Drawing a cartoon character is one thing. But creating a cartoon character that will be applied across multiple media platforms is quite another. This type of cartoon character must be especially BELIEVABLE, UNIQUE & MEMORABLE. Therefore, the creator has to act as a cartoonist and writer, who believes in their characters and is talented enough to portray that through dialog, design & personality. .
Kaa Kaa & Tokyo, the main characters of the first entertainment property from the Cayman Islands, was always quite "real" to me - they were my imaginary, childhood friends that remained with me into adulthood, so I knew their personailities well. They are strong characters, so I was sure people would find them interesting. Their voices were distinct - they often made me burst into laughter, garnering odd looks from strangers, so cataloging their dialog was also easy. However, there were certain things I had to consider when designing Kaa Kaa & Tokyo for multiple platforms such as TV animation, books, apps, games, merchandise, food & drink products, and large scale live events. What colors would best appeal to our target group? They had to be distinct and have a visual impact. What odd details made the characters stand out? What different types of accessories could be spun off into merchandise?
I believe the most spectacular thing that makes the Kaa Kaa & Tokyo believable,memorable and unique is their dialog - the authentic Caymanain accent is scripted to capture the personailties and attitudes of our ancestors, who had little concern for "political correctness" like we do today. So, at times Kaa Kaa & Tokyo may appear quite agressive and harsh, but this is unquely combined with rhyming humor. It's wonderfully wicked combination!
That is the unforgettable glitter of Kaa Kaa & Tokyo. Even if you couldn't see an illustration, their personailities and attitudes are automaticly communicated through their dialog, making them massively entertaining - even on the radio.
Kaa Kaa & Tokyo, the main characters of the first entertainment property from the Cayman Islands, was always quite "real" to me - they were my imaginary, childhood friends that remained with me into adulthood, so I knew their personailities well. They are strong characters, so I was sure people would find them interesting. Their voices were distinct - they often made me burst into laughter, garnering odd looks from strangers, so cataloging their dialog was also easy. However, there were certain things I had to consider when designing Kaa Kaa & Tokyo for multiple platforms such as TV animation, books, apps, games, merchandise, food & drink products, and large scale live events. What colors would best appeal to our target group? They had to be distinct and have a visual impact. What odd details made the characters stand out? What different types of accessories could be spun off into merchandise?
I believe the most spectacular thing that makes the Kaa Kaa & Tokyo believable,memorable and unique is their dialog - the authentic Caymanain accent is scripted to capture the personailties and attitudes of our ancestors, who had little concern for "political correctness" like we do today. So, at times Kaa Kaa & Tokyo may appear quite agressive and harsh, but this is unquely combined with rhyming humor. It's wonderfully wicked combination!
That is the unforgettable glitter of Kaa Kaa & Tokyo. Even if you couldn't see an illustration, their personailities and attitudes are automaticly communicated through their dialog, making them massively entertaining - even on the radio.
From: Kaa Kaa & Tokyo: One Bad Day
RSS Feed
