Gloomy Bear! Grrrr.
When I was little it was all about Cabbage Patch Kids. I was crazy about them (even though now I think they’re so creepy I can’t even look at them without furrowing my brow and making a yucky face). I had a cute little black cabbage patch kid in a Mets uniform that I named Daryl Strawberry (uh, that was before the coke problem when he was still a “role model”). I also had this fugly redhead with yarn hair that was missing patches–maybe she was a chemo patch kid or something. I can’t even remember what her name was. But anyway, they were the bomb, and everyone who was anyone had one.
That was then… Now I’m totally in love with Gloomy Bear. (In Japan they pronounce it Groomy Bearu)
What’s not to love about a violent, adorable pink teddy bear with sharp, bloody claws and a penchant for human flesh? I mean, seriously? Gloomy was designed to be the antithesis of all things Disney and Sanrio/Hello Kitty, and I think we can ALL appreciate THAT!
And Gloomy Bear sends out an important message—
Boys and Girls: animals are meant to be left in their natural habitat, and if you try to bring them home and acclimate them to your environment, they will probably beat the living $#@t out of you and eat you! You know, just FYI…
Anyway, I know Gloomy Bear is incredibly tasteless but I think he’s fabulous, not to mention the rainbow of colors and styles he comes in… camo, panda bear, with or without bloody claws–I mean, what other doll do you know that comes with optional bloody claws? Priceless! It kind of reminds me of the psycho killer dolls in that 70′s flick, Barbarella. You know, the one with Jane Fonda? Okay, it’s a totally weird movie and kind of dated, but really trippy and funny.
So that’s my schpeel on Gloomy Bear. And I’ll leave you with this:
(pic from chax.net)
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:38 pm
ok yeah those bears are awesome! i love it!
April 4th, 2007 at 6:59 am
I love this kind of graphic design. I want to ask you something. I am a bit tired of teen vogue since they have LC and other ” celebs ” as interns. I want to change. What magazine do you think it’s best ? And I want one who doesn’t just talk about fashion.
Thanks.
April 4th, 2007 at 7:11 am
These bears fill a niche between the cute stuff bears and the ugly, gruesome stuff bears. There’s always something for everyone.
April 4th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
I always said that Cabbage Patch Kids looked as if they were violently punched in the mouth. As far as this new bear, I shall own one in every color. I looooove it. The animation had me keeled over in a fetus position. Hello Kitty better watch her back…
Besos
April 4th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
god, i hate normal stuffed animals.
they’re all smiley and fluffy and annoying.
and they remind me weirdly of perky blond salespeople at Express or that hellhole for prepubescent brats, Limited Too, because they’re TOO happy.
no, i’m not one of those nutbags who thinks their stuffed animals are out to get them. am i?
anyway, i f/n LOVE gloomy bear. he creeps me out. but i love him. he’s like a fallen angel, in stuffed animal cartoon form.
thanks for introducing him to me!
April 4th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I love Gloomy Bear! You’ll totally have to check out an episode or two of Happy Tree Friends. Same feel, same carnage, same happy smile at the end of viewing!
April 4th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
haha! You do keep me well informed, Alex! I hadn’t heard about these. Very interesting!!
April 4th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
I love me some Groomy!
April 4th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
(p.s. its more like “gurumi beiru”.. trust me, japanese sounding english is my second language…)
April 4th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
Sweet. I DO need some Gloomy Bear stickers for my notebook. XD
April 5th, 2007 at 8:19 am
I almost peed my pants when you write chemo patch kid, f-ing awesome!!!
I’m there with you with the creepy patch kids, and I think being obsessed with them when I was small has made me think of most children like that.
April 5th, 2007 at 11:57 am
Oh my, I had a preemie cabbage patch kid, it sounds so WRONG now to think that they promoted preemie dolls.
I love these bears, holy crap, Japan just gets better and better. Oddly, I also posted on my Japanese Obsession with clothing label Baby the Stars Shine Bright.
April 5th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
I LOVE GLOOMY BEAR! He’s the most fabulous bear ever!
April 5th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Haha I never knew that bear is called Gloomy Bear, though my sister has one at home. It’s really cute, I love its rubber claws!
April 5th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
recent bout of gloomy-bear mania—>
http://www.myspace.com/random_notes