Replay Google’s Punch the Monkey Easter Egg
Quick Facts
- Summary
- Heart-shaped drawings of Punch start falling as the scene opens; tap the heart button to add another wave.
- Creator
- Launched
- 2026-02-26
- Status
- Recreated
Try the Easter Egg
The Original Easter Egg
How It Started
Punch is a Japanese macaque born at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on July 26, 2025. After his mother rejected him, keepers raised him by hand and gave him an IKEA Djungelskog orangutan plush toy for comfort.
In February 2026, people followed his progress with the macaque group through zoo updates shared under #HangInTherePunch and #がんばれパンチ.
Google added its Punch the Monkey Search tribute in late February 2026, with falling heart-shaped pictures of Punch holding his plush toy.
What It Did
A search for Punch the Monkey revealed a heart on the results page. Clicking it released heart-shaped illustrations of Punch from the top of the screen.
A heart button near the bottom remained available to trigger further waves of illustrations.
Impact and Reach
Images of Punch clinging to his orangutan plush toy drew sympathy around the world. Messages of support spread under #HangInTherePunch, and more visitors came to Ichikawa City Zoo to see him. Google’s falling hearts joined that show of support, with Punch and his comfort toy pictured together.
Its Discontinuation
The tribute appeared in late February 2026 and seems to have disappeared around the end of March. Google did not announce an official removal date.
The Restored Experience
What’s Different Here
This page recreates the falling-heart effect with new illustrations of Punch holding his orangutan plush toy. The artwork was made for this page, rather than taken from Google’s original animation.
The first wave begins automatically when you enter. Tap the heart near the bottom to add more; the × beside it hides the extra controls while leaving the heart available. A share button appears on supported devices.
The Easter Egg Experience
Open the Easter egg, and the first hearts start falling almost right away. Punch drifts down the screen hugging his plushie, and the results page fills up with pink hearts.
How to Try It
- Click the button above to open the Punch the Monkey Easter egg.
- Watch the first heart-shaped drawings of Punch fall from the top of the page.
- Wait for the heart button to appear near the bottom.
- Tap the heart button whenever you want another wave.
- Use the page’s back arrow to leave the effect. Open it again to start with the first shower.
The animation refers to Punch’s real-life story at Ichikawa City Zoo. The illustrated orangutan is his plush toy, while Punch himself is a Japanese macaque.
Final Thoughts
Punch and the plush toy that comforted him drift down together, turning the messages of support behind Google’s tribute into a shower of hearts.
Try the Easter Egg
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Google Punch the Monkey Easter egg?
Google’s Punch the Monkey Easter egg was a Search animation introduced in late February 2026. It paid tribute to Punch, a baby Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo whose story had drawn worldwide attention.
When you searched for Punch the Monkey, a heart appeared. Clicking it sent heart-shaped drawings of Punch hugging his orangutan plushie falling down the results page.
This website recreates the effect with heart-shaped drawings made for this page. A first wave falls automatically; tap the heart at the bottom to send down more.
Who is Punch the Monkey?
Punch, also called Panchi-kun, is a Japanese macaque born on July 26, 2025, at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. He was named after Monkey Punch, the manga artist who created Lupin the Third.
Keepers raised Punch by hand after his mother rejected him and gave him an IKEA Djungelskog orangutan plush toy for comfort. People followed his progress with the other macaques and shared messages of support under #HangInTherePunch and #がんばれパンチ.
