JAPAN’S ‘GLOOMY THE NAUGHTY GRIZZLY’ ANIME ANNOUNCED FOR 2021
DEMON SLAYER and COWBOY BEBOP voice actors join the cast
December 28, Tokyo, Japan
Internationally beloved “kawaii” character GLOOMY BEAR will make his animated debut with a new TV series set to air in Japan in April 2021.
A new bilingual promotional video announcing GLOOMY BEAR has been released to YouTube featuring new dialogue and visuals.
Veteran actor Koichi Yamadera (the voice of Spike Spiegel in the Cowboy Bebop anime) has been cast in the lead role of GLOOMY, while Natsuki Hanae (the voice of Tanjiro Kamado in the smash-hit anime series Demon Slayer) has been cast as GLOOMY’s young owner PITY.
Originally created by Osaka-based artist Mori Chack, GLOOMY BEAR first debuted as a character in 2000. The appeal of GLOOMY and PITY’s unusual relationship – full of cuteness, violence, and surprising emotional depth – led to a wave of GLOOMY merchandise and high-profile collaborations in Japan. Eventually, GLOOMY would win devoted fans all over the world as well.
In addition to the anime series announcement video, there is also an additional promotional clip focusing on GLOOMYs creator Mori Chack and the 20-year build-up to the new GLOOMY BEAR anime series.
Constructing Handmade Teddy Bears with Diana Yunusova
To see more of Diana’s life and work, follow @teddydi on Instagram.
(This interview was conducted in Russian.)
“Any toy animal that’s sewn in the traditional teddy bear style are ‘Mishki,’ which is Russian for ‘little bear cubs,’” explains Diana Yunusova (@teddydi), a teddy bear artist who lives in St. Petersburg, Russia. “Mishki take many forms and styles, but my heart belongs to the worn, vintage-style bears we call ‘tortured.’” Her handmade bears are “teacup-sized,” anywhere from six to seven inches (15 to 17 centimeters) tall, and for Diana, they’re the personification of childhood. “I find myself very encouraged by the fact that in today’s world, wealth is gradually fading into the background,” she says. “People increasingly appreciate work made by human hands, preferring a little bear or a handmade doll as gifts for relatives or even for themselves. These are gifts with a soul, which bring real emotion and joy.”
As I sifted through photographs to make a photoset of Bob, I needed to stop and mention that this adorable daddybear is single… and I can’t imagine he will be for long! ❤️
