It has been requested that this article or section berewritten for the following reason(s):
Explain the different types of Miis (Special, Guest, Default etc.)

This article is about the customizable avatar. For the series of games centered around Mii characters, see theMii centered software. For the application used to create Miis, seeMii Maker. For other uses of the word "Mii", seeMii (disambiguation).

AMii is a customizable avatar and character featured in a variety of video games. The avatar's design has simple facial features that can be changed or added to create a simplified version of a real person or a unique character. By default, they have a simple rounded body shape with large circles for hands, with some games removing their limbs and only featuring the hands or giving them a more human-like body. The name "Mii" is a combination of "Wii" and "me", often due to their creation as an avatar for the user.

Miis were first introduced with the release of theWii in 2006, and could be created using theMii Channel. OnNintendo 3DS andWii U, Miis have been used to represent the player on their user profile, and can be shared with other players online with a Nintendo Network ID or locally through the Nintendo 3DS'sStreetPass functionality. They can optionally be chosen to represent a user profile onNintendo Switch, and are currently used as a user profile onMy Nintendo. Miis created for the Nintendo website can be featured in mobile games when connecting a Nintendo account.

Development

The development of the Mii Maker, as well as the Mii avatar itself, was a long and arduous process, taking about 20 years to reach fruition. The idea of players creating a personal avatar had already existed for quite some time, as prototypes had been made as early as theFamicom Disk System.

Famicom Disk System prototype

During a keynote speech at the Game Developers Conference of 2007, Shigeru Miyamoto revealed information regarding the ideas and development that led to the current Mii design, during which he stated the idea of a character creator has stuck in his mind for years.^[1] Multiple prototype screenshots were revealed, showing the many attempts at a Mii Maker that Miyamoto had made. A prototype made for the Famicom Disk System was shown during this interview. This prototype, while finished, was never released, due to multiple staff members at the time stating that there was no way to turn this idea into a game.

Nintendo 64DD

After theNintendo 64DD was launched, Miyamoto once again brought up the character creator concept, with some of his original ideas being reused in the gameMario Artist: Talent Studio. The game featured a somewhat in-depth avatar maker, with the option of utilizing theGame Boy Camera and the 64DD's Capture Cassette to add a photo to the avatar's face.

Nintendo GameCube

Another character creator was planned for a game that would be the spiritual successor toMario Artist: Talent Studio, titledStage Debut. It would have utilized thee-Reader and a scrapped peripheral called theGameEye to add a photo to the avatar's face. The avater would then dance or interact with the environment around it.

This game featured various characters from theSuper Mario franchise,Animal Crossing, andPikmin. Miyamoto showed a short film made withStage Debut at E3 2002. This software was later renamed toManebito, and was cancelled due to multiple staff stating that there wasn't a way to turn it into a proper game.

Nintendo DS

Around the Wii's development by Nintendo EAD, Nintendo SPD was working on a similar game involving avatar creation titeldOtona no Onna no Uranai Techou.^[1]. The character creator was said to be similar to Furukawai, a puzzle game about putting facial features onto a drawing ^{[citation needed]}. Iwata talked to Miyamoto about this project, who later decided to join Nintendo SPD to work on the concept.

SPD was unaware of Miyamoto's concept before he started working on it, but once Miyamoto joined, work on the project was much faster. More features were added to make Miis look more distinct, including the size and position of facial features.

The software was ported to the Wii and enhanced further, adopting the name "Mii Channel".

Usage

Video games

Miis can appear as playable characters, non-playable characters, or background characters depending on the context of the game. They have been featured in manyNintendo games since the release ofWii Sports, and are primarily known for their appearance in theWii series. Since then, Miis have spawned afranchise of Mii-related games featuring them as primary playable characters. The most popular series involving Miis isTomodachi Life, a series of life simulation games that relies on players creating Miis who interact on anisland. Other notable Nintendo games revolving around Miis includePersonal Trainer: Walking,StreetPass Mii Plaza,Nintendo Land,Pilotwings Resort,Miitomo, andMiitopia.

