Who Are Wawario and Wawaluigi?
Wawario and Wawaluigi are fan-made characters, not official Nintendo characters. They are designed as exaggerated rivals to Wario and Waluigi and became widely shared again in late August and September 2026 through videos, fan art and memes.
Published
| Character | Based on | Common look documented by KYM |
|---|---|---|
| Wawario | Wario | Large Wario-like figure with no visible eyes, a missing tooth, orange hat and shirt, green overalls |
| Wawaluigi | Waluigi | Lanky, grotesque Waluigi-like figure with a blue shirt and black overalls |
Are They Official Mario Characters?
No. They are fan characters. Wario and Waluigi are official Nintendo characters; Wawario and Wawaluigi are fan-made extensions of that naming pattern.
Where Did Wawario Come From?
Know Your Meme traces an early online Wawario reference to a June 23, 2015 YouTube animation by Theguywhoplaysgames. A later orange-and-green design uploaded to Fantendo in September 2021 became the most common Wawario design associated with the meme.
Where Did Wawaluigi Come From?
Know Your Meme records a Wawaluigi fan page from September 2016 and notes that the most popular Wawaluigi design was uploaded to DeviantArt by savagewaluigi2000 in May 2017.
Which Viral Video Are People Referencing?
A June 2024 RedMario video presented a lineup of fan-made Mario characters and read out their names. On July 9, 2026, A.J.N. posted a similar character lineup set to a song. A portion of that 2026 video was reposted to TikTok on September 2 and helped drive the new viral wave.
Why Are They Viral Again?
The characters spread again in late August and September 2026 through TikTok reposts, X fan art and short-form memes. The 2026 wave is newer than the characters themselves.
Evidence
Sources
- Know Your Meme — Wawario and Wawaluigi
- RedMario video referenced by KYM
- A.J.N. video referenced by KYM