If you've ever held a Xiaomi device, you've probably noticed a cute rabbit in an orange T-shirt, the official mascot of the brand. This character has become so recognizable that many users wonder what the name of the hare is and what it symbolizes? In this article, we'll not only reveal the official name of the mascot, but also dive into the history of its creation, analyze the hidden details of the logo and explain why it became the face of one of the largest technological giants in the world.
Spoiler: The name of the hare is closely related to the company's philosophy, and its image hides a few obscure references to Chinese culture and innovation. If you think it's just a cute character for marketing, you're wrong. Next, you'll learn how Mi Bunny (as it's often called in the West) affects the design of Xiaomi products, why its color range has changed over the years, and where you can find hidden "Easter eggs" with this symbol in the firmware of smartphones. And we'll answer the most popular question: why the hare, and not the dragon or the tiger - traditional symbols of power in China?
The official name of the hare Xiaomi: debunking myths
To begin with, the official name of Xiaomi mascot is Mi Bunny, but the Chinese version of the brand calls it something else — (Xiǎomǐ Tù), It's interesting that the word "Mi" in the company's name has a double meaning:
- 📱 MI — abbreviation for "Mobile Internet" (mobile Internet), which reflects the technological orientation of the brand.
- 🌾 (mǐ) — It means rice in Chinese, a basic food in Asia, symbolizing the availability and necessity of Xiaomi equipment in everyday life.
So Mi Bunny is not just a hare, but a “rice hare,” which underscores the company’s philosophy of combining high-tech (“Mobile Internet”) with everyday accessibility (“rice”), a name rarely mentioned in official press releases, but is widely used in marketing campaigns, especially in Asia.
In the early versions of the logo (2010-2013), the hare was depicted with antenna ears, symbolizing connection and innovation. Later, the design was simplified, but this detail sometimes slips into the limited series of merchandise.
Why the Hare: Symbolism and Hidden Meanings
Choosing a hare as a mascot may seem random, but it’s actually based on several cultural and business factors:
- Speed and agility: In Chinese mythology, the hare is associated with rapid development and adaptability — qualities that Xiaomi demonstrated in its early stages, releasing smartphones at record speed.
- Friendship and accessibility: Unlike aggressive symbols (dragons, tigers), the hare is perceived as a "people's" character, which is consistent with the brand's strategy of making technology accessible to everyone.
- Lunar communication: In Chinese folklore, a hare lives on the moon and pushes the elixir of immortality in a stupa, which refers to Xiaomi's innovation and desire to "get the stars" (literally, to master space technology, as in the Mi Space project).
In addition, the hare is one of the 12 symbols of the Chinese zodiac, which gives it additional cultural significance. For example, in 2023 (the year of the Rabbit on the Eastern calendar), Xiaomi released a limited series of accessories with Mi Bunny in gold color - as a tribute to tradition.
The Secret Fact About Design
The evolution of Mi Bunny design: from 2010 to the present day
Over the 13 years of the brand’s existence, the appearance of the Taisman has undergone several key changes, and let’s take a chronological look at them:
| Year | Features of design | Cause of change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–2012 | Ears-antennas, orange T-shirt with the MI logo, elongated paws | Emphasis on technology and communication (antennas as a signal symbol) |
| 2013–2016 | Simplified silhouette, removed antennas, added white gloves | Rebranding for the global market – a more “friendly” image |
| 2017–2020 | 3D-design, fur texture, dynamic poses | The development of the IoT ecosystem – the mascot began to “come to life” in animations |
| 2021-present. | Minimalist flat design, gradient colors, adaptability to a dark theme | The trend towards minimalism in UI/UX and brand unification |
Interestingly, in 2020, Xiaomi registered 12 logo variants with Mi Bunny for different units (for example, a hare in an astronaut helmet for Mi Space or with headphones for Mi Audio), which allows you to flexibly adapt the mascot to various products.
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If you saw the Mi Bunny with a blue T-shirt, it’s not a fake!
Where Mi Bunny Meets: Hidden Easter Eggs in Devices
Xiaomi mascot doesn't just decorate merch, it's hidden in the most unexpected places.
- 📱 On some smartphones (for example, Mi 11 Ultra), when you turn on, you can see the animation with a hare if you press the power button. + loudening.
