Key facts
- First appearance
- Futaba Channel (January 8, 2006)
- Created by
- Kasuga
- Based on
- Moe anthropomorphism of Wikipedia
- Species
- Human
- Gender
- Female
- Family
- Commons-tan (sister), Wikiquote-tan (sister)
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
Wikipe-tan (Japanese: ウィキペたん) is a personification of Wikipedia created in January 2006 by Japanese editor Kasuga. She is an unofficial mascot of Wikipedia and is used at several WikiProjects. The -tan in "Wikipe-tan" is an affectionate suffix, in the form of a Japanese honorific. Like the OS-tans, she is a product of moe anthropomorphism.
Wikipe-tan is the mascot character for WikiProject Anime and manga and WikiProject Holidays' Christmas task force; she was also the mascot for Admin coaching, the Counter-Vandalism Unit, and a contender for an official Wikipedia mascot. In addition, Wikimedia Hong Kong uses Wikipe-tan images and her cosplay during functions and promotions. Wikimedia Malaysia has also used art of the character in their social media posts on Instagram. Wikipe-tan has occasionally been treated as a mascot for Wikipedia or its community in news reports.