TL;DR: Shimeji characters are animated desktop mascots — sprite frames plus a behavior file. Get more of them three ways: download packs from the known hubs (Cachomon, shimeji.org, DeviantArt), adopt ready-made pets inside DeskSprite's shop, or make your own with the custom route. New to all this? Start with what a desktop pet is.
What is a shimeji character?
A shimeji is a small, animated chibi character that lives on your computer desktop: it walks along the bottom of your screen, climbs your windows, sits down when it feels like it, and flails when you drag it. Under the hood each character is a folder of transparent sprite frames plus a behavior file that decides which animation plays when.
The name — and the species — comes from the original Japanese freeware mascot program, itself named after the shimeji mushroom (yes, people searching for the mushroom end up here; you're in the desktop branch of the family tree). A decade of fandom later, "shimeji characters" covers everything from anime heroes to brand mascots to original characters, all running on the same tiny engine idea.
The DeskSprite roster
Our own corner of the ecosystem: every pet below runs in DeskSprite on Windows and macOS — click through for previews of each character's actual moves. Free pets are free forever; member pets come with the membership.
Milo
$1.00Milo is a members-only Dog desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Ozzy
$1.00Ozzy is a members-only monster desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Black Cat
$1.00Black Cat is a members-only cat desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Pumpkin
$1.00Pumpkin is a members-only monster desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Ghost
FreeGhost is a free monster desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Bengie
FreeBengie is a free cat desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Eclipse
$1.00Eclipse is a members-only cat desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Gruff
$1.00Gruff is a members-only monster desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Gus
$1.00Gus is a members-only Dog desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Garfield
$1.00Garfield is a members-only cat desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Cloud
$1.00Cloud is a members-only cat desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Perry
$1.00Perry is a members-only monster desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Sunny
$1.00Sunny is a members-only monster desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Grumpy
$1.00Grumpy is a members-only Dog desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
Spud
$1.00Spud is a members-only Dog desktop pet for DeskSprite with 11 actions — claim it in the shop, then bring it to your desktop with one click in the DeskSprite app (Windows / macOS).
The shop inside the app is the full, always-current list — browse it on the web here, or see just the free pets.
Where the community downloads shimeji characters
The hubs that come up again and again when people ask "where do you get these?":
- Cachomon — the most-recommended collection: hundreds of pre-made characters from popular culture, maintained by one team.
- shimeji.org — community-run library; preview a character's moves before you download.
- DeviantArt — artist galleries (ShimejiDesktopPets and many individual creators); install instructions vary by artist.
- kilkakon.com — the Shimeji-ee program itself, with its own pointers on where characters live.
A note on the browser-extension side: shimejis.xyz also hosts a character directory, but those characters run in Chrome, not on your desktop — same art style, different home. And whatever you download, the safety rules apply: known hubs, and a scan for anything from a host you don't recognize.
How to add a character to Shimeji
- Download the pack — it should arrive as a zip of images and XML, not an installer.
- Quit Shimeji (right-click the tray icon → exit).
- Drop the unzipped character folder into the
imgdirectory of your installation. - Start Shimeji again — the new character appears in the tray menu's roster, ready to call up.
In DeskSprite the equivalent is one click: claim a pet in the shop, open the app, press "Get" on its card. No folders, no restart. For the full Shimeji arc — install, tray menu, tricks — see how to use Shimeji.
How to delete a shimeji character
Two different "delete" meanings, two different moves:
- Clear the screen — right-click the tray icon and dismiss the active ones (there's a "dismiss all but one" option too). They'll be back next launch.
- Remove a character for good — quit the app, delete the character's folder from the
imgdirectory, restart. Gone from the roster.
DeskSprite pets live in the app's panel instead: remove a pet there and it leaves the desktop immediately; the shop remembers your claims, so re-adopting later takes one click.
The character nobody has made yet
Every hub above shares one limit: the characters that exist are the ones someone already drew. If the character you want is your cat, your dog, or an original design, the sprite packs can't help — but the AI pet maker can: 1–3 photos in, a fully animated desktop pet out. The full walkthrough (including the classic hand-drawn route, if you enjoy the craft) is on the custom shimeji page.
FAQ
What are shimeji characters?
Small animated chibi characters that live on your desktop — they walk, sit, climb your windows and react to being dragged. Each character is a folder of sprite frames plus a behavior file; the program mixes them into a little life on your screen. The name comes from the original Japanese desktop mascot program, itself named after the shimeji mushroom.
How do I get more Shimeji characters?
Three ways: download pre-made packs from the community hubs (Cachomon, shimeji.org, DeviantArt galleries) and drop them into your Shimeji installation; adopt pets from the DeskSprite shop inside the app with one click; or make your own — either the classic way with ~46 hand-drawn frames, or by uploading photos to the AI pet maker.
How do I delete a Shimeji character?
To remove the ones on screen right now in Shimeji: right-click the tray icon and use the dismiss options (there's also a "dismiss all but one"). To remove a character permanently, quit the app and delete its folder from the img directory. In DeskSprite it's simpler: pets are managed from the app's panel — remove one and it's gone, re-adopt it from the shop anytime.
What's the best site to download shimeji characters?
Cachomon is the community's most-recommended collection, shimeji.org lets you preview moves before downloading, and DeviantArt galleries host artist-made packs. Whichever you use, check that what you downloaded is images and XML — and scan packs from sources you don't know on VirusTotal first.
Can I turn my own pet into a shimeji character?
Yes, and it's the most fun version of this hobby. The classic route is redrawing ~46 sprite frames yourself; the fast route is DeskSprite's AI pet maker — upload 1–3 photos and it generates the full animated action set, keeping your pet's actual look.
Pick your first character
Browse the roster above or the full shop, or skip ahead to the one-of-a-kind option and make a pet from your own photos — first sign-up includes a free credit.