30–45 min | Online | No install required
For Developers, Product Mangers & Executives
30–45 minutes | 1:1 or team session
Extract the zip file. Rename the main folder to the name of your character (e.g., My_Cat_Shimeji). Do not use spaces in the folder name; use underscores instead.
This is the most critical rule. If the template expects a file called walk0.png, you must save your custom image as walk0.png. Changing the name breaks the XML script.
Leo placed his new folder of Biscuit images into the img directory of the Shimeji program. He launched the Shimeji-ee.jar file and selected "Biscuit" from the list.
Suddenly, a small, grumpy cat fell from the top of his screen. It landed on the taskbar. It looked left. It looked right. And then, it began to march across the screen, exactly as Leo had drawn it.
Leo sat back and smiled. He hadn't needed to learn Java. He hadn't needed to learn complex animation logic. By simply respecting the Shimeji Template, he had brought his character to life.
Before you share your custom Shimeji online, consider the template's license.
If you are creating an original character, using a blank template is 100% fine. If you are ripping sprites from a commercial video game, do not distribute the pack; keep it for personal use.