Cute Short Animation by Studio Moziri

Here's a little homegrown Korean animation for you:

Director Yong Chan Kim is really sad that his animation has barely any views on YouTube. So, he wanted to share it with all of you readers of this blog. He created this with the help of Technical Director, Park Min Sun.

You can learn more about his emoticon characters, Pip Man & Pip Girl, over at Director Kim's own blog, Moziri.com. Or you can view more of his animations over at YouTube.

The characters in this animation will be familiar to Korean handphone users. Emoticons are pushed wildly to their limits in text messages here. In fact, Director Kim's own niece may be the emoticon champion!

Enjoy! \(^ _ ^)/

Oh, by the way, Director Kim has promised us an interview so we can learn more about his work in a big animation studio (not his personal hobby, Studio Moziri). Feel free to send in your questions for this upcoming interview!

"SEND 'EM IN!" L(` 0 ` )

Poop is Cute (in Korea)

Warning: You may find this gross!
Did you know that poop is cute in Korea? It's true. Poop is typically represented in a cute way, like this giant one pictured above. This poop was part of a poop booth in front of Seoul City Hall. The booth even had poop costumes little kids could put on.

The cuteness of poop in Korean culture just goes to show the power of representation. Poop is typically drawn like the swirl above, sort of like the chocolate ice cream on a cone. However, it's not always this chocolate brown color.

Gold is a very common poop color. And speckles aren't unheard of either. Poop can be represented in all sorts of fashions.

Poop has even made its way into consumer culture. These products feature a character with a copper poop on his head. His name is Dongchimee (click if you are brave) from the Dalki product line. And he's just one of many poop-related products. There are books about poop, foam poop on a stick, poop stamps, poop banks and so on and so on. I'll collect more images and do a future post about this.

Perhaps it's the combination of grossness and cuteness that give poop its appeal. I think it stems from the early cutified illustrations. What is poop in your culture: cute, funny, gross?

Creature and Character Caps

It is cold in Korea! It's a good thing these character and creature caps are a popular fashion trend brightening up the winter.These caps are most popular with kids who wear them while out and about. Every once in a while you can spot them on an adult, too.

The sheer variety of styles is impressive. It seems you can find a cap of almost any animal. Above I see: a koala, cats, tigers, a panda, bears, and a husky. Not pictured are countless other animals. I've even seen an insectoid cap!

And there are lots of cartoon character caps, too. Above are some Sanrio, Warner Bros. and Disney characters. I've seen a funny Santa Clause character cap as well.

I wonder if the use of these characters is even legal? I don't know, but isn't this off-model Mickey Mouse something?

It's nice for a fashion trend to enliven the winter. Is this fashion popular in your part of the world, too?

Bee Different!

Bzzzzzzzzzz. . . Bzzzzzzzzzzz. . . I'm not a human! I'm a bee! Bzzzzzzzzzz. . . .

Why do we make animal cartoon characters human? We always tend to anthropomorphize them; give them human qualities. However, why don't we borrow from other animals instead?

All I know about this bee is that it is the mascot for 1001 Angyeong Contact, an eyeglasses shop.

.

Isn't its design intriguing? It has a mouth and nose which appear to be from an otter. Most bee cartoon characters I've seen borrow human faces--human noses, mouths, maybe even teeth or a head of hair. Maybe I'm mistaken and this is just an otter in a bee costume.
Take a look at this extreme close-up of a real female beetle. See how her mouth is more like the muzzle of an otter than the mouth of a human? The button eyes more closely resemble an otter's than a human's, as well. So I think this bee design is quite brilliant!

.

I know nothing about the background of this bee's design, however, it encourages me to think outside the stereotypes of cartooning. There are all sorts of possible ways to represent a bee. We just have to see different and bee different!

Leaf On Head Disease

Wow, a mole has visited this blog. Welcome, mole! HOLY MOLE-Y!!!!! You've got a leaf growing out of your head!!

Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't realize that was a sensitive spot.

.

I've seen this leaf on head thing before. I've seen it in characters from Korea and Japan. I don't know what to make of it and neither does anyone I ask. You see, mole, I worry about you. This just doesn't occur in nature.

See, this bear doesn't have a leaf on its head.

Neither does this white rabbit.

This squirrel is a lot like you, but it lacks that leaf.

.

I don't know what to make of that leaf on your head. Does it mean you are wild? That you are magical? That you are minty fresh? I just don't know. Maybe readers of this blog can let me know what the leaf on head symbolizes.

.

For now I'll classify your disorder as 'Leaf On Head Disease'.

See! Now those are symbols I recognize! Clearly you are angry at me. Ooops. Sorry!

Update (January 28th, 2008): Wow! It turns out that leaf on your head means your magical! Read more by clicking here.

Podori the Police Mascot

I thought I'd share the mascot for the Korean National Police Agency, Podori, with you. Isn't he cute?
In case you didn't know, combining such cute characters with not so cute organizations, like the police department, softens that organizations image. Who would you rather have boss you around, a gruff looking police officer or little Podori? But don't be mistaken, Podori is the real deal. If you look closely you'll notice that his badge is not a mere drawing but a real badge!
I think there may be a problem with having Podori as a mascot. He may be too cute a character for the police department. It almost makes me want to commit a small crime just so I can see him. Then maybe I can give him a choco pie and he'll let me off the hook. Then we can go get pizza or something and we'll become close buds. Then we'll team up and become a crime fighting team!
I also noticed that Podori's design seems awfully similar to this character in Pata Pota Monta, a Japanese production. Maybe they are cousins? I prefer Podori, though. Especially in the first image. I particularly like the way his eyes are drawn.