Starbucks Cups Turned Into Anime-Themed Art

Ever seen a Starbuckscup that didn’t look quite right—and then realized the Siren had been replaced by Goku or Luffy? That’s no accident. Over the years, artists have turned Starbucks’ iconic green siren logo into a blank canvas for fan art, turning the chain’s standard-issue paper and ceramic cups into unexpected canvases for everything from Dragon Ball to My Hero Academia. For fans of both coffee and anime, these repurposed cups are instant conversation starters.

Yes, someone actually crafts custom Starbucks-themed anime mugs—and not just fan drawings, but fully redesigned logo mugs with characters like Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece), Naruto, and even Iron Man replacing the Starbucks siren. Artist Howard Le has created a series of these, modifying the signature green circle to feature beloved anime heroes and series titles in place of the original Starbucks branding.

What’s Really on Those ‘Starbucks’ Anime Cups?

The most eye-catching examples come from artist Howard Le, a U.S.-based creative who has redesigned the classic Starbucks green siren logo to feature anime characters. The base design remains intact: the same circular green background that frames the iconic Starbucks mermaid. But instead of the usual siren, you’ll find characters like Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece, Naruto Uzumaki from Naruto, and even superheroes like Iron Man. Each mug keeps the original layout, with the character’s name or series title often printed where “Starbucks Coffee” would normally appear.

Series represented in the collection include major anime franchises such as:

• One Piece
• Naruto
• Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)
• KILL la KILL
• JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
• Dragon Ball
• Sailor Moon
• Gintama
• One Punch Man (not explicitly named but implied in broader collections)
• Sword Art Online

There are also crossovers with Western pop culture, including Marvel’s Iron Man. Each version maintains the familiar Starbucks green, creating the illusion that Starbucks has officially collaborated with these franchises—when in fact, it’s all fan-made customization.

Why Are People Customizing Starbucks Cups This Way?

Part of the appeal is the visual dissonance of seeing a globally recognized coffee brand blended with niche Japanese pop culture icons. The Starbucks logo is instantly recognizable, and its simple, circular design makes an ideal template for artistic reinterpretation. By swapping in anime characters, artists like Howard Le tap into the emotions and nostalgia fans have for their favorite series—while also creating a unique, collectible item.

These aren’t just doodles on paper cups. The customized versions pictured replace the actual Starbucks siren with high-quality renderings of anime protagonists, positioned centrally in the green circle. The typography around the border often mirrors the original font style, lending authenticity to the spoof. Some versions are painted on ceramic mugs, others on paper cups—but all are instantly identifiable as altered Starbucks branding.

Where Did This Trend Start—and Why Is It Still Going?

While Starbucks cups have long been a medium for artistic expression (especially during the annual #RedCupContest), the specific trend of replacing the siren with anime characters gained traction online through fan artists. Howard Le’s series stands out because of its consistency and polish: each mug follows the same formula, replacing the siren with a different character while preserving the green backdrop and overall layout. This uniform approach makes the spoof feel intentional—as if Starbucks launched limited-edition anime collaborations.

The trend highlights how deeply embedded Starbucks has become in global pop culture. Its cups are not just containers for coffee, but blank canvases for personal expression, political statements, and now, fan art. The green circle, once a simple brand mark, is now a widely recognized visual shorthand—making it the perfect foundation for creative reinterpretations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Howard Le, and what has he done with Starbucks cups?

Howard Le is a U.S.-based creative artist known for designing custom Starbucks-themed anime mugs. He replaces the Starbucks siren logo with characters from series like One Piece, Naruto, Attack on Titan, and Dragon Ball, keeping the original green circular background and often adding the anime’s title or character name in place of 'Starbucks Coffee.'

Are these anime Starbucks cups official merchandise?

No, these are fan-made creations, not official Starbucks products. The customized mugs are artistic reinterpretations where the original Starbucks logo is replaced with anime characters, giving the false impression of a collaboration between Starbucks and anime franchises.

What anime characters have been used on these modified Starbucks cups?

Featured characters include Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece), Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto), characters from Attack on Titan, KILL la KILL, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Gintama, Sword Art Online, and even Iron Man from Marvel.

Are the cups ceramic or paper?

Both. Some of the customized Starbucks anime mugs are ceramic, while others are paper cups that have been drawn or painted on, maintaining the same green-circle-and-siren format with anime substitutions.

Why do people modify Starbucks cups with anime art?

Fans enjoy blending the globally recognized Starbucks brand with their favorite anime series. The familiar green logo serves as an ideal template for creative fan art, resulting in unique, collectible items that merge coffee culture with pop culture.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Anime Fans

If you love the creativity of anime-themed Starbucks cups, try pairing your drink with FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera for bright berry and floral notes, or Yirgacheffe for juicy citrus and stone fruit. Both single origins highlight the kind of vibrant profiles that anime-inspired art often celebrates. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.