The Wonderful World of Wapuu

As a WordPress newbie in 2015, there was so much for me to see and learn about the community. One day, during my many hours of research, I came across a little yellow bear-like (or dog-like?) cartoon animal known as Wapuu. I thought to myself, “What the heck is this thing and why am I seeing it hugging a WordPress logo, among other curious objects?” So I dove a bit deeper into this magical creature, which I later came to know and love as Wapuu.

At first, I thought Wapuu was kind of silly. Why would grown people be so excited over an imaginary animal? Fast-forward one year. Yes, I must admit, I too have fallen in love with the cuddly WordPress mascot. In fact, I can’t get enough. In my quest for more Wapuu knowledge, I began wondering where Wapuu came from, who created Wapuu and when? And then I stumbled upon a great history of Wapuu. Here are just a few highlights:

• Wapuu was created by Japan-based illustrator Kazuko Kaneuchi
• Wapuu debuted (was born) on February 19, 2011 at WordCamp Fukuoka
• Wapuu officially became “Wapuu” on August 2, 2011

Since 2011, this little creature has become a staple at WordCamps around the world. From stickers and plushes to baby clothes, its found on just about anything you can imagine. And because Wapuu is General Public License, Wapuu-loving people throughout the WordPress community have created their own original versions.

Some of the most popular Wapuu items are pins.

Wapuu pins are small, yet very detailed, and typically handed out at WordCamps. Over the past few years, Wapuu pins have become increasingly popular and one of the most highly coveted swag items at camps. From a punk rocker to a bumble bee, Wapuu comes in many forms. And just like other hobbyists who collect and trade baseball cards and coins, Wapuu lovers all over the world collect and trade Wapuu pins; some being highly sought-after pieces.

Speaking of Wapuu pins—SiteLock debuted a custom Wapuu pin at WordCamp Phoenix 2016!