# Cyriak

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British musical artist

This article is about British artist Cyriak Harris. For other people named Cyriak, see [Cyriacus (name)](/source/Cyriacus_(name)).

Cyriak Cyriak in 2010 Born Cyriak Harris (1974-09-19) September 19, 1974 (age 51) Brighton, England Other names Cyriak Harris[1] Mutated Monty[2] Mouldy Occupations Animator composer Years active 2004–present YouTube information Channel cyriak Years active 2006–present Genres animation music surrealism Subscribers 2.91 million (combined) Views 852 million (combined) Musical career Genres Electronic Label None Musical artist Last updated: 16 January 2025 Website cyriak.co.uk

**Cyriak Harris** (born September 19, 1974), known [mononymously](/source/Mononymous) as **Cyriak** ([/ˈsɪriæk/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English)),[3] his [B3ta](/source/B3ta) username **Mutated Monty**, and **Mouldy** in the [Doom](/source/Doom_(1993_video_game)) community, is an English freelance animator, artist, composer, and author from [Brighton](/source/Brighton). He is known for his [surreal](/source/Surrealism) and bizarre short web animations with the frequent use of the [Droste effect](/source/Droste_effect).[1]

## Animations

Cyriak has been a regular contributor to the British website [B3ta](/source/B3ta) since 2004.[4] His YouTube channel was launched in March 2006.

Cyriak's YouTube account features a compilation of his animations, which have been popular throughout the [blogosphere](/source/Blogosphere) and noted by *[Wired](/source/Wired_(magazine))'s* Eliot Van Buskirk.[5] Most of his videos are made with [Adobe After Effects](/source/Adobe_After_Effects) and [FL Studio](/source/FL_Studio).[6] Cyriak's animation "MOO" has featured on the front page of *Wired*. His 2009 video "poo pants" features an animated sample of broadcaster [Alan Titchmarsh](/source/Alan_Titchmarsh) singing a repeated refrain (a pitch-shifted excerpt from children's music artist Ann Austin's "The Poo Song") from the bowls of a series of toilets, some of which fly through space.

As a freelance animator, he has been commissioned by the [video sharing website](/source/User-generated_TV) [Sumo TV](/source/Sumo_TV), and a music video for [Grand Popo Football Club](/source/Grand_Popo_Football_Club), among others.[7]

Cyriak made the "Spaceology" animation in the third episode of the fourth season of the TV series *[The IT Crowd](/source/The_IT_Crowd)* and the "Goth to Boss" animation in the sixth episode.[8][9] In 2015 he created the opening credits for the [Netflix](/source/Netflix) series *[W/ Bob & David](/source/W%2F_Bob_%26_David)*.[10]

Cyriak has directed a number of music videos, including videos for [Bonobo](/source/Bonobo_(musician))'s "Cirrus"[11] and [Bloc Party](/source/Bloc_Party)'s "Ratchet" in 2013,[12] [Flying Lotus](/source/Flying_Lotus)'s "Putty Boy Strut" in 2014,[13] [Run the Jewels](/source/Run_the_Jewels)’s "Meowpurrdy" in 2016, and [Sparks'](/source/Sparks_(band)) "The Existential Threat" in 2020.[14] His videos "Baaa" and "meow mix" have amassed more than 100 million views. Other popular uploads on his channel include "Welcome to Kitty City," "Cycles," and "7 billion."

## Music and other activities

Long before Harris started creating animations, he composed a considerable amount of surreal music.[15]

On 19 August 2008, Harris uploaded a music video of the song "My Territory" by [Grand Popo Football Club](/source/Grand_Popo_Football_Club). It features a landscape that has been made entirely out of a woman's body, and is a metaphor for consumerism and the treatment of the female body.[16] On 9 September 2009, British illusionist [Derren Brown](/source/Derren_Brown), live on UK television, claimed to predict the [National Lottery numbers](/source/National_Lottery_(United_Kingdom)). Cyriak uploaded a possible explanation, to his YouTube channel, which gained half a million views within a week and attention from national press.[17] In September 2010 he appeared at "Flash on the Beach" in Brighton and in September 2014 appeared at "Reasons to be Creative", also in Brighton.[18]

In December 2013, he released the [mod](/source/Video_game_modding) "Going Down" for the 1994 [first-person shooter](/source/First-person_shooter) *[Doom II](/source/Doom_II).*[19][20]

In March 2018, he started working on a partly [crowd-funded](/source/Crowdfunding) book *Horse Destroys the Universe*.[21][22] The book was published in September 2019. It is about scientists who experiment on a horse named Buttercup, causing it to become a super-intelligence. The escalating conflict between one of the scientists and Buttercup eventually causes the destruction of the universe.

