Who is Jimothy? Unusually round Seattle raccoon captures hearts of millions online, inspires memes and fan art

A Seattle raccoon with an unusual appearance has captured the hearts of millions online and become the city’s latest unexpected celebrity.

Known as Jimothy, the round-bodied creature from the Ballard neighbourhood went viral after a short video showing him darting across a patch of grass and up a flight of stairs was shared on social media.

Within days, the clip attracted millions of views, with people around the world fascinated by his distinctive arched back.

Unlike most raccoons, Jimothy has a shortened neck and compact body, giving him a unique waddling appearance that has led some fans to compare him to a mythical creature.

Wildlife experts believe his unusual shape may be linked to a rare congenital spinal deformity, possibly short spine syndrome, although he has not been officially examined. Despite his suspected condition, experts said Jimothy appeared to be adapting well.

Associate professor at Washington State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Marcie Logsdon, told The Seattle Times Jimothy’s energetic nature was a promising sign for his survival in the wild.

“I was surprised and honestly a little bit inspired that he’s that resilient,” she said.

Jimothy was first spotted by Seattle resident, Kiana Hall, who was walking with her partner near the Ballard area when she noticed what she first thought was a cat.

After filming the unique-looking creature, she shared the video on Instagram and gave him the name Jimothy because, as she later explained, he simply “looked like a Jimothy”.

“For our 13th anniversary, (we) were graced with the presence of Jimothy the raccoon with short spine syndrome. Praise Jimothy!!” the caption accompanying the viral video read.

Since becoming an online sensation, Jimothy has developed a growing fan base.

Residents have shared sightings from backyards and security cameras, while admirers have created artwork, stickers, merchandise and even community tributes celebrating the raccoon.

Some of that art has been shared to a subreddit thread dedicated to the raccoon, with one Reddit user even sharing a photo of a Jimothy tattoo.

From memes to murals, the little raccoon has proved some of the internet’s biggest stars are the ones nobody expected to find.