They are also featured as guest characters in many established series, including games in theMario franchise such as theMario Kart series,Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series, and sports titles. Currently, theMario franchise has the most games featuring Miis as playable and non-playable characters, with their firstMario appearance being inWarioWare: Smooth Moves. Miis have also appeared in theSuper Smash Bros. series,Dance Dance Revolution series,FIFA series,Hasbro Family Game Night series,Powerful Pro Baseball series,Pro Evolution Soccer series,Simple Wii Series,Sonic the Hedgehog series, andWe series (such asWe Ski). Miis are most often used in party games, game show games, and sports games. Miis are also frequently used for profile icons and online play icons.

The Mii trademark can be licensed to third-party companies for use in games, and was most frequently used during the Wii generation. After the Nintendo 3DS launched, less third-party games incorporated Miis into their gameplay.

Other media

Miis have also been used as ways to identify Nintendo users. For example, Nintendo Accounts use Miis as a profile picture since the creation ofMy Nintendo. Additionally, the Nintendo 3DS requires a Mii to represent the owner of the console forStreetPass integration. The Nintendo 3DS and Wii U also feature Mii icons on Nintendo Network IDs, online profiles that are used to add online users to the Friend List, and can be displayed next to their username in games with online functionality. On November 18, 2012, the social media networkMiiverse launched on both platforms, which was themed around the Miis. A Mii can be tied to anamiibo to identify its owner. On the Nintendo Switch, users can choose pictures of select Nintendo characters and items as profile pictures, but they have the option to create a Mii and select a pose for it on their profile. The Nintendo Switch 2 updated this feature, adding more poses to the existing catalog. Since the creation ofMy Nintendo, Miis can be used as profile images for a Nintendo web account. Tickets to theNintendo Museum can be customized to feature the Mii from a user's Nintendo account on them. Miis have appeared on theNintendo Music app in screenshots for games with Miis and non Mii-centric games such asClubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics. A library of names for Wii U CPU Miis have often appeared inadvertisements during gameplay demonstrations, primarily throughNintendo Direct presentations.

Usage guidelines

A confidential document titled "Mii In-Game Usage" was uncovered during the Nintendo data leak that detailed the guidelines for using Miis in video games and promotional material.^[2] In the document, it was revealed that Miis were approved by Nintendo on a "title-by-title basis", with two Nintendo employees managing the approval process. Once the Mii usage was approved, developers would be provided access to the "Mii technical library", referring to code that allows the implementation of Miis in-game and theGuest Miis appearing by default. Additionally, the document provides examples of proper Mii usage and how to give Miis distinct characteristics in games. Names for Miis cannot be modified in games, cannot appear in games with a proprietary avatar system, and should not appear on the front packaging of a game or on a banner for the Nintendo eShop and Miiverse. Additionally, Appendix A prohibits the use ofdefault Miis in advertising and game packaging, which includes the Guest Miis. Despite this notice, both Mii types have appeared in advertising, including on the box art for the Nintendo-publishedWii Party. Inappropriate content was strictly prohibited, preventing Miis from demonstrating poor conduct including acts of violence, dismemberment, death, sexually suggestive acts, criminal acts, discrimination, and acts of a crude nature.

Mii creation and storage

Since the release of the Wii, every Nintendo platform has featured ways for creating, storing, and sharing Miis.

Wii

The first Mii creator was theMii Channel. Miis stored on the Wii console walk around a white, tiled void and sometimes interact with each other. When the player selects the Create Mii button, they are taken to another screen where they can begin with choosing the gender and appearance of their new Mii.

Users have an option to "favorite" Miis, giving them dark red pants.

Nintendo DS

While the Nintendo DS does not have a built-in Mii creator, three games on the console featured built-in Mii creators.

Personal Trainer: Walking

Main article:Personal Trainer: Walking

Personal Trainer: Walking allowed users to either create Miis in the game or import them from their Wii. These Miis are used to represent the player in the walking exercises featured in the game. The Mii creator is set in an yellowish area this time, with the customization features selected on the bottom screen.

Tomodachi Collection

Main article:Tomodachi Collection

Tomodachi Collection allows players to create Miis that can live on an island. The Mii creator is very similar to the one inPersonal Trainer: Walking, but now options for voice and personality are added.

Kuruma de DS

Main article:Kuruma de DS

Kuruma de DS allows players to create Miis that can be seen throughout the game. The Mii creator is very different from the one seen inPersonal Trainer: Walking andTomodachi Collection.

