Pucca is a media franchise from the South Korean
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Pucca (Korean: 뿌까 [p͈uk͈a]) is a media franchise from the South Korean company Vooz Co., Ltd. and currently distributed in the US by The Walt Disney Company. The main character Pucca is the 11-year old (12 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 ninjitsu. Abyo wants to learn ninjitsu like Garu to beat him in a sparring match and is not very good at Kung Fu.
