Where Have I Gone?

Hello lovely friends!

👋😃

In 2016, I began this #Kawaii365 blog, which was a huge player in my career as a (now copyrighted) cartoonist. Together, we've experienced all kinds of posts referencing "cute pop culture" and I even suggested posts called:

-Review Wednesdays
-Feature Fridays
-and Are They Kawaii?
-as well as Retro Kawaii

I want to tell you all that it was a lot of fun, and I met some amazing people along this artistic and cultural journey.  I gained confidence, learned a lot, and gained new skills.  I learned what it means to truly appreciate fans...

Now, it's April 2020 and it seems I've fallen off the face of the Earth since the last post in September of last year, and I wanted to explain why, and where I've gone.

This pains me to be say... but the reason I stopped producing so many of these 'kawaii blog posts' is because they've caused me to be called a spammer, and started getting removed by facebook 😭

Yes, facebook. I don't know if someone reported me, or if it was an algorithm thing, but several months' worth of cute art and culture posts were removed, just like that.  I was shocked.  I was angry.  I was devestated.  And not only do I lament the loss of the posts themselves, but I got several accusatory messages from facebook, saying I "went against their community standards."   So... cute art isn't up to their standards then.

So this made me realize, if no one can see my posts anyway, why put my heart & soul into creating them?  So I stopped.

In the meantime, I have become copyrighted in the creation of the Zoo'd Animal Hybrid Friends, a kawaii-cute bunch of 'weird friends' who live on a planet discovered by a mad scientist, who put them there to protect them.  Please see the video below for more info:

Thank you to everyone who has shown support on this artistic and fun journey.  You all mean a lot to me. Blessings xoxo

What Do You Want?

Hi sweeties!

First of all, don't take offense at the title, because it's meant in a positive tone. Literally guys, I'd like to know: What do you want with this blog now that we're already so far in the new year?

It's now 2018 and this blog has been running for approximately a year & a half already. We've had fun challenges, such as:



And: 

The challenges had prizes, such as a coloring sheet (drawn by me), or even your own image featured here on this blog!!

We also had a major giveaway in Christmas 2016, won by Silvia D. 

And in addition, we've got cute games and quizzes here for you to enjoy!

Last March/April we had a fun contest where those who correctly guessed a visual pun [from a popular Disney movie], won a cute coloring page. Can you try to guess?

In addition, for quite some time throughout 2017, this blog was running Review Wednesdays, where we'd do a video or photo shoot of some kawaii cute items. I am honestly planning to bring these back to this blog, now that I've recovered from the flu and am less busy since the Holidays are over... for now.

We also used to have a very fun part of this blog, called Feature Fridays. Currently, this blog is calling for submissions - it's free to be featured once, as long as some of these guidelines are met:

⭐ You're a kawaii artist, fashion mogul, YouTuber, blogger, or fan of the culture ⭐

We also still like to occasionally review characters or pop culture that may be considered 'kawaii', and weigh in on whether or not it counts.

So please, as a loyal reader of this blog, if you have any suggestions for NEW fun stuff for 2018, please direct ideas to darylannderoche@gmail.com 

Thank you,

Daryl J. of

Kawaii Culture Is Actually Hygge

Hi friends!

How are you? I'm good thanks. Just stopping in here to share something with you, while my candy cane inspired nails are drying.

So I work part-time in a retail store, that sends out email coupons sometimes to customers. I signed up, and with it being the Christmas season, there was a recent email with a photo of a woman wearing very cozy PJs, and grinning while she held a cup of hot cocoa. There was a caption that said something like "rock your inner hygge".

'Hmmm...' I wondered to myself. What is 'hygge'? Some sort of buzzword in Western society right now, it seemed. And being that I work for the store chain that sent this out, I should know the meaning. So I Googled it, and was pleasantly surprised.




Hygge (pronounced 'Hue-gah') is a part of Danish culture, which is most closely translated to a feeling of 'comfort, contentment, and coziness'. Because of Denmark's geographical location, the climate is often very chilly and so the people who live there, spend much time wearing cozy clothing, sitting with friends in warm indoor environments and enjoying delicious warm beverages - I think it's probably a lot like what we feel and do during the Christmas season in North America.

Though, unlike 'kawaii', hygge isn't a specific style, type of clothes, food, or home decor - it is a very specific feeling of being 'at peace' where you are, in the moment.

And that is exactly the reason why I'd like to be bold enough to suggest to you, that the feeling we all get from seeing kawaii cuteness - such as flying Hello Kitty Airlines, or wearing 6%DokiDoki clothing - is a form of hygge feeling.

A feeling of contentment, inner warmth, comfort and peace, from the simplicity that is kawaii.

