The internet artistic community has the incredible ability to reinvent characters in completely unexpected ways, and the latest victim of this overflowing creativity is the iconic virtual singer Hatsune Miku. A new wave of fanarts has taken social media by storm by transforming the adorable idol into a middle-aged man, affectionately (or confusingly) nicknamed “Miku Oji” (Mr. Miku).

A depressed, mature and surprisingly popular design

The trend exploded when one particular illustration surpassed the astonishing barrier of 160,000 likes. The images reimagine Miku as an older man who retains key details of her original design, such as the classic twintails or the turquoise green color, but with a radically different appearance: incipient beard, tired look and a depressed expression. Some users note that he even bears a vague resemblance to Kaito, another popular Vocaloid.

Far from causing rejection in the community, this mature and worn-looking design has been described by many viewers as “cool” or even “erotic”. According to the fans’ own comments, the archetype of the handsome but defeated and disheveled older man is incredibly popular among the female audience, which largely explains the success of the illustrations.