Arale Norimaki

Arale Norimaki(Japanese:則巻アラレ,Hepburn:Norimaki Arare)is a fictional character and theprotagonistof theDr. Slumpmanga series, created byAkira Toriyama. She is a humanoid robot built by Senbei Norimaki who looks like a young girl. She is known for her naïveté, energetic personality, lack of common sense, and amazing strength. Senbei tries to convince the other citizens of Penguin Village that she is just a normal human girl; it seems to work, despite hersuperhumanathletic ability. Among her strengths, she can use abilities that range from the terrain splittingChikyūwari(地球割り, "Earth Chop")to the beam-likeN'chahō(んちゃ砲, "N'cha Cannon"). However, she isnearsightedand needs to wear glasses. The character also makes appearances in various other media, most notably in theDragon Ballmedia franchise.
Toriyama claimed that when he told his editor,Kazuhiko Torishima, that he wanted to make a manga about a doctor, Torishima told him to add a robot.Toriyama originally wanted a very large robot, but as it would not fit in the panels, he instead made it small.When his editor rejected that idea, he made the robot a girl knowing Torishima would find her "cute."He also stated that Senbei was supposed to be the main character, but his editor told him to make it Arale instead, which Toriyama agrees turned out better.Torishima later elaborated on this, saying that Arale was initially only a guest character for one chapter. However, because he really liked Toriyama's girl characters the editor wanted her to be the main character. The artist felt differently becauseWeekly Shōnen Jumpis aimed at boys.The two made a bet; Toriyama would create aone-shotmanga with a female lead and if it took fourth place or lower in the magazine's reader poll, he could get rid of Arale after the single chapter. Torishima won whenTomato the Cutesy Gumshoe(1979) came in third place, but because Toriyama is stubborn, he refused to change theDr. Slumpname.
Like the names of many other characters, Arale is a pun on the name for a bite-sized rice cracker (arare), and with the family name ("Norimaki Arale") it refers to a sort of arare wrapped withnoriseaweed. Toriyama purposefully gives his protagonists plain appearances as he prefers to focus on the story. He believes that having weak-looking characters turn out to actually be strong is more interesting; Arale andSon Gokuare prime examples of this.Initially, her glasses were just a gag, with Toriyama wanting to remove them as they made her more difficult to draw.However, they became a trademark of Arale's and readers who had to wear glasses wrote him saying that by Arale having them it made them feel better about themselves, so he ended up keeping them.Arale is usually shown with purple hair, although it is dark brown in the 1997 anime.
Arale poses as Senbei's sister or daughter, depending on who Senbei is talking to. The Norimaki family only grows from there when Arale and Senbei discover an egg when traveling to the past. The egg hatches into a small winged creature that they nicknameGatchan. Then Senbei marries the girl of his dreams (Midori Yamabuki) and they have a son namedTurbo. As if the house was not full enough, Gatchan inexplicably splits into two separate entities.
TheDr. Slumpseries is a self-proclaimed gag manga with no ongoing plot. The entire series is about Arale's humorous exploration of the dynamics of life and the adventures Senbei and his inventions send them on. Arale has unique phrases she often uses, such as "N'cha"(んちゃ, a greeting she picked up from Senbei), "Bye'cha"(バイちゃ, "goodbye"), "Hoyoyo"(ほよよ)to express bewilderment, and yelling "Kiiin"(キーン)when she runs with her hands out.
Arale appears in Toriyama'sDragon BallwhenSon GokuchasesGeneral Blueall the way to Penguin Village; she then defeats Blue with one kick and one headbutt after he paralyzes Goku. She is also able to ride on the Kinto'un, which indicates her as being pure of heart. In the anime adaptations, Arale is first seen in a picture on the wall of the capsule houseBulmacreates inDragon Ballepisode 2, again on the television thatMaster Roshiis watching in episode 16, and on a poster inGohan's bedroom inDragon Ball Z. She also appears inThe Great Mystical Adventurefilm, and her face was shown in theeighthDragon Ball Zmovie. Arale has appeared twice inDragon Ball Super, first making a brief cameo appearance in episode 43 and later playing a key role in episode 69.
Arale is a playable character in the crossover video gamesJump Super Stars,Jump Ultimate Stars, andJ-Stars Victory Vs. She is also playable in severalDragon Ballvideo games, includingDragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3,Dragon Ball: Revenge of King PiccoloandDragon Ball: Origins 2, and makes a non-playable appearance inDragon Ball Z: Kakarot
In 2014, two commercials featuringDr. Slumpwere created byToei AnimationforSuzuki. The commercials advertise the car manufacturer's KeiSUVHustler and include new acting from Mami Koyama as Arale andKumiko Nishiharaas Gatchan.In 2016,Ayami Nakajoportrayed Arale in a commercial forG.u.clothing. It showsAkane Kimidori(Yuki Uchida) andPeasuke Soramame(Kengo Kora) bewildered when Arale trades in her trademark overalls for a pleated skirt.
In Japanese, Arale is voiced byMami Koyamain the firstDr. Slumpanime, reprising the role in nearly every subsequent appearance, including allDragon Ballmedia.She is voiced byTaeko Kawatain the secondDr. Slumpanime and byYuko Hara, keyboardist of the popular rock bandSouthern All Stars, in the radio drama.
In English,Linda Youngvoices Arale in theFunimationdubs ofDragon BallandDragon Ball: Mystical Adventure.Brina Palenciaprovides Arale's English voice forDragon Ball Superand allDragon Ballvideo games beginning withDragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3.
In 1982, Arale came in 12th place inAnimage's fourth annualAnime Grand Prixfor Favorite Character.Carl Kimlinger ofAnime News Networkwrote that amongDr. Slump's cast, Arale is the standout; "The way she laughs and runs and raises unwitting hell are all unforgettable."Her role inDragon Ball Superwas praised by Sam Leach from ANN due to how she clashes with the protagonists Goku and Vegeta; the latter often breaking the fourth wall stating they cannot defeat a person from a gag series.
When asked in 1987 who would win if Arale and Son Goku were to fight, Toriyama said Arale was stronger.Masashi Kishimoto, creator ofNaruto, gained an interest in drawing during his childhood from drawing pictures of Arale.
In the 1985 Hong Kong filmMy Lucky Stars,Jackie Chan's character appears in an Arale costume while working undercover in a theme park.
DiscussingMario's center of gravity in a strategy guide for the 1996 video gameSuper Mario 64, creatorShigeru Miyamotosaid Mario "sort of runs like Arale-chan, with the correct sense of weight in the body."
Japanese comedianHōsei Yamasakidressed up as Arale, doing her signature "Kiiin" and "N'cha" on theDowntown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!Cosplay Bus Tour series. Because of failing to complete his task (getting spaghetti for the entire cast) he then had to fly to Italy to get spaghetti for the entire cast and crew, dressed as Arale all the way.
Several episodes of the American TV showAmerica's Funniest Home Videosfeature a video in which a man falls down after sticking his head through a cutout of Arale. The video first appears in Season 1, Episode 3.
The 2004Samurai Champlooepisode "Bogus Booty" has a scene where Mugen impersonates Arale's signature run by sticking his arms out and making the sound "Kiiin".
The main character of the 2018 video gameDragon Quest Builders 2, for which Toriyama was the character designer, runs with their hands out like Arale.
Korean mixed martial artistSeo Hee Hamis nicknamed "Arale-chan" in Japan due to her appearance outside of the ring bearing resemblance to the fictional character.