Pucca

This article is about a media franchise. For other uses, see Pucca (disambiguation).

Pucca (Template:Lang-ko [p͈uk͈a]) is a media franchise from the South Korean company Vooz Co., Ltd. and currently owned by The Walt Disney Company. The main character Pucca is the 10-year old (11 in Super Slam Birthday Bash) niece of three Chinese noodle house owners. The Noodle House is located in Sooga Village, a small village in the mountains. Pucca is in love with the 12-year-old ninja, "Garu" (가루 [kaɾu]). Pucca always seems to beat him in combat and unintentional competition, simply by sheer wit. The characters are quite popular in Europe and Asia, with TV animation in cartoon channels in Europe, Central and Latin America. These animations were compiled into a DVD, available in Germany. A UK children's book publisher (Hodder's) has also published a series of Pucca children's books. Pucca has also attained a small, but dedicated, cult following in the U.S. after its release on television through Disney and products featured in "Morning Glory" stationery stores across America, mainly in large malls. The UK also has pencil cases/tins, which have become quite popular, stationery items, and notebooks/diaries. In Israel, a Pucca-branded snack was launched on May, 2006. In Brazil, chocolate company Garoto released a Pucca licensed candy for Easter 2009.

There is also an ongoing manhwa series in Korea, which has been translated into Chinese, Spanish and German, of Pucca and Garu traveling around the world through an enchanted board game. Their fellow travelers include friends Abyo, Ching, Mio, Yani and Ssoso. Ching, Pucca's best friend, is in love with Garu's best friend Abyo. Pucca has a cat named Yani who likes to flirt with other cats, especially with Garu's cat Mio, but does not like any of them. Ching, Abyo, and Ssoso are all Kung Fu fighters, unlike Garu who practices ninjutsu. Abyo wants to learn ninjutsu like Garu to beat him in a sparring match and is not very good at Kung Fu.

Characters

Main article: List of characters in Pucca

Animation

Flash animation

In the initial period, Pucca was an online animated series made with Macromedia Flash by original company Vooz Co., Ltd.. Many of its greeting cards and flash episodes center around Pucca's comical attempts to steal a kiss from Garu and the competition at times between the two characters. There is little to no dialogue in these flash cartoons so that fans all over the world can enjoy them.

TV Animation

Main article: Pucca (TV series)

DVD releases

Title	Label	Release Date
Pucca: Funny Love	Pinnacle Vision	2 July 2007
Pucca: Kung Fu Kisses	Shout! Factory Warner Home Video Universal Studios Home Entertainment	18 March 2008
Pucca: Ninjas Love Noodles	Shout! Factory Warner Home Video Universal Studios Home Entertainment	18 March 2008
Pucca: Spooky Sooga Village	Shout! Factory Warner Home Video Universal Studios Home Entertainment	16 September 2008
Pucca: Secret Samurai Santa	Shout! Factory Warner Home Video Universal Studios Home Entertainment	28 October 2008
Pucca: Sooga Super Squad	Shout! Factory Warner Home Video Universal Studios Home Entertainment	3 March 2009

Books

Title	Publisher	First Released
Pucca's Most Wanted	Vooz	18 November 2004
Pucca and Garu: First Meeting	Vooz	18 November 2004
Pucca: Hands Off My Dumplings!	Vooz	19 May 2005
Pucca's Fishy Tail	Vooz	19 May 2005

Photo Frame books

Title	Publisher	First Released
Pucca Photo Frame Book 1: Various Kissin Ways	Vooz	13 January 2005
Pucca Photo Frame Book 2: Making Sweet Music	Vooz	13 January 2005

Key Chain books

Title	Publisher	First Released
Chopstick Dance with Pucca	Vooz	17 March 2005
Ninja Training with Garu	Vooz	17 March 2005

German translations

Title	Written By	First Released	Translation
Pucca und Garu: Wir gehören zusammen	Martin Stabno	31 October 2005	Pucca and Garu: We belong together
Pucca: Das bin ich	Martin Stabno	31 October 2005	Pucca: This is me
Pucca: Oj Berhdsdev Galaxyfl	Martin Stabno	Coming Summer	Pucca: Oh My Galaxzo!!!!

Pop culture references

• In Double A Attack, there is a reference to the Energizer Bunny in the scene where they are making evil Double A batteries.
• In Ring Ring's Party Favors (and following episodes), Ring Ring transforms into a Gyarados or something similar whenever she gets angry.
• In Sooga Super Squad, there is a reference to Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, when they get costumes.
• In Chef-Napped, there is a reference to the classic James Bond films with Abyo as a secret agent.
• In Tame That Toon, There are four references to old cartoons. Old-Time Ring Ring resembles Betty Boop, Old-Time Abyo resembles Popeye, Old - Time Ching resembles Olive Oyl, Old-Time Garu resembles Mickey Mouse and Old-Time Pucca resembles Minnie Mouse.
• In Garu Hood, there are three allusions to fairy tales.
• In Tokyo A Go-Go, Pucca transform into a Sailor Scout to save Garu from a giant sumo; also, Godzilla and Gigan can be seen fighting in the background.
• In Full Moon Pucca, when Garu is upside down Pucca pulls his mask down just far enough for her to kiss his lips like in the 2002 Spiderman film. Also the spaghetti kiss from Lady and the Tramp
• In Shirtless Avenger, Slammin' Ramen Swordsman is modelled after Kamen Rider.
• In Puccahontas, there is a reference to Pocahontas.
• In Garu of the Jungle, there is a reference to Tarzan & George of the Jungle.
• In The Choo Choo Trouble, there is a reference to Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.
• In Dance Pucca Dance, the digital people can be seen wearing Devo hats.

External links

• Pucca at IMDb
• Vooz Co., Ltd. The animation company behind Pucca Funny Love and other Korean flash cartoons. Has English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese menus.
• UK Jetix Pucca microsite
• US Pucca minisite
• Pucca on tv.com

. http://www.youtube.com/user/PuccaFunnyL0ve