Picrew.me is a Japanese image maker platform that launched in 2018, allowing users to create and share custom character generators. While initially popular in Japan, it became a massive global phenomenon within LGBTQ+ and artist communities on Twitter and Tumblr as a tool for self-expression. The Picrew meme typically involves users sharing their stylized avatars to represent their gender identity, aesthetic, or ideal self compared to reality. It has evolved from a simple creation tool into a shorthand for online personality, often used in meet the artist posts or to signal specific subcultural affiliations through distinct art styles.