Pucca: Difference between revisions
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==TV Animation== |
==TV Animation== |
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Main article: [[Pucca (TV series)]] |
Main article: [[Pucca (TV series)]] |
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==DVD releases== |
==DVD releases== |
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Revision as of 05:32, 3 February 2011
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 niece of three Chinese noodle house owners. The noodle house, known as the "Goh-Rong", 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.[1]
The franchise has become widely popular across the world, with TV animation in cartoon channels in Europe, Central and Latin America, along with books, fashion lines, video games, and other accessories. The television show is in its second season, with a total of 117 episodes having been made throughout the history of the series. A collection of children's books have also been written in the Pucca universe, along with a number of photo books and translations into other languages. Pucca has also been featured during the New York Fashion Week in the US and has various clothing lines being produced in South Korea. The video game, Pucca Power Up, is set for release in early 2011 for the Nintendo DS.
History
Originally, Pucca was a "animated online e-card service" made in 2000 by the company Vooz. The popularity of the e-card increased so rapidly in both Korea and the rest of Asia that it was licensed by Jetix in 2004, who also acquired television rights for the service.[2] Vooz went on to continue working with Jetix, making the original two and a half minute long animated shorts, which were then aired on both the Jetix website and as in-between full cartoon show shorts on the Jetix television channel. Pucca shorts were also often featured on the channel for MTV. Jetix's director of international licensing, Richard Woolf, stated that "the possibilities with Pucca were immediately apparent, especially because you were left wanting more after watching the original shorts".[3]
More episodes were ordered by Jetix after the success of the initial shorts, with Studio B Productions in charge of making them. The new episodes became more fleshed out to depict Pucca as being a real television series, with more extensive plot being involved and some of the non-speaking characters gaining voices, along with the length of the episodes being extended to seven minutes in total. The new episodes were shown on many of Jetix's worldwide channels.[3]
After the success of the show in television, Jetix began branching out into accessories and toys in order to bring in further revenue from the, now, franchise. These new products included "apparel, accessories, housewares, giftware, and stationery" focused largely on attracting younger teenagers. Since then, the age demographic has expanded to include younger children through the creation of various toy lines and older teenagers through the publishing of video games set in the Pucca universe.[3][4]
Licensing
In 2008, Pucca was licensed out to the Access Licensing Group that involved a "merchandising license agreement in North America". This would allow the ALG to begin making Pucca products for sale in the US and it was hoped that Pucca would act as a challenge to the Disney Corporation.[5]
Pucca was also licensed out to Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) in 2009. Utilizing this, WBCP started a promotional activity on Valentine's Day in France and Italy, where "flowers and Pucca press packs were sent to key journalists." A greater amount of advertising has also been started throughout the regions at various trade shows and there are currently plans to expand this to include shows in Germany and Spain.[6]
Advertising in magazines has also become more prolific through WBCP, with a "full-page Pucca ad...published in Italian Vanity Fair". The market for Pucca items has been slow to advance in the UK, but has been placed under a "period of intensive consumer research that will determine the long-term marketing strategy for the brand" both there and in other markets that have been slow to accept the Pucca franchise.[6]
Fashion
Warner Bros. Consumer Products also exhibited Pucca merchandise during the 2010 New York Fashion Week. Titled the PUCCA Capsule Collection, it was revealed at Curve Boutique on Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles. A number of Hollywood celebrities were in attendance for the show, along with the founder of Pucca, Boo Kyoung Kim. A number of different designs from various high-profile fashion designers were exhibited at the showing for the PUCCA Capsule Collection.[7]
A new clothing brand, titled "EXR Loves PUCCA", has started in Korea. The Wonder Girls are acting as models for the brand, which will also involve 17 other fashionistas that will be designing the clothing line.[8] The line is a collaboration project between the Pucca franchise and the Korean clothing company EXR.[9]
Characters
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.[3]
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!!!! |
There is also an ongoing manhwa series in Korea of Pucca and Garu traveling around the world through an enchanted board game. Their fellow travelers include friends Abyo, Ching, Ssoso, and villains Tobe and the Vagabond Ninja Clan. It has been translated into Chinese, Spanish, and German.
Video Games
The game title, Pucca Power Up, was announced by Rising Star Games to be set for release in spring of 2011 for the Nintendo DS. The game is being made with a partnership between the pre-mentioned game company and the franchise's creator, Vooz. It is set for a release in the UK and, likely, in Australia, but no general European release was initially announced.[10][11][12] Later, Rising Star Games announced that the release would be for the entire PAL region, with the game arriving in the UK first.[13]
References
- ^ "Pucca". Bitch: feminist response to pop culture (19–22). Bitch Publications: 66. 2003. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
- ^ The Hollywood reporter, Volume 396. Hollywood Reporter Inc. 2006. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b c d "Pucca power". License! Global. May 1, 2007. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Jeunesse". Livres hebdo (627–630). Editions professionnelles du livre: 68. 2006. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
- ^ "PUCCA arrives in North America! -PUCCA challenges Walt Disney in USA". Korea Content Information System. August 3, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Samantha Loveday (March 24, 2010). "GIRLS MONTH: Warner's Pucca plans taking shape". Licensing.biz. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
- ^ Heide Winkenwerder (March 1, 2010). "PUCCA Capsule Collection Launches in Los Angeles". FashionWindows. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
- ^ "패션지 `YOZO`, 패셔니스타 블로거와 스타일콜라보레이션". Korea Economic Daily. October 1, 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
- ^ "부즈, EXR과 뿌까의 파트너십 체결". Maeil Business Newspaper. July 21, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2010.
- ^ "Pucca's set to power up on DS". Aussie-Nintendo. December 4, 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
- ^ Ashley Jones (December 5, 2010). "Pucca Power Up Coming to UK". N-Europe. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
- ^ James Batchelor (December 2, 2010). "Rising Star powers up with Pucca". Market for Home Computing and Video Games. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
- ^ "Rising Star Games to Bring Pucca Power Up to PAL Territories". Electronictheatre.co.uk. December 2, 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
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.
- Pucca Club
- Pucca on tv.com
- Pucca's Official Fanpage on Facebook