Domo-kun
Encyclopedia
is the official mascot
of Japan
's NHK
television station, appearing in several 30 second stop-motion interstitial sketches
shown as station identification during shows.
The name "Domo" was acquired during the second episode of his show in which a TV announcer said, , which is a greeting meaning something along the lines of, "Well, hello there!", but which can also be interpreted as "Hello, Domo", and thus is a convenient pun (dajare
). The kun suffix on "Domo-kun," the name used to describe the character in the Japanese versions, is a Japanese honorific often used with young males.
directs Domo episodes using stop motion
animation. Gōda says that, by using this process, one can "create a work filled with feeling."
stew
, and he has a strong dislike for apple
s, because of an unexplained mystery in his DNA
. Domo can only communicate by producing a low-pitched noise which sounds somewhat like his own name, but other characters appear to understand him. Domo is known to pass gas
repeatedly when nervous or upset. A Tokyopop
press release of the Domo comic book states that "he communicates sotto voce
with a verve that only his
friends can understand." Clint Bickham, the writer of the Domo comic book, said that to him Domo's expression is "a sort of cheery wonderment. Like when a kid wakes to a room full of presents on Christmas
day." While Domo's face has variants, to Bickham most of his expressions have "an underlying sense of fascination."
Domo lives in an underground cave with Mr. Usaji, known in Japanese-language
versions as , a portmanteau of the words , (rabbit), and (old man, grandpa). Mr. Usaji is a wise old rabbit who has lived in a cave for decades, loves to watch television and drink astringent green tea. Mr. Usaji is not into any "new" materials, and does not own a telephone
. In terms of fashion, Mr. Usaji focuses on materials instead of shapes. Mr. Usaji's favorite food is carrot
s, and his least favorite food is "something that is meaningless."
Also in the cave live two bats, a mother named Maya ( in the Japanese version) and her child Mario ( in the Japanese version). Maya suffers from alcoholism
; her favorite foods are seasonal while her least favorite food is alcohol. Mario's favorite food is Japanese-style tomato spaghetti
, while his least favorite food is shiitake mushrooms.
The other main character in the shorts is a weasel girl named Tashanna ( in the Japanese version). Tashanna, 17 years old, is a weasel who aspires to be a fashion stylist or model in Tokyo
and is always using technology (televisions, mobile phones, and cameras). In English Tashanna has a (bear in mind weasels in Japan are not associated with underhandedness) and ends her sentences with "y
"s. In the Japanese version, she ends her sentences with "chi" (ち). She has not had a boyfriend in ten years and she is seeking a platonic boyfriend. She has a passion for bidding in auctions, but she gives up by the end. Tashanna's favorite food is apricot
and mint
tart
s, and her least favorite food is sea urchin
. The Japanese name originates from the word of digital broadcasting.
Bear Boy , also known as , is a Moon Bear and one of Domo's friends from the neighborhood; the timid cub enjoys playing baseball
.
Hee and Haw are pixie twins from a flower. Domo is the only individual who can see them.
The Fox Trio consists of Esther , , and Fox Boy . Esther, the youngest member, enjoys producing crocodile tears, plotting schemes, and causing havoc. Brother Fox, the eldest member, dutifully cares for his youngest siblings and feels upset when referred to as . Fox Boy, having a quiet demeanor, converses with Domo and Bear Boy and prefers to read.
, a large and powerful bear, feels too hungry to take advantage of his strength.
