Cross posted from my Modern Cryptozoology blog.
In June 2025, video blog shorts have been materializing daily featuring cryptids rendered with amazing realism. They are meant to be humorous, with the cryptids pointing the video cam at themselves and their friends, making jokes, and showing the viewer what it’s like to be them being their best selves. They talk, sing, demonstrate life skills, discover cool things, and even interact with people. These vids can be quite entertaining. However, the novelty is already wearing off as there are so many flooding the platforms with varying quality. Let’s look at a few.
Bigfoot
The first channel that kicked it off was https://www.tiktok.com/@bigfootvlogs. The first video was on May 28, 2025. And the scene exploded over the following weeks. There are so many Bigfoot vlogs and re-posters now that I can’t untangle who is doing what. Bigfoot is usually rendered as a chestnut or dark brown, husky creature, sometimes more muscular than Bigfoot is usually portrayed, with a dark gorilla-like face. Sometimes, however, he resembles a giant orangutan. Because this is an AI generated Bigfoot, this version is collectively what the culture says it looks like.
He carries a selfie stick so you get the personal and steady view. In some, he has a wolf dog named Lobo. Bigfoot often finds drugs, and the punch line is that he always uses them. Most of these aren’t very funny, though they have their moments. In some longer videos, Bigfoot’s look differs from clip to clip, even having an entirely different voice or accent, which is sloppy and annoying. Also, yes, there is a female Bigfoot blog. Many of these videos are rather PG-13 in ratings, but kids are certainly watching them.
Yeti
So far, the individual Yeti vlogs or those along with Bigfoot are not very good. The Yeti is depicted as white-furred with a dark face, which is a very pop culturally derived version. The realism is less convincing and these are just not well written so far. Sometimes, the face might be pink or the head shape different across the same video. Often appearing with Bigfoot, Yeti has not found his influencer niche yet.
Yowie
This one is bloody hilarious. The key is that the Yowies have personality and use Australian slang. (Remember how much we loved Crocodile Dundee and Steve Irwin? Same fun vibe.)There are two top Yowie creators: @Big_Yowie is rendered as a dark brown Bigfoot relation, and Kev the Yowie is more orangutan-like. I subscribe to big_yowie as the realism on this channel is superb. He likes to drive (badly), and blow things up (real good) – sometimes in combination, such as when driving off a cliff. One of the best bits is when he teaches you how to swim, and fist fight a shark. Check it out on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Kev is a bit more salty in language, not as naturally funny, but your mileage may vary.
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Mothman
There are a few Mothman vlogs out there as well. This has potential, but isn’t quite there yet. Mothman tends to comment on the same things in the woods as Bigfoot. This Mothman vlog comments on the fact that the creature looks different in each clip, a useful point. The truth is that Mothman is not as well-defined as Bigfoot, so the face, physique and wing descriptions can be more, uh, fuzzy.
Flood of AI creature vlogs
According to this June 2025 article, the explosion in these types of creative projects are due to the availability of Google’s video generator Veo 3 that has more realistic results. To make a fun depiction, you no longer need a costume and makeup! In fact, you simply put a description in a prompt. The voices and movements sync up. All you need to make a video of your own is skill with the software, the funds for the digital tools, and some writing talent to generate a distinct personality for your cryptid.
This source notes that the Bigfoot vlogs meme has really caught on, generating consistent engagement and sharing. Other videos are surfacing to teach you how to do it yourself.
It’s certain that other cryptid vlogs will follow. I see some with Rougarou, Nessie, werewolf, Jersey Devil, chupacabra, and skinwalker. The wendigo makes an appearance in one of the Yeti vlogs. These are mostly pretty awful, but if the trend continues, you’ll see them improve and proliferate.
The Danger of AI video
There is little to fret about from the serious cryptid hunter; these are clearly made for fun and may become profitable as well. Most viewers won’t readily understand how they were made, but will enjoy them for entertainment. However, the danger of AI is obvious when it’s used to create with the intent to deliberately fool people. Therefore, no video or image can now be reasonably considered as evidence for a cryptid. By default, if the visual is clear, we should assume it is hoaxed, manipulated, or created outright, as that is so simple to do. The ubiquity of AI means that those aiming to get useful evidence of a cryptid animal will have to up their game as well.
For more on AI cryptids, check out Pop Cryptid Spectator 11, and 15, and Chaneque video unmasked
I've noticed the proliferation of these recently as well and frankly I don't find them very amusing. There is so much out there all vying for your time and attention and for me there are much more interesting things to peruse. Way back before the advent of AI, cryptozoology was fun. It was entertaining to speculate on fuzzy, distant photos where it could be almost anything and debate it's merits. Now almost anything you see is suspected to be manufactured with the main purpose of getting clicks. I miss the old days of cryptozoology but they are gone and never to return. Technology has signed it's death knell.