Get ready for Domo-Nation!
August 2, 2002 Posted: 6:33 PM EDT (2233 GMT)


By Leslie King
CNN Headline News

(CNN) -- He looks like a brown Twinkie with teeth, he's a huge hit in 
Japan, and he's slowly achieving the kind of world domination that Pikachu 
could only dream about. I'm talking about Domo-kun, and if you haven't 
already seen him, you will, most likely on a Christmas list this year. 

Domo-kun -- which roughly translates to "Mr. Thank You" -- first came to 
light as the furry predator in "God Kills a Kitten." Try 
http://drew.corrupt.net/domo.html for some background. 

Here's the deal: Domo-kun is a mascot of Japanese public television 
station NHK and the logo for its 10th anniversary promotional campaign. 
The adventures of Domo-kun and his friends are broadcast as movie shorts 
between feature films. Think of the "Monkey Movies" on TBS. 

The station even has a bio for him: favorite food, seasoned beef with 
potatoes; least favorite food, apples; favorite bands, The Guitar Wolf and 
MAX. 

The basic plot line 

The story line isn't too tough. Domo-kun hatches from an egg one day in 
the cave of his friend Usaji, an old rabbit who likes to watch TV. 

Domo learns to love being a couch potato, too, and becomes a TV fiend. His 
voice sounds like the teacher in "Peanuts," but much deeper. The peanut 
gallery of sorts is played by two bats hanging from the ceiling of Usaji's 
cave -- Shinobu and her kid Morio. 

Ta-chan the weasel moved near Usaji's cave this spring, and has sent 
Domo-kun's heart aflutter. It's kinda like Domo-kun is Charlie Brown and 
Ta-chan is the little red-haired girl. Domo-kun gets so nervous around 
Ta-chan that he sweats and occasionally lets one rip. 

Do you Domo-kun? 

Once you've watched the Domo-kun show clips for yourself (try 
www.doebbe.com/domo-kun/index.html for the best ones) and made your 
Domo-Kun screensaver (www.domokun.cjb.net has tons of images), you've 
probably already worked up a serious Jones for a Domo-kun of your very 
own. If you're lucky enough to find a real plush Domo-kun toy, as some 
fervent fans have been, you can check out how some of his owners are 
helping him to adapt to "Western culture." Just keep it legal, kids. 

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