Wow-Kun
Brand Mascot for Shop Japan
As a brand operates on multiple channels and a variety of different medias, communicating its message to wide demographics in a consistent and compelling manner becomes a big challenge. That was certainly the case with Shop Japan.
Creating a brand mascot, although it is a big undertaking, is often a perfect solution. A mascot is like a logo which symbolizes the brand. The only difference is that it speaks, moves, and has expression. A brand mascot becomes a storyteller. It personifies the brand and creates interpersonal relationships between consumers and the brand.
Based on the Shop Japan brand vision, mission, and values, we have created a strategy and invited character designers to participate in an international competition. Through an intense evaluation process, a character and story created by a renowned character designer, Mr. Hiroshi Yoshii, was selected and was named Wow-Kun.
We defined each character's personality and created a story. Then we created opening animations, sculptures, mascot costumes, calendars, and web contents, such as a cartoon series.
CHARACTER DESIGNER
Hiroshi Yoshii
Hiroshi Yoshii
CREATIVE & ART DIRECTOR
Daisuke Endo
Daisuke Endo
PRODUCER
Junko Sugimoto
Junko Sugimoto
ILLUSTRATORS
Tsumugi Uyama
Tsumugi Uyama
Reuben Lara
ANIMATION
Roger
Roger