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Kuu Kuu Harajuku

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Kuu Kuu Harajuku
Company typeTelevision series brand
IndustryChildren's entertainment, Animation
Founded2013
FounderGwen Stefani
Area served
International
Key people
Gwen Stefani (creator)
ProductsAnimated television series, merchandise collection
ParentVision Animation, Moody Street Productions, Red Flags Fly

Kuu Kuu Harajuku is an animated children's series heavily influenced by Japanese culture, created by the singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani. Inspired by her Harajuku Lovers merchandise line, the show itself functions as a brand and includes a related product collection produced by Mattel. The storyline follows a teenage girl band named HJ5—consisting of Love, Angel, Music, Baby, and their leader G—alongside their manager Rudie as they face various obstacles in the fantastical setting of Harajuku City, a fictionalized version of Tokyo.

The series was commissioned in 2013 by Australia's Network Ten, with Stefani having developed the concept as early as 2004. Malaysian studio Vision Animation created the show using Flash animation, supported financially by the Victorian government agency Film Victoria. The musical elements draw inspiration from Stefani’s first two solo albums, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. and The Sweet Escape. Mattel introduced the Kuu Kuu Harajuku merchandise collection during spring 2017.

Distributed internationally by Canadian media firm DHX Media, the program premiered on Australia's 10 Peach channel on 1 November 2015. Subsequent seasons followed with season two launching on 1 July 2017 and season three on 11 August 2018. In Canada, the series airs on DHX Media’s Family Channel. Critical reception was mixed, with some reviewers expressing concerns about cultural appropriation connected to Stefani's broader Harajuku Lovers brand.

Overview

Centered around a teenage girl modeled after Gwen Stefani, known as G, and her friends Love, Angel, Music, and Baby, the narrative follows their journey as members of the rising band HJ5. Their manager Rudie strives to arrange performances for them, though these often encounter interruptions. The group confronts challenges through G’s leadership qualities, Love’s intellect, Angel’s imaginative flair, Music’s courage, Baby’s spirited nature, and Rudie’s persistence.

Opposing them are antagonists General NoFun and Commander Bo-Ring, who aim to eliminate entertainment worldwide. Additional characters include Twisty T, a music producer whom Rudie attempts to impress; Say-Wah, an enthusiastic fan; Colonel Spyke, a military figure opposing pop music; and Mauve Madison, a talk show host who features HJ5.

Main

  • G (voiced by Maggie Chretien) is the 17-year-old lead vocalist and leader of HJ5. She is dependable and composed, holding the group together during difficult times. Her preferred instrument is the microphone; her signature palette includes aqua, white, and black. She is inspired by Gwen Stefani.
  • Love (voiced by Daisy Masterman), aged 15, represents the intelligent and inventive member of the band with a passion for science and innovation. She favors playing the keyboard; her signature color is red.
  • Angel (voiced by Emma Taylor-Isherwood), at 14 years old, is known for her upbeat personality and fashion sense that adds style to the group. She plays drums; her distinctive colors are yellow and blue.
  • Music (voiced by Sally Taylor-Isherwood), aged 16, serves as second-in-command—strong-willed and determined with skills in combat and dance. Her instrument of choice is guitar; her signature hue is purple.
  • Baby (voiced by Charlotte Nicdao), the youngest at 13 years old, is characterized by her sweet demeanor and fondness for adorable things. She plays bass; pink is her signature color.
  • Rudie (voiced by Danny Smith) manages HJ5 with commitment despite frequent challenges. His visual theme features checkered patterns in white, black, and gray.

Villains

  • General No–Fun – the stern and infamous commander of Nofunland.
  • Commander Bo-Ring – the principal aide and senior officer under General No–Fun.
  • Say-Wha – a fanatic admirer of HJ5 characterized by an auto-tuned voice.
  • Madame Shhh – driven by the goal to eradicate music for a tranquil existence.
  • Sammy Starr – a music manager who serves as Rudie's adversary.
  • Moods Meow – General No–Fun's pet feline companion.
  • Stegosaurus Stan – a former host of a children's program aiming to regress everyone to toddlerhood.
  • Teen Genie – an impolite teenage genie known for frequently saying "whatever."

