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Gag Manga Artist Man-gatarō Redesigns Library Mascot
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
Manga creator Man-gatarō's (Gatarō Man) has a uniquely graphic art style. His terrifying character Babā (Old Woman) being one recent example (link NSFW). While comedic in its grotesqueness, it's not exactly the type of art you'd expect to find on, say, your library card.
That didn't deter the Saga Prefectural Library. The library has its own cute mascot that resembles Whispy Woods from the Kirby game franchise. The character is named "Kusukusu-kun" and is modeled after the native camphor (kusunoki) tree. The staff decided to get Man-gatarō to draw the mascot in his signature style as part of an initiative to attract new library users. The first 100 newly registered patrons over the age of 18 will get a card with Man-gatarō's art.
The new rendition of Kusukusu-kun somewhat resembles Babā from his Hoshi no Ōji-sama manga except now her spittle is sap.
The Saga Prefectural Library will start issuing the limited edition cards on April 27 as part of "Children's Reading Week." While the project is aimed at children, parents will need to get the card issued for them.
Man-gatarō launched the Hoshi no Ōji-sama manga on the Shonen Jump+ website in September 2017. Man-gatarō's Chinyūki ~Tarō to Yukai na Nakama-tachi~ manga received a four-episode OVA adaptation in 2009 and a live-action film in 2016.
Source: Asahi Shimbun Digital via Livedoor News, Otakomu
