This charming little seal has a blog, a cartoon, a Nintendo DS game and is the main character at an anime series premiering this month in Japan
Basic version of Mamegoma
Mamegoma is a seal character created by Japanese company San-X with the aim of becoming the next plush pet for Japanese children. Its feature sheet (like all Japanese dolls and toys, it comes with its own feature sheet and specifications) tells us that this is a "homey, around the house" seal; docile, meek and manageable. There are several styles, colours and breeds of Mamegoma; they’ve even created a hybrid between seal and panda bear called Pandagoma.
Though it hasn’t unleashed its own store yet, and it is not very well known or popular outside Japan; thousands of merchandising products have already been created, featuring its cute little face on them: cloths, plush toys, key-rings, school and teaching materials, suitcases, baby’s bottles... And it is not just a kid’s thing. Adults of all kinds and ages dream about having their own seal; whichever the style and type it might come in.
Furthermore, if we look carefully to notice its simple but adorable design and its angelic looks... What does it reminds us of? The celebrated Hello Kitty, the most reproduced image of all times. It is not easy to know if this cuddly Mamegoma will end up snatching top position to timeless old friend Kitty, but she is surely making real effort to get herself known.
She plays the leading role in a Nintendo DS game and several comic strips have been published on her adventures and deeds. She’s got her own blog, meaning that cute seal personally writes it herself (in Japanese though) and her own anime series called Kupu~!! Mamegoma!! will open next January 10th, where we will have the opportunity to meet the whole Mamekawa seal family.
Mamegoma was created to become the most adorable, tweest and mushiest seal plush in the market, but the phenomenon keeps growing and growing and becoming the mass phenomenon it is now.