MYNORTHWEST NEWS

From Ballard raccoon to national icon: Jimothy lands Roku City, bobblehead, video game, and more

Jul 21, 2026, 1:14 PM | Updated: 3:07 pm

Jimothy bobblehead...

The first Jimothy bobblehead. (Image courtesy of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum)

(Image courtesy of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum)

Jimothy, the oddly shaped Ballard raccoon, is everywhere — from Roku City to getting his own video game and now a bobblehead.

The creature, which appears to have short-spine syndrome, blew up online last week and has continued to grow more viral every day.

On Tuesday, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled its first Jimothy bobblehead.

“Standing on a rectangular, grass-like textured base bearing his name, the Jimothy bobblehead is a replica of the popular gray-furred raccoon known for its shortened, round, orb-like appearance,” a news release from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum stated. “The Jimothy bobblehead is in a running pose as he is eyeing his next adventure in The Emerald City.”

The six-inch bobbleheads are priced at $30 each and are expected to ship in December.

Jimothy bobblehead

The first Jimothy bobblehead. (Image courtesy of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum)

Brands jump on the Jimothy bandwagon

Jimothy was filmed by Kiana Hall, who posted a video of the raccoon on Instagram and named him Jimothy because “he looked like a Jimothy,” The Seattle Times reported.

Several brands have taken a liking to Jimothy, including Roku, which made a digital Jimothy in Roku City.

World of Warcraft, developed by Microsoft-owned Blizzard Entertainment, has also gotten in on the action, posting a virtual Jimothy waddling through one of the game’s forests.

From video games to tattoos to ‘Slimothy’

One fan even built Jimothy his own video game, complete with missions like dodging paparazzi, raiding trash cans, and navigating streets. And then there’s the fan who got Jimothy permanently inked on their leg at Bloody Point Body Arts, a tattoo shop in Maryland.

@bloody.point.body Jimothy has been tattooed! Original design by @Oatmeal tattooed by our artist @inky_daze #jimothy #raccoon #viral #trending #funny @🩷🏳️‍🌈Kelli Noel🏳️‍🌈🩷 ♬ original sound – Rj Pasin

Slim Jim, the popular meat stick brand, commented under the tattoo video saying, “Protect Jimothy at all costs.”

To which Bloody Point Body Arts responded, “I can design slim Jimothy!!!! Protect Jimothy!!!!”

“Slimothy,” one user replied.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company also joined in on the fun, stating on X, “If Jimothy is crossing the road, your tires better be able to stop. Check your tread, Seattle.”

Jimothy has even reached outer space, with NASA Earth posting a picture of Seattle from the International Space Station.

Etsy sellers have jumped on the Jimothy craze, offering stuffed animals, hand-painted raccoons, and crocheted figures of the viral raccoon.

Jimothy gives back to his home turf

Even with the national attention, Jimothy hasn’t forgotten where he came from, as an artwork of the raccoon raised around $6,500 for the Ballard Food Bank, FOX 13 reported.

Jimothy also appeared on the jumbotron at the Mariners’ game over the weekend.

The raccoon was even honored with a mural outside Ballard Clay Pottery Studio, as shown by FOX 13.

While Jimothy has touched hearts across the country, he has also become a symbol of resilience and community, proving that even the smallest, oddest-looking creature can bring an entire city together and inspire a nation.

Follow Julia Dallas on X. Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.

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