×
  • remind me tomorrow
  • remind me next week
  • never remind me
Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week. read more

Forum - View topic
INTEREST: Kumamon Mascot Character Is Coming To America




Note: this is the discussion thread for this article

Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
KabaKabaFruit



Joined: 20 Sep 2007
Posts: 1871
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 4:02 pm Reply with quote
That is one creepy bear...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message MSN Messenger
blaizevincent



Joined: 16 Nov 2010
Posts: 407
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 4:03 pm Reply with quote
run!!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message My Anime My Manga
Juno016



Joined: 09 Jan 2012
Posts: 2386
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 4:05 pm Reply with quote
Before Kumamon, it was Hikonyan, my prefecture's mascot. I much prefer Hikonyan's design to this guy, though. This guy is creepy... Anime hyper
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
KabaKabaFruit



Joined: 20 Sep 2007
Posts: 1871
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 4:17 pm Reply with quote
Zombie apocalypse? More like...bear apocalypse. Razz

Guest starring The Doctor. Wink
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message MSN Messenger
mdo7



Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 6253
Location: Katy, Texas, USA
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 4:37 pm Reply with quote
Juno016 wrote:
Before Kumamon, it was Hikonyan, my prefecture's mascot. I much prefer Hikonyan's design to this guy, though. This guy is creepy... Anime hyper


After checking him out:





Yeah I agree that Hikonyan would be a better mascot from Japan then the cute but creepy Kumamon.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website My Anime My Manga
Primus



Joined: 01 Mar 2006
Posts: 2761
Location: Toronto
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 5:26 pm Reply with quote
"Why? For the glory of Satan of course!"
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
firedragon54738



Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 3113
Location: wisconsin
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 5:47 pm Reply with quote
Cool time to get them for my bothers kids
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Zaelkrie



Joined: 24 May 2014
Posts: 1
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 5:48 pm Reply with quote
Kumamon has been a meme for ages I'm sure plenty people know him and I'm expecting Westbro Baptist (Or some other grouo) to show up and protest wrongfully thinking he is the mascot of satan.[/img]
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Hoppy800



Joined: 09 Aug 2013
Posts: 3331
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 6:15 pm Reply with quote
I should pick up a Kumamon plushie for my collection.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
GeminiDS85



Joined: 10 Jul 2009
Posts: 391
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 7:09 pm Reply with quote
The Kumamoto prefectural government really needs to tell everyone the truth: Kumamon is already dead. Melon Kuma gobbled him up last year.
くまモン、メロン熊に襲われながらのくまモン体操
The Kumamon products have gotten a little out of hand. Seriously, why is Kumamon’s face on toilet paper?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
CheerSong



Joined: 29 Jun 2011
Posts: 91
Location: Route 7, Kanto
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 9:23 pm Reply with quote
Kumamon's face is on toilet paper because it cost the company nothing to put him there.

Yuru-kyara, those silly little mascots, have been booming the past few years, sure, but what makes Kumamon unique is Kumamoto Prefecture's decision to not charge licensing fees for use of the character. Of course the proposed merchandise has to be approved by the PR department to make sure Kumamoto and Kumamon aren't portrayed in a detrimental manner, but otherwise, it's anything goes. They way they see it, the farther Kumamon spreads, the more people become aware of what comes out of Kumamoto Prefecture. Plus it's just a lot of fun!

It'll be interesting to see if Kumamon can compete in the international character market.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Juno016



Joined: 09 Jan 2012
Posts: 2386
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 10:25 pm Reply with quote
Not to mention, the prefecture mascots get placed on lots of general things. Up in Hikone (especially in the stores lining the traditional market outside the castle), Hikonyan is plastered over all the daily products and souvenirs. Kinda neat, considering it's a way to garner interest in the prefecture and a way to have pride about where you live.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
mdo7



Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 6253
Location: Katy, Texas, USA
PostPosted: Sat May 24, 2014 10:31 pm Reply with quote
CheerSong wrote:
Kumamon's face is on toilet paper because it cost the company nothing to put him there.

Yuru-kyara, those silly little mascots, have been booming the past few years, sure, but what makes Kumamon unique is Kumamoto Prefecture's decision to not charge licensing fees for use of the character.

It'll be interesting to see if Kumamon can compete in the international character market.


Well that might explain why the prefecture wants to have this mascot globalize for the international market. Shocked
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website My Anime My Manga
dexter30



Joined: 14 Dec 2012
Posts: 16
PostPosted: Sun May 25, 2014 5:48 pm Reply with quote
For the uninitiated
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Sariachan



Joined: 09 May 2005
Posts: 1494
Location: Italy
PostPosted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:47 am Reply with quote
Its goods are everywhere in Japan. He does look creepy after a while, though (I call him "pedobear" for fun, sometimes Anime hyper ).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website MSN Messenger My Anime My Manga
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Anime News Network Forum Index -> Site-related -> Talkback All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group