KADOKAWA Turns Italian Brainrot Meme Into Kids’ Encyclopedias

Japanese media company KADOKAWA’s  gaming and entertainment subsidiary Kadokawa Game Linkage said it will publish two illustrated children’s encyclopedias based on the “Italian brainrot.” The announcement highlights the rapid rise of AI-generated ‘meme culture’ among Gen Z and younger audiences.

The titles, Italian Brainrot Illustrated Encyclopedia and Italian Brainrot Encyclopedia: Tung Tung Tung Sahur and Friends Come Together, will be released on April 1, 2026. Together, they feature more than 100 AI-generated “brainrot” characters and also feature furigana (phonetic guides) to aid early readers.

KADOKAWA’s Italian Brainrot Illustrated Encyclopedia is reported to be a classic illustrated book, whereas the second one, Tung Tung Tung Sahur and Friends Come Together, is a “picture-book-styled board book,” according to AUTOMATON. Both books are priced at ¥1.1K (~$7.10 USD).

Italian Brainrot: From Viral Meme to Printed Encyclopedias

Italian brainrot primarily refers to a segment of AI-generated memes that emerged in 2025. These feature absurd hybrid creatures with pseudo-Italian names, such as Tralalero Tralala, Ballerina Cappuccina, and Chimpanzini Bananini.

These brairots were popularized through social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. According to a 2025 survey by JS Research Institute and Corocoro Comic Research Institute,  “Italian brainrot” was the most popular buzzword among Japanese elementary school girls reading Pucchigumi and the second most popular among young boys reading Corocoro comic.

The publisher said these encyclopedias are intended to bridge generational gaps, helping parents understand internet culture that often leaves adults puzzled. The books will also include lyrics to some popular “brainrot songs” that are popular among Japanese kids.

Although rooted in digital virality, Italian brainrot illustrates how digital content shapes youth engagement. According to AUTOMATON’s reporting, the brainrot song I'm in love with Tung Tung Tung Sahur has over 32M views on YouTube and influenced a TikTok dance trend in Japan.

The trend has already translated into offline merchandise activity. From arcade claw machine trinkets to plushies and stickers based on Italian brainrot are popular among children and teens in Japan. It was further popularized by Roblox and Fortnite’s “Brainrot” events.