'Pencilslop' Becomes New Slang Term To Mock Artists Among Pro-AI Art Groups

About

Pencil Slop or Pencilslop is a slop slang variant and ragebait term used to insult artists who do not use artificial intelligence for their artwork. The term was popularized in December 2025, primarily on TikTok by user @blue_unit, as a response to criticism towards AI artists, meant to enrage artists who use more traditional means to create their artwork.

It is sometimes used alongside the term "digislop" and "digishit," a similar term used to disparage digital artwork. In some memes, it is suggested that AI art is more environmentally friendly than traditional art, which requires trees to be cut down to make pencils. The use of the term is comparable to 2024's Break the Pencil movement.

Origin

On March 29th, 2025, X user @Ill1i_n0st7xzr posted an AI-generated image of Japanese animator and filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki throwing a pencil, in response to a traditionally created piece of art depicting the same thing, writing, "mine has more soul than your pencilslop," garnering around seven likes in nine months. This is the earliest known use of the term, although it may not be the true origin.

Spread

The slang term was further popularized in December 2025 when TikTokers began using it as a form of ragebait.

On December 6th, 2025, TikToker @blue_unit posted a video consisting of AI-generated videos over the caption, "AI art > pencilslop and digislop," garnering over 230,000 views in two weeks.

@blue_unit No debate #aiart #aiartist #awareness #breakthepencil #foryoupage ♬ original sound – lyrics4u

On December 16th, X user @stupidtechtakes reposted another video by @blue_unit about pencilslop, writing, "smart tech take," garnering over 22,000 likes in three days. Later that day, X user @Oshachutes quoted the post, writing, "Y’all would fall for mice traps," suggesting the video is obvious ragebait, garnering over 120,000 likes in the same span of time.

Y’all would fall for mice traps https://t.co/X152bRfXxC

— Oshawott 🇵🇭 | #NewYorkForever (@Oshachutes) December 16, 2025

On December 17th, 2025, TikToker @luna_perhaps posted a video discussing the term "pencilslop," hypothesizing that it is an early sign of a shift towards more acceptance of AI art, garnering over 75,000 views in two days.

@luna_perhaps #aislop #aiart ♬ Everything In Its Right Place – SAD

That day, TikToker @jamynon posted a similar style of video discussing the term and sharing examples of memes about pencilslop, garnering over 65,000 views in two days.

@jamynon ai bros are already annoying enough but a very close second is the diehard anti-ai people that will try to publicly execute you even thinking about ai #ragebait #generativeai #artificialintelligence #rant ♬ sonido original – Joacuhz

Various Examples

@friggle.frackle #funny #fypage #fypシ #viralvideo #ragebait ♬ original sound – Friggle Frackle @blue_unit #aiart #aiartist #ai #breakthepencil #maturetok ♬ original sound – melody @tiktok_pill

♬ Sweden (From "Minecraft") [For Piano Solo] – daigoro789

@blue_unit trad art is like writing books without a printing press #aiartist #aiart #art #fyp #breakthepencil ♬ Orb of dreamers – ꧁ 𝐴𝑟𝑡𝑁𝑜𝑢𝑣𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑠 ❦ ꧂

Search Interest

External References