Chibi

Chibi is a Japanese word meaning small or short; in everyday speech it can function as a nickname for a child or something cute and diminutive. In popular culture, "chibi" refers to a specific character design style in which figures are drawn with oversized heads and small bodies, producing a puppy-like, miniature appearance. The style is also known in English-language discussions as 'super deformed' (SD).

Visual characteristics include a head that is disproportionately large relative to the body, often one-third to one-half of total height; simplified facial features with large eyes and tiny noses or mouths; limited body detail and posture; bright colors. Chibi is used for humor, parody, cute merchandising, illustrations, and spin-off scenes within anime and manga. It commonly appears in fan art, promotional mascots, and video game assets.

Origins trace to Japanese manga and animation conventions, with the SD subtype gaining prominence in the 1980s and 1990s as a way to depict characters in lighthearted, abbreviated form. Over time, the style spread to overseas fans and media, becoming a staple in character design for cute mascots, light novels, webcomics, and mobile games. While sometimes adopted for real-world cosplay or simplified figurines, chibi imagery remains a stylized representation rather than anatomical realism.