Over the past two months, 7-Eleven stores nationwide have featured “Domo,†the television mascot for Japan’s NHK station, on Slurpee cups, producing somewhat of a mass hysteria surrounding the lovable yet eccentric character. Adorable and irresistibly charismatic, the weird-looking, rice-eating and guitar-playing dude was also the focus of a series on Nickelodeon, which featured him and his friends and their zany adventures. Good-natured and warm fun, the shorts are also done in stop-motion animation, similar to shows like “Gumby†and “Wallace & Gromit,†adding even more zest to an already zestfully clean character.
Now compiled onto DVD, “Domo: Vol. One†is an excellent introduction to the character and his world. As far as the characters and series go, “Domo” is a departure from everything out now and is a complete blast from the past. There are no foul-mouthed children or talking milkshakes in the shorts, and the ideas and concepts developed there are anything but controversial. The shorts themselves aren’t all that funny, but they do take you back to a time when simplicity meant more than outright hilarity. There’s a wholesomeness and feel to them that both children and adults alike can enjoy.
That is possibly Domo’s biggest strength.
That, and his charm.
Regardless of what it is he is doing, Domo has an uncanny ability to make you smile. It doesn’t matter if he’s upset about losing his balloon or plugging his headphones into the ground, he’s utterly irresistible. The same thing goes for his trusty friend, Mr. Usaji, who serves as a father figure, and his energetic and equally adorable pals, Tashanna, Bear Boy and Hungry Bear, always find a way to join in on the fun.
Add in solid animation that fans of films such as “The Nightmare Before Christmas†and “The Corpse Bride†will fall in love with, and you have more than enough levity to quench any animation fan’s appetite.
Fifteen bucks may be a bit much to shell out for a 50-minute DVD, but the feeling you get when all is said and done is one that doesn’t come along often. Not only do you want to see more of Domo and his pals, but you don’t mind going on the same adventures with them all over again.
Because of that, “Domo: Vol. One†is a sleeper hit and is a DVD that is sure to satisfy.
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