Mashimaro
South Korean fat rabbit character from Flash animations and merchandise.
Mashimaro (마시마로), also called Yeopgi Tokki (엽기토끼, meaning "bizarre rabbit"), is a South Korean cartoon character that looks like a chubby rabbit. Kim Jae In (김재인) created it. The character first appeared in a series of wordless Flash animations online. Today, Mashimaro appears much more often on merchandise, much like Hello Kitty, and is often considered Korea's equivalent of a Sanrio character. You can find Mashimaro products on the internet and in Korean communities worldwide.
The original cartoons rely heavily on toilet humor, which sometimes carries over to the merchandise. Mashimaro is frequently shown with a plunger stuck to his head. When the character was first designed, several directors rejected it because they thought cartoon characters should have big eyes and a positive attitude—unlike Mashimaro's narrow eyes and gloomy personality. Kim Jae In then made a series of Flash animations for an online cartoon site, and they became popular. A few years later, a company started marketing Mashimaro professionally.
Mashimaro has a brown look-alike named Chocomaro. Chocomaro appears in two parody episodes (Episodes 2 and 3), where he tries to do what Mashimaro normally does but always fails and gets hurt. It is unclear exactly how Chocomaro is related to Mashimaro, though most people think he is Mashimaro's brother.
The name "Mashimaro" came from the creator's niece or nephew mispronouncing the word "marshmallow," and the character was modeled after that same nephew. A Chinese-Korean animated series based on the character was made in 2018. In 2020, a live-action movie called *Detective Mashimaro* was announced and released on April 6, 2022.
- creator
- Kim Jae In
- nationality
- South Korean
- field
- Fictional character / Internet animation
- known_for
- Flash animations and merchandise featuring a fat rabbit with thin eyes and a pessimistic attitude
- first_appearance
- Internet Flash animations
- notable_adaptations
- Chinese-Korean animated series (2018), live-action film Detective Mashimaro (2022)
Lore & Background
Mashimaro was created by Kim Jae In, with the name coming from the creator's niece or nephew mispronouncing the word 'marshmallow.' The character was modeled after the creator's nephew. When first designed, multiple directors rejected Mashimaro because they believed cartoon characters must have big eyes and positive attitudes, contrasting with Mashimaro's thin eyes and pessimistic attitude. Kim Jae In then created a series of Flash animations on an internet cartoon site, which gained popularity. Some years later, the company began to professionally market Mashimaro.
The original Mashimaro cartoons are full of toilet humor, which can also be found in some merchandise. Mashimaro is often portrayed with a plunger stuck to his head. The character has a look-alike named Chocomaro, who is brown. Chocomaro appears in two parodies of Mashimaro episodes, including Episodes 2 and 3. Chocomaro tries to do what Mashimaro would normally do but always messes up and gets hurt. It is unknown exactly what relationship Chocomaro shares with Mashimaro, though most believe he is Mashimaro's brother.
A Chinese-Korean animated series based on the character was created in 2018. In 2020, it was announced that a live-action movie would be produced. The movie, titled Detective Mashimaro, was released on April 6, 2022.
Reader's Guide
Mashimaro represents a significant figure in South Korean internet culture, emerging from early Flash animation to become a widely recognized merchandise icon. The character's popularity stems from its subversion of typical cute character design—featuring thin eyes and a pessimistic attitude—which initially led to rejection by directors. This contrast with characters like Hello Kitty helped Mashimaro carve a niche, especially through toilet humor and the recurring plunger motif. The character's success demonstrates the power of internet-based distribution, as Kim Jae In's self-published Flash animations built an audience before professional marketing. Mashimaro's legacy extends to international Korean communities, where merchandise remains common. The 2018 Chinese-Korean animated series and the 2022 live-action film Detective Mashimaro indicate continued commercial interest. The ambiguous relationship with look-alike Chocomaro adds a layer of fan speculation. Mashimaro's journey from rejected design to multimedia franchise illustrates how unconventional characters can thrive in the digital age.
Did You Know?
- Mashimaro's name came from the creator's niece or nephew mispronouncing 'marshmallow.'
- The character was modeled after the creator's nephew.
- Mashimaro is often portrayed with a plunger stuck to his head.
- A look-alike character named Chocomaro appears in two parody episodes and is believed by most to be Mashimaro's brother.
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