On 8 February 2020, Cyriak showcased his music for the first time, as he performed as a [disc jockey](/source/Disc_jockey) at the [Zanzibar Club](/source/The_Zanzibar) in [Liverpool](/source/Liverpool).[23][24]

In August 2022, he released another *[Doom II](/source/Doom_II)* mod titled "Overboard".[25]

## Awards and recognition

On 3 December 2009, Cyriak was announced as the winner of the 2009 E Stings competition, run by television channel [E4](/source/E4_(TV_channel)), with £5,000 for his video *Recursive Culture*.[26]

In 2006, he also received a special mention in the results of a [Photoshop contest](/source/Photoshop_contest) run by the technology series *[Click](/source/Click_(TV_programme))*.[27]

In 2012 and 2014, he was awarded with two [Cacowards](/source/Cacowards), an annual online awards ceremony which honours the year's most prominent [modifications](/source/Doom_modding) of *[Doom](/source/Doom_(1993_video_game))*, being recognized for his outstanding level design and sophisticated technical approach to achieving complex sequences and impressive comedic timing.[28][29][30]

In 2022, he was awarded with another Cacoward for his mod "Overboard", which was praised for its silliness and fast-paced gameplay.[31]

## McDonald's advertisement feud

In 2016, Cyriak accused fast food chain [McDonald's](/source/McDonald's) of plagiarizing his animated video "cows & cows & cows". The studio that animated the advertisement, [Buenos Aires](/source/Buenos_Aires)-based Juan Solo, openly admitted that they used Cyriak's work as "reference". After Cyriak's tweets about the theft went viral, the advert was pulled. The original video, featuring dancing cows, had received more than 67 million views.[32][33]

## Filmography

List of music videos directed, showing year released and artist[34] Year Song Artist 2007 "Beggin' (Pilooski Re-Edit)" Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 2008 "My Territory" Grand Popo Football Club 2010 "We Got More" Eskmo 2011 "True Loves (Cereal Spiller Remix)" Hooray for Earth 2012 "Yellow Bridges" El Ten Eleven "Putty Boy Strut" Flying Lotus 2013 "Cirrus" Bonobo "Ratchet" Bloc Party 2015 "Wind and Rains is Cold" Cardiacs 2015 "There's Good Cud" Cardiacs 2015 "Occupy" Gong 2016 "Meowpurrdy" Run the Jewels 2017 "UFOholic (Acid Abduction Mix)" Denki Groove 2019 "Like and Subscribe" Adam Buxton 2020 "The Existential Threat" Sparks 2022 "Betray" Light 2024 "Polkamania" ("Helena Polka" segment) "Weird Al" Yankovic 2025 "Dancing in the Middle" Adam Buxton

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bradshaw_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bradshaw_1-1) [Bradshaw, Peter](/source/Peter_Bradshaw) (31 March 2010). ["The surreal YouTube genius of Cyriak"](https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2010/mar/31/cyriak-youtube-online-animator). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 20 July 2010. growing cult following for his brilliant bursts of surrealism and drollery ... notably winning awards for his sting designs for E4, and for TV ads ... miniaturist genius

