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Man-gatarō's Babā Gets Crowdfunded Life-Size Figure at Jump Festa 2019
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
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Artist and gag manga creator Man-gatarō (Gatarō Man) is getting a life-size figure inspired by his character Babā (Old Woman). Shonen Jump+ launched a crowdfunding campaign for the figure on Monday, and the project has already raised more than double its goal.
A special chapter of Man-gatarō's Hoshi no Ōji-sama (Prince of the Stars, the Japanese title for Antoine De Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince book) manga debuted on Monday to explain the origin of the project. In the chapter's story, Man-gatarō sees Babā in a nightmare, and she tells him that Hoshi no Ōji-sama is getting cancelled because its compiled book volumes are not selling well. However, she explains that the cancellation can be avoided if a life-size figure of her appears at the Jump Festa 2019 event. She adds that the figure will cost 2.5 million yen (about US$22,500) to produce. When he wakes from the nightmare, Man-gatarō is again told that Hoshi no Ōji-sama is getting cancelled in reality.
The Campfire crowdfunding project launched on Monday with a goal to raise 2.5 million yen. As of the posting of this article, the campaign has raised 6.24 million yen (about US$56,200).
The funds raised will cover the cost to produce the life-size figure, and funds raised beyond the goal will be used to promote Hoshi no Ōji-sama. The project is offering unique rewards for backers such as manuscripts, chances to appear in the manga, small versions of the Babā figure, and 10 full life-size figures. The campaign will end on September 30.
The life-size figure will stand about 160 centimeters (about 5 feet, 3 inches) tall. Design Coco, who previously produced life-size figures of To Love-Ru -Trouble- Darkness' Lala and Momo, will produce the life-size figure inspired by Man-gatarō's character. Shonen Jump+ plans to display the figure at the Jump Festa 2019 event, which will be held at Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba from December 22-23.
Man-gatarō launched the Hoshi no Ōji-sama manga on the Shonen Jump+ website in September 2017. Shueisha released the second compiled book volume on June 4.
Man-gatarō published a One Piece parody in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine last year and also "hijacked" the Shonen Jump+ website.
Man-gatarō's Chinyūki ~Tarō to Yukai na Nakama-tachi~ manga received a four-episode OVA adaptation in 2009 and a live-action film in 2016.
Sources: Babā life-size figure project's Campfire page via Gazette Tsūshin
