Mashimaro is a Korean fictional character. He debuted in a series of flash animations (mostly without any dialogue, although the occasional word of Korean or English is present) on the internet. However Mashimaro is far more often seen in merchandise, similar to Hello Kitty. (Mashimaro would in fact be best described as Korea's answer to Sanrio.) Mashimaro merchandise can be found on the internet, and in Korean communities around the world.

The original Mashimaro cartoons are full of toilet humor, and some of this is also to be found in the merchandise. Mashimaro himself is often portrayed with a plunger stuck to his head. In stark contrast to other hyper-cute iconic characters, such as Hello Kitty, Mashimaro is portrayed as a bit of a thug, who is not above using violence to impose his will on others.

The name "Mashimaro" is sometimes said to come from the Korean pronunciation of the word "marshmallow."

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• Contemporary culture of South Korea

External link

• Official Site (in Korean)