published jun 23, 2026
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In this guide, you will learn how to make a custom animated desktop pet like Clippy. It will sit on your screen and give you status updates from your Codex agent as it works.
You will create a custom animated Codex pet, add it to the Codex desktop app, and wake it as a floating status companion.
Behind the scenes, the pet is more than one static image. The hatch-pet skill turns your mascot idea into the files Codex needs for different pet states and animations.
Once you have one pet working, turn the same process into a repeatable customization checklist: update the pet, tune the app theme, set your preferred Codex personality, and document project rules in AGENTS.md.
You can also browse the Petdex GitHub repo (https://github.com/crafter-station/petdex) for user-created pet inspiration. Treat outside pet files like any other community-created asset: inspect what you are installing, avoid untrusted commands, and use the gallery for ideas when you are not sure what style you want.
Open the Codex desktop app, check for updates, then go to Settings > Appearance > Pets.
This is where you can choose one of the pre-made pets. Select one, and click Wake, then move back into another app so you can see how the pet sits on your desktop while Codex works.
You can drag the pet around your desktop, and it will show you progress on open Codex threads and even let you reply to them.
Pro tip: Right-click the pet from anywhere to close it. You can also type /pet in Codex to bring it back without reopening settings.
Do not start by asking Codex to make the full pet pack. Full pet creation can take a long time because Codex generates multiple images, poses, and sprite sheets.
Start by asking for a few lightweight concept options:
Generate four basic mascot images I could use with the Codex pet feature. Keep them simple, readable at small size, and transparent-background friendly.Pick the mascot you like best. Make sure it's not too cluttered or filled with lots of text.
Try to get Codex or ChatGPT to simplify it down; that is what we had to do.
Pro tip: We recommend doing this first because full pet creation takes a long time. It is cheaper to reject a rough concept than to wait through a full animated pack you do not like.
When you like a concept, tell Codex to run @hatch-pet on the mascot you like.
For a clean first pass, use a prompt like this:
use @hatch-pet create a small red dragon pet for Codex. Make it friendly, simple, and readable at a small overlay size. Use a transparent background and do not use any logos, text, or real-person likenesses.If the result gets too busy, ask Codex to simplify the mascot before you continue:
Simplify the pet into one clear mascot silhouette with a red body, small wings, tiny horns, and one subtle coding-tool detail. Keep the transparent background. Do not add text, branding, scenery, or extra characters.While the skill runs, you should see Codex work through the pet pack. That may include the main look, poses, and sprite-sheet-style assets.
We had an instance where the mascot wasn't consistent between sprites, and I think that's just because it was overcomplicated and an abstract concept.
If you pick an animal or a creature that's real, it should be more consistent.
When the pet is done, go back to Settings > Appearance > Pets and click refresh.
Your new custom pet should appear in the picker. Select it, click Wake, and then test it while Codex runs a thread. Keep it visible when you want status updates, then close or tuck it away when you need a clean screen.
If your new pet does not appear immediately, refresh once more. If it still does not show up, give Codex a moment to finish saving the generated files before you troubleshoot anything else.
You can also use /pet from Codex when you want to bring the overlay back quickly.
Keep going
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