Tokyo Olympic organizers unveiled a shortlist of three official 2020 Games mascots Thursday -- from bug-eyed cartoon heroes to cuddly raccoons.

The three sets were selected from 2,042 entries submitted by the public which celebrate the themes of harmony, diversity, and resilience. The first set is a pair of humanoid characters clad in the 'ichimatsu" checkered pattern of the Games' official logo. The second set features a "maneki neko" (good luck cat) and a fox commonly seen at Shinto shrines. The third set features a fox and a dog with gold ribbons on their backs.

After a bungled rollout of the official Olympic logo that led to it being scrapped following accusations of plagiarism, local organizers have left the selection of the Tokyo 2020 mascots in the hands of schoolchildren. From December 11 to February 22, pupils at every elementary school across Japan -- and Japanese schools overseas -- will choose their favorite design, with each class casting a single vote. The winner will be announced on February 28.

Last month, Tokyo opened its first new permanent venue for the 2020 Olympics -- a welcome boost after plans for the main stadium were torn up by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe two years ago over its $2 billion price tag.