Tarepanda

Tarepanda (たれぱんだ) is a cute panda character owned by the company San-X サンエックス (San Ekkusu). The term "tare" (垂れ) means "lazy" or "droopy" in Japanese.[1]

Tarepanda

History

Creation

Tarepanda is licensed by San-X, the company that introduced Tarepanda stickers in 1995. It was designed by Hikaru Suemasa (ja:末政ひかる) and was inspired when she was being tired.

Characteristics

Tarepanda is a character that moves by rolling over, with a record speed of 2.75 m/h.[1][2] Tarepanda's favorite food is mochi (餅), especially suama (寿甘).[1][3]

Popularity

In February 1998, San-X launched Tarepanda erasers and letter pads, which proved enormous hits. San-X believed these products were successful because they were released shortly after the Asian financial crisis of autumn 1997, a time when many people in Japan were facing layoffs and, consequently, were sympathetic toward a "worn-out" panda character.[4] By 1999, sales of Tarepanda goods had reached 30 billion yen.[4] Character Databank, a Japanese character popularity monitoring firm, has claimed Tarepanda was a huge hit in Japan.[5] It was rated one of the most popular characters in Japan for its cuteness.

Merchandise

Picture books
  • Tarepanda: Kyou mo Yoku Tareteimasu. (Hikaru Suemasa, June 1999, ISBN 4-09-681211-0)
  • Taregoyomi: Nengara Nenju Tareteimasu. (Hikaru Suemasa, September 1999, ISBN 4-09-681212-9)
  • Taredzukushi: Tarepanda Fuanbukku (Hikaru Suemasa, March 2000, ISBN 4-09-681213-7)
  • Tareyukumamani: Kigatsuku to Sobani iru (Hikaru Suemasa, April 2001, ISBN 4-09-681214-5)

Sticker books
  • Tarepanda Shiiru (Hikaru Suemasa, March 2000, ISBN 4-09-734351-3)

Videos

Games

Computer
  • Tarepanda (Interchannel, 2001/6/29, typing-tutor software)
  • Tare Tsuzuri (Interchannel, 2001/11/22, card-creation software)
  • Tarepanda Toissho (Fortyfive, 1999/4/16, desktop accessories)
  • Tarepanda Toissho 2 (Fortyfive, 1999/8/10, desktop accessories)
  • Tarepanda Toissho 3 (Fortyfive, 2000/4/28, desktop accessories)
  • Tarepanda Toissho Tsume Awa Se (Fortyfive, 2002/2/8, desktop accessories)
gollark: What is the boiling point of most songs?
gollark: Or would be, if it wasn't just totally* sentient.
gollark: I imagine it's the JS one.
gollark: You can do that. Ish.
gollark: Oh, it's sentient.

References
  1. San-X.net. (2011). Tarepanda. Retrieved May 29, 2011, from http://www.san-x.jp/characters/tarepanda.html
  2. Roach, M. (1999). Wired 7.12: Cute Inc. Retrieved may 29, 2011, from
  3. Tariepie. Retrieved May 29, 2011, from http://tarepie.tripod.com/sum3.htm
  4. Takuya Hamashima, "Stressed out? You need 'virtual healing'!", Yomiuri Shimbun, November 27, 1999, at 7.
  5. Tabuchi, Hiroko (May 14, 2010). "In Search of Adorable, as Hello Kitty Gets Closer to Goodbye". NYTimes.com.
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