Most recently, an example of a true inner hygge feeling here on this blog, was the fireplace personality quiz [a few posts down from this one]. I always feel at peace when gazing at the dancing fire and feeling it's warmth. Anything warm makes me happy, actually. Whether it's a cuddly hug, a soft sweater, a hot cup of mocha, or an electric blanket.



Anyhow, this warm fuzzy feeling has got me smiling from within, like The Grinch when his heart grows more sizes. Of course, I wasn't a Grinch before - I've always adored Christmas! It's the best time of the year! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧



And before I go, just wanted to share the candy cane nails with you:

You'll Need:

• A light colored nail polish
• Red nail polish
• Clear top coat
• Nail dotting tool

You'll Do:

• Do 1 or 2 coats of the light one; you can use dry shampoo or even cold water if you don't have a nail dryer to speed things up for you.
• Open the red polish and touch the nail dotting tool to the brush and get 'just enough' polish to make 3 or 4 thin lines, diagonally on your nail. 
• Once dry, apply a clear top coat.
• The whole thing takes half an hour at most :)

Are They Kawaii? Christmas Edition

Hello sweet friends! 

Today is Monday, December 18, and Christmas is a week away from today! We're all getting so excited here 😁

I've got 2 more gifts to wrap, some cards yet to deliver, and a gingerbread house to decorate together with Rob - but we got so much done already!! I've wrapped about 20 gifts and signed so many cards I may have lost count! Our tree is decorated and we've had so many very nice Christmas dates (it is after all, our 10th Christmas that we're celebrating).

Anyhow, you may remember awhile back, I featured the 12 adorable hybrid animals from https://zoodanimalfriends.blogspot.ca/search/label/Characters A blog which was created around a series of kawaii animals I designed (and fell in love with!) after finishing the #Kawaii365 daily project.

And today, they're back to say Hello for Christmas - even if you don't decide to pledge $1 monthly at their Patreon page, they still love and appreciate when you share them!

You can also join the facebook group and join in on chats about them. Just look for Zoo'd Animal Hybrid Friends

I really enjoyed 'decorating' them for Christmas, too 😍



So, do you think they live up to the standards of Kawaii?

Let us know why/why not, in the comments section!


🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄





The above is a picture I colored in, from the very first adult coloring book I drew in Christmas of 2015. It was a lot of fun to draw, but I enjoyed coloring it in even more! Get your own copy of it at https://www.darylartdigital.etsy.com


Have a great rest of your day!
xoxo
Daryl J.

Uh-Oh Another Belated One!

Mondays are our day to discuss what well-known and beloved cartoons constitute 'kawaii'. This doesn't only apply to ones originating from Japan, either.

Today is Tuesday, but as the old adage goes: "Better late than never!"

And so today, we're going to look at the old Charlie Brown cartoons (aka 'The Peanuts Gang')by the late & great Charles Schulz.


First, some fun facts about the comic and characters:

• The main character of 'Peanuts', Charlie Brown, was based on the artist himself in his own childhood. He felt unpopular with peers.
• The first 'official' strip aired in October of 1950:
• 
• After several years as a comic strip, the series got an animated show in the 1960s. The most popular (and quotable) one is 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'. 
• There is even an American theme park attributed to the gang of friends, called 'Knott's Berry Farm' (which was later acquired by Cedar Fair, an amusement park chain).
• Next to Disney's 'Goofy', Snoopy is the most popular cartoon dog in American culture.

In 2015, the popular series was reimagined as a CGI animated movie, by Blue Sky Studios.

So now, let's look at their kawaii traits!

According to Japanese cultural references, kawaii cuteness is based on child-like innocence. This means large heads, tiny bodies & limbs, and large eyes with innocent expressions.

For the most part, these vintage cartoon children embody all of that, except their eyes - like many American cartoons, their eyes are small black dots. This isn't anti-kawaii though... as we observe characters such as Hello Kitty, or Rilakkuma. 

Personally, I think the 'Peanuts' are kawaii in looks, although most of the children are kind of mean, except for Charlie's best friend Linus, and his younger sister Sally. Kawaii cuteness usually embodies kindness and caring. 

And everybody loves Snoopy!

So let us know in the comments, whether or not you think these characters are cute enough to be considered 'kawaii'. Which one is your favorite, and why? 

With Halloween creeping so close, stop to watch 'It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' - it's a classic cartoon! 

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

And another 2 hints about my Halloween costume....

1) The voice actor who lent his vocals to the 2015 Charlie Brown is young actor Noah Schnapp, who plays 'Will Byers' in a popular sci-fi Netflix series....

2) Check out this picture of Hello Kitty in a blonde wig, via my Instagram:

Fourth Powerpuff Girl

OMG! I grew up watching the original Cartoon Network show, and always identified with the innocent and easily-scared Bubbles.

