Puppet Sunsun: Who Is the “Screaming Blue Thing” and Is He Related to Elmo?
【この記事にはPRを含む場合があります】
With his fuzzy blue fur and adorable, innocent eyes, you’ve probably noticed this lovable puppet popping up more frequently on your social media feed or maybe even on television lately. This is Puppet Sunsun (PUPPET SUNSUN), a breakout character currently capturing the hearts of Gen Z and young adults.
Sunsun’s actions are often mysterious—he might be found hiding inside a mountain of marshmallows or suddenly breaking out into song and dance. Yet, fans are rapidly growing, describing him as “healing” and “too cute”. His merchandise sells out instantly, and temporary pop-up stores attract massive lines.
As a professional Web writer, this article aims to answer the questions you might have: “Who exactly is Puppet Sunsun?” and “Why is he so immensely popular?”. We will dive deep into his surprising origins, the secret behind his exploding popularity both in Japan and overseas, and provide detailed information on his character and attractive world. By the end of this read, you’ll likely find yourself falling into the Sunsun fandom.
- The Viral Sensation: What Kind of Character is Puppet Sunsun?
- The Secret to Sunsun’s Popularity: Capturing the Hearts of Gen Z
- 1. The Surreal Comedy and "Deadpan Humor" Created by the Visual and Vocal Gap
- 2. Immersion: The Character as the Content Creator
- 3. Extensive Media Expansion and Instant Sell-Out Merchandise
- Is He Related to Elmo? Clarifying the Relationship to Sesame Street and Copyright
- Made in Japan: The Creator and the Philosophy of the Production Company
- Supporting Cast: The Diverse Friends That Bring Puppet Sunsun’s World to Life
- Media Presence: How to Watch Puppet Sunsun’s Content
- Global Breakout: How Japan's "Healing Character" Became the World's "Screaming Blue Thing" Meme
- Puppet Sunsun’s Unstoppable Momentum: Anticipating Future Collaborations and Expansion
The Viral Sensation: What Kind of Character is Puppet Sunsun?
(Source: PR TIMES)
Puppet Sunsun is both the name of the puppet content posted primarily on social media platforms like YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), and the name of the creator who produces and distributes this content.
The core of this content revolves around the puppet named Sunsun, recognizable by his blue, fluffy body.
Sunsun’s Basic Profile:
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Sunsun |
| Age | 6 years old |
| Residence | The puppet country of “Tookhok.” (This name is a playful nod to the Tohoku region of Japan.) |
| Catchphrase | “Fuwaa.” (A gentle, often surprised sound.) |
| Favorite Thing | Bread, especially Koppepan (a type of plain Japanese bread roll). |
| Future Dream | To become “Bread.” |
Sunsun and his friends live in Tookhok, and their everyday, often mundane, experiences are shared through comics and short videos. This content began its activity on February 9, 2019. From the very first videos, the consistent themes have been “healing” and “gentle, relaxed humor”.
The Secret to Sunsun’s Popularity: Capturing the Hearts of Gen Z
(Source: PR TIMES)
Although Puppet Sunsun’s activities began in 2019, his recognition exploded after his videos went viral in 2022 and beyond. As of December 2025, his total social media following reached approximately 2.5 million. His YouTube subscriber count was 551,000 as of December 2, 2025. His popularity is substantial; in a survey conducted on February 10, 2025, targeting 100 high school students (male and female) about their “favorite character,” Sunsun ranked third.
Why has Puppet Sunsun become so popular, particularly among Gen Z in Japan?
1. The Surreal Comedy and “Deadpan Humor” Created by the Visual and Vocal Gap
Sunsun possesses a charming, cute appearance with his blue fluff. However, his appeal lies in his character’s contradictions: he speaks clearly and crisply in a flat tone, he has an independent and active personality, and his unique future dream is “to become bread”. This slightly surreal, deadpan, and relaxing characterization strongly attracts fans. His world avoids reliance on shock or extremity, unfolding instead at a gentle pace. For many, he is seen as a “quiet oasis” amidst a busy daily life.