Recurring

  • R.O.D. – HJ5's robotic assistant featuring a British accent.
  • Chewy – HJ5’s Pomeranian dog, initially belonging to G.
  • Jimmy – Rudie’s nephew with ambitions in photography.
  • Twisty – a wealthy music producer recognized for his sneaker collection.
  • Mauve Madison – a well-known talk show host with an affinity for the color mauve.
  • Zookeeper Smythe – employed at the local zoo.
  • Sparkski – a heroic virus that supports HJ5 in resolving band-related challenges.
  • Morgan and Macy – twins under the management of Sammy Starr.
  • Colonel Spyke – head of the Harajuku Defense Squad, tasked with safeguarding Harajuku from various creatures.
  • Brodie – Rudie’s younger cousin who works as an intern for the band.

Production

Kuu Kuu Harajuku is a collaborative production between Vision Animation (Malaysia), Moody Street Productions (Australia), and Red Flags Fly (USA). The first season was produced with support from Film Victoria, while Network Ten backed the second season. The third season aired in 2018.

Following her 2004 album Love. Angel. Music. Baby., Gwen Stefani proposed creating a Harajuku Girls television series or film. Nearly ten years later, she presented an animated series concept inspired by the Harajuku Lovers brand at Kidscreen's 2013 Asian Animation Summit. The project received approval for 52 episodes, initially titled KooKoo Harajuku. Stefani emphasized that the show portrays a fictional universe inspired by Harajuku rather than representing the actual district.

Stefani's experience with animation, influenced by her brother Eric Stefani's work on The Simpsons and The Ren & Stimpy Show, played a role in shaping the series. She expressed excitement about partnering with Nickelodeon, describing it as a long-cherished dream fulfilled later in life.

The visual design draws inspiration from Tokyo’s Harajuku district. The four protagonists—Love, Angel, Music, and Baby—are based on Stefani’s Harajuku Girl dancers but reimagined as ethnically ambiguous characters suitable for younger viewers. The lead character, G, is modeled after Stefani herself. The theme song, performed by Stefani, incorporates lyrics from her previous hits and blends '80s video game sounds with pop music elements.

In March 2017, Stefani announced that a second season of Kuu Kuu Harajuku was underway, having been in development since late 2016. This season features additional musical sequences and animated performances. The third season premiered in Australia in August 2018.

Broadcast

Kuu Kuu Harajuku first aired on 10 Peach (formerly Eleven) in Australia on 1 November 2015, followed by its debut on ABC Me on 6 December 2016. In the United States, it premiered on Nick on 3 October 2016 before transitioning to the Nick Jr. Channel on 3 February 2017. Canadian audiences saw its launch on Family Channel on 1 November 2016. The series later became available for streaming in the U.S. through the free live TV app Pluto TV on the Nick Jr. channel until Nickelodeon’s broadcast rights expired. Additionally, it was broadcast on SABC 3 in South Africa between 2018 and 2020.

Home media

In February 2017, Shout! Factory acquired the North American distribution rights for Kuu Kuu Harajuku on DVD and Blu-ray through an agreement with DHX Media.

Region 1
DVD title Season(s) Aspect ratio Episode count Total running time Release date(s)
Music, Baby! 1 16:9 7 154 minutes 13 June 2017
Super Kawaii 1 16:9 6 132 minutes 26 September 2017
Girl Power 1 1.78:1 7 154 minutes 20 February 2018

Critical response

Upon its U.S. premiere, Emily Ashby from Common Sense Media offered a mixed critique of Kuu Kuu Harajuku, commending characters Love and G as commendable role models due to their calmness and problem-solving abilities. She characterized the series as somewhat "mindless" yet enjoyable, noting that other programs might provide stronger role models for the target demographic.

Erica Russell of PopCrush expressed disapproval of the show's setting, labeling it a Westernized and culturally diluted version rather than a genuine representation of Japan, describing it as a sanitized 'kawaii' fantasy. Both Rae Alexandra of KQED and Teresa Jusino from The Mary Sue raised issues regarding the depiction of the Harajuku Girls as racially ambiguous figures, suggesting this approach seemingly avoids cultural appropriation by minimizing Asian representation despite the show's Japanese cultural inspirations.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
2016 Asian Television Award Best 2D Animation Programme Vision Animation, Network Ten, Eleven (now 10 Peach) Template:Nom

External links

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