The fish who wanted to be a hero
He was born under Halley's Comet. He dreams of becoming a hero. He's an aspiring comedian, he flirts with the octopus Sayuri, and he eats shrimp. Hangyodon — half fish, half boy, created by Hisato Inoue for Sanrio in 1985 — was one of the brand's more forgotten characters for decades. Until now. Gen Z has rediscovered him and made him an icon of that specific energy: charming, a little clumsy, definitely imperfect. And that's why he's impossible to ignore.
Genesis and Legend
According to official history, Hangyodon appeared when the seal of a mysterious scroll in a temple warehouse was broken by the approach of Halley's Comet. Inoue designed his round eyes and full mouth in the likeness of his own face. This may explain why this character is so personal and so difficult to classify.
Ugly Cute and Gen Z
Hangyodon was never conventionally cute. And that's what Gen Z loves about him — this "adorably ugly" aesthetic, a mix of cuteness and weirdness, resonates with a generation that values authenticity over perfection. In 2023, a campaign supporting Hangyodon in the Sanrio Character Ranking went viral on TikTok.
A Failed Hero
Hangyodon dreams of becoming a hero — but his plans to save the world regularly end comically. He's a lonely romantic who can't express his feelings. He loves humor but can be shy. He's a flawed character — and that's why he speaks to us so much.
A Return After 40 Years
In 2023, Hangyodon took 7th place in the Sanrio Character Ranking with nearly 1.84 million votes. In 2024, he was 8th. For a character who was in Hello Kitty's shadow for decades, this is a triumph — driven by fans who see something in him that can't be bought: character.
Three Pillars of Creativity
Lovable outcast
He doesn't try to be pretty — and that makes him unique
Hero anyway
He dreams big, stumbles spectacularly — and doesn't give up
Legend with a story
Born under Halley's Comet — returns with it
Find Hangyodon
For forty years, Hangyodon was in the shadows. Then Gen Z rediscovered him — and it turned out that this fish with an imperfect smile and unfulfilled dreams of being a hero says more about us than many a perfect design.
Discover the Hangyodon collection
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