Google has joined the celebration of the internet’s new favorite star – Punch the monkey.
Every netizen who recently searched for the viral Japanese macaque was surprised because the charming Google search animation on Punch the Monkey fell like graffiti on the screen and captured the heart of this global sensation.
The interactive feature is a nod to the massive digital footprint left by a seven-month-old resident of Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo. The animation highlights the emotional resonance of Punch’s journey and focuses on the visual cues that have made him a household name on social media.
As users interact with search results, a subtle animation serves as a tribute to the “Punch-mania” that has swept through timelines from Tokyo to New York.
It’s more than just a technical easter egg; it’s a digital celebration of the comfort and joy that a young primate has brought to millions of people. The numbers speak for themselves — the “Punch” phenomenon has reached staggering heights, with 7.6 million likes and counting for the Google animation alone.
What is the story of Punch the Monkey?
Born in July 2025, Panchi-kun or Punch in English is a Japanese macaque who was abandoned by his mother at birth at the Ichikawa City Zoo. It was first noticed by a bystander who alerted the zookeeper.
Baby Japanese macaques usually cling to their mothers to build muscle strength and feel secure. So Punch needed a quick intervention and the nurses jumped right into action.
Zoo keeper Kosuke Shikano told Reuters the zoo experimented with substitutes, including rolled towels and other stuffed animals, before settling on an orange bug-eyed orangutan from IKEA.
“This stuffed animal has relatively long hair and several places where it is easy to hold onto,” Shikano said. “We thought that her resemblance to a monkey might help Punch integrate back into the unit later on, so we chose her.
Punch has rarely been seen without him since then, dragging the stuffed animal everywhere even though it’s bigger than him, delighting fans who have flocked to the zoo since videos of the two went viral.
Why did Punch’s mother leave him?
Zookeeper Kosuke Shikano thinks Punch’s mother abandoned him due to the extreme heat in July when she gave birth.
Does Punch fit in with the other monkeys?
Punch has had some differences with the other monkeys when trying to communicate with them, but zookeepers say this is part of the learning process and he is steadily integrating with the pack.
“I think the day will come when he won’t need his stuffed toy anymore,” Shikano said.
In a recent viral video, an adult monkey was seen hugging Punch. The internet hopes that now, with a friend by his side, Punch will be happier.