2. Immersion: The Character as the Content Creator
The biggest reason Puppet Sunsun resonates so deeply with the social media generation is the thorough commitment to the setting where “the character himself is the content broadcaster”. Every social media post, YouTube video, and comic strip dialogue is consistently framed as Sunsun speaking for himself. This style, where the character acts as the author, drastically shortens the distance with the audience, creating an immersive content experience where Sunsun feels like a friend.
3. Extensive Media Expansion and Instant Sell-Out Merchandise
As his popularity surged, Puppet Sunsun diversified his presence across various media.
Collaborations: His partnership with the major Japanese conveyor belt sushi chain Sushiro resulted in limited-edition merchandise that sold out instantly and required restock. He has also collaborated with numerous famous brands, spanning apparel and general goods, including Zoff, GU, niko and …, and Converse.
Television Presence: Starting in 2025, short movies began airing on Fuji TV’s Mezamashi TV (a major Japanese morning show), drawing attention from an even wider audience.
Artist Activity: In June 2025, he also made his artist debut with the song “Toteto“.
Merchandise frequently sells out immediately upon release, and long queues form at his limited-time pop-up stores, showing his relentless popularity.
Is He Related to Elmo? Clarifying the Relationship to Sesame Street and Copyright
Given his puppet format, fluffy appearance, and visual style, Puppet Sunsun is often discussed in relation to characters from the American educational program Sesame Street. Specifically, he is frequently compared to the red puppet, Elmo, leading to discussions on social media wondering if they are “similar” or if Sunsun might be a “copy”.
Production Companies and Objectives are Completely Separate
There is absolutely no direct relationship between Puppet Sunsun and Sesame Street. They differ fundamentally in their production companies and the purpose of their content.
| Item | Puppet Sunsun | Elmo (Sesame Street) |
|---|---|---|
| Production Company | CHOCOLATE Inc. (Japan) | Sesame Workshop (United States) |
| Country of Origin | Japan | United States |
| Primary Theme | Healing, humor, and surreal daily life | Educational content |
| Age Setting | 6 years old | 3 years old |
While Elmo’s primary purpose is to provide children’s “educational” content, Sunsun is rooted in Japanese social media culture, focusing on themes of “healing and humor”.
Visual Similarities vs. Originality
Visually, they share common traits: a round face, large eyes, and being cloth puppets. However, Sunsun is blue, while Elmo is red. While he might resemble Cookie Monster more closely in color, Sunsun is often mistaken for Elmo upon first glance.
Despite some online concern regarding potential imitation, there have been no legal actions. A closer look reveals differences in facial expression and design details. Sunsun is widely accepted as a unique character created by Japanese creators.
Made in Japan: The Creator and the Philosophy of the Production Company
Due to his puppet style, Sunsun is often mistakenly thought to originate overseas. However, Puppet Sunsun is a purely domestic, Japan-born content.
Produced by “CHOCOLATE CHARACTER LABEL”
Puppet Sunsun is created by the Japanese creator group “CHOCOLATE CHARACTER LABEL.” This label belongs to CHOCOLATE Inc. (established January 2017, located in Shibuya, Tokyo), a company known for producing diverse entertainment content. Sunsun clearly reflects their unique production philosophy.
CHOCOLATE CHARACTER LABEL prioritizes “worldview construction” above simple merchandising. They pursue unique forms of expression that truly breathe life into their characters. This production style is the source of Sunsun’s distinctive and appealing content.
The Performer and Voice Actor Are Undisclosed
The identity of the creator of Puppet Sunsun, including the “person inside” (the puppeteer or voice actor) who provides Sunsun’s voice, has not been officially announced.
This non-disclosure policy is a deliberate measure to rigorously protect the foundational fantasy of Sunsun’s content: the character himself is the broadcaster. By ensuring that all interviews and communications are performed by Sunsun, fans are able to immerse themselves more deeply in his world and feel a stronger sense of kinship.
