Let's Be Lazy With Gudetama

Gudetama is the lazy egg that everyone loves!  This forever-tired egg drop from Sanrio is super popular because of how relatable it is. Gudetama knows that life is hard, and that’s why it just doesn’t want to get moving. Its motto "It's hard to get cracking” reminds everyone that we’re all struggling together and that it’s okay to take a break every now and then. 

Speaking to kawaii fans of all ages around the world, Gudetama has become one of the most beloved Sanrio characters! Gudetama might be a little bit lazy, but it’s done a lot of work appearing in comics, games, morning shows, and special series. Gudetama certainly is a popular paradoxical egg drop! 

• Japanese name: Gudetama (ぐでたま pronounced Goo-de-ta-ma) 
• Birthday: Every day is Gudetama’s birthday! 
• Personality: tired and lazy 
• Gender: Non-binary 
• Species: Food 
• Breed: Egg 
• Energy level: 0% energy 
• Hobbies: Can't be bothered
• Biggest motivator: Soy sauce
• Fun fact: It hatched from a blue egg!

WHAT IS GUDETAMA? 

First things first, what on earth is a Gudetama, and why is everyone falling in love with it? Gudetama is an exhausted egg yolk with a funny butt. It has oval lazy eyes and a mouth with a tongue but no teeth.

To do your best, you need to rest! 

This egg is often seen laying down on its own egg white, just tired of life! Gudetama just wants to relax sometimes! 

WHERE IS GUDETAMA FROM? 

Gudetama comes from Sanrio designer Emi Nagashima. She got the idea for the character while trying to make tamago kake gohan (rice mixed with raw egg) after a long day at work. Apparently, the droopy look of the egg yolk she was using seemed cute. It reminded her of young people today that were feeling tired of life. 

WHEN WAS GUDETAMA CREATED? 

Sanrio (the iconic kawaii company responsible for cuties like Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi, Pompompurin, and more) held a food-themed character competition in 2013. Emi Nagashima submitted Gudetama as her contender for the contest. Out of 20 characters, Gudetama won first place and became Sanrio’s icon for lethargy and laziness! If you'd like to learn more about the company it came from, you can head on over to our blog about Sanrio. You can also learn about all the cuties Sanrio has to offer in our Ultimate List of Sanrio Characters. 

WHAT DOES GUDETAMA MEAN? 

The name "Gudetama" is a blend of two Japanese words: "gude gude," which describes someone with no energy or enthusiasm, and "tamago," which means egg.

Living life by going with the flow…

Essentially, our dear Gudetama is the ultimate embodiment of a lazy egg. This tired cutie is just like you and me, trying its best to survive the struggles of day to day living. 

IS GUDETAMA A GIRL OR A BOY? 

Gudetama, in terms of its gender, is a little like its attitude: it doesn’t care! Still, for those who are really wondering, Gudetama is actually a non-binary egg because it comes from unfertilized egg yolk. That’s a pretty progressive move from Sanrio! Hooray for kawaii representation! 

GUDETAMA’S MOTTO 

But don't be fooled! Despite being the epitome of apathy, Gudetama also has a motto that might surprise you: "It's hard to get cracking." Though it might seem pessimistic, it's also refreshingly real.

We've had our ups and downs but today's a perfect day for a nap

It embodies the lethargy and struggles we all face from time to time. Gudetama simply allows us to laugh at our own laziness and keep moving forward.

GUDETAMA IS A STAR! 

Not only does Gudetama have a special place in our hearts, but he also has a special spotlight on television. In Japan, Gudetama has his own funny little web series on YouTube. Sometimes the channel talks showcases Gudetama’s adventures, sometimes it gets educational! 

That’s not all of course. Gudetama also had a series of anime shorts on the TBS network from 2014 to 2020. It was part of the morning segment Asa Chan. The show was delightful! 

Western kawaii fans might know Gudetama from Netflix. Yes, you heard that right. Gudetama has his own Netflix series called Gudetama: An Eggcellent Adventure. It was a hit when it was released in 2022, nabbing a fresh 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. You could say it was far from a rotten egg, haha! 

GUDETAMA’S FRIENDS

Gudetama might be a little bit tired most of the time, but this egg yolk always makes time for its buddies. Though they have different personalities, they share one common thread - these cuties all come from eggs! 

Shakipiyo (しゃきぴよ)

This energetic character is a yellow-feathered chick that wears an eggshell as its pants. It’s so hyperactive that Gudetama always feels bothered and harangued whenever Shakipiyo is around. 

Hardboiled (ハードボイルド)

Hardboiled is an egg character just like Gudetama but with thick, menacing eyebrows. It was made just like its name suggests - after boiling in hot water for more than 15 minutes. Maybe that’s why it’s a bit jaded. 

Guretama (グレたま)

Sure, Guretama might sound a lot like Gudetama, but they’re very, very different. Guretama is an egg that’s become spoiled! Yellow-grey in color, this grumpy character is surrounded by purple stink clouds.

Gyudechama (ぎゅでちゃま) 

This egg is a Furikko, meaning it doesn’t last that long. It looks paler than Gudetama because the chicken that laid it was fed white rice. Fancy! 

Rock (ロック) 

Fried whole using hot oil, this little egg has a spiky outer coating. Rock often sticks to the path that it chooses since it has a tough personality. 

Quail (うずら)

Like the name implies, Quail comes from a Quail egg! It’s voice is so small that you can barely make out what it’s saying most of the time. Such a cutie. 