Nintendo 3DS

Mii Maker is essentially a smaller version of the Mii Channel: Miis stand on a similarly tiled void and can walk around, but they do not interact with each other. Additionally, to accommodate for a smaller screen, only up to 10 Miis can be shown at a time, with the bottom screen having arrows to scroll between different slides of Miis.

Mii Maker adds several facial features that are not available on the Mii Channel. Additionally, users can use the 3DS camera to automatically make Miis based on one's image or to scan a QR code to make a copy of someone else's Mii.

New colors for pants were introduced with the 3DS.

• Red: can mean the Mii is...
  • the user character of the system
  • the user character of someone else's system
  • a favorited Mii
• Blue: the Mii is received from another system
• Gold: the Mii is a characterdistributed by Nintendo

Miis are also used as profiles inStreetPass Mii Plaza.

Tomodachi Life

Main article:Tomodachi Life

Being the sequel toTomodachi Collection,Tomodachi Life has the same Mii creator with the same music. However, it as includes an updated QR code generator, which includes data for personality types and island of origin. Miis could be imported from the Nintendo 3DS' Mii Maker as well.

Miitopia

Main article:Miitopia

ForMiitopia's Mii creator, the Mii is placed in a yellow void with animated waves flowing all around, similar to selecting aJob. 24 additional colors were added for hair, eyebrows, eyes, and lips, many of which can be considered unnatural or dyed colors. The song that plays appears to be a remix of the original Mii Channel theme with elements of theWii Sports motif. Miis can be imported through multiple means: Mii Central (a built-in database of popular Miis), the 3DS Mii Maker, Tomodachi Life save data, friends' systems, or from QR codes.Miitopia also has a personality system likeTomodachi Life, but it is much simpler and consists of 7 instead of 16 personalities.

Wii U

The Wii U's Mii creation app is very similar to that of the 3DS. For starters, it is also called the "Mii Maker", and it allows users to create Miis from photos or import them from QR codes. They can also be sent and received to nearby Wii and 3DS systems. The Mii is in a greenish-blue void this time, and are placed on the left while facial features are on the right.

Normal Miis are stored in the systems Mii Maker, with over 300 Miis being able to be stored on the system at once. User Miis are placed inWaraWara Plaza, the home menu of the Wii U. Additionally, popular Miis fromMiiverse communities would show up when the service was still active.

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch Mii creator is the first and only Mii creator in a Nintendo console that does not feature a plaza. Instead, Miis can be viewed via a menu that can be located in the System Settings. It is also the first creator to not have any music.

The Mii creator is a lot more simplistic than previous installments. The Mii is placed in a light grey, sparkly background. To the left of the screen, the customization features are listed with words and icons this time. When the colors for hairstyle, eyebrows, eyes, mouth, and facial hair are selected, there is an option to show 100 more colors, many of which are unnatural for humans.

When choosing a look-alike to start from, the user must select the gender of the Mii first and then 18 seemingly randomly generated Miis will be shown.

Retiring the usage of QR codes for Miis (likely due to the lack of a camera or appropriate peripheral), the Nintendo Switch allows users to send and receive Miis by connecting the console to nearby users. Currently, the only way to share Miis online is throughMiitopia's access key system. Miis can also be transferred fromWii U andNintendo 3DS usingamiibo.

Miitopia

Main article:Miitopia

While the Switch version ofMiitopia has a creator that is identical to the console's, there are two new features introduced:Makeup andWigs.Makeup allows the player to add up to 100 shapes to their Mii's face, allowing for even more customization.Wigs replaces the Mii's hair with a wig the player can create by combining bangs, backs, and cowlicks, along with a two different hair colors and accessory colors when applicable.

Replacing QR codes from the 3DS version, the Switch version allows players to share Miis via access codes. Each code is unique for each save file, and by sharing it other players can have access to all the Miis from that file (except for ones made private), along with any wigs and makeup they have on. Players can also import shared Miis from the game into the Nintendo Switch itself, however makeup and wigs will not carry over.

Other platforms

Miitomo

Main article:Miitomo

In Miitomo, players could create Miis via camera or from scratch. QR codes from the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, andTomodachi Life could imported as well, and Miis from My Nintendo could be added too. This time, the Mii was placed in a light blue gradient background. It used a similar personality quiz to Tomodachi Life, albeit a bit more advanced. While the game focused on the player's Mii, additional Miis could be made and stored on the app as well, which were referred to as Sidekick Miis.

