Wisut Ponnimit
Wisut Ponnimit (born August 15, 1976, in Bangkok, Thailand) is a Thai cartoonist, animator, illustrator and musician. He is best known for creating Mamuang, a cute character popular in Thailand and Japan, and hesheit, an ongoing series of short comic stories.
He began drawing in grade 7, inspired by manga like Dragon Ball and Captain Tsubasa, as well as cartoons such as Mickey Mouse, Pink Panther and Doraemon. In 1998 he started hesheit, one of the first alternative Thai comics, with some of it translated into English and Japanese.
From 2003 to 2005 he studied in Japan and began working as a manga artist for Shinchosha and Shogakukan. His manga Blanco appeared in the Japanese magazine Ikki Comics from 2007 to 2010. He also contributed to the Thai alternative comic anthology MUD from 2008 to 2011.
A collection of his short stories translated into English, Him Her That, was published in 2013 and received praise; Time Out Tokyo called it “the English manga book you simply have to buy.” The character Mamuang became very well known, in part because millions downloaded its Line stickers.
In Japan, the 2005 work Everybodyeverything, serialized in Magazine 5, helped him gain attention, and Mamuang merchandise grew in popularity. He has won awards, including being named by Elle Japan as one of the world’s 250 most interesting people to watch and the Encouragement Prize/New Face Award at the 13th Japan Media Arts Festival for hesheit aqua.
Wisut Ponnimit also makes short animated films and music, and drums for the band Penguin Villa. He divides his time between Thailand and Japan.
In 2023 he was accused of sexual intimidation and apologized for it. His art is known for its simple, childlike drawings, little or no dialogue, and a blend of humor, warmth and philosophy that helped push Thai comics toward a broader audience.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:00 (CET).