Description: Jimothy is the unusually round wild raccoon filmed in Seattle in July 2026. Learn why his shape became a meme, why people compared him to a tiny truck, and how Google's raccoon animation worked.
Jimothy is a wild Seattle raccoon whose unusually compact body turned a backyard video into a meme in July 2026. Fan art, new sightings and a Google Search animation followed. He barely needed to do anything except run past a camera.
Why does Jimothy look so round?
An Instagram video posted on July 14 showed him running through a backyard. Know Your Meme describes Jimothy as having a shortened spine, which helps explain his short-looking torso. His appearance is distinctive, but a video cannot establish whether he feels pain or how healthy he is.
Why did a truck become part of the joke?
On July 17, users shared what was presented as footage of Jimothy as a baby and a drawing resembling a police sketch. On July 19, someone posted a photograph of an unusually short truck with a joke about everything reminding them of Jimothy. Once viewers recognize a silhouette, anything squat becomes a potential Jimothy. The animal did not learn a trick; the internet invented tricks around him.
What did Google do?
Axios reported on July 23 that searching for “Jimothy” could reveal a paw icon. Clicking it sent a cartoon raccoon across the results page. Axios said the animation had been triggered more than five million times by that afternoon. Availability may change by region or date.
A backyard visitor became a search-engine guest star. Jimothy never applied for the job; the internet apparently hired its roundest mascot.
Sources: Know Your Meme, Jimothy the Raccoon (2026-07-28); Axios Seattle (2026-07-23).
