Domo
(どーも くん
Dōmo-kun) 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. Domo is a fuzzy monster that hatched from an egg.
He loves to watch tv and daydream
Name
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" (どうも、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.
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 nikujaga, a Japanese meat and potato stew, and he has a strong dislike for
apples, 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. 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 is known to pass gas repeatedly when
nervous or upset.
Domo lives in an
underground cave with Mr. Usaji and his
other friends, 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. 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 carrots, and his least favorite
food is "something that is meaningless.
Also in the cave
live two bats, a mother named Maya (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.
The other main
character in the shorts is a weasel girl named Tashanna (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). 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 tarts, and her least favorite food is sea urchin. The Japanese name
originates from the word "multichannel" (多チャンネル tachanneru) of digital broadcasting.
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.
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.
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.
Hungry Bear (はらぺこぐま Harapekoguma), a large and powerful bear,
feels too hungry to take advantage of his strength.
The Ghost (Hyūtarou (ヒュ~たろう)) randomly appears and disappears.
Have a look at these pictures...