Booksa was black-and-white, live-action Japanese TV show was created in 1966 by Tsuburaya Productions as a 47 episode half-hour series (47 eps is a full season in Japan) about a monster that bears an uncanny resemblance to a Teletubbie (pre-dating the British pre-school charmers by a good three decades).

Booska has been relaunched as a full-color, live-action series of 38 half hours, aimed at kids from preschool to 11. Licensed merchandise that abounds in Tokyo is popular among teen girls as well as kids. Tsuburaya currently is negotiating to sell the series in Hong Kong and abroad. Could Booksa be the next Teletubbies, or Pokemon?

The eccentric show centers on the adventures of the Tonda family and friendly live-in monster Booska. Originally intended to resemble an iguana, Booska gets juiced up with Boo Energy superpowers from the knob on top of his head (his Boo Kan). The monster is created from super-powered skateboard fuel by 11-year old Yusaku Tonda. The cuddly-looking creature can fly, lift up to 100 tons and make himself disappear, but he's a bit bumbling and naive. I swear, we are not making this up.

Since the Booska character has been licensed regularly since its inception in the mid-1960s, there is a considerable amount of merchandise already exists. The product portfolio is so bountiful, in fact, that Japan's primary shopping district Harajuku houses a dedicated boutique that sells Booska merchandise exclusively. The most popular items in Japan include toys, T-shirts (which have proven especially appealing to teen girls), pajamas and knick-knacks like keychains, toothbrushes and piggy banks. Current Booska merchandising licenses have been picked up by various manufacturers in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Brad Warner, Tsuburaya's director of international public relations, believes that the international market is ready to embrace the property. Warner says Booska recently appeared on the CD cover of the latest Beck album, as well as starring in a book of photos by French-Japanese photographer Alexander Imai that depicts Booska in famous places from around the world-including Auschwitz. Booska goods have already been imported into the U.K. by avid collectors.

Source: KidScreen

[Posted 7/06/2000]