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The Hop Hop Hop Trend: The Poke, the Squash and the Swap

Nov 8, 2026By

Where the hop hop hop TikTok trend comes from, the song behind it, and how to make the poke-and-squash duo video with a friend from 2 photos.

Made with TrendSwap from one photo
[MAKE IT NOW]

Pick a scene and make your own Hop Hop Hop video

Each scene is a ready-made version of this trend. Choose the one that fits you, upload one photo and get the video. No prompt, no editing.

In this article

One friend stands right by the phone. The other stands a few meters back.

The front friend points. The back friend hops. Point again. Hop again.

Then a flat palm comes down over their head. They sink to the floor. Squashed.

Hard cut. They swap places. It happens again.

Make your own hop hop hop duo from 2 photos, one per friend. Open the Hop Hop Hop studio →

This is the hop hop hop trend. Some people call it the squash dance trend. Others call it the Gabi trend.

The sound

The "hop hop hop" comes from a sound.

TikTok user @venadeaakira posted it on September 24, 2026. As of November 8, 2026 it had 295.3K plays.

The breakout

On October 25, 2026, @pouzato7 posted a Russian AI version on the same sound: two folk-tale heroes, Ilya Muromets and Solovei the Robber.

As of November 8, 2026 it had 2.8 million plays and 428.8K likes.

Then the duos took over.

Why "the Gabi trend"?

Some captions credit a TikTok user named Gabi. We couldn't confirm who started the duo gag, so we treat "Gabi trend" as a nickname, not a credit.

Facts last verified November 8, 2026.

How the squash works

Nobody touches anybody.

A hand close to the lens looks as big as a whole person far away.

Put the palm on the line between the lens and the back person's head, and it sits right on top of them in the frame.

They squat as the hand moves down. It looks like the hand pushed them.

That is also why the phone never moves. A zoom or a pan slides the palm off the head.

Why it works

It is a magic trick with no props.

One finger. One palm. One phone that stays still.

And it needs two people. The joke is who gets squashed, and then the payback.

4 duo ideas

Every clip stars two people from two photos: you and a friend.

IDEA 1 · BEST FRIENDS

The Remote-Control Friend

You poke, they hop. Then they get their revenge after the cut.

Make Best Friends Video→
IDEA 2 · SIBLINGS

Big Sibling, Small Sibling

Settle who is really in charge. One squash each.

Make Siblings Video→
IDEA 3 · PARENT AND KID

The Straight-Face Parent

Every poke sends them flying. Their face stays dead serious.

Make Parent and Kid Video→
IDEA 4 · COUPLE

Who Wins the Argument

Send it to your partner. Let them guess who gets squashed last.

Make Couple Video→

With TrendSwap's Hop Hop Hop AI Video Generator you upload 2 photos, one per friend, and get the clip. Step by step: how to make a hop hop hop AI video.

Hop Hop Hop

Hop Hop Hop

Point, hop three times and swap places with a friend, your twin or a pet.

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