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With a round, huggable body and an assortment of mischievous expressions, Carbi the rice ball is a soft toy making waves in Hong Kong.
Carbi’s creator, 26-year-old illustrator Carina Wong, said the toy’s name was a playful nod to the word “carbohydrates”.
“Rice is a staple across Asia and my personal favourite food,” the Hongkonger explained.
According to Wong, Carbi’s basic rice ball form is a perfect blank canvas for the imagination, and its simplicity invites endless possibilities for what it can represent.
“This allows individuals to connect with Carbi in their own unique way and project their personal ideas and feelings onto the character,” she explained.
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Each Carbi plush tells its own little story through its unique expressions.
Wong said her top three favourites are the “sleepy Carbi”, “smiling Carbi”, and “slightly frustrated Carbi”, explaining that since these emotions are “universally human”, they make the character more relatable.
Wong, who also has a full-time job as a graphic designer, created the character in 2020. She was inspired by the two loves of her life: rice and her nine-year-old Pomeranian, Muffin.
“The idea behind Carbi actually came from how much happiness Muffin brings me and my family. These cherished memories we create together are the foundation of Carbi’s being,” she said.
Finding comfort in Carbi
Over the past three years, the whimsical character has even become a staple at POP TOY SHOW in Singapore, a major annual event in Southeast Asia for pop culture toys, collectibles and merchandise.
Wong recounted how a young girl approached her at the event in August with her own Carbi plushie, saying it helped her feel safe at night and protected her from nightmares.
“I was really touched [to hear that] because I used to be this girl who found comfort in my soft toy when I was scared,” she said.
“To have this child tell me how Carbi has such a positive impact on her further motivated me to give back to the community, especially in the area of mental health.”
She noted that teenagers in Hong Kong face lots of academic pressure while navigating the complexities of adolescence.
In such times, characters like Carbi can provide a unique form of support, acting as a silent companion when they need to process their feelings privately.
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Taking chances
Carbi has also made a difference in Wong’s personal life, helping her open up.
“A lot of people only know me as the rice ball girl. They did not know how I looked until very recently. I used to do only faceless [Instagram] reels as I am actually quite shy,” she said.
Thanks to Carbi fans, she is getting more comfortable being on camera.
“The incredible encouragement and support from the Carbi community gave me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone,” she said.
The illustrator is continuing to push her boundaries with her future creative projects. She is preparing for another toy show in August and already has new ideas for expanding the Carbi universe, which currently also includes Carbina, Carbi’s girlfriend.
“I hope that by sharing my own journey, it encourages others to also take chances,” she said.
“It’s OK to try and see what happens, regardless of the reaction.”
To test your understanding of this story, download our printable worksheet or answer the questions in the quiz below.