Mii Studio

Mii Studio is the Mii creator forMy Nintendo, and the first official browser-based Mii creator. It was made to replace the now defunctMiitomo.^[3] Mii Studio is very similar to the Nintendo Switch Mii creator due to fact that users can import their Mii from their Nintendo Network ID and it features no music. No new facial features are added.

Pikmin Bloom

A MiiWiki affiliate has more information on this topic.
SeePikmin Bloom onPikipedia.

Miis are featured in the Nintendo andNiantic mobile gamePikmin Bloom. The Mii maker in this game is limited compared to others, as there are only 20 preset Miis to choose from. Players can change their Mii's skin, hair, and eye color, with only natural color options available. To access more options, players must edit their Miis via the onlineMii Studio, and then import them into the game. If the player signs intoPikmin Bloom with their My Nintendo account, the Mii associated with their account will be the first available to choose from, and they cannot edit skin, hair, or eye colors within the game. There are also 10 free outfits available to choose from for the player's Mii to wear.

When the game first launched, there were only 8 preset Miis to choose from, and only 9 free outfits available to choose from. Since the game launched, 12 more preset Mii options have been added, andhundreds of different individual clothing options for the player's Mii have been made available.

Voice and portrayals

Miis are usually silent in their game appearances, although they will occasionally speak in a gibberish language. When speaking in gibberish, they are usually given a high-pitched voice such as their appearances in theWii Play series,WaraWara Plaza, andMiitopia. In theTomodachi Life series, Miis are given voices inthe game's Mii Maker, and will read phrases with a text-to-speech function. Due to the implementation of Miis speaking full sentences in Japanese,Tomodachi Collection was not released in other regions because of language complications.^[4]

Occasionally, Miis have been given voices in games. This can be seen primarily in theMario Kart series andSuper Smash Bros. series, both featuring multiple voices for the characters depending on their weight, height, or player input.Mario games that feature Miis with voice actors includeMario Kart Wii,Mario Sports Mix,Mario Kart 7,Mario Tennis Open,New Super Mario Bros. U,New Super Luigi U,Mario Golf: World Tour,Mario Kart 8,Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, andNew Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.Mario Kart Wii was the firstMario game to have voices for Miis, of which their voices were reused in later games. InMario Sports Mix, male Miis are voiced by Greg Irwin and female Miis are voiced by Bianca Allen, the voices forBlack Mage andWhite Mage respectively.Super Smash Bros. Ultimate contains twelve customizable voices for theMii Fighters, along with the ability to make them silent as they were in theprevious installment.

Additionally, certain individual Miis created by Nintendo have received voices.Matt fromWii Sports was given grunt sounds for his role as theBoxing coach in theBoxing Training mode.Ray from theWii Fit series was given full voice lines as the coach inRhythm Boxing, telling the player what actions to perform and commenting on their performance.Miguel fromWii Sports Resort was given voice lines as the coach inCycling.Rie and an unnamed male coach ^{[citation needed]} were given voices inWii Fit U as instructors for the newly introducedDance activity, performing and explaining each Dance exercise.

The voice actors Hitomi Hirose and Tomoyuki Higuchi are also notable for being the Japanese voice actors for the male and femaleTrainers from theWii Fit series.

Miis have been voiced by the following people:

Female Miis

• Yūko Kaida
• Hitomi Hirose
• Tomo Adachi
• Ayumi Nagao
• Bianca Allen(Mario Sports Mix only)

Male Miis

• Tomoyuki Higuchi
• Fumihiro Okabayashi
• Takuya Sato
• Koki Harasawa
• Greg Irwin(Mario Sports Mix only)

Mii Fighters

All of the voice options for the Mii Fighters are done by Japanese voice actors, with multiple voice actors sharing a role with a fighter in the game.