And of course this show did try for a reboot recently, to less popularity then it used to have. So to build up some hype, the creators are going to be introducing a new PowerPuff girl on September 17th of this year.


Originally I was going to save the PowerPuff Girls blog post for a segment of 'Are They Kawaii?' but it is going to be in today's Feature Friday instead 😄


If you already know your 'girls', then you know the main character is the redheaded Blossom, sisters with rough-and-tumble tomboy Buttercup and babyish Bubbles. And you know they're all elementary-aged little girls with super powers, thanks to their mad scientist 'dad' Professor Utonium, who accidentally spilled a mysterious chemical into the potion used to make them. So naturally, bad guys come to their town so they can fight them.

And it's recently created an internet explosion that, on September 17 of this year, they are introducing a fourth PowerPuff girl named Bliss. Not much is known about her at this point, though she was shown briefly in a screen shot with her new sisters. She appears to be post-pubescent; taller than them, and with wide hips. She has brown skin (so implied to be a different race?) and turquoise hair, which is super kawaii-cute!

Anyway, I look forward to finding out more about her from the 5-part movie series with background information on this new character and her origins.

Let us know what you think in the comments section. And, if you enjoy controversy, YouTube is currently loaded with some very opinionated videos on this topic.

So have a great weekend, lots of love!
xoxo Daryl J.

Want to get featured on this blog?

Monster High - Are They Kawaii?

Hello, how are you?

At 29 years old, I've been a fan of Mattel's Monster High™ line of dolls and TV specials for several years (since they came out). In fact, thanks to Rob I have one of the original Draculaura dolls - with her black & pink ponytails, cute voice, Victorian (or 'Lolita') style and ironic dislike of blood - she's my favorite!



See the Draculaura love post here

In fact, if you've been following this blog for some time, then you've seen her make some random appearances in photo form here & there. For a vampire, she sure shows up well on camera, hahaha.

Personally *I think they're kawaii characters, but what do you think of Monster High™?

If you'd like more information to weigh your decision, let's look at some characters and learn more about them ^_^



Note they all have big eyes, cute/innocent smiles and inward-turned feet, which show some shyness (which is perceived as part of kawaii style). However, their heads aren't oversized and their bodies are long and slender instead of short & squat. This call is up to you.

I did draw a 'kawaii Draculaura' last October:



Most of the female main characters (or, should I say 'mane characters'?) have a distinctive mark on their cheek, which plays along with their monstrous(ly cute) background! Draculaura's is a heart, Cleo De Nile's is a diamond (she is the daughter of The Mummy, which is why she is royalty and possesses strange magic). Frankie Stein has a stitch pattern on her cheek:



And as for their personality traits? Well, with some exceptions (like Cleo and older sister Nefera, as well as the Were-Cats led by Torelei) these monsters have big hearts full of love to give. They're genuinely curious about others, love to have fun, respect feelings and their web series promotes friendship and tolerance.

I don't know about you, but I believe that promoting messages of peace is what Kawaii is all about!

Thank you for reading today,
xoxo Daryl J.

What's Cute This Week - July 17, 2017

Hello and welcome to a new spin on 'Are They Kawaii?' as I most recently was exposed to some very kawaii things IRL (in real life).

To start off, today is July 17 - which means it's World Emoji Day!!


How will you be celebrating? For some inspiration on emoji, see this cute post here.

And last night in bed, I was flipping channels and came across a very sweet game show (hosted by the forever good-looking Mario Lopez) based on the popular Candy Crush game app. I didn't know this was a thing, and it looks awesome!

Rob & I had a very nice weekend together in Sylvan Lake, Alberta. While we were there, I was visually bombarded by the large, colorful and painfully cute pool floaties of passers-by!

Though I didn't take pictures of them specifically, I thought the donut, the unicorn and the others were worth sharing with you guys!

  

If you live in Alberta and are planning a trip to Sylvan Lake, be sure to stop by More Moo or Big Moo for food, ice cream and some cute summer fun items!

Are you at least the age of majority (18-21+) in your region?

Okay, good. I want to tell you about a really nice scratch ticket Rob & I recently did (it was $3 and I won the $3 back too). It's called Rainbow Treasures, and it is much like the Lucky Lines scratch & win tickets, where you uncover symbols to reveal an entire line for a cash prize.

If you have access to these tickets in your region, I strongly suggest trying them! Even if you don't get a cash prize from it, the pastel visuals will give you a Dopamine and Oxytocin rush!



Thank you for your time today!

Stay tuned to this blog, as we're soon going to be introducing a new line of characters with their own blog, coloring books, web comics and tee shirts! I love designing so much, and your support is much appreciated!!

Have a sweet day! xoxo
Daryl J.

So What Now?

Konnichiwa friends!


