{"id":21985374,"url":"https://github.com/phmajerus/cowfiles","last_synced_at":"2026-02-25T23:02:55.384Z","repository":{"id":256283268,"uuid":"854807821","full_name":"PhMajerus/CowFiles","owner":"PhMajerus","description":"Philippe Majerus’s cowsay character files collection","archived":false,"fork":false,"pushed_at":"2025-06-08T21:56:50.000Z","size":281,"stargazers_count":4,"open_issues_count":0,"forks_count":1,"subscribers_count":1,"default_branch":"main","last_synced_at":"2025-06-08T22:28:58.880Z","etag":null,"topics":["ansi-art","cli","cowfiles","cowsay","cowthink","pixel-art","pseudo-pixels","semigraphics","sixel","terminal","unicode","unicode-art"],"latest_commit_sha":null,"homepage":"","language":null,"has_issues":true,"has_wiki":null,"has_pages":null,"mirror_url":null,"source_name":null,"license":null,"status":null,"scm":"git","pull_requests_enabled":true,"icon_url":"https://github.com/PhMajerus.png","metadata":{"files":{"readme":"README.md","changelog":null,"contributing":null,"funding":null,"license":null,"code_of_conduct":null,"threat_model":null,"audit":null,"citation":null,"codeowners":null,"security":null,"support":null,"governance":null,"roadmap":null,"authors":null,"dei":null,"publiccode":null,"codemeta":null,"zenodo":null}},"created_at":"2024-09-09T20:10:35.000Z","updated_at":"2025-06-08T21:56:55.000Z","dependencies_parsed_at":"2025-06-12T04:33:58.083Z","dependency_job_id":null,"html_url":"https://github.com/PhMajerus/CowFiles","commit_stats":null,"previous_names":["phmajerus/cowfiles"],"tags_count":0,"template":false,"template_full_name":null,"purl":"pkg:github/PhMajerus/CowFiles","repository_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/PhMajerus%2FCowFiles","tags_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/PhMajerus%2FCowFiles/tags","releases_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/PhMajerus%2FCowFiles/releases","manifests_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/PhMajerus%2FCowFiles/manifests","owner_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/owners/PhMajerus","download_url":"https://codeload.github.com/PhMajerus/CowFiles/tar.gz/refs/heads/main","sbom_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories/PhMajerus%2FCowFiles/sbom","host":{"name":"GitHub","url":"https://github.com","kind":"github","repositories_count":259398219,"owners_count":22851392,"icon_url":"https://github.com/github.png","version":null,"created_at":"2022-05-30T11:31:42.601Z","updated_at":"2022-07-04T15:15:14.044Z","host_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub","repositories_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repositories","repository_names_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/repository_names","owners_url":"https://repos.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/hosts/GitHub/owners"}},"keywords":["ansi-art","cli","cowfiles","cowsay","cowthink","pixel-art","pseudo-pixels","semigraphics","sixel","terminal","unicode","unicode-art"],"created_at":"2024-11-29T18:13:34.869Z","updated_at":"2026-02-25T23:02:55.371Z","avatar_url":"https://github.com/PhMajerus.png","language":null,"funding_links":[],"categories":[],"sub_categories":[],"readme":"# Philippe Majerus’s cowsay files collection\n\n\n## Introduction\n\nThis repository contains the characters files (\"cows\") I created for the [cowsay/cowthink utility](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowsay).\nWhile original cowsay files are ASCII-art, I decided to experiment with ANSI/VT coloring, extended Unicode characters, pseudo-pixels (such as Unicode 13.0 sextants and Unicode 16.0 octants), and [Sixels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixel).\n\n\n\n## Characters in this repository\n\n\n### alexkidd\n![alexkidd](images/alexkidd.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 13.0 sextants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the Mark III / Master System game Alex Kidd in Miracle World / アレックスキッドのミラクルワールド.\n\n\n### alis\n![alis](images/alis.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 13.0 sextants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on Alis Landale (アリサ・ランディール), the main character from the Mark III / Master System game Phantasy Star / ファンタシースター.