Domo (NHK)

Domo(どーも  くん,Dōmo-kun)is the officialmascotofJapan'spublic broadcasterNHK, appearing in several 30-secondstop-motioninterstitial sketches, which are shown asstation identificationin between the channel'sprogramming. The character is a furry monster that is boxy and brown and often has his big mouth wide open.
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"(どーも、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). Thekunsuffix on "Domo-kun", the name used to describe the character in the Japanese versions, is aJapanese honorificoften used with young males.
Tsuneo Gōda, a stop motion animator and character designer, created Domo for NHK in 1998 and directed astop motionanimated TV series based on the character in 2008. Gōda says that by using stop motion one can "create a work filled with feeling".
Domo, the main character, is a brown, furrymonsterwith a large, sawtoothed mouth that is locked wide open. His favorite food isnikujaga, a Japanese meat and potatostew. According to aTokyopoppress release of the Domo comic book, Domo "communicatessotto vocewith a verve that only his friends can understand." Domo can only say his name.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 onChristmasday." 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.He also sweats when nervous.
Domo lives in a cave withMr. Usaji,known inJapanese-languageversions asUsajii(うさじい), aportmanteauof the words usagi(うさぎ), (rabbit), andjii(じい)(old man,grandpa). Mr. Usaji is a wise oldrabbitwho 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 atelephone.In terms of fashion, Mr. Usaji focuses on materials instead of shapes. Mr. Usaji's favorite food iscarrots, and his least favorite food is "something that is meaningless."
Also in the cave live two bats, a mother namedMaya(Shinobu(しのぶ)in the Japanese version) and her childMario(Morio(もりお)in the Japanese version). Maya suffers fromalcoholism; her favorite foods are seasonal while her least favorite food is alcohol. Mario's favorite food is Japanese-style tomatospaghetti, while his least favorite food isshiitake mushrooms.
The other main character in the shorts is aPolar bearorweaselgirl namedTashanna(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 inTokyoand 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 isapricotandminttarts, and her least favorite food issea 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 asA Little Bear(くまのこ,Kuma no ko, literally "A bear cub"), is aMoon Bearand one of Domo's friends from the neighborhood; the timid cub enjoys playingbaseball.
Hee(Flower One(花一,Hanaichi)) andHaw(Flower Two(花二,Hanaji)) arepixietwinsfrom aflower. Domo is the only individual who can see them.
TheFoxTrio consists ofEsther(Esuko(エスコ)),Brother Fox(あにきち,Aniki-chi), andFox Boy(Konjirō(コンジロー)). Esther, the youngest member, enjoys producingcrocodile 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 powerfulBrown bear, feels too hungry to take advantage of his strength.
The Ghost(Hyūtarou(ヒュ～たろう)) randomly appears and disappears.