How to Make the Smalltown Boy AI Dance Video
Face smashed into a wide-angle lens, hands clutching your head, mouth open in a silent scream while your friend dances behind you. Then you swap. That is the Smalltown Boy trend, and here is how to make it with two photos.
How to Make the Smalltown Boy AI Dance Video
- Open the Smalltown Boy template on Summrs.
- Upload two photos — one per person. Photo 1 gets the first scream and stands in the front during the dance. Photo 2 gets the second scream.
- Pick who screams first. This is the creative decision. The first scream is shorter and sets the tone. The second scream is longer and ends with the big shocked face — give that one to whoever is more dramatic.
- Generate. The AI puts both faces into the full routine — the wide-angle close-ups, the swap, the side-by-side dance, and the final lunge at the camera. The Bronski Beat track is included.
- Download the MP4 and post to TikTok, Reels, or Shorts.
Two photos in, finished video out. No filming, no editing, no 0.5x lens required.
What Happens in the Video
The clip has four acts in about 21 seconds:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 0–7s | Photo 1 screams into the wide-angle lens, hands on head. Photo 2 dances in the background. |
| 7–14s | The swap — Photo 2 takes the lens and screams. Photo 1 dances behind. |
| 14–19s | Both dance side by side, with a low-angle shot against the sky. |
| 19–21s | Both lunge at the camera for one last scream. |
The second scream is the longer one and ends with the shocked face, which is why photo order matters.
Who Screams First?
This is the only real choice you make. Some things that help:
- Most expressive friend in Photo 2. The second close-up is longer, ends with both hands on the face in shock, and gets the bigger reaction. Give it to the person who commits harder.
- Pets work. The trend blew up because of AI cat versions. Two cats, a cat and a dog, a person and a pet — the format works with any pair.
- Swap to reverse. If you generate and wish the order was flipped, swap the photos and run it again.
Photo Tips
- One person per photo. The AI needs to know exactly which face goes where. Do not upload a group shot.
- Front-facing, even lighting. The close-ups put the face inches from a wide-angle lens — straight-on photos with even light give the cleanest result.
- Show your upper body. The scream involves hands on the head and the dance is full-body. Chest-up or waist-up gives the AI more to work with than a tight face crop.
- No sunglasses. The whole point is the wide-eyed scream. The AI needs your eyes visible.
- Your outfit shows up. Whatever each person is wearing in their photo is what they wear in the video.
How to Make the Smalltown Boy AI Cat Dance
The trend blew up because of cats, and most people searching "Smalltown Boy AI" are looking for the pet version. Here is how to make it:
- Use two pet photos. One pet per photo, face clearly visible. Cats, dogs, or any combination — the format works with any pair.
- Photo 1 screams first. The AI puts your pet on its hind legs, hands (paws) clutching the head, mouth open. Same scream, same swap, same dance.
- Fur and markings carry over. The AI keeps each pet's coloring, so a ginger cat and a tuxedo cat stay visually distinct through the whole clip.
- Mixed pairs work. A person and a pet, or two different species. The original AI version that went viral was two cats, but the format is flexible.
The cat versions tend to be the most shared because the contrast — a cat having a full meltdown at the lens while another one dances — is inherently funnier than two people doing it.
Where This Trend Came From
On August 4, 2026, Elvira (@elvira.mua.music) and dancer @mr_unvrs posted a real duo clip on Instagram. They filmed it with a 0.5x ultra-wide lens in front of a red wooden fence — each screams into the lens, they swap, dance side by side, and lunge at the camera. The song is "Smalltown Boy" by Bronski Beat, a 1984 synth-pop track.
On October 2, @bellvtrix.ai posted an AI two-cat version made with Higgsfield Genjutsu. It passed a million likes on TikTok. On October 8, @zefosik posted another cat version that hit 597,000 plays and 23,800 shares in two days. Within a week, everyone was recasting it with their own cats, dogs, friends, and fictional characters.
This is a different trend from the 2024 "#80sdancechallenge" where parents showed off their 1980s dance moves to the same song. Same track, different format.
FAQ
Can I use pet photos? Yes. The trend started with AI cats. Two pets, a person and a pet, or two people all work.
Does the Bronski Beat song come with the video? Yes. The track is included in the MP4.
How long is the video? About 21 seconds — the full scream, swap, dance, and lunge.
Can I do it solo? The template needs two photos. You could use two different photos of yourself and dance next to your own twin.
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