스핔이 / 스삐끼

Spi-kee (as in "spi" from "spin" and "kee" from "key")

The 'Speaky' meme began to gain significant attention among Japanese fans in October 2025, after a Japanese user rediscovered the video "Uwaaang! Don't press Spiky!!!" which was uploaded to YouTube on July 10, 2025. Subsequently, secondary creations exploded starting in November 2025, and by January 2026, it had garnered immense popularity, surpassing 4 million views. From 2026 onwards, it spread further through Instagram Reels both domestically and internationally. The meme was even re-imported by the game developer, who officially introduced it into the game as a pet named 'Petit Speaky' in late December 2025.

'Speaky' is a fan-created meme character derived from 'Spiky', a character from the mobile game 'Tricolore Revive'. In Korean, it is referred to as '스핔이' or '스삐끼', and in Japan, it is sometimes written as 'ｽﾋﾟｷ' using half-width katakana. This meme is treated as a separate 'grotesque creature' distinct from the original Spiky. It is primarily based on Spiky's OTL pose illustration from the main story or its unique smiling face when hit in the 'Mureok Mureok Power Tower' event. 'Speaky' is characterized by its deep affection for pumpkins and the color orange, and is often depicted as having an 'infectious' quality, transforming other characters into 'Speaky' versions of themselves.

It is primarily consumed by the fandom of the game 'Tricolore Revive' and other subculture game communities, as well as young people in their late teens to early 30s who are familiar with ACG (Animation, Comics, Games) culture. The meme spread through online communities such as YouTube, Pixiv, X (formerly Twitter), DC Inside, and ArcaLive, and gained wider internet recognition through Instagram Reels.

The 'Speaky' meme is used by parodying various characters with Speaky's distinctive expressions or poses. It typically combines the original character's features with Speaky's bizarre and addictive elements. For example, numerous characters such as Bright Noa from the Gundam series, Misono Mika from Blue Archive, and Hakurei Reimu from the Touhou Project have been 'Speaky-fied' in fan art and short videos.

Additionally, short, repetitive voice lines like "Speaky!", "Likey~ Likey~", and "Don't press Spiky!" are frequently incorporated into short animations or MAD videos.

Due to its peculiar and somewhat exaggerated expressions, the 'Speaky' meme might be perceived as unsettling or unpleasant by those unfamiliar with its context. There is also a potential for misinterpretation as derogatory, especially when it is depicted as a 'grotesque creature' or a 'zombie virus'. Furthermore, the repetitive use of its audio can be perceived as noise in certain situations. As it is primarily a meme enjoyed within its fandom, it is advisable to refrain from using it in formal settings or when communicating with people who are not familiar with memes.