Supporting Cast: The Diverse Friends That Bring Puppet Sunsun’s World to Life
(Source: PR TIMES)
Sunsun is surrounded by appealing companions in Tookhok. The main cast includes three characters:
| Character Name | Details and Settings |
|---|---|
| Sunsun | The 6-year-old blue puppet. Catchphrase is “Fuwaa.” Enjoys dancing, and his dream is to become “Bread.” He lives in the attic of his family home. |
| Nonnon | Sunsun’s 6-year-old best friend. Trademarked by his white body and red nose, he is a gentle and cautious character who speaks with a distinct dialect. His favorite food is ice cream. |
| Zonzon | Sunsun’s 72-year-old grandfather. A gray, fluffy puppet with a distinguished hat and glasses, giving him a scholarly look. His special skill is growing delicious vegetables. |
In addition to the main trio, there is also Tuskutsku (Tsukutsuku), a green puppet who loves tools and invention, and has a spine-like design on his back. Tuskutsku first appeared in the comic and later in the YouTube and TV versions.
Media Presence: How to Watch Puppet Sunsun’s Content
There are various ways to enjoy Puppet Sunsun’s content.
Primary Viewing Platforms
The main content platform for Puppet Sunsun is the videos released on YouTube.
YouTube: The official channel, “PUPPET SUNSUN / パペットスンスン,” releases short puppet movies. Some videos feature editing styled like VHS tapes, creating a distinct retro/nostalgic feel.
Social Media: Sunsun is active on SNS platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok. Short clips, illustrations, and character musings are posted to align with each platform, helping to close the gap between the character and the fans.
＞ PUPPET SUNSUN Official YouTube Channel is here
＞ PUPPET SUNSUN Official X (formerly Twitter) is here
＞ PUPPET SUNSUN Official Instagram is here
＞ PUPPET SUNSUN Official TikTok is here
Television Short Movies
Starting July 2, 2025, Puppet Sunsun has a short movie segment broadcast exclusively in Japan every Wednesday around 7:40 AM on Fuji TV’s Mezamashi TV. This marks the program’s first-ever short movie featuring a puppet. The TV version utilizes different camera work and cuts compared to the YouTube version, depicting more detailed aspects of Sunsun’s world, such as their secret base and vegetable patch.
Global Breakout: How Japan’s “Healing Character” Became the World’s “Screaming Blue Thing” Meme
Puppet Sunsun’s fame has already spread beyond Japan, attracting intense attention from international users. This global breakout occurred not primarily through the “healing” theme beloved by Japanese fans, but via meme culture.
The Birth of the “Screaming Blue Thing” Meme
The decisive moment that brought Puppet Sunsun global recognition was the “Screaming Blue Thing” meme video that went viral in 2022.
The source material was the video Marshmallow & Puppet, originally posted to the official Puppet Sunsun channel on October 15, 2021.
This clip, which is only about three seconds long, involves the camera zooming in on Sunsun, who is in a pile of marshmallows. The moment Sunsun opens his mouth, he lets out an unexpectedly loud scream. This scream was actually sampled from a different international meme (“Mrs. Obama Get Down”). The lack of context and the sheer nonsense of the combination resonated deeply with international internet users.
The Character’s Reverse Image
The result of this viral meme was an interesting phenomenon: Sunsun, popular in Japan as a “cute and healing character,” was recognized overseas as a “wild character who suddenly screams at high volume”.
The “Screaming Blue Thing” clip has now been viewed over 20 million times and has generated numerous derivative versions. It is a famous case study where a Japanese content’s global reception significantly altered the perception of the source material.
Puppet Sunsun’s Unstoppable Momentum: Anticipating Future Collaborations and Expansion
Since launching in 2019, Puppet Sunsun has maintained a unique style where the character acts as the creator, gaining explosive popularity, particularly among Gen Z in Japan.
His momentum is unrelenting. He continues to expand his activities through collaborations with six professional baseball teams, an artist debut under the music label Echoes, and his recent expansion into morning television.
Given that he already possesses significant global recognition via meme culture, future developments are highly anticipated, especially those that merge the Japanese “healing” worldview with the global “meme” momentum for further worldwide expansion.
The world is watching to see what collaborations and content Puppet Sunsun will generate next. Be sure to check out Sunsun’s official social media and YouTube channels to experience his unique, “Fuwaa”-filled charm.
＞ PUPPET SUNSUN Official Website Here
Satoshi / Editor-in-Chief, Minna no RakuRaku Magazine
SEO & AI Specialist. Gadget, Game & Urban Legend enthusiast. Former musician (songwriter). Leveraging web marketing experience to write on the theme of “easy tech.” Also manages internal AI implementation.