The Ghost randomly appears and disappears.
publishes Domo: The Manga, an original English-language manga
series, in the United States and Canada. Clint Bickham
created the stories and crafted the dialog; Bickam said that he did "pretty much everything short of drawing it." The stories were drawn by Priscilla Hamby
(aka Rem), Lindsay Cibos, Jared Hodges, Sonia Leong, Maximo V. Lorenzo
(in the special 7-11 edition only) and Erie Horita. Bickham decided to use a series of short stories instead of one long story to "recreate the feel of the original series," "so hopefully, reading a story from the manga will feel the same as watching an episode of the show." Bickham said that writing the stories became entertaining when he "got into the Domo mindset." The writer said that Domo's thoughts do not need to be expressed in words as they are "always very simple and innocent." Bickham added that sometimes other characters speak for him. Bickham said that the Domo: the Manga stories "are driven by situations instead of dialogue." To prepare for writing the series, Bickham watched each episode multiple times; Bickham intended to "get a feel for the characters so that the jump from stop-motion to manga would be as seamless as possible." He added that "more than anything, I had to have fun doing it. I don't think you can create a good Domo story without fun."
Deb Aoki of About.com
reviewed Domo: The Manga; she rated it as two out of five stars and described it as "disposable entertainment that doesn't warrant more than a single reading."
that circulated on the internet depicting Domos chasing a kitten with the words stating "Every time you masturbate... God kills a kitten
." An article from ICv2 stated "this phony PSA is quite out of character with Domo's image in Japan."
Domo has 5 video games on the DSiWare on the Nintendo DSi Shop application for the Nintendo DSi
. The 5 games are Crash-Course Domo, Hard-Hat Domo
, Rock-n-Roll Domo, Pro-Putt Domo and White-Water Domo. On Facebook, Domo is featured in the social game Planet Domo.
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
television station, appearing in several 30 second stop-motion interstitial sketches
Interstitial program
In television programming, an interstitial program refers to a short program which is often shown between movies or other events, e.g. a cast interview after movies on premium channels...
shown as station identification during shows.
Name
Domo-kun first appeared in short stop-motion sketches in December 1998 to mark the 10th anniversary of NHK's satellite broadcasting.The name "Domo" was acquired during the second episode of his show in which a TV announcer said, , which is a greeting meaning something along the lines of, "Well, hello there!", but which can also be interpreted as "Hello, Domo", and thus is a convenient pun (dajare
Dajare
is a kind of comic Japanese word play, similar in spirit to pun relying on similarities in the pronunciation of words to create a simple joke.Dajare are popular in advertising...
). The kun suffix on "Domo-kun," the name used to describe the character in the Japanese versions, is a Japanese honorific often used with young males.
Development
Tsuneo GōdaTsuneo Goda
is an animator.He directs Domo shorts by using stop motion animation; Domo is the mascot of NHK.He has also directed the stop motion animation film Komaneko - The Curious Cat and the three-minute stop motion music video short "I am a Bear," which is based on the Hikaru Utada song "Boku wa...
directs Domo episodes using stop motion
Stop motion
Stop motion is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object is moved in small increments between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played as a continuous sequence...
animation. Gōda says that, by using this process, one can "create a work filled with feeling."
Characters
Domo, the main character, is described as "a strange creature that hatched from an egg," with a large, sawtoothed mouth that is locked wide open. Domo's favorite food is Japanese-style meat and potatoPotato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
stew
Stew
A stew is a combination of solid food ingredients that have been cooked in liquid and served in the resultant gravy. Ingredients in a stew can include any combination of vegetables , meat, especially tougher meats suitable for slow-cooking, such as beef. Poultry, sausages, and seafood are also used...
, and he has a strong dislike for apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s, because of an unexplained mystery in his DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
. Domo can only communicate by producing a low-pitched noise which sounds somewhat like his own name, but other characters appear to understand him. Domo is known to pass gas
Flatulence
Flatulence is the expulsion through the rectum of a mixture of gases that are byproducts of the digestion process of mammals and other animals. The medical term for the mixture of gases is flatus, informally known as a fart, or simply gas...
repeatedly when nervous or upset. A Tokyopop
Tokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
press release of the Domo comic book states that "he communicates sotto voce
Sotto voce
Sotto voce means intentionally lowering one's voice for emphasis. The speaker gives the impression of uttering involuntarily a truth which may surprise, shock, or offend...
with a verve that only his
friends can understand." Clint Bickham, the writer of the Domo comic book, said that to him Domo's expression is "a sort of cheery wonderment. Like when a kid wakes to a room full of presents on Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
day." While Domo's face has variants, to Bickham most of his expressions have "an underlying sense of fascination."
