Mini-Moni

Mini-Moni (ミニモニ。, stylized as mini-moni.)[1][2] was a sub-unit of the Japanese idol girl groups Morning Musume and Coconuts Musume. It was formed by Up-Front Promotion in 2000 and associated with Hello! Project. The group was founded by Morning Musume members Mari Yaguchi, Nozomi Tsuji, and Ai Kago, with Coconuts Musume member Mika Todd later added as a member. After Yaguchi's departure, Morning Musume member Ai Takahashi was added into the group.

Mini-Moni
ミニモニ。
Mini-Moni, promoting "Lucky Cha Cha Cha!", 2003. From L to R: Nozomi Tsuji, Mika Todd, Ai Takahashi and Ai Kago
Background information
Also known asBaka Tono-sama to Mini-Moni Hime, Mini-Hamus, Mini-Moni and Ai Takahashi, Shin Mini-Moni
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresJ-pop
Years active2000–2004, 2018
2009–2011 (as Shin Minimoni)
LabelsZetima
Associated actsMorning Musume, Tanpopo, Coconuts Musume, W, S/mileage, Dream Morning Musume
Websitewww.helloproject.com
Past members

Throughout their career, Mini-Moni enjoyed success among children, having two animated series from 2001 to 2002, variety shows, as well as a 2002 film based on their stage personas titled Mini-Moni the Movie: Okashi na Daibōken!.[1] In addition to that, they also appeared in several Hamtaro movies, performing the theme songs under the name Mini-Hamus (ミニハムず).

The group later disbanded in 2004, after Todd left Hello! Project and Tsuji and Kago left Morning Musume to debut in W. In 2009, Mini-Moni was revived as Shin Mini-Moni (新ミニモニ。) with new members and remained active until 2011.

History

2000–2004: Formation

The group was founded in late 2000 by Morning Musume member Mari Yaguchi, with the concept of having members 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) and shorter.[1][3] Together with Morning Musume's songwriter and producer, Tsunku, she selected two new members, Ai Kago and Nozomi Tsuji and the trio began performing in concerts as Mini-Moni. Mika Todd from Coconuts Musume was later added to the group.[4] They made their official CD debut with "Mini-Moni Jankenpyon! / Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!" in 2001,[3] which became a #1 hit.

The quartet released several singles in 2001 and 2002, with most of these tracks compiled on their first album Mini-Moni Song Daihyakka Ikkan. Simultaneous to their single releases, the band became the subject of a series of short cartoons, Mini-Moni Yaru no da Pyon!, voicing their own characters. They also contributed their voices to a string of movies based on the Hamtaro cartoon series, which featured a hamster version of Mini-Moni known as Mini-Hamus.

All five members of Mini-Moni in a still from Okashi na Daibōken (2002).

In 2002, Yaguchi graduated from Mini-Moni to take on the leadership of the subgroup ZYX. Ai Takahashi was added as a member, while Mika Todd, took over Yaguchi's place as the band's leader. That same year, all members of Mini-Moni starred in the film Mini-Moni the Movie: Okashi na Daibōken!, a fictional account explaining the change in members.

Afterwards, Mini-Moni released "Crazy About You" and later the album Mini-Moni Songs 2. They also starred in a mini-series called Mini-Moni de Bremen no Ongakutai starring Takahashi, Tsuji, and Kago; Mika Todd made brief appearances in two episodes. The group disbanded in May 2004 at Mika Todd's graduation concert, following the release of a final single, "Lucky Cha Cha Cha!"

2009–2011: Revival as Shin Mini-Moni

On May 26, 2009, Yaguchi posted on her blog discussing how the head producer of Hello! Project, Tsunku, had contacted her asking for permission to bring the group out of hiatus.[5] Tsunku confirmed on his own blog that Mini-Moni would be revived with an entirely new line-up, announcing Smileage member Kanon Fukuda as the first member.[6] He later announced Morning Musume member Linlin as the group's leader,[7] with Hello Pro Egg members Akari Takeuchi and Karin Miyamoto as the final two members. The group was rebranded Shin Mini-Moni (新ミニモニ。). They released a cover song in 2009 called "Tentomushi no Samba" for Hello! Project Shuffle Unit's compilation album Champloo 1: Happy Marriage Song Cover Shū. The group later released a new original song in the same year called "Pen Pen Kyoudai" on the Hello! Project compilation Petit Best 10.[8]

In 2010, Shin Mini-Moni was scheduled to release a new single as part of a joint shuffle release during the summer of 2010, however, the release was cancelled for reasons unknown. Despite the cancellation, Shin Minimoni continued performing in Hello! Projects concerts as always. In August 2010, Linlin's graduation was announced. On the last day of Morning Musume's fall 2010 tour, Rival Survival, Linlin left Hello! Project.[9] Fukuda was named the new leader and the three remaining members proceeded to perform as a trio in the Hello! Project 2011 winter concert.

