Wu Dandan and the forest child with spines in her hair

Sweet and defiant at once — Zsiga was born from watching a cat that purrs gently, then bristles fiercely at the sight of bigger cats.

Wu Dandan — also known as Dan — is a designer at the Pop Mart Design Center (PDC) and the creator of Zsiga. An observer of life and a hunter of emotions, she draws inspiration from the everyday, especially from living with her pushy cat Shaomai. Gentle and charming day to day, Shaomai bristles fiercely at the sight of bigger cats — that contradiction became the heart of Zsiga: a character in whom sweetness and defiance exist together, neither getting in the other's way.

Zsiga is a forest child with spines at the tips of her hair. Rebellious, free, wild and a little mischievous — but never mean. The spines aren't a weapon, they're protection. And at her feet there's always a little puppy: an inseparable part of who she is.

Emotions uncensored

Dandan believes people are three-dimensional, their emotions varied and meant to be expressed truthfully — good is good, bad is bad. Zsiga is a symbol of courage in the face of one's own feelings. She has a whole repertoire of expressions: a mischievous sidelong glance, a sulk, a wide toothy grin, cat eyes — each with its own story. The spines at the tips of her hair are her signature, recognisable from afar.

A dialogue with the inner child

Dandan uses Zsiga to talk to the child deep inside herself. Zsiga is a reminder to keep your innocence and courage even in the face of the unknown. The "Take It Slow" philosophy — slowing down, camping nights and wandering across the meadow — is built into the successive series.

How to spot an original

Key series

In July 2025, the China World Mall in Beijing hosted a dedicated "I'm Zsiga" exhibition with a Dandan signing event — the queues reached the street.

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