Pusheen

Pusheen sits in the middle of character merchandise and internet mascot culture, which is exactly why it has lasted so well. By our assessment, the charm is the very plain one: a round grey cat that works cleanly on stickers, plush toys, stationery and phone accessories. That simplicity is also the limit, because the appeal depends on liking cute, low-stakes design rather than anything deeper or more complicated. In practice it is a soft, easygoing brand presence, the kind that shows up on small objects and feels instantly recognisable without asking for much attention. Compared with more story-heavy characters, Pusheen is lighter and less demanding; compared with generic cute cat art, it has a stronger identity. The result is a character property that works best in small doses and on everyday things, where the face, shape and mild humour do most of the work.