TokyoPop first announced their plans for the original Domo manga project at New York Comic-Con 2009 -- but it's not too late to remind aspiring artists out there that they still have a chance to get their artwork entered in the Sho' Me the Domo contest.
All you have to do is create your own original artwork featuring NHK-TV's iconic brown n' blocky animated character and upload it via the Sho' Me the Domo website before midnight, Friday, February 27, 2009, and you could be included in the first edition of the Domo manga when it hits the stores in September 2009. You'll also get a copy of the Domo graphic novel just so you can show it off to your friends.
So you might be asking yourself, who or what is Domo? Domo is a "strange creature that hatched from an egg" who was first introduced to the world as an animated mascot for Japanese public TV. He's mischievous, rambunctious and often hungry. After his exploits became a viral video sensation, he's since gone on to be plastered on t-shirts, toys, stickers was even featured on a Halloween TV commercial campaign for Target stores last year.
But for all his fame, Domo has never been a manga character -- until now. I asked TokyoPop Associate Publisher Marco Pavia about TokyoPop's plans for this project and why they've decided to put together a first-time collection of all orginal stories by several international creators.
"A lot of people gravitate toward Domo because he's iconic, unusual and compelling, but they don't necessarily know his story," he said. "He's like SpongeBob Squarepants in that both kids and adults can enjoy his adventures -- but we won't be dumbing down our stories for a younger audience. It'll be mostly meant for high school or college-age readers."
Pavia also hinted at a Fall 2009 promotional push for Domo "that'll be pretty big." He continued, "It's not official yet, so I can't say too much about it, but it'll be along the lines of the Target Halloween promotion. The release of our book will coincide with that."
In the meantime, video shorts featuring Domo will start appearing on the Nickelodeon network this spring, and Domo's licensing company Big Tent LLC (who also represent TokyoPop) is, according to Pavia, "doing a lot of exciting things with him."
See what the buzz is all about by visiting TokyoPop's Domo manga page and check out some of the video clips from the Target promo and other adventures of Domo at DomoNation.com.
Image credit: © NHK-TYO; animation © DPC
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