Meiken Cheese is a canine character living in Uncle Jam's bakery, part of the Anpanman universe. His origin stems from being rescued as a starving puppy by Anpanman during the hero's first patrol; Anpanman fed him part of his own anpan head in the forest, forging their lifelong bond. Batako-san later named him "Cheese".

Physically, Cheese appears as a small, light-brown dog with a distinctive dark brown tip on his tail. He has short, rabbit-shaped ears, initially portrayed darker than his body. His posture evolved over time: while originally shown walking primarily on four legs, later portrayals shifted toward bipedal walking, though he retains canine sitting and sleeping postures. He lives in a loaf-shaped doghouse outside the bakery, equipped with personal food and water bowls.

Personality-wise, Cheese blends comedic and heroic traits. He provides comic relief through overdramatic, silly behavior and displays a notably large appetite, consuming food rapidly. Despite occasional laziness and attempts to evade chores, he consistently shows bravery by charging into danger to aid Anpanman. A core responsibility involves transporting or throwing Anpanman's replacement heads in battle. He possesses high intelligence, understanding human language and performing tasks effectively, though he communicates solely through barks intuitively understood by others.

His abilities include exceptional olfactory senses for tracking individuals by scent and heightened hearing enabling him to detect distant SOS signals faster than other characters. His role at the bakery involves assisting with baking tasks and general operations.

Relationships are central to his character. He maintains deep loyalty to Anpanman rooted in his rescue, often accompanying him on early patrols. He shares a close friendship with Butterko (Batako-san) and enjoys spending time with Melonpanna. He also has a romantic connection with Rare Cheese. His role in the movie "Soreike! Anpanman: Yumeneko no Kuni no Nyanii" remains unspecified.