Chiikawa, created by illustrator NAGANO, burst onto the scene in 2020 and quickly became a global sensation. Its unique style, especially after the TV anime adaptation, has captured hearts everywhere, making it a universally beloved franchise.
Previously, creator NAGANO took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his heartbreak after failing to win the Nintendo Switch 2 lottery, posting an illustration of his characters in tears. But yesterday (June 11), he announced he *finally* won a Switch 2, sharing a new illustration of pure joy and tears of happiness, sparking a huge buzz online.
But the real star of the new artwork? Everyone's eyes were on the adorable cow character from Mario Kart. Originally just a background NPC on the race tracks, this bovine buddy has since become a playable character. Not only is it beloved for its cute, goofy looks, but its surprisingly strong performance has made it a go-to choice for many players. It's even led to race lobbies being practically overrun by these "cute cows."
In fact, just last month, NAGANO had drawn a "losing" illustration where the cow character was seen walking away into the distance, while his signature "Bear" character silently wept in the foreground. It was clear he was absolutely heartbroken.
Now, with the Switch 2 win, the cow is back, sparkling and smiling! And NAGANO's "Bear" character? Absolutely bawling its eyes out with excitement! Take a peek at the card in the Bear's hand – looks like he snagged his Switch 2 from a Yodobashi Camera lottery!
The post immediately blew up with reactions from fans: "Congrats!!!" "The cow is back, sparkling! LOL" "From heartbroken tears to tears of joy, what a turnaround, hahaha!" "Cow-sama! I knew you'd be back!!!" "Please, draw some gameplay manga soon!"
NAGANO-sensei's emotional rollercoaster ride to winning a Switch 2 has fans laughing and tearing up at the same time. Looks like we might just get some adorable Switch 2 gameplay manga from him someday soon! XD