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["b3ta.com user mutated monty"](https://b3ta.com/users/profile.php?id=29846). *b3ta.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Cyriak - Name's Meaning of Cyriak"](http://www.name-doctor.com/name-cyriak-meaning-of-cyriak-28942.html). *name-doctor.com*. Retrieved 11 February 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-b3ta_4-0)** ["B3ta member profile"](http://www.b3ta.com/users/profile.php?id=29846). B3ta.com. Retrieved 9 December 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wired_5-0)** Van Buskirk, Eliot (20 October 2006). ["Friday Fun: Cyriak's Animation Mix"](http://blog.wired.com/music/2006/10/friday_fun_cyri.html). Wired.com. Retrieved 9 December 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Power Users List - Cyriak Harris (animator)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190721123005/https://www.image-line.com/documents/powerusers.php?entry_id=1322691369). [Image-Line](/source/Image-Line). Archived from [the original](http://www.image-line.com/documents/powerusers.php?entry_id=1322691369) on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["20 fantastic film and TV idents"](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/20-fantastic-film-and-tv-idents/). 27 January 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["IT Crowd – Spaceology"](http://cyriak.co.uk/animation/projects/it-crowd-spaceology/). *Cyriak*. Retrieved 5 February 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Holmes, Kevin (13 September 2010). ["Mind Melting Animation"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/mind-melting-animation/). *The Creators Project*. Retrieved 5 February 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Joe Berkowitz (24 November 2015). ["How Digital Artist Cyriak Gave "W/ Bob & David" The Trippiest Opening Credits Ever"](http://www.fastcocreate.com/3053922/how-digital-artist-cyriak-gave-w-bob-david-the-trippiest-opening-credits-ever). Fast Company. Retrieved 5 December 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["CYRIAK"](http://cyriak.co.uk/animation/). Retrieved 24 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-RatchetVideo_12-0)** ["Music video for Bloc Party's Ratchet: More crazy work from Cyriak » Lost At E Minor: For creative people"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170930084617/http://www.lostateminor.com/2013/07/02/music-video-for-bloc-partys-ratchet-more-crazy-work-from-cyriak/). Lost At E Minor. 2 July 2013. Archived from [the original](http://www.lostateminor.com/2013/07/02/music-video-for-bloc-partys-ratchet-more-crazy-work-from-cyriak/) on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Cyriak (director), Flying Lotus (composer) (25 June 2014). [*Putty Boy Strut*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1KOb4_XK84) (YouTube). [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/_1KOb4_XK84) from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Cyriak (director), Sparks (composer) (3 July 2020). [*The Existential Threat*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLxPIOxgkM0) (YouTube). [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/dLxPIOxgkM0) from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["INTERVIEW: CYRIAK HARRIS"](https://www.grafill.no/magasin/cyriak-harris). grafill.no. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/). *www.youtube.com*. Retrieved 25 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Amateur YouTube sleuth reveals Derren Brown's lottery numbers trick"](https://metro.co.uk/2009/09/16/amateur-youtube-sleuth-reveals-derren-browns-lottery-numbers-trick-410771/). 16 September 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Reasons.to 2019"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200129203847/https://reasons.to/2014/brighton/speakers/cyriak-harris). *Reasons to*. Archived from [the original](https://reasons.to/2014/brighton/speakers/cyriak-harris) on 29 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Hamilton, Andi (10 December 2018). ["The cult of Doom: the thriving mod scene behind id's classic"](https://www.pcgamer.com/the-cult-of-doom-the-thriving-mod-scene-behind-ids-classic/). *PC Gamer*. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Zak, Robert (10 December 2018). ["The 10 best Doom mods you should play on its 25th birthday"](https://www.techradar.com/news/the-10-best-doom-mods-you-should-play-on-its-25th-birthday). *TechRadar*. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Harris, Cyriak (August 2019). [*Horse Destroys the Universe*](https://unbound.com/books/horse-destroys-the-universe). Unbound. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781783527601](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781783527601) – via unbound.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Harris, Cyriak (22 August 2019). ["Horse Destroys the Universe"](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Horse-Destroys-Universe-Cyriak-Harris-ebook/dp/B07NRYZQBB). Unbound – via Amazon.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Chemtrail Party Mix: Cyriak, DJ Gurl Power, Bongo and Furness, Monad"](https://www.residentadvisor.net/events/1340859). *Residentadvisor*. Retrieved 3 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["CHEMTRAIL PARTY MIX: CYRIAK / DJ GURL POWER / BONGO & FURNESS"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200130004642/https://melodicdistraction.com/event/chemtrail-party-mix-cyriak-dj-gurl-power-bongo-furness/). *Melodicdistraction*. 12 December 2019. Archived from [the original](https://melodicdistraction.com/event/chemtrail-party-mix-cyriak-dj-gurl-power-bongo-furness/) on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Overboard"](https://doomwiki.org/wiki/Overboard). *DoomWiki.org*. Retrieved 9 March 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["E4 Finalists"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121013071336/http://www.e4.com/estings/2009finalists.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.e4.com/estings/2009finalists.html) on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-click_27-0)** ["Click Online competition results"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/4946120.stm). BBC News. 12 May 2006. Retrieved 9 December 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** Ryerson, Liz (29 January 2018). ["The Doom Mod That Best Describes Our Uncanny Reality"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/alt-doom-mod-stalker/). *Vice*. Retrieved 5 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["Doomworld -- The 19th Annual Cacowards"](https://www.doomworld.com/19years/best3.php). *Doomworld*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130107021336/http://www.doomworld.com:80/19years/best3.php) from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** ["Doomworld -- The 21st Annual Cacowards"](https://www.doomworld.com/21years/best1.php). *Doomworld*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141225013423/http://www.doomworld.com:80/21years/best1.php) from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["Top Ten - Page 3"](https://www.doomworld.com/cacowards/2022/best3/). *Doomworld*. Retrieved 9 March 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["McDonald's Pulls Commercial That Copied The Work of Animator Cyriak"](https://www.cartoonbrew.com/advertising/mcdonalds-pulls-commercial-copied-work-animator-cyriak-142092.html). 4 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** ["Animator accuses McDonald's of plagiarising his viral (and surreal) dancing cow video"](https://www.thedrum.com/news/2016/08/04/animator-accuses-mcdonald-s-plagiarising-his-viral-and-surreal-dancing-cow-video). 4 August 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** ["Cyriak Harris | Animation Department, Additional Crew, Director"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3382694/). *IMDb*. Retrieved 14 July 2023.

## External links

- [Cyriak's website](http://www.cyriak.co.uk)

- [Cyriak's channel](https://www.youtube.com/user/cyriak) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_user_(identifier))

- [Cyriak](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3382694/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Mutated Monty's channel](https://www.youtube.com/user/mutatedmonty) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_user_(identifier))

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF National Netherlands Artists MusicBrainz

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cyriak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyriak) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyriak?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.