Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (ボボボーボ・ボーボボ Bobobōbo Bōbobo?) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshio Sawai, published by Shueisha, and serialized in the Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo is a comedy influenced by Japanese manzai humor that uses puns, double-talk, breaking of the fourth wall, non-sexualized cross-dressing, visual gags, and satirical and pop-culture references, which makes its non sequitur humor very specific to Japanese audiences.[original research?] The manga series lasted from 2001 through 2007, divided into two separate sections with a distinct difference in humor and plotting.
Plot
In the year 3001.5, the entire world is under the tyrannical rule of the Maruhage Empire, and their ruler, Tsuru Tsurulina IV (Bald the 4th). His Hair Hunt troop captures innocent bystanders' hair, leaving the people bald and their villages in ruins. Standing against this evil regime is the heroic, but bizarre, rebel, Bobobo-Bo Bo-Bobo, who fights the Hair Hunt Troop with his powerful Hanage Shinken (Fist of the Nose Hair). His team consists of the normal teen girl Beauty, the smelly teen warrior Heppokomaru (Gasser) and the Hajike leader Don Patch (Poppa Rocks). Bo-bobo is on an exciting, gag-filled quest to deliver his own hairy brand of justice to evildoers everywhere.
Manga
Shueisha published the manga of Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo and serialized it in Weekly Shōnen Jump. The original manga story ended in 2005, and in January, 2006 a sequel manga replaced it in Weekly Shōnen Jump, now entitled Shinsetsu Bobobō-bo Bō-bobo (True Theory : Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo) which has ended in July, 2007.
In North America, the manga is licensed by Viz Media and was published in a one shot graphic novel form in October 2005 and is now published monthly in Shōnen Jump. A recent report by Viz at the New York Anime festival reported that graphic novels would be released sometime in 2008, the first (covering volume 11 (the one-shot covers volume 9) yet stated as "Volume 1") having been released on August 5, 2008. When asked about why the previous volumes were not being published at Anime Expo 2008, Viz said it was due to the "content".
After the end of the initial Bo-bobo series, the series rebooted into a second part known as Shinsetsu Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo in December, 2005. Picking up one year after the end of the first part, the Maruhage Empire is reformed by former emperor Tsuru Tsurulina III into the Neo-Maruhage Empire, where the Hair Hunts resume and a new generation of powerful Hair Hunt generals are created. Bo-bobo, powering the abilities of his "Fist of the Nosehair" into its Shinsetsu (True Theory) form, rejoins Beauty and the Hajike allies to take on the renewed Maruhage threat. Many of the rebels from the original series, including Don Patch, Jelly Jiggler, Hatenko, Softon and even Hanpen return to assist in the new rebellion. Yet in the midst of this, Heppokkomaru (Gasser) joins the Neo-Maruhage forces, forced to turn to the dark side for his own personal reasons.
Anime
The anime was directed by Hiroki Shibata, produced by Toei Animation and ran for 76 episodes from November 8, 2003 to October 29, 2005 on TV Asahi. The anime, licensed by Toei Animation, first aired as a sneak peek on Cartoon Network's Fridays block on September 30, and then aired on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block Saturdays at 10/9c. The show returned to the United States on February 17, 2007 at 8:30/7:30c. It has been shown on Jetix UK since April 14, 2007 at 7:00PM, and has been seen on Cartoon Network's broadband service Toonami Jetstream since November 5. The anime is dubbed by Phuuz Entertainment Inc., in association with Cloverway Inc.. The dub was censored at some points in order to receive a lower TV-rating, allowing it to be broadcast to a younger audience demographic.
Despite its limitations, the American dubs of the anime and manga manage to preserve the spirit of the show; the translators and adaptation writers were forced to rewrite several of the jokes due to the differences between the Japanese and English languages. At several points in the dub, the American version makes fun of the fact that it is a translation of a Japanese product (for example, when Bo-bobo is filling out an application card in episode two, he botches it because the application is in Japanese and he cannot read it, instead drawing "little doodles" for answers; in the original Japanese version he messes up the application for a completely different reason, and the "little doodles" are his honest answers written in hiragana). This style of self-referential humor can also be seen in the American version of Kyatto Ninden Teyande (Samurai Pizza Cats). Additionally, with the exception of the opening credits, all other on-screen Japanese text is intentionally kept in the English dub (most likely as a part of the retaining the show's surreal humor).
The series was originally licensed for home video release in North America by Illumitoon Entertainment who released only 2 volumes on bilingual DVD in 2007 before their distribution deal with Westlake Entertainment fell through, and all further volumes were canceled. S'more Entertainment later announced on January 16, 2012 that they will be releasing Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo to bilingual DVD in North America beginning on March 27, 2012.
About Bobobo-bo-bo-bobo
Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo is 27 years old. It is unclear what race he is, or if he is even human. It was never fully explained in the show. His father was a hair ball like creature. His birthday differs between the manga and the anime; the manga lists his birthday as April 1, while the anime claims his birthday to be March 14. His most striking features are his large blond afro and sunglasses. Bo-bobo's full name written in kanji is "母母母ー母・母ー母母". Bo-Bobo closely resembles the Japanese stereotype of an American from the 70's era.
Behind Bo-bobo's random (often irrational) behavior lies a strong sense of justice. However, this doesn't keep him from using his comrades Don Patch and Jelly Jiggler as meat shields. Even so, he recognizes them as valuable allies, and will attempt to save them in their time of need. In a stark contrast to the way he treats his allies, Bo-bobo protects Beauty without a second thought. While he is considered foolish by other characters, he is rarely considered a delinquent.
Bo-bobo's favorite dish is white bread, while his least favorite is bell peppers. His second favorite is pasta, and his devotion to it has been stated to be his second-biggest weakness. He is a vegetarian, and his main hobby consists of battling other fools. His special skills include his trademark "Fist of the Nose Hair" and playing Jenga. He hates the winter season due to Static shocks. His most treasured item is his police car. His favorite word is "ai", the Japanese word for "love" or "affection".
Bo-bobo's hairstyle is very multi-purpose. It has been frequently used for facilities as widely ranging as a restaurant, to a blender (which was used to transform Beauty back into a human from her doll form), to a concert venue. Various people and animals seem to take residence in Bo-bobo's afro.
