Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
How It Works • Games & Tech

Mii

Mii is a customizable digital avatar system created by Nintendo for use on its video game consoles and some mobile apps.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Mii is a customizable digital avatar system created by Nintendo for use on its video game consoles and some mobile apps. Introduced on the Wii in 2006, Miis can represent players or other characters in compatible games and are known for their simple, cartoon-like appearance.

What it is

Miis are player-created avatars that first appeared on the Wii in 2006. The name combines "Wii" and "me," reflecting their role as personal stand-ins. Designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, Miis have since appeared on the Nintendo DS, 3DS, Wii U, Switch, and Switch 2.

How it works

Miis are built from simple adjustable features like face shape, hair, eyes, and clothing. Their stylized look makes them recognizable while still resembling the player. In games such as Wii Sports, they act as direct avatars; in Tomodachi Life and Miitopia, they take on individual personalities and roles.

Why it matters

Miis became closely tied to the Wii era and are widely recognized as part of Nintendo's identity. They have appeared in crossover and sports-style games across multiple hardware generations, maintaining visibility and cultural relevance among family and party gamers, including a large Canadian user base.

In short

  • Miis are player-created avatars used in Nintendo software and games.
  • They first appeared on the Wii console in 2006.
  • The name combines "Wii" and "me."
  • Mii support spans multiple Nintendo platforms, including handheld and mobile.
Canadian angle

Miis are relevant to Canadian readers as part of Nintendo's global console ecosystem, which has a large user base in Canada and strong popularity among family and party games.

Quick questions

What is a Mii?
A Mii is a customizable digital avatar used by Nintendo on its consoles and related software.
When did Miis first appear?
Miis first appeared on the Wii in 2006.
What does the name Mii mean?
The name is a portmanteau of "Wii" and "me."

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mii
    Supports: Overview of Mii as a customizable avatar system; name origin; platforms; uses in games.
  2. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mii
    Supports: Creator attribution to Shigeru Miyamoto; first appearance on Wii; later platform support.
  3. Super Mario Wiki — https://www.mariowiki.com/Mii
    Supports: Name origin and appearances in Nintendo games with Super Mario elements.
  4. Wikipedia — https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mii
    Supports: Customization features and use as player avatars or characters with personalities.