Yudetamago (ゆでたまご)

Yudetamago seems a lot younger since it’s dressed up as a baby and since it can only speak gibberish. In reality, this egg has no age. 

Mentaiko (明太子) 

This egg character speaks the Hakata dialect with cod roe lips. It's a little bit of a strange one, if you ask us. 

Tamagodoufu (たまごどうふ) 

A little bit softer than the other egg characters, Egg Tofu has a weaker constitution. It’s Tofu mentality makes it a little bit sensitive. 

Clock Madam (クロックマダム)

Clock Madam is a ham sandwich topped with an egg. It has the voice of a madam! 

Ganguro (ガングロ) 

A burnt fried egg, Ganguro looks like it’s wearing ganguro-style makeup. It looks a bit dark in a few places. 

DJ Gudetama (DJぐでたま) 

This Rapper Egg was born from being placed in plastic wrap. It always lays on its music player and wears sunglasses. DJ Gudetama has good rhythm, but its lyrics are always backwards. 

Fake Tama (ニセたまさん)

Not really an egg! Fake Tama is a strange pale person wearing orange body tights. Despite being weird, Fake Tama is cheerful and is great at contemporary dance. 

WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE GUDETAMA? 

What is the secret? Is it the raw yolk cuteness? Or the way it drapes itself lazily over bacon like it's a luxurious mink coat? It's all this and more! Gudetama is adored for its ability to encapsulate a feeling we all experience: a mix of lethargy, vulnerability, and humor.

I guess I'm destined to be eaten.

This little egg reminds us that it's okay not to be on the go all the time and that taking a moment to be 'gude gude' (lazy) can be a radical act of self-care. That's why he always does pretty well during Sanrio's popularity poll called the Sanrio Character Ranking (you can read about it in our Sanrio Character Ranking Guide). 

EGGCITING GUDETAMA GAMES!

Napping might be one of Gudetama’s favorite hobbies, but that doesn’t mean it can’t bust a move every now and then. Gudetama has a lot of fun games like the Gudetama Okawari Ikagassuka for Nintendo 3DS, the Gudetama tamagotchi from 2017, and the Gudetama! Tap game for mobile. This perpetually-exhausted egg also has its very own card game called Gudetama: The Tricky Egg Card Game. 

IS GUDETAMA SUITABLE FOR KIDS? 

So, is Gudetama suitable for kids? Absolutely! Its cute animations, simplistic design, and humorous antics make it a hit with children. In fact, it's safe to say that Gudetama appeals to all ages. It’s not just about the lazy egg life; it's about finding joy, humor, and authenticity in the everyday.

GUDETAMA LAND

For a while, everyone’s favorite lazy egg had its own section in the Sanrio theme park, Puroland! Called Gudetama Land, the area was filled with Gudetama airline-themed decor. Gudetama used to pop in and take pictures with fans sometimes back then!

GUDETAMA COLLABORATIONS

Gudetama is so popular that everyone wants to work with him! Sometimes that means the lazy egg gets turned into tasty treats like Umaibo corn sticks, Sanrio potato chips, Hokka egg biscuits, and other Japanese snacks. Sometimes Gudetama gets turned into yummy pastries. 

Other times it means that Gudetama gets his own sento (Japanese public bath). Thanks to a collaboration with Raku Spa, Gudetama fans can swim in warm baths filled to the brim with Gudetama balls! They can also enjoy at lot of yummy Gudetama-themed meals after their bath! 

GUDETAMA TRAVELS IN STYLE! 

Gudetama can be a fancy egg every now and then. Did you know that Gudetama has his own train?

Nice, warm weather and a bright, shining sun. A day like this is perfect for a carefree journey.

That’s right. In 2018, Seibu Railway launched its very own Gudetama-themed train that ran along the Shinjuku line in Japan. 

That’s not all! Gudetama also has his very own plane from Eva Air. It flies between Taiwan and Tokyo. All of its pillows and chairs are decorated with Gudetama in sunglasses. What a way to relax!

RELAX AT THE GUDETAMA CAFE

Just like his Sanrio siblings, Gudetama occasionally gets pop-up cafes in Japan. Not only is it bright and yellow like Gudetama, but these cafes also serve delicious Gudetama-themed goodies. From Gudetama-themed meals, drinks, and desserts, fans can all have their fill of the lazy egg. 

WHERE CAN I BUY GUDETAMA MERCH?

Don’t worry, there’s a lot of Gudetama to go around! One of Sanrio’s most profitable characters, Gudetama sells a lot of fun collectibles. There’s a lot to pick from - Gudetama plushies, Gudetama stationery, Gudetama home items, and a whole lot more. While most of these items can be found in Japan, you can easily find them in our Gudetama collection on Blippo.

HOW TO DRAW GUDETAMA

Learning to draw Gudetama is easy-peasy! This lazy egg is made up of simple lines and shapes that aren't that hard to draw. Just take out your pencils, paper, and follow this fun tutorial on how to draw Gudetama. We promise it won't take all afternoon to become a pro at sketching this laid-back cutie! 

So there you have it, folks! That’s all we have to say about our dear Gudetama, in all its runny, lazy, and downright adorable glory.

Gude things are coming! 

This little Sanrio character has scrambled its way into our culture and our hearts, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.  

Whether you're an energetic teen, a curious child, or simply young at heart, embrace the Gudetama within you. Be brave, be bold, be beautifully lazy – because sometimes, life’s just too hard to get cracking.