The search for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games mascot is down to six finalists.

Toronto 2015 officials announced Thursday they'll be asking people to choose their favourite mascot to represent the coming games starting Monday.

The six finalists are a range of cartoonish creatures described by officials as "a moose in running shoes, a Maple Leaf-headed beaver, a punk porcupine, a rainbow-hued owl, a rascally raccoon and twins wearing funky hats."

According to games officials, a panel of judges selected the six finalists from more than 4,130 mascot entries.

The mascot submissions were judged based on originality, "kid appeal," how it represented the host region and Canada and "whether it embodied the spirit and values of the Games."

"We want to thank all of our young mascot designers, as well as their friends, family and teachers for participating and wish good luck to the six teams still in the running," Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games CEO Ian Troop stated in a press release. "Our office has been abuzz ever since the challenge closed.

"The designs were so diverse and the participants were incredibly enthusiastic — it made choosing just six incredibly difficult. That's why we need the public's help in choosing Canada's next great Games mascot. This is an important decision: the mascot will serve as our ambassador in the community and throughout the Americas and Caribbean— it will reflect the spirit, energy and joy of who we are when the world comes to visit!"

People can vote for their favourite mascot at toronto2015mascot.ca starting Monday at 9 a.m. Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. on May 5.

The winning mascot will be announced July 17.