July 19, 2012

Cartoons: a love affair


Asia sometimes seems to have more cartoon characters than actual humans.  I didn’t realize just how deep this craze ran until I made my first visit to Asia to stay with a friend in South Korea back in 2009.  There were cartoons on bus stops.  Warning signs.  Construction notices. The DMZ.  Nothing makes a construction site seem happy and inviting like a cartoon, right?

This sign was at a temple, of all places.

If Yogi wore proper footwear, perhaps slipping and falling wouldn't be a problem.

The official public transit cartoon welcomes you to this bus stop.

The DMZ is heavily guarded by both human and cartoon officers.

It's a giant mushroom in the middle of a traffic circle.  I don't get it.

This is a "Black Crunch Bar", complete with "Black Boy" and "Black Girl" cartoons.  I was floored.

My friend's t-shirt.  Finally, a REAL cartoon.

4 comments:

  1. That's a sweet Thundercats shirt!

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  2. Yes, yes it is. I kind of want one, myself!

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  3. Japan was the same way - cartoons everywhere!

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  4. I've gotten the same impression of Japan. It's on the list, and I intent to to go and see for myself!

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