Korean 뽀롱뽀롱 뽀로로 Theme music composer Bruce Broughton Original language(s) KoreanEnglish | Composer(s) Bruce Broughton | |
Country of origin South KoreaNorth Korea | ||
Pororo the Little Penguin (Korean: 뽀롱뽀롱 뽀로로) is a Korean computer-animated television series created by Iconix Entertainment, SK Broadband, Ocon and Channel One with the North Korean company Samchŏlli in Kaesŏng. Production began in 2002 and the program began airing in South Korea on EBS in 2003.
Contents
- Origin
- Design
- Season 1 present
- Season 2 present
- Season 3 present
- Season 4 present
- Minor characters
- Animation history
- Awards and honors
- Format
- Opening theme songs
- Ending theme songs
- Social impact
- References
The series revolves around the adventures of Pororo and his friends who live in the snowy village of Porong Porong Forest, who often encounter challenges and learn practical and moral lessons in each episode.
Origin
It was created in 2003 by Iconix Entertainment C., Ltd, a company based in Seoul, South Korea.
Design
Choi, Sanghyun, who was working at Iconix Entertainment, was given a project of creating an icon that represents an animal living in the winter. So, he kept visiting a zoo to understand animals and kids enjoying watching them. Many professional designers joined the project to come up with an icon, but Choi’s designed was chosen as the winner, which became the first Pororo.
Season 1 – present
Season 2 – present
Season 3 – present
Season 4 – present
Minor characters
Animation history
The original Pororo was a blue and white, petite penguin sporting an aviator helmet and goggles, which became popular among children. When it was introduced, it targeted 2-4 aged children, unlike other characters devised by Iconix Entertainment that targeted 2-6 aged children. Pororo is an adventurous 5-year-old penguin, who dreams of flying, and lives on a snowy island with six other animal friends. In the design, Pororo in most animations has a neutral background, so that the animation could be popular to children all around the world. The role models of Pororo in design included Mickey Mouse, the Walt Disney icon who turned 84 this year, and the Japan’s most adored character, Hello Kitty, who has been cherished for nearly 40 years. The creators cautiously picked the colors — blue, pink and white — that are familiar to children and also ones that represent both genders. When making episodes, producers paid attention to details that could be biased to certain cultural codes or give a historical reference that is sensitive to viewers in certain parts of the world. For example, they make sure Pororo and friends wave hands instead of bow or even nod to each other.
Awards and honors
In 2003, Pororo received numerous awards from the South Korean government, including the award by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. In 2006, Pororo got the President’s award for best animation characters. In 2013, Pororo got the award for Creative Brands. In 2014, Pororo was chosen as the mascot for mass transportation in Seoul.
Format
Opening theme songs
Ending theme songs
Social impact
When Pororo was first created, it was just with normal episodes. Later parents suggest to Choi Jung-il in Iconix Entertainment that new episodes be included that have some educational purposes. Producers have received many requests, ranging from what the character should eat and how to play in episodes to what he can do for society. When these new episodes were made, kids started to follow what Pororo is doing, like crossing the road with right hand up, not being fastidious on eating food, washing and cleaning. These acts are making children easily follow and fix their attitudes in enjoyable way. In Summer 2016, there was a new carnival related to Pororo in Coex Mall, South Korea with musical and parade of the characters.