Dr. Livesey has been often seen as a model of masculinity[8][9][10] and even a sex symbol in the West.[11] Russia Beyond gave Dr. Livesey the nickname of the «Gigachad of the Soviet era». According to Aroged.com, Dr. Livesey is «moving from being a brooding loner to becoming energetic, smiling, bold and self-confident».[7]
Science fiction author Sergei Lukyanenko who was a fan of Dr. Livesey, explained the popularity of the character as follows:
Dr. Livesey is a very colorful character who is asking for memes, these or those pictures with all his lines. Just a very successful adaptation from the book, turning him into a comedy, of course, completely out of line with the original, but a very funny, funny character. Further, at some point, this image turns out to be in demand, corresponding to the mood of people and their spirit. He begins to live a new life. It happens sometimes.[6]
Popularity and internet memes[edit]
The 1988 film adaptation of Dr. Livesey gained particular popularity. General audiences found the character to be particularly memorable with his characteristics throughout the entire cartoon with his smiles and contagious laughs.[4][5] In Russia, the popularity of the character was promoted in VKontakte «Memes on Treasure Island for every day».[12] The character also became a popular internet meme throughout the 2020s in various incarnations although the earliest examples can date back all the way to 2018.[3][13]
Dr. Livesey’s Laughter (2020)[edit]
In 2020, a demotivational poster appeared with the image of Dr. Livesey with the caption «Ahahahahah» began spreading across the Runet.[14] The onomatopoeia of the character’s powerful laugh became an internet meme and a reference to the Soviet adaptation of Treasure Island.[15]
The Light and Dark Sides of Dr. Livesey (2021)[edit]
A new meme involving Dr. Livesey displayed a darkened portrait of his character card from the film that made its debut in 2021.[7] Initially, this variant wasn’t as popular since it only gained notability in meme sites.[16]
At the end of July 2021, a two-paneled variant that functioned similarly to the Mr. Incredible Becomes Uncanny meme that debuted a few months prior grew exponentially in mid-September in sites such as MDK. Over time, the «Dark Livesey» meme became its standalone meme with some variants including their own lore and stories.[16][17] Around this time, videos of the meme were primarily distributed through TikTok and VKontakte.[17] Users have nicknamed this variant of Livesey as «It»,[6] the organizer of the «Bristol Massacre» and other similar names.[16]
Dr. Livesey Phonk Walk (2022)[edit]
In July 2022, a short excerpt from the film along the song “Why Not” by the Russian phonk musician Ghostface Playa was published on TikTok which was titled “Doctor Livesey is coming” which subsequently went viral.[18] The video was posted by TikTok user weirdyunus and has received over 4.5 million views on the site.[4] In the clip, Dr. Livesey proclaims the line «The word ‘rum’ and the word ‘death’ mean the same thing to you.»[8] It then transitions to Jim Hawkins, Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney entering the Spyglass Inn, moving with a certain pathos.[19] The clip became a template for the meme «Dr. Livesey Phonk Walk».[6] After gaining enough popularity on TikTok, the meme gained a massive spike of Google searches on August 14, 2022.[3] Dr. Livesey’s overtly confident walk and dazzling smile have spawned hundreds of new memes.[4] Parodies of the meme also began using characters from different intellectual properties such as Castlevania, Kirby and Doom.[20][19][13][10] The new meme with Livesey gained enough notability to be reported on the television network REN TV.[10]
Livesey’s strong physique, self-confidence and bold walk gave frequent comparisons to another meme character of the year known as the Gigachad [ru].[8] With the energetic and cheerful nature of Dr. Livesey, some people saw an improved version of the sigma male which was someone that didn’t need the approval of others.[4][8][21]
References[edit]
- ^ «Evgeniy Papernyy – Rotten Tomatoes». Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ «Доктор Ливси. Очень, очень хороший, добрый и…: Остров сокровищ — цитата из мультфильма». citaty.info (in Russian). Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ a b c «Who is Dr. Livesey? Walk, Memes, Meaning, Explanation, Definition». Bedeutung Online. 6 October 2022. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e «Who is Chad Doctor Livesey of Russian memes?». Russia Beyond. August 26, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c ««Образ стал мемом»: Паперный раскрыл секрет популярности доктора Ливси». REN TV (in Russian). December 4, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ a b c d ««Он прям напрашивается на мемы»: писатель Лукьяненко объяснил, почему доктор Ливси стал знаменитостью на Западе». Инфо24.ru (in Russian). September 7, 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ a b c «Как позитивный доктор Ливси из мультфильма «Остров сокровищ» стал мрачным мемом». БигПикча (in Russian). September 7, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Gimatdinova, Renata (August 12, 2022). «Иностранцы влюбились в советского доктора Ливси. Разглядели в герое «Острова сокровищ» Гигачада». Medialeaks (in Russian).
- ^ «Доктор Ливси из «Острова сокровищ» резко стал популярным во всем мире». REN TV (in Russian). August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c «From the Big Screen to an Online Meme». Russian Life. September 2, 2022.
- ^ «Новый супергерой: доктор Ливси из «Острова сокровищ» стал мемом на Западе». 5TV. August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
- ^ «Доктор Ливси шагает под фонк — это новый мем, захвативший западный интернет». The Flow (in Russian). August 19, 2022.
- ^ a b Briggs, Alex Daud (21 September 2022). «Dr. Livesey Meme Walk Struts All Over The Internet». GamerBraves. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Kuzmin, Zhenya (July 21, 2020). ««Остров сокровищ» и мемы: как культовый советский мультфильм обрёл вторую жизнь в рунете». TJournal. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022.
- ^ Gimatdinova, Renata (December 2, 2021). «Как фигурка доктора Ливси из «Острова сокровищ» стала бестселлером. За героем охотятся любители мемов». Medialeaks.
- ^ a b c Kuzmin, Zhenya (October 1, 2021). «Мем: Светлая и тёмная сторона доктора Ливси из «Острова сокровищ»«. TJournal (in Russian). Archived from the original on October 1, 2021.
- ^ a b Molchanova, Viktoriya (September 14, 2021). «Доктор Ливси сбежал из «Острова Сокровищ» и ворвался в мемы. В них его прижало суровой реальностью». Medialeaks (in Russian).
- ^ Spoyk (August 21, 2022). «Как доктор Ливси из «Острова сокровищ» стал популярным зарубежным мемом». Shazoo (in Russian). Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- ^ a b Рената Гиматдинова (August 31, 2022). «Доктор Ливси из Острова сокровищ попал в видео-мемы. Покоряет вселенные походкой». Medialeaks (in Russian). Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ Krasyuk, Anna (September 2, 2022). «S.T.A.L.K.E.R. и Heroes III: как доктор Ливси оказался в других вселенных». Afisha (in Russian). Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ Novozhilova, Daria (October 3, 2022). «Тиктокер косплеит Доктора Ливси, имитируя брутальную походку героя». Medialeaks (in Russian). Retrieved October 27, 2022.