Beloved raccoon ‘Jimothy’ inspires bobblehead after taking over the internet
Videos of a raccoon nicknamed “Jimothy” by locals in Seattle, Washington, have taken the internet by storm. The uniquely adorable critter has inspired fan accounts, memes, and art — and now a bobblehead.
Multiple veterinarians and wildlife experts have told media outlets that Jimothy appears to have short spine syndrome, which makes it appear like he doesn’t have a neck.
Video above: Jimothy, the uniquely-shaped raccoon going viral
The videos, which show Jimothy running through yards and onto porches in his community, have garnered millions of views across multiple social media platforms.
The furry icon has so many fans that The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday announced it would immortalize him with a limited-edition bobblehead that can be pre-ordered and is expected to ship in December.
“We’re excited to unveil the first bobblehead of Jimothy, Seattle’s newest hometown hero who has a growing fan base across the nation,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said in a news post on the organization’s website. “This bobblehead will be the perfect way for fans of Jimothy to show off their love and support for the pop culture icon and celebrate ‘Jimothy Summer!’”
And the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum isn’t the only organization taking advantage of Jimothy’s fame.
Google, on Thursday, added an animated “Jimothy” feature to its search results. The animation shows Jimothy running across the screen, and a paw icon appears at the bottom of the page. Clicking it gives Jimothy another run across the screen. As of 5:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, more than 6.2 million people had clicked the paw.