The intersection of Elon Musk's public persona and anime culture is one of the internet's most enduring "lore" chapters. What began as a series of eccentric late-night posts eventually evolved into a recurring promise to merge high-tech robotics with one of the internet's most persistent tropes: the catgirl.
2018
The "Elon-chan" Era
The saga truly kicked off in October 2018. Musk shocked his followers by tweeting about his love for anime, specifically mentioning his appreciation for Your Name and Spirited Away.
When a fan jokingly suggested he was becoming "Elon-chan," he leaned into the bit, changing his profile picture to a character from Fullmetal Alchemist and tweeting simply:
The engagement was so out of character for a tech CEO at the time that Twitter briefly locked his account, fearing he had been hacked.
2020
The Official "Poll"
By October 2020, the joke took a turn toward Tesla's actual product roadmap — or at least a "meme-ified" version of it. Musk posted a now-infamous poll asking:
The options were "Absolutely" and "Of Course." With nearly a million votes, the internet overwhelmingly "mandated" the project. At this point, the world didn't know about the Tesla Bot, so most assumed he was just leaning into the "edgelord" persona he often inhabits on X.
2021–2022
Optimus Enters the Chat
When the Tesla Bot (Optimus) was officially announced in 2021, the catgirl jokes resurfaced instantly. During a 2022 TED interview with Chris Anderson, Musk discussed the future of humanoid robots as companions. When asked if there would be "catgirl" versions, he smiled and confirmed that he had essentially "promised the internet" he would deliver.
On September 30, 2022 — the same day Tesla showcased the first walking Optimus prototype at AI Day — he doubled down:
2024
The "We, Robot" Milestone
As the Optimus program matured, the narrative shifted from "if" to "when." On October 11, 2024, during the lead-up to the "We, Robot" event at the Warner Bros. lot, Musk reminded the world of his long-standing commitment:
During the event, Optimus bots were seen interacting with the crowd, handing out drinks, and even dancing. While none were wearing feline ears just yet, Musk's vision remains clear: he views the humanoid robot not just as a factory worker, but as a customizable companion that can take on "many forms" to suit human desires — no matter how niche they may be.
Timeline Summary
| Oct 2018 |
Musk professes love for anime; Twitter locks his account. |
| Oct 2020 |
The "Catgirl Poll" goes viral with 81.9% voting "Absolutely." |
| Sep 2022 |
Musk confirms a catgirl version of Optimus is "natural" at AI Day. |
| Oct 2024 |
Reaffirms the promise of "catgirls in robot form" at the Cybercab event. |
Whether this becomes a genuine Tesla SKU, Musk has successfully linked the future of robotics with the aesthetic of anime, ensuring that the "Catgirl" remains a permanent part of the Optimus Bot's legacy.