\n\n\n### bock\n![bock](images/bock.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 13.0 sextants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on Bock, the main character from the game Wonder Boy in Monster Land / ワンダーボーイⅡ モンスターワールドⅠ, from its Mark III / Master System port.\n\n\n### clippit\n![clippit](images/clippit.png)\n\nThis uses MS-DOS codepage 437 characters and ANSI/VT colors (16 colors) and attributes.\nIt is based on the assistant from Microsoft Office.\n\n\n### sxl-cow\n![sxl-cow](images/sxl-cow.png)\n\nThis uses a sixel image.\nIt is based on the cow sprite from the Super Famicom / SNES game Earthworm Jim.\n\nThe idea of this character is to provide a \"HD remaster\" of the original cow.\nIt can be used as a replacement for the ANSI-art cow used when `cowsay` is called without a `-f` option. To achieve this, rename the `default.cow` that ships with cowsay to `legacy-cow.cow`, and create a symbolic link `default.cow` pointing to `sxl-cow.cow` as follows:\n```bash\ncd /usr/share/cowsay/cows\nsudo mv default.cow legacy-cow.cow\nsudo ln -s sxl-cow.cow default.cow\n```\n\n\n### donkeykong\n![donkeykong](images/donkeykong.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 16.0 octants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the original arcade game Donkey Kong.\n\n\n### dukenukem\n![dukenukem](images/dukenukem.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 13.0 sextants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the original PC game Duke Nukem by Apogee Software.\n\n\n### flappybird\n![flappybird](images/flappybird.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 13.0 sextants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the mobile phone game Flappy Bird.\n\n\n### sxl-guybrush\n![sxl-guybrush](images/sxl-guybrush.png)\n\nThis is a sixel image conversion of Guybrush Threepwood from The Secret of Monkey Island.\n\n\n### hellokitty\n![hellokitty](images/hellokitty.png)\n\nThis uses extended Unicode characters and ANSI/VT colors (16 colors) and attributes (strikethrough, underline).\nIt is based on the Hello Kitty / ハロー・キティ character by Yuko Shimizu / Sanrio.\n\n\n### sxl-indy\n![sxl-indy](images/sxl-indy.png)\n\nThis is a sixel image conversion of Indiana Jones (Indy) from Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis.\n\n\n### link\n![link](images/link.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 16.0 octants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the Famicom / NES game The legend of Zelda / ゼルダの伝説 (The Hyrule Fantasy).\n\n\n### link-16bit\n![link-16bit](images/link-16bit.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 13.0 sextants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the Super Famicom / SNES game The legend of Zelda / ゼルダの伝説 - A Link to the Past / 神々のトライフォース.\n\n\n### mario\n![mario](images/mario.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 13.0 sextants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the Famicom / NES game Super Mario Bros, but with modern colors.\n\n\n### sxl-mario+yoshi\n![sxl-mario+yoshi](images/sxl-mario+yoshi.png)\n\nThis is a sixel image conversion of the Super Mario World sprites of Mario and Yoshi.\n\n\n### mickey\n![mickey](images/mickey.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 13.0 sextants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the Mark III / Master System game Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse / アイラブミッキーマウス ふしぎのお城大冒険 (8-bit).\n\n\n### mona\n![mona](images/mona.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 16.0 octants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the GitHub octocat mascot loading animation.\n\n\n### sxl-pikachu\n![sxl-pikachu](images/sxl-pikachu.png)\n\nThis is a sixel image conversion of the Pikachu sprite of Pokémon Gold \u0026 Silver / ポケットモンスター 金 \u0026 銀.\n\n\n### sxl-popeye\n![sxl-popeye](images/sxl-popeye.png)\n\nThis is a sixel image conversion of the Popeye the Sailor sprite from the Popeye arcade game.\n\n\n### ralph-face\n![ralph-face](images/ralph-face.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 16.0 octants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the cover of the movie soundtrack of Wreck-It Ralph.