On pixiv, works that include strange things or people lurking behind a character or deep within the background are sometimes tagged with #後ろの存在感 (lit. something lurking in the back). These surprise elements broaden the story and add playful intrigue to otherwise ordinary scenes. Some of them will have you doing a double-take when you spot them!

Watch out behind you for this collection of illustrations tagged with #SomethingLurking.

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A photo of a baby barn owl determinedly running through the grass captured hearts worldwide with its surreal cuteness when it was shared online. In Japan, it became a meme called “eho eho,” named for the sound one makes when hurrying somewhere with a purpose. The charm of this fluffy little runner has inspired countless fan art, flooding pixiv with creative tributes.

This collection of illustrations showcases adorable fan art of the beloved baby owl, along with playful parodies featuring some of your favorite characters.

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On pixiv, you’ll sometimes come across drawings with the tag #後ろの存在感 (ushiro no sonzaikan, lit. “presence in the back”). These illustrations usually have something or someone in the background that stands out just as much, if not more, than the main focus of the picture. At times, it can be hard to pay attention to the main character because of how intriguing the scene in the background appears—keep scrolling through these images, and we think you’ll see what we mean!

Which of these background presences did you find the hardest to ignore?

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Do you ever have that feeling where when someone tells you not to do something, it only makes you want to do it even more? That’s what 混ぜるな危険 (mazeruna kiken, lit. “danger, do not mix”) entails, but artists on pixiv have taken that phrase and turned it into a tag for crossover illustrations that will make you go, “Dang, never dreamt of pairing those two together!” Kitaro’s father and Gintoki Sakata look surprisingly good in each other’s outfits in the outfit swap drawing below, don’t you think?

Are you ready for these boundary-shattering crossover illustrations? Keep scrolling to test the limits of your imagination!

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Are you a fan of crossovers? While some marriages simply aren’t meant to be, sometimes a crossover just works so well that it barely even registers that the drawing is a series mashup. That’s what the tag #混ぜるな自然 (mazeruna shizen)—a play on the word 自然 (shizen) meaning “nature” and the phrase 混ぜるな危険 (mazeruna kiken, lit. “Danger, do not mix”)—is essentially for. Mixing A plus B doesn’t always spell disaster: sometimes, the result is a fusion that’s so harmonious that you can’t help but go, “Genius, please DO mix”!

Which of these drawings was your favorite crossover, and are there any dream collabs you would love to see?

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Drawings tagged as #後ろの存在感 (ushiro no sonzaikan, lit. “presence in the back”) usually have something or someone in the background that stands out just as much, if not more, than the main focus of the picture. At times, they may be small or slightly blurry, but nevertheless, they get you wondering what might be going on as if two stories are taking place simultaneously in a single illustration.

While the main character might be front and center, today, the spotlight is all on the characters in the background! Which of these “background presences” caught your eye the most?

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Crossovers aren't for everyone, but they can be a lot of fun! Test the limits of your imagination by checking out other crossover illustrations below!

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