2018: 20th anniversary reunion

On February 12, 2018, TV Tokyo aired a television special celebrating Minimoni's 20th anniversary. Yaguchi and Tsuji made an appearance and performed "Minimoni Jankenpyon!" with Morning Musume '18 members Ayumi Ishida and Reina Yokoyama.[10]

Members

Legacy

In June 2007, an excerpt from a November 2000 episode of Mini-Moni Chiccha (their segment on Hello! Morning) of a prairie dog suddenly turning his head became the basis for the Internet phenomenon the Dramatic Chipmunk.[11] A parody of the Dramatic Chipmunk clip, including lookalikes of Mini-Moni, appears in Weezer's music video for their 2008 single "Pork and Beans".[12]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Year Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
JPN
Mini-Moni Song Daihyakka Ikkan (ミニモニ。ソング大百科1巻) 2002
  • Released: 26 June 2002
  • Label: Zetima
  • Formats: CD
 4
  • JPN: 200,000+
 RIAJ: Gold[13]
Mini-Moni Songs 2 (ミニモニ。ソングズ2) 2004
  • Released: 11 February 2004
  • Label: Zetima
  • Formats: CD
 11 — N/A
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album Certifications
JPN
"Mini-Moni Jankenpyon!" (ミニモニ。ジャンケンぴょん！) / "Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!" (春夏秋冬だいすっき!) 2001 1
  • JPN: 800,000+
 Mini-Moni Song Daihyakka Ikkan
"Mini-Moni Telephone! Rin Rin Rin" (ミニモニ。テレフォン！リンリンリン) / "Mini-Moni Bus Guide" (ミニモニ。バスガイド!) 1
  • JPN: 400,000+
"Mini-Hams no Ai no Uta" (ミニハムずの愛の唄)
(as Mini-Hamus)		 3 — N/A
"Mini-Moni Hinamatsuri!" (ミニモニ。ひなまつり！) / "Mini Strawberry Pie" (ミニ。ストロベリ〜パイ) 2002 2
  • JPN: 200,000+
"Aīn Taisō" (アイ〜ン体操) / "Aīn! Dance no Uta" (アイ〜ン!ダンスの唄)
(as Bakatono-sama with Mini-Moni Hime)		 3
  • JPN: 200,000+
"Genki Jirushi no Ōmori Song" (お菓子つくっておっかすぃ〜) / "Okashi Tsukutte Okkasi!" (お菓子つくっておっかすぃ〜) 9 — Mini-Moni Songs 2 N/A
"Mini-Hams no Kekkon Song" (ミニハムずの結婚ソング)
(as Mini-Hamus)		 10 — N/A
"Rock 'n' Roll Kenchōshozaichi (Oboechaina Series)" (ロックンロール県庁所在地〜おぼえちゃいなシリーズ〜) 2003 7 — N/A
"Mini-Moni Kazoe Uta (Ofuro Version)" (ミニモニ。数え歌〜お風呂ば〜じょん〜) / "Mini-Moni Kazoe Uta (Date Version)" (ミニモニ。数え歌〜デートば〜じょん〜) 9 — N/A
"Crazy About You" 5 — N/A
"Lucky Cha Cha Cha!" (ラッキーチャチャチャ！) 2004 6 — Non-album single N/A
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Soundtrack appearances
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
JPN
"Mirakururun Grand Purin!" (ミラクルルン グランプリン!)[lower-alpha 1]
(as Mini-Hamus)		 2003 22 — Mini-Moni Songs 2
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Network Notes
2001 Mini-Moni Yaru no da Pyon! Themselves TV Tokyo Voice in anime; segments in Oha Star[2]
2002-2004 Hello! Morning Themselves TV Tokyo Morning Musume's variety show
2003 Mini-Moni the TV Themselves TV Tokyo Voice in anime[2]
2002-2004 Hello Kids Themselves TV Tokyo Mini-Moni's variety show

Films
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Adventures in Ham-Ham Land Themselves Voice in anime film; cameo
2002 The Captive Princess Themselves Voice in anime film; cameo
Mini-Moni the Movie: Okashi na Daibōken! Themselves
2003 Miracle in Aurora Valley Themselves Voice in anime film; cameo

Notes
  1. "Mirakururun Grand Purin!" was released as a double A-side single with "Pīhyara Kouta" (performed by Natsumi Abe under her character's name, Purin). The sales and Oricon ranking reflects both songs.
gollark: I wonder if I'm allowed to autorefresh and automatically get the time when the hour changes.
gollark: *should stare at the times for four*
gollark: I need to stop procrastinating and measure the ToDs of the things I want to ND tomorrow.
gollark: Er, pretty sure he said 2 CBs.
gollark: Maybe someone offered a hatchling.

References
  1. Campion, Chris (21 August 2005). "J-Pop's dream factory". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  2. Loo, Egan (20 December 2011). "Former Morning Musume Ai Kago Reveals Marriage, Pregnancy". Anime News Network. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  3. "辻希美、ミニモニ。1日限りの復活を報告「息切れヤバかったなぁ」". Abema Times (in Japanese). 12 February 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  4. "加護亜依、4歳の娘が辻希美を選びショック　「フ、、フラれた」". Abema Times (in Japanese). 17 November 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  5. Yaguchi, Mari (26 May 2009). "New Minimoni" (in Japanese). I'm a Beginner: Mari Yaguchi Official Blog.
  6. Tsunku (27 May 2009). "Minimoni" (in Japanese). Tsunku Official Blog.
  7. Tsunku (3 June 2009). "Minimoni" (in Japanese). Tsunku Official Blog.
  8. Tsunku. つんく♂オフィシャルウェブサイト (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  9. "モー娘。から亀井ら3人が卒業! 4年ぶり新メンバーオーディション開催へ". Oricon (in Japanese). 8 August 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  10. 加護亜依、辻希美＆矢口真里でのミニモニ。特別復活に言及. Model Press (in Japanese). 15 February 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  11. McCarthy, Caroline (22 June 2007). "Five-second 'Dramatic Chipmunk' video takes the Web by storm". CNET. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  12. "Spot the memes in Weezer's Pork and Beans". News.com.au. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  13. "一般社団法人 日本レコード協会" (Enter "ミニモニ。" in the アーティスト parameter and then click 検索). Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 February 2020.
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