\n\n\n### rhindle\n![rhindle](images/rhindle.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 16.0 octants and ANSI/VT colors (16 colors).\nIt is  based on Rhindle (red dragon) sprite from the Adventure Atari 2600 game.\n\n\n### rockman\n![rockman](images/rockman.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 13.0 sextants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the Famicom / NES game Rockman / ロックマン / Mega Man.\n\n\n### rover\n![rover](images/rover.png)\n\nThis uses MS-DOS codepage 437 characters and ANSI/VT colors (16 colors) and attributes.\nIt is based on the assistant from Microsoft Bob and Windows XP.\n\n\n### sxl-ryu\n![sxl-ryu](images/sxl-ryu.png)\n\nThis is a sixel image conversion of a Ryu sprite from the game Street Fighter II.\n\n\n### sxl-scrooge-face\n![sxl-scrooge-face](images/sxl-scrooge-face.png)\n\nThis is a sixel image conversion of Scrooge McDuck's face from the DuckTales Famicom / NES game title screen.\n\n\n### sxl-shadowdancer\n![sxl-shadowdancer](images/sxl-shadowdancer.png)\n\nThis is a sixel image conversion of the main character and his dog sprites from Shadow Dancer / 影の舞.\n\n\n### shinobi\n![shinobi](images/shinobi.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 13.0 sextants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the sprite of Joe Musashi in the Game Gear game The GG 忍 Shinobi.\n\n\n### shion\n![shion](images/shion.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 13.0 sextants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the sprite of Shion in the Mega Drive game Wonder Boy in Monster World / ワンダーボーイⅤ モンスターワールドⅢ.\n\n\n### sonic\n![sonic](images/sonic.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 16.0 octants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the Game Gear version of the game Sonic the Hedgehog 2.\n\n\n### sxl-strider\n![sxl-strider](images/sxl-strider.png)\n\nThis is a sixel image conversion of Strider Hiryu / ストライダー飛竜 sprite from the eponymous game.\n\n\n### tamagotchi\n![tamagotchi](images/tamagotchi.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 16.0 separated sextants.\nIt is based on the 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c/sup\u003e generation of Tamagotchi / たまごっち LCD toy by Bandai.\n\n\n### sxl-tentacle\n![sxl-tentacle](images/sxl-tentacle.png)\n\nThis is a sixel image conversion of the Purple Tentacle sprite from Day of the Tentacle.\n\n\n### tiki\n![tiki](images/tiki.png)\n\nThis uses Unicode 16.0 octants and ANSI/VT colors (256 colors).\nIt is based on the arcade game The NewZealand Story.\n\n\n### sxl-vanellope\n![sxl-vanellope](images/sxl-vanellope.png)\n\nThis is a sixel image conversion of Vanellope von Schweetz character illustration from Wreck-It Ralph.\n\n\n\n## Installing \u0026 using cow files\nYou'll need the cowsay utility, so start with `sudo apt install cowsay` or equivalent for your distro.\n\nCopy the files from this repo's `cows` folder to  `/usr/share/cowsay/cows`.\n\nThen simply use the `cowsay -f [character name] [message]` command.\n\nFor Unicode sextants and octants, you will need recent fonts that include the _Legacy Computing Symbols_, such as [Cascadia Mono](https://github.com/microsoft/cascadia-code), [Cozette](https://github.com/the-moonwitch/Cozette), or [Iosevka Term](https://github.com/be5invis/Iosevka).\nFor sixels images support, [Windows Terminal](https://github.com/microsoft/terminal) or another VT340-compatible terminal emulator is required.\n\n---\n\n-- Philippe Majerus, September 2024 to February 2026\n\n_These are all designed to celebrate classic pixel art nostalgia. All characters and trademarks are the property of their respective owners._\n\n---\n\nIf you enjoy ANSI-art and Unicode semigraphics, also check out [my FIGfonts collection](https://github.com/PhMajerus/FIGfonts) and [my ANSI-art collection](https://github.com/PhMajerus/ANSI-art).\n","project_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/projects/github.com%2Fphmajerus%2Fcowfiles","html_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/projects/github.com%2Fphmajerus%2Fcowfiles","lists_url":"https://awesome.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/projects/github.com%2Fphmajerus%2Fcowfiles/lists"}