Domo lives in an underground cave with Mr. Usaji, known in Japanese-language
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
versions as , a portmanteau of the words , (rabbit), and (old man, grandpa). Mr. Usaji is a wise old rabbit who has lived in a cave for decades, loves to watch television and drink astringent green tea. Mr. Usaji is not into any "new" materials, and does not own a telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
. In terms of fashion, Mr. Usaji focuses on materials instead of shapes. Mr. Usaji's favorite food is carrot
Carrot
The carrot is a root vegetable, usually orange in colour, though purple, red, white, and yellow varieties exist. It has a crisp texture when fresh...
s, and his least favorite food is "something that is meaningless."
Also in the cave live two bats, a mother named Maya ( in the Japanese version) and her child Mario ( in the Japanese version). Maya suffers from alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
; her favorite foods are seasonal while her least favorite food is alcohol. Mario's favorite food is Japanese-style tomato spaghetti
Spaghetti
Spaghetti is a long, thin, cylindrical pasta of Italian origin. Spaghetti is made of semolina or flour and water. Italian dried spaghetti is made from durum wheat semolina, but outside of Italy it may be made with other kinds of flour...
, while his least favorite food is shiitake mushrooms.
The other main character in the shorts is a weasel girl named Tashanna ( in the Japanese version). Tashanna, 17 years old, is a weasel who aspires to be a fashion stylist or model in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and is always using technology (televisions, mobile phones, and cameras). In English Tashanna has a (bear in mind weasels in Japan are not associated with underhandedness) and ends her sentences with "y
Y
Y is the twenty-fifth letter in the basic modern Latin alphabet and represents either a vowel or a consonant in English.-Name:In Latin, Y was named Y Graeca "Greek Y". This was pronounced as I Graeca "Greek I", since Latin speakers had trouble pronouncing , which was not a native sound...
"s. In the Japanese version, she ends her sentences with "chi" (ち). She has not had a boyfriend in ten years and she is seeking a platonic boyfriend. She has a passion for bidding in auctions, but she gives up by the end. Tashanna's favorite food is apricot
Apricot
The apricot, Prunus armeniaca, is a species of Prunus, classified with the plum in the subgenus Prunus. The native range is somewhat uncertain due to its extensive prehistoric cultivation.- Description :...
and mint
Mint (candy)
A mint is a candy characterized by the presence of mint flavoring or real mint oil, whether it be peppermint oil, spearmint oil, or another natural or artificial source...
tart
Tart
A tart is a baked dish consisting of a filling over a pastry base with an open top not covered with pastry. The pastry is usually shortcrust pastry; the filling may be sweet or savoury, though modern tarts are usually fruit-based, sometimes with custard....
s, and her least favorite food is sea urchin
Sea urchin
Sea urchins or urchins are small, spiny, globular animals which, with their close kin, such as sand dollars, constitute the class Echinoidea of the echinoderm phylum. They inhabit all oceans. Their shell, or "test", is round and spiny, typically from across. Common colors include black and dull...
. The Japanese name originates from the word of digital broadcasting.
Bear Boy , also known as , is a Moon Bear and one of Domo's friends from the neighborhood; the timid cub enjoys playing baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
.
Hee and Haw are pixie twins from a flower. Domo is the only individual who can see them.
The Fox Trio consists of Esther , , and Fox Boy . Esther, the youngest member, enjoys producing crocodile tears, plotting schemes, and causing havoc. Brother Fox, the eldest member, dutifully cares for his youngest siblings and feels upset when referred to as . Fox Boy, having a quiet demeanor, converses with Domo and Bear Boy and prefers to read.
, a large and powerful bear, feels too hungry to take advantage of his strength.
The Ghost randomly appears and disappears.