As you know on July 10 of this year, the Kawaii365 art project came to an official end. I can't lie, it is a little depressing. I feel that because I got so used to it (it only takes 2 months to form a habit, and this was 6x that). The feeling of self-expression and trying new crafts or drawing styles, became a little bit addictive (●´ω｀●)

However, there is a great feeling of pride, gratitude and excitement. It's still surreal how fast the year went, as how far this 'cute art' project was able to go. I cannot take full credit, since a lot of it came from collaboration. There are too many names to list, but if you're reading this, then you know who you are. Whether you hired me for an art program or event, commission work, or helped me network by sharing samples of my art - I appreciate you (✿◠‿◠)

So there have been people asking: 'What are you going to do with the blog now?' And that's a great question. I'd still love to do a 'Are The Kawaii?/Review Wednesday/Feature Friday' (every second day) schedule on this blog. Yesterday, we didn't do one since we're still in 'wrap-up' mode.

However, I will do my best to have a Feature Friday available for you guys tomorrow! Connecting with others in the kawaii, arts and blogging community is one of my favorite things 💗

Also, every 3rd month or so, I like to 'challenges' with regards to Japanese art or culture. See the KaraokeChallenge and KigurumiChallenge.

Currently, we are doing an OrigamiChallenge - you are encouraged to make some paper art and then share it on your social media, while tagging this blog so we can find you and share your work.

The above are some samples of the origami I've tried so far. Thanks to Chrissy from Paper Kawaii, I am learning new ones too. Yay!

So stay tuned on this blog - there will be upcoming posts, including horoscopes (like this one). I'd also like to try some Japanese and Korean beauty products and routines - so let me know if you have any suggestions!


And, speaking of features, check out this one from Red Deer News Now:

http://rdnewsnow.com/article/544797/year-long-art-project-brings-out-best-local-woman

I never want to let this kind of coverage go to my head - it is the people of Red Deer (and others I've met via this blog) who made this possible! Thank you! xoxo

And just so you know, today, July 13, is National Fry Day! If you live in the USA, please enjoy some free (or cheaper price) French fries today!

A Pug and a Pikachu

These are two of the cutest creatures known to human kind, even if one of them is technically fictional.

So you remember me saying that Rob & I went to visit my folks this last weekend - and while we were there, we stopped in at a favorite Farmer's Market (with all kinds of vendors) and we happened upon a super kawaii shop of Japanese imports of cute characters, and many of which were Pokémon. The most popular of course, was Pikachu the electric mouse lol. I have loved him since 1998 when I was 10 years old and first remember Pokémon's debut in Canada.

Although it wasn't cheap, while we were in there, I saw this cupcake with a Pikachu head and it was the most kawaii thing there!! I know I should've just put it back where I found it, but when Rob saw how much I adored it (and I adore him), he bought it for me. Best husband ever!

So it is one of 2 cuties I'm reviewing for today's #ReviewWednesday:

The bow on the butt was soooo kawaii, I couldn't resist any longer. I gave into Rob's offer and now this decorates the back of our bedroom door (it has a hanger).

And then awhile later, when we went to a drug store to pick up Tylenol for my Grams (she was having very bad arthritis when we visited), we came across this sad tiny pug puppy (by TY Inc.) and although her tag says she's named Candy, we called her 'Puppy Cat' because she seems like a cross between a pug plushie and a Hello Kitty one. It's probably the pink eyes. Anyway, enjoy these painfully adorable photos:

Those eyes!! If that were a real dog, I wouldn't be able to leave her side. I could only imagine that little whining/whistling noise she'd be making (and how much my heart would be breaking).

Why didn't you do a video?

For Review Wednesday today? Because I like to change it up a bit. Yes I do videos for some of them (especially the Hello Kitty item reviews), and for a lot of them I also like to do photo layouts. I'm more apt to do a video when I have a lot of free time (which I do not tonight due to early bedtime plus a busy day), and when I look my best. Today I look all bloated and tired, so I'm focusing on the items reviewed and not myself.

Now, which one do you find cuter and why? Let us know in the comments!

💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙

And though it's not Feature Friday today, I'd like you to see the work of my adorable friend (made via Instagram) who makes and sells plush dolls. They are so cute it's painful to look at them sometimes. Anyway, here is a sample of her work pictured, and you can find her on Instagram at @dreamydollyhouse

And last but not least, I'm still using all 8 of those scratch art cards I got from Indigo book store (there are now 3 left), and today's #Kawaii365 project was a Lucky Cat that I drew while on a lunch date with Rob in the Red Star Chinese restaurant here in Red Deer, just off Gaetz Avenue heading downtown. Of course, the one in their restaurant looked better than mine, hahaha.

Want to see more about Lucky Cat and what it means? Look under 'Review Wednesday' tab above to find another article written about one. In the meantime, keep smiling and treat each other with respect! It's a crazy world and we all need love now more than ever! xoxo