“Before Coron existed, I felt stuck – like my life had hit a bug,” Vii laughs. “But once I started designing Coron, I began to see a way forward. That’s why I want Coron to represent happiness.”
We meet Vii, the artist behind Coron, at a time when her path ahead felt rough, uneven, and full of questions. The ice-cream-headed girl with a curved, gentle smile holds more beneath her surface than simple “cuteness.” She is, in fact, a quiet embodiment of a personal dream – one that Vii is sharing with us for the first time.
A Kid Who Loved Cartoons
When asked what she was like as a child, Vii answers without hesitation: “I loved cartoons.”
Teletubbies, Ojamajo Doremi, The Powerpuff Girls, Naruto, Reborn – these were the favorites of young Vii. Like many kids of her generation, she woke up early just to sit in front of the TV.
“Mornings were my time to claim the TV, so my mom would end up watching with me,” she recalls.
What set her apart, however, was how cartoons became the gateway to drawing. Vii began sketching characters she saw in manga – big, sweet eyes in the popular style of the time. As she grew older, she became a K-pop fan and shifted into drawing chibi-style fan art, a period she remembers as the time she drew the most.
A Clearer Dream in a Darker Moment
To understand how Coron was born, we have to return to a crossroads in Vii’s life – between doing what she loved and earning a living.
At one point, Vii worked as a barista in Chiang Mai before getting the chance to help sell products at art events in Bangkok. That led to a role as an assistant illustrator on a project. She quit her job, packed her bags, and moved back to Bangkok.
But the project eventually fell apart. Payment issues arose, and Vii found herself questioning everything: Should she choose happiness or income? If she wanted both, how? And where should she even begin?
Those questions led her back to an old dream – opening a café.
But not just any café. A character café.
A Character Café: A Shared Dream of Vii and Coron
Vii explains her vision to us:
“I want to design a character that people recognize. When I’m ready to open my café, another dream of mine, I’ll use that character as the main mascot. The whole café would revolve around them, like stepping into their world.”
That character became Coron – a little girl with a multi-flavored ice-cream head. From classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry to playful ones like milky sea salt, chocolate mint (famously controversial!), and clover. No matter the flavor, Coron retains her signature pastel palette, soft and gentle cuteness, and an irresistibly high level of deliciousness (even if she isn’t actually edible.)
“Coron-chan”: A Name Born from a Search
We ask why Coron’s head is shaped like ice cream.
“I love baking and sweets,” Vii says. “Before ice cream, I tried cakes and other desserts too. But ice cream was what felt the most natural to draw – it has a clear shape. I’m not great with complicated ideas, so I wanted something straightforward.”
Coron’s design is cute, simple, and classic – like ice cream itself – but with subtle details Vii intentionally added. The smile evolved from the letter V, and behind her head is a small detail of melting ice cream.
Even the name Coron has a humble origin. Vii laughs as she explains that she searched for “cute dessert names” online and adapted one she liked.
“I don’t even remember the original anymore. I just remember it started with C and O.”
Coron as an Art Toy
Today, Coron exists in both classic and special flavor collections. The “special” part lies in her 11-centimeter size and the crochet details – hats or head accessories – that resemble ice-cream toppings.
Vii tells us the response has been far beyond what she expected – so much so that it made her cry. Each booth she joins introduces her to new people who gradually become devoted fans, following Coron more closely with every appearance.
Parting Words
“Please follow Coron on social media,” Vii says with a smile. “I’m collaborating with several partners right now, and I’ll also be returning to the original 10-centimeter art toy version. So many people have been asking for it.”
As for us, we can only watch her journey with quiet encouragement, both Coron’s growth as a character and Vii’s dream of a character café. They feel like two dreams moving forward side by side, beautifully aligned.
