News
Domo Hired as Halloween Mascot for Target Stores
posted on by Egan Loo
Not-So-Daily Link of the Day: The Target chain of American retail stores has hired NHK Japan's Domo character as its mascot for its Halloween costume campaign, and the chain's official website is hosting an exclusive stop-motion animated short and a "making-of" video. (In the linked page, select the "Domo Show" link on the top menu.) The English-dubbed short portrays a Halloween outing for Domo and its friends. The making-of video shows how Tsuneo Gōda and his crew bring the character to life with a "painstaking" process that can only produce five seconds of footage per day.
In addition, Target is offering a dozen Domo character goods, including milk chocolate lollipops, Halloween plush dolls, mini figures sets, tackle box with candy, plush tote with candy, chocolate dextrose game, gummy teeth candy, assorted marshmallow candy, Countdown to Halloween gummy Candy, Candy skewers, fabric bag with Candy, Candy necklaces and bracelets, and a Domo-shaped gift card with interchangeable "costumes." (Ironically, there are no Domo costumes for humans at Target.) The website has also posted Halloween-themed paper cutouts for Domo and his friends as well as a paper cutout theater in PDF format.
Domo debuted as the mascot of the Japanese broadcasting network NHK, and has since starred in a continuous string of stop-motion animated shorts. Big Tent Entertainment premiered 20 shorts on the Veoh online video service in June. Dark Horse has been also promoting Domo with vinyl figures and other items.
Thank you to Emerje for the news tip.
Image © NHK-TYO 1998-2009
Domo animation © Domo Production Committee
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