
Japanese Twitter users turn the meaning of this Miffy illustration upside-down.
No matter how talented an illustrator or graphic designer may be, the products of their labors are visual representations of an idea, and not the idea itself. Even when most would agree a piece of art is depicting one thing, each viewer filters the representation through his own perspective to arrive at his individual interpretation.
Recently, we’ve seen this phenomenon turn innocuous intents into sexually charged messages, but that’s not the only way the darker corners of the mind can affect how we perceive visuals. Japanese Twitter user @le_pomme2332 was recently looking at a piece of cloth decorated with a pattern featuring Miffy, the Dutch picture book rabbit who’s much-loved in Japan as well.
A heartwarming drawing of two bunny buddies snuggling up to one another while relaxing on a cushion, right? Maybe. But if you’ve got a vicious current running through your brain, and you happen to see the pattern upside down, you might instead see it as…
…Miffy being eaten by a terrifying ghost that lacks a face, but has gigantic, gnashing teeth!
なんやこの柄・・・ミッフィーが変なオバケにモシャモシャされてるやん!子ども泣くで。。。!!
— 𝕃𝕒ℙ𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖/さよならアンドロ.メダ (@la_pomme2332) June 26, 2017
とかおもってたら、クッションに座っていたらしいけど、もう咀嚼されてるようにしか見えない。。_(:3」∠)_ pic.twitter.com/qDQLF8vStL
The alternative interpretation even holds up in three dimensions, as another Twitter user shared an inverted snapshot of a music box based on a similar scene.
失礼します…。
— ゆきえ_絵描き (@yukie_ekakibaka) June 30, 2017
家でオルゴールを発見してしまいました。 pic.twitter.com/dWCdnAa0IX
Yet another commenter pointed out that the “ghost” is devouring his rabbit snack much like an Attack on Titan Titan munching on a puny human.
https://twitter.com/REMEMBER_1020/status/879879094329946112So once again, Miffy, cute as she may be, proves that she can star in tales of horror as easily as she does children’s stories.
Source: Twitter/@ le_pomme2332 via Togech
Images: Twitter/@ le_pomme2332



Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store drinks with new Grilled Corn Chilled Soup Smoothie
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese convenience store Lawson now has stir-fried noodle-cooking robot chefs
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
Over 400 titles of free translated manga from publisher Shueisha available for a limited time
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
7-Eleven Japan adds new chocolate fruit gummies to its sweets range, but are they worth the hype?
Studio Ghibli’s No Face twirls to sound of Spirited Away’s theme song in beautiful accessory box
Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Live-action Princess Mononoke is coming to streaming as a live event, previews look amazing [Video]
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store drinks with new Grilled Corn Chilled Soup Smoothie
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese convenience store Lawson now has stir-fried noodle-cooking robot chefs
End of a manga era as Weekly Shonen Jump’s circulation drops under one million
Over 400 titles of free translated manga from publisher Shueisha available for a limited time
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Japan’s largest online flea market reminds users that selling used school swimsuits is prohibited
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Weekly Shonen Jump cancels manga after creator admits to schoolgirl groping
Resident Evil’s terrifying Licker becomes a bag in Japan that wants to feed you
Starbucks Japan to open Shinkansen platform stores at Kyoto and Nagoya stations
Nendroid Face Maker lets you custom design faces for Japan’s most popular anime figure line
Curses for sale on Japan’s leading flea market site Mercari
Akita Kanto Festival, one of Japan’s most spectacular summer festivals, gets an anime twist this year