The mascot of the Australian Olympic team, known as BK, has been "re-imagined" thanks to a partnership with the Royal Australian Mint and airline Qantas.

Both manga kangaroos will be the "cousins" of BK, who has been the symbol of Australia at every Olympic Games since Seoul 1988.

They will be designed in the traditional Japanese comic book style.

"BK's cousins, who compete in a wide range of Olympic sports, will be brought to life at this year's Olympic Games," an Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) statement said.

"The new mascots will be revealed by Qantas, with the manga mascots set to adorn the side of the 2020 Olympic team flights home from Tokyo."

Qantas will launch Instagram polls which will allow fans to vote for their favourite designs for the cousins.

Three heats will be held across three weeks before the winning design is unveiled at a launch event before the Games.

The manga cousins will only be used at Tokyo 2020, with BK remaining as the Australian Olympic team mascot. 

BK first became known in 1983 when Australia won the America's Cup sailing race.

The winning crew raised a flag featuring the character, with the AOC later buying the rights to the image in the late 1980s.