Reception and legacy

Miis have been considered an integral part of Nintendo's identity due to their simple yet recognizable design and the accessibility of their creation system. Mii-centric titles such asWii Sports andWii Fit were significant in establishing the Wii as a cultural phenomenon, appealing to nontraditional gaming demographics with easy to understand gameplay and the unique ability to see oneself represented in gameplay. They are regarded as some of the most versatile characters in video game history, appearing in over 300 titles across seven platforms since their debut on the Wii in 2006. They have been featured in a wide range of genres, including sports, role-playing, music, simulation, and party games, and have appeared alongside characters and public figures from numerous multimedia franchises, such as Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mickey Mouse, Hatsune Miku, Alex Trebek, Lionel Messi, and many others. The appeal of Miis has also extended beyond Nintendo's platforms, with players frequently sharing Mii creations online; recreating public figures, celebrities, and fictional characters. This form of creativity was often recognized by Nintendo themselves, leading to the creation ofCheck Mii Out Channel and mechanics in other titles that allowed for the sharing and distribution of Mii characters. Research conducted by Nintendo of Europe also found that the global Mii population reached over 200 million by 2011 from both Wii and Nintendo 3DS systems.^[6]

The success and popularity of Miis inspired several other companies to develop similar avatar creation systems, many of which resembling the Miis' original design. Most notably, Microsoft introduced its own avatar concept, known as Xbox Avatars, for the Xbox 360 gaming console in 2008. Xbox Avatars featured a stylized design that was commonly compared to Miis by players and critics.^[7] Several third-party games released on Nintendo platforms also implemented their own proprietary avatar systems that were influenced by the Mii design and creation process, often occurring because of Nintendo restricting the use of Miis in certain third-party software.

Beyond video games, Miis have appeared in various forms of media includingfilm, TV, literature,advertisements, andtheme parks. At theNintendo Museum in Kyoto, Japan, guests have the option to place their personal Mii character printed onto their admission card. Various merchandise that utilized Miis could be purchased as one of a kind items onClub Nintendo and theWii no Ma service such as Wii Remote battery covers, business cards, and stamps. Businesses and institutions unrelated to Nintendo have also used Miis in their branding. ^{[citation needed]} Matt, a CPU Mii introduced inWii Sports has become an internet meme as a result of his notably high difficulty inWii series games, with Nintendo referencing him in titles such asSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate andNintendo Switch Sports, where he can be fought against as aChambara boss opponent in the latter via a cheat code. A Mii was also infamously used by Japanese police in 2008 on a wanted poster for a hit-and-run suspect,^[8] receiving various internet coverage and even a Guinness World Record for the "first use of Nintendo for criminal investigation".^[9]

Gallery

Main article:Mii/artwork gallery

• 
  A Mii wearing yellow fromBig Brain Academy: Wii Degree.
• 
  Matt playing thegüiro inWii Music.
• 
  A group of Miis exclusive toWii Music.
• 
  Alisha andTakumi playingTime Bomb fromWii Party.
• 
  Millie,Skip, andAlice as Toads chasingYuji as Mario inMario Chase, aNintendo Land attraction.
• 
  Vanessa dressed asLink inThe Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest.
• 
  Amarried couple holding aBaby inTomodachi Life.
• 
  Cheng-Han,Haruka,Marius, andIlka inWii Party U.
• 
  Marit rolling dice inHighway Rollers fromWii Party U.
• 
  TheMii Fighters fromSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.
• 
  Three Miis from the Tomodachi Life: Club Nintendo Fashion Catalog inMiitomo.
• 
  Nikki fromSwapdoodle greeting three Miis who were mascots of theMiiverse service.
• 
  A Mii with theWarriorJob inMiitopia.
• 
  Guillermo transforming into anAmiimal inDillon's Dead-Heat Breakers.
• 
  The Mii Fighters fromSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Trivia

• The shape of the Miis were based onKokeshi dolls, traditional Japanese toys with round heads, cylindrical bodies, and no arms or legs.^[10]
• ThePlay Nintendo page for the Miis listsMario as their one and only friend.^[11]
• It has been seen that the word "Mii" cannot be written in either all uppercase or lowercase letters in official contexts. The former can be seen in theStreetPass Mii Plaza gameMii Force, where a line from the Mii Force Captain is written as"Mii FORCE, ASSEMBLE!" A notable case of the latter was seen inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, where an in-game notification was written in character asSans promoting his ownMii Fighter costume. "Mii" is capitalized in this notification despite Sans' dialogue in theUndertale series being written almost completely in lowercase.
• Miis are referenced inThe Super Mario Bros. Movie via a silhouette in Luigi's phone when he receives a call from the Brooklyn Couple early on in the movie.
• Some Miis make a cameo inMario Kart: Bowser's Challenge inUniversal theme parks. They appear in the queue to showcase ride mechanics and safety precautions.

See also

• List of official Miis
• List of official Miis/QR codes

References