Kuu Kuu Harajuku facts for kids

Kuu Kuu Harajuku (also known as KooKoo Harajuku) is a fun animated TV show for kids. It was created by the famous singer Gwen Stefani. The show is based on her Harajuku Lovers fashion brand. It's all about a cool teenage girl group called HJ5 and their manager, Rudie. They live in a fantasy city called Harajuku City, which is inspired by Tokyo, Japan.

The HJ5 band has five members: G (the leader), and the four Harajuku Girls named Love, Angel, Music, and Baby. In each episode, the band members and Rudie face funny problems that try to stop them from performing their music. But they always find a way to overcome these challenges!

The show was first ordered by Network Ten in Australia in 2013. Gwen Stefani actually had the idea for a TV show way back in 2004! The animation is done using a style called Flash by a studio in Malaysia called Vision Animation. The music in the show is inspired by Gwen Stefani's own albums.

The toy company Mattel launched a line of Kuu Kuu Harajuku toys and products in 2017. The show is shared around the world by a Canadian company called DHX Media. It first aired in Australia on 10 Peach on November 1, 2015. New seasons came out in 2017 and 2018. In Canada, you can watch the show on Family Channel.

What the Show is About

The story of Kuu Kuu Harajuku follows a teenage girl named G, who is based on Gwen Stefani herself. G and her friends Love, Angel, Music, and Baby form an awesome new band called HJ5.

Their manager, Rudie, is a bit clumsy but tries his best to get the band gigs. However, their performances often get interrupted by silly and cartoonish problems! The band always works together to solve these issues. G is a great leader, Love is super smart, Angel is creative, Music is brave, and Baby is full of energy. Rudie's determination also helps them out.

There's even a bad guy named General NoFun and his helper, Commander Bo-Ring. They try to stop HJ5 because they want a world with no fun or entertainment! Other characters include Twisty T, a music producer Rudie wants to impress, and Say-Wah, a huge HJ5 fan who dreams of joining the band.

Episodes

List of Kuu Kuu Harajuku episodes

Meet the Characters

Main Characters

• G (voiced by Maggie Chretien) is the leader of HJ5. She is honest, humble, and keeps the band together even when things get tough. Her colors are aqua, white, and black, and she represents bows. She is based on Gwen Stefani.
• Love (voiced by Daisy Masterman) is the super smart member of HJ5. She loves science and often invents things, though sometimes her inventions cause funny problems. Her color is red, and she represents hearts.
• Angel (voiced by Emma Taylor-Isherwood) is the fashion expert of HJ5. She is cheerful and loves all the latest trends. She also enjoys cheering up her friends. Her colors are yellow and blue, and she represents stars.
• Music (voiced by Sally Taylor-Isherwood) is the strong and sassy tomboy of HJ5. She's a great fighter and dancer, though she can get annoyed easily. Her color is purple, and she represents musical notes.
• Baby (voiced by Charlotte Nicdao) is the sweetest and most loving member of HJ5. She adores everything cute and loves giving hugs. Her color is pink, and she represents cuteness.
• Rudie (voiced by Danny Smith) is the band's energetic manager. He works hard to book shows, but his bad luck often gets them into funny trouble. He cares a lot about the band's safety. His colors are white, black, and gray, often in a checkered pattern.

Villains

• General No–Fun – The serious leader of Nofunland, who wants to get rid of all fun.
• Commander Bo-Ring – General NoFun's main helper.
• Colonel Spyke – A strict soldier who doesn't like pop music.
• Say-Wah – An obsessed HJ5 fan with a special auto-tuned voice.
• Madame Shhh – A woman who wants a world without music so she can have peace and quiet.
• Sammy Starr – A music manager who is Rudie's rival.
• Moods Meow – General No–Fun's pet cat.
• Stegosaurus Stan – An old children's show host who wants to turn everyone into toddlers.
• Teen Genie – A rude teenage genie who loves to say "whatever."

Other Characters

• R.O.D. – HJ5's robot assistant with a British accent.
• Chewy – HJ5's pet Pomeranian dog. He is based on Gwen Stefani's own pet.
• Jimmy – Rudie's nephew, who wants to be a photographer.
• Twisty – A rich music producer who loves sneakers.
• Mauve Madison – A popular talk show host who loves the color mauve.
• Zookeeper Smythe – A zookeeper at the zoo.
• Sparkski – A hero virus who helps HJ5 with their problems.
• Morgan and Macy – Twin sisters managed by Sammy Starr.
• Brodie – Rudie's younger cousin who works as an intern for the band.

How the Show Was Made

Kuu Kuu Harajuku was made by several companies working together: Vision Animation in Malaysia, Moody Street Productions in Australia, and Red Flags Fly in the United States. It also got help from Film Victoria and Network Ten. A third season of the show was planned and aired in 2018.

Gwen Stefani first thought about making a Harajuku Girls TV show or movie after her 2004 album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. She said she "wanted to do an animated or live-action Harajuku TV show or movie since the conception of my [first] dance record." Years later, in 2013, she shared her idea for an animated series based on her Harajuku Lovers brand. She even talked with Nickelodeon about the show. In 2014, Gwen Stefani announced that Network Ten had approved the show, and 52 episodes were being developed. The show was first called KooKoo Harajuku.

Gwen Stefani shared that she grew up with animation because her older brother, Eric Stefani, worked on famous shows like The Simpsons. She was very excited when Kuu Kuu Harajuku was renewed for a second season, saying it was a dream come true.

The show's art style is inspired by the Harajuku area in Tokyo, Japan, which is known for its unique fashion. Four of the main characters (Love, Angel, Music, and Baby) are based on Gwen Stefani's backup dancers, but they were updated to look modern for a younger audience. The characters were designed to have diverse looks. Gwen Stefani herself was the inspiration for the main character, G. Gwen Stefani also performs the show's theme song, which includes lyrics from her past songs. The other music in the show sounds like a mix of 80s video games and pop music.

Gwen Stefani announced the second season of Kuu Kuu Harajuku in March 2017. This season had more songs and animated performances than the first. A third season started in Australia in August 2018.

Where to Watch the Show

Kuu Kuu Harajuku first aired in Australia on 10 Peach on November 1, 2015. It also showed on ABC Me and later on Nick in the US on October 3, 2016. It then moved to Nick Jr. in February 2017. In Canada, the series premiered on Family Channel on November 1, 2016. The show also aired in the UK on Pop and can be streamed in the US on Pluto TV.

DVDs

You can also find Kuu Kuu Harajuku on DVD!

Awards

The show has also been nominated for awards!

• Kuu Kuu Harajuku at TheTVDB
• on Eleven

Images for kids

• 

  The main characters (clockwise): Rudie, Music, G, Love, Angel and Baby. The girls are all holding their Monster Pets. As seen in the third season.

See also

In Spanish: Kuu Kuu Harajuku para niños