- 🎮 Game mode. In Settings. → Special facilities → Playing space on POCO F3 The hidden mini-game character Mi Bunny.
- 🔊 System sounds, firmware. MIUI 14 has a hidden "Bunny Hop" sound signal (can be turned on via ADB).
- 📦 On the boxes Xiaomi Smart Band 7 under UV-lamp reveals the contour of the hare.
The rarest Easter egg is "Bunny Mode" in the engineering menu of Redmi Note 10 Pro smartphones. To activate it, you need:
- Go to Settings → The phone.
- 5 times to tap the MIUI version.
- Enter the code ##6484##.
- In the menu, select "Enable Bunny".
After that, a small rabbit logo will appear in the status bar, and the animations of the system will become smoother (this is not an official feature, but an “easter egg” for developers).
☑️ How to find an Easter egg with a hare on your Xiaomi
Myths and misconceptions about Xiaomi Taisman
There's a lot of rumors going around around Mi Bunny, and we're going to look at the most popular ones.
⚠️ Warning: If you see a merchandise with a hare in a red T-shirt, it's 99% fake (#FF6900), Red is used only for limited collections (for example, for Chinese New Year).
- 🚫 Myth 1: "The Xiaomi Hare is a copy of the Sony Vaio Rabbit." Actually, Mi Bunny appeared in 2010 and Vaio Rabbit in 2006. However, Xiaomi designers emphasize that their mascot is created from scratch and has no direct connection with Sony.
- 🚫 Myth 2: "The name of the Taisman is Mi Tu." That's wrong. Mi Tu is just a transliteration of "Xiaomi hare," but not the official name. That's right -- Mi Bunny.
- 🚫 Myth 3: "The hare symbolizes the slowness of the brand." On the contrary, in China, the hare is associated with a quick mind (a reference to the saying "fast as a hare"). This reflects Xiaomi's strategy of rapid innovation.
Another common misconception is that the mascot is only used in China, and in fact, Mi Bunny is also being promoted in global markets, but adapted to local traditions, such as in India, the hare is often depicted with elements of national ornamentation, and in Europe, in a minimalist style.
Mi Bunny in Pop Culture: From Memes to Collaborations
Xiaomi’s mascot has long outgrown the brand and become part of the Internet culture.
- 🎭 Memes: In 2021, TikTok virally spread the challenge #MiBunnyDance, where users repeated the dance of a hare from a Mi Smart Band 6 commercial.
- 🎮 Genshin Impact (a popular game from miHoYo) has a game. NPC Timaus, whose design was inspired by Mi Bunny.
- 👕 In 2022, Xiaomi released a joint collection with Uniqlo, where t-shirts with a hare sold out in a few hours.
- 🎥 In the Chinese film I'm Not a Robot (2018), the protagonist uses a Xiaomi smartphone, on the screensaver of which Mi Bunny flashes.
One of the most surprising facts is that in 2020, fans of the brand created a Wikipedia dedicated to the Taisman, which collects all his appearances, from commercials to internal documents of the company, there is even a canon that the hare allegedly lives in the headquarters of Xiaomi in Beijing and “helps test gadgets.”
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Mi Bunny is not just a marketing ploy, but part of the brand’s DNA, and it’s used to test UI/UX, for example, in Xiaomi, there’s a “Bunny Test” rule: if the interface is not clear to a child who sees it for the first time, it’s simplified.
How to buy official merch with Mi Bunny: proven ways
If you want to buy products with Xiaomi Taiseman, be careful - there are many fakes on the market.
- 🛒 Mi Store (official store) Section "Lifestyle" →"Mi Bunny Collection." Prices: from 5$ for stickers up to 50$ plush.
Avoid shopping on uncertified sites (e.g., Yellow Pages or random social media groups).
- The unbelievers are in the dark, or the dark.
- The lack of a hologram on the tag.
- Low quality sewing (the official hare has seams even, and eyes are embroidered, not glued).
⚠️ Warning: Wildberries and Ozon often sell "inspired" hare products that are not related to Xiaomi. QR-authentication.
If you are a collector, pay attention to the limited series:
- 🎄 Christmas Hare (2022) - wearing Santa's red cap.
- 🚀 Space hare (2021) - in a suit, timed to launch the Mi Space satellite.
- 🐉 Hare-Dragon (2023) – hybrid with elements of the Eastern zodiac.