San-X

San-X is a Japanese company that specializes in the creation, production and marketing of goods featuring anime-style anthropomorphic characters such as Kogepan, Nyan Nyan Nyanko and Afro Ken. more...

Characters usually relate to some aspect of Japanese culture: Tissue-san was a character developed to encourage Japanese schoolchildren to use tissues when they have a cold or flu.

The characters' personalities are well-developed, with each character having its own quirky traits. For instance, Momobuta is a pig with a head shaped like a peach, who enjoys karaoke and painting her nails. Mikanbouya is an orange who likes candy and dislikes cold weather.

History

San-X was founded in April, 1932, as a privately-owned business under the name "Chida Handler". In October, 1941, Chida Handler became a limited company. Chida Handler's name was changed to San-X in May, 1973.

Characters

Animals

• Afro Ken - a dog with an afro
• Kyoo Usa - a bunny rabbit
• Mamegoma - little seals
• Momobuta - a pig with a head shaped like a peach, who enjoys karaoke and painting her nails
• Monokuro Boo - a black pig and a white pig
• Nijinomukou - a collection of happy animals
• Nyan Nyan Nyanko - little cats that transmogrify into, most commonly, food
• Rilakkuma - a brown bear who lives the house of an office lady (OL) named Kaoru
• Tarepanda (or Tare Panda) - a lazy panda
• Wan Wan Wanko - a collection of dogs

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