Using Project Sekai (Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage) cursor themes in Linux

The instruction (for those who just want to know how to apply a Windows cursor theme in Linux)

The following steps work for Linux Mint (which I use), and should work for other Ubuntu/Debian-based distributions, but may not work for the more non-conventional ones (and those that use Wayland-based desktop environments).

The Project Sekai cursor themes can be found here.

1. Install the Python package win2xcur, which can be done via pipx (why pipx but not pip? see here for explanation).

   win2xcur can convert the cursor theme files in Windows format (.ani or .cur) to the Xcursor format, which can be used in Linux (provided that the desktop environment is based on X Window System), and vice versa.

   Via the terminal, run the commands pipx ensurepath and/or pipx completions where necessary to ensure that the package can then be accessed globally (system-wide).

2. Follow the usage instructions on the package’s README file.

   Use the win2xcur command if you want to (individually or batch) convert .ani or .cur files to the Xcursor format.

   Use the win2xcurtheme command if you want to convert an entire Windows cursor theme contained in a given directory/folder that comes with the install.inf file (which is the case for the Project Sekai cursor themes).

3. Make sure that the target folder contains another folder named cursors where the asset files reside, as well as the following two text files:

   • index.theme
   • cursor.theme

   The index.theme file should look something like this:

   [Icon Theme]
   Name = example-cursor-theme (can be edited)
   Comment = My example cursor theme (can be edited).
   

   The cursor.theme should look something like this:

   [Icon Theme]
   Name = example-cursor-theme (can be edited)
   inherits=example-cursor-theme (follow Name)
   

4. Copy the new directory/folder that contains the converted files to /usr/share/icons/ (root access required).

   This can be done via the following terminal command:

   sudo cp -r [directory of said converted theme] /usr/share/icons/[name of said theme folder]
   

   For example, if the folder is named tsukasa-cursor-animation and located in the Downloads folder (in the home directory), then the exact command should look like this:

   sudo cp -r ~/Downloads/tsukasa-cursor-animation/ /usr/share/icons/tsukasa-cursor-animation/
   

5. On Linux Mint, change the cursor theme via Themes; click Advanced settings... to switch to more fine-tuned options, then at the Mouse Pointer option, select the theme with your previously decided folder name.

   If you’re using a GNOME-based desktop environment (e.g. in Ubuntu or some Ubuntu-based distros such as Pop!_OS), you may need to use GNOME Tweaks; see this article for more detailed instructions.

   For KDE, go to System Settings > Workspace Theme > Cursors; see here for more details.

There you have it! If things go well, you should be able to see the desired change on your cursor!

Backstory (for those who want to read it)

The English-language global server of the Vocaloid-themed gacha rhythm game Project Sekai (officially known as Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage!) has recently released a series of cursor (mouse pointer) themes, whose designs are based on the ‘virtual singer’ and ‘in-game unit leader’ characters, on their website.

Each of the cursor themes comes in two variants: static and animated, and they are distributed as individual ZIP archive files.

As a Tsukasa fan, I decided to download the (animated) Tsukasa cursor theme for my own use. However, it comes with an install.inf file, and the asset files in the cursor theme are in the .ani format (for the animated version; as for the static version, they’re in the .cur format), both of which are only compatible with Windows (same for .cur).

As a Linux user (my main laptop currently runs in Linux Mint), this means that I cannot apply the cursor theme straight away, so I did some workarounds and/or modifications to use the theme in my Linux laptop.

I’ve then finally devised the steps as seen above to make it work at least in my own laptop. I’ve consulted this forum thread and this GitHub page, then made some minor edits upon them to better suit my own situation.