Domo (middle) and friends on a bus advertisement for NHK

Domo (どーも くん, Dōmo-kun) is the official mascot of Japan's public broadcaster NHK, appearing in several 30-second stop-motion interstitial sketches, which are shown as station identification in between the channel's programming.

DOMO

Domo-kun first appeared in short stop-motion sketches on December 22, 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 "dōmo, konnichiwa" (どーも、こんにちは), which is a greeting that can be translated as "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.

Development

Tsuneo Gōda, a stop motion animator and character designer, created Domo for NHK in 1998 and directed a stop motion animated TV series based on the character in 2008. Gōda says that by using stop motion one can "create a work filled with feeling".[1]

Characters

Domo, the main character, is a brown, furry monster[2] with a large, sawtoothed mouth that is locked wide open. His favorite food is nikujaga, a Japanese meat and potato stew. According to a Tokyopop press release of the Domo comic book, Domo "communicates sotto voce with a verve that only his friends can understand."[3] 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."[4] Domo is known to pass gas repeatedly when nervous or upset.[2] He also sweats when nervous.

Domo lives in a cave with Mr. Usaji,[2][5] known in Japanese-language versions as Usajii (うさじい), a portmanteau of the words usagi (うさぎ), (rabbit), and jii (じい) (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.[2] Mr. Usaji is not into any "new" materials, and does not own a telephone.[2][5] In terms of fashion, Mr. Usaji focuses on materials instead of shapes. Mr. Usaji's favorite food is carrots, and his least favorite food is "something that is meaningless."[2]

Also in the cave live two bats, a mother named Maya[5] (Shinobu (しのぶ) in the Japanese version) and her child Mario (Morio (もりお) 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.[2][5]

The other main character in the shorts is a weasel girl named Tashanna[2][5] (Tā-chan (たーちゃん) 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 "weaselly accent" (いたちなまり, itachi namari) (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).[6] She has not had a boyfriend in ten years and she is seeking a platonic boyfriend.[2][5] She has a passion for bidding in auctions, but she gives up by the end. Tashanna's favorite food is apricot and mint tarts, and her least favorite food is sea urchin.[2] The Japanese name originates from the word "multichannel" (多チャンネル, tachanneru) of digital broadcasting.[citation needed]

Bear Boy (Kogumagorō (こぐまゴロー)), also known as A Little Bear (くまのこ, Kuma no ko, literally "A bear cub"), is a Moon Bear and one of Domo's friends from the neighborhood; the timid cub enjoys playing baseball.[2][5]

Hee (Flower One (花一, Hanaichi)) and Haw (Flower Two (花二, Hanaji)) are pixie twins from a flower. Domo is the only individual who can see them.[5]

The Fox Trio consists of Esther (Esuko (エスコ)), Brother Fox (あにきち, Aniki-chi), and Fox Boy (Konjirō (コンジロー)). 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 "short-legged" (短足, tansoku). Fox Boy, having a quiet demeanor, converses with Domo and Bear Boy and prefers to read.[2][6]

Hungry Bear (はらぺこぐま, Harapekoguma), a large and powerful bear, feels too hungry to take advantage of his strength.[2]

The Ghost (Hyūtarou (ヒュ～たろう)) randomly appears and disappears.[2][6]

In other media

References

  1. ^ Target (2008). "Halloween Costumes." Target Corporation. Retrieved on September 14, 2008 from [1].
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Author unknown (date unknown). Domomode. English page. Retrieved on February 5, 2009 from "Domo Mode". Archived from the original on December 3, 2007. Retrieved November 28, 2007..
  3. ^ "TOKYOPOP PRESENTS: YEAR OF THE DOMO[permanent dead link]." Tokyopop. Retrieved on February 5, 2009.[dead link]
  4. ^ a b c "Interview with Domo Writer Clint Bickham Archived January 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Tokyopop. Retrieved on February 5, 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Who? Archived January 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine." Domo Nation. Retrieved on February 5, 2009.
  6. ^ a b c Japanese page Archived November 24, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Domomode. Retrieved on February 5, 2009.
  7. ^ "'Domo' Shorts to Air in U.S. on Nicktoons". License! Global. October 27, 2008. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  8. ^ Rusak, Gary (October 24, 2008). "Nicktoons puts Domo on US airwaves". Brunico Communications. Kidscreen.
  9. ^ "Domo takes over 7-Eleven". ToonBarn. October 10, 2009. Archived from the original on December 27, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  10. ^ "Announcing the Debut of Domo-kun's First DVD!" (PDF). TYO Animations (Press release). TYO Inc. July 1, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 22, 2011.
  11. ^ TOKYOPOP Presents: Domo the Manga Archived September 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine." Tokyopop. Retrieved on February 5, 2009.
  12. ^ Leroy Douresseaux (September 6, 2009). "Domo: The Manga". comicbookbin.com. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  13. ^ Jared Hodges (October 8, 2009). "Quasi Educational: Domo Invaded My Life!". Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  14. ^ "Atomic Books: Atomic Books - Domo GN : Clint Bickham / Erie Horita". atomicbooks.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  15. ^ "Domo Marks 15th Anniversary With Japanese/American TV Special". Anime News Network. February 5, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  16. ^ "Domo Rock!". NHK. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  17. ^ "Domo Loves Chiptune". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  18. ^ "Everybody Loves Chiptune & So Do We". The Orchard. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Nickelodeon Gets Anime-Mated." ICv2. May 4, 2006. Retrieved on February 5, 2009.
  20. ^ "Domo-kun no Fushigi Terebi". Nintendo Co., Ltd. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  21. ^ "Planet Domo". Planet Domo application on Facebook.

External links

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