Domo: The Manga
TokyopopTokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
publishes Domo: The Manga, an original English-language manga
Original English-language manga
Original English-language manga or OEL manga is the term commonly used to describe comic books or graphic novels in the "international manga" genre of comics whose language of original publication is English...
series, in the United States and Canada. Clint Bickham
Clint Bickham
Clint Bickham is an American voice actor and ADR script writer working with Funimation Entertainment, ADV Films, and Seraphim Digital.He is also a manga writer for Tokyopop, after collaborating with illustrator Priscilla Hamby on Devil's Candy, which was featured in the first volume Rising Stars of...
created the stories and crafted the dialog; Bickam said that he did "pretty much everything short of drawing it." The stories were drawn by Priscilla Hamby
Priscilla Hamby
Priscilla Hamby is an illustrator and comic book artist. She specializes in Japanese manga style comics and uses the pen name Rem when published...
(aka Rem), Lindsay Cibos, Jared Hodges, Sonia Leong, Maximo V. Lorenzo
Maximo V. Lorenzo
Maximo Vitaly Lorenzo , is an American artist for comic books and illustrations.- Biography :Lorenzo started his comic book career in 2004, winning a placement for writing and illustrating "Hellbender" for Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga Issue 4 competition...
(in the special 7-11 edition only) and Erie Horita. Bickham decided to use a series of short stories instead of one long story to "recreate the feel of the original series," "so hopefully, reading a story from the manga will feel the same as watching an episode of the show." Bickham said that writing the stories became entertaining when he "got into the Domo mindset." The writer said that Domo's thoughts do not need to be expressed in words as they are "always very simple and innocent." Bickham added that sometimes other characters speak for him. Bickham said that the Domo: the Manga stories "are driven by situations instead of dialogue." To prepare for writing the series, Bickham watched each episode multiple times; Bickham intended to "get a feel for the characters so that the jump from stop-motion to manga would be as seamless as possible." He added that "more than anything, I had to have fun doing it. I don't think you can create a good Domo story without fun."
Deb Aoki of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
reviewed Domo: The Manga; she rated it as two out of five stars and described it as "disposable entertainment that doesn't warrant more than a single reading."
Domo on the internet and video games
Domo became well known outside of Japan through a mock public service announcementPublic service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
that circulated on the internet depicting Domos chasing a kitten with the words stating "Every time you masturbate... God kills a kitten
Every time you masturbate... God kills a kitten
"Every time you masturbate… God kills a kitten" is the caption of an image created by a member of the website Fark.com in 2002. The image features a kitten being chased by two Domos, and has the tagline "Please, think of the kittens".According to a New York Times Magazine article on Domo-kun, "Any...
." An article from ICv2 stated "this phony PSA is quite out of character with Domo's image in Japan."
Domo has 5 video games on the DSiWare on the Nintendo DSi Shop application for the Nintendo DSi
Nintendo DSi
The is a handheld game system created by Nintendo and launched in 2008 and 2009 in Japan, North America, PAL territories, and other regions. It is the third iteration of the Nintendo DS, and its primary market rival is Sony's PlayStation Portable...
. The 5 games are Crash-Course Domo, Hard-Hat Domo
Hard-Hat Domo
Hard-Hat Domo is a DSiWare game that you use Domo as a construction worker to get to the top of an 100-floor building. It was made by Suzak. You are supposed to match the ladder colors to the floor colors to get points. Sometimes, you can't match the colors, but the game would allow you to place a...
, Rock-n-Roll Domo, Pro-Putt Domo and White-Water Domo. On Facebook, Domo is featured in the social game Planet Domo.
External links
- Official U.S. Domo website
- どーもくんファミリーのご紹介
- TOKYOPOP's official Domo manga preview (Arcguve)
- Domonation at VeohVeohVeoh is an Internet television company based in San Diego, California. It allows users to find and watch major studio content, independent productions and user-generated material. The company is a subsidiary of Israeli start-up Qlipso....