“Blue Crush” Had Summer Style Right 🏄‍♀️

Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and an absurdly cute internet animal. Yes, we’re talking about the raccoon known as Jimothy, who has been giving 2024 Animal Icon Moo Deng and her spiritual heir, Punch, a run for their money ever since he (the internet has decided) slithered out from under a car and gallivanted between yards in Seattle. If that sounds like a typical Tuesday night in your neighborhood, our condolences. But we should note: Jimothy looks like no other raccoon you’ve seen. That’s because the rotund little guy likely has a rare deformity known as short spine syndrome (thank you, Washington Post, for the most niche explainer ever), leading some to describe him as “a 5-year-old’s crayon rendering of a raccoon” or “more like a pom-pom than a raccoon.” Don’t worry though — one expert said he seems to be “managing” and “adapting” well to his condition, adding she was a “little bit inspired” by his resilience. 

Clearly, she isn’t the only one. The freaky-looking creature (complimentary) has been immortalized in a mural (points for choosing the perfect location), a collectible bobblehead, a Roku City resident, a New Yorker cartoon (as it should be), and at least one tattoo (the text is…something). There’s also been enough fan art to crash Etsy, and a minute-long ode from Jon Stewart (Jon, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves). Not to mention Great Internet Moments™ from the usual suspects (read: the chronically online and brands). A few highlights: the text only a grandma could send; Noah Kahan’s next opening act; Broadway shows that need to be produced immediately; and perhaps the truest words ever published on Threads. But the best thing to come from the Jimothy corner of the internet? Videos of what’s believed to be baby Jimothy, which looks exactly like something Paris Hilton would’ve used as an accessory circa 2005. In short: It really is a Jimothy Summer — soon to be official.