Monokuro Boo
Monokuro Boo (モノクロブー) are anime-style characters that were created in 2005 by the Japanese company San-X.[1] The characters are composed of two pigs, one white and one black, with square-shaped bodies, dots for eyes, a snout and a curly tail at the back. They are also occasionally seen with a bee flying around them. The black pig name is Monokuro, while the white pig name is Boo. [2]
Monokuro Boo's tagline is "Simple is Best", and one or both of the pigs can also be seen with speech bubbles that say, "Boo", "Love?", "Enjoy?", or "Happy".
A Nintendo DS game was released in 2009.[3]
Character Concept and Name
The original character name was "Monotone," with "mono" coming from "monochrome" and "ton," a word for pig. The designer deliberately bucked the then-current trend for colorful goods for a monotone palette, hoping to create a fun style.[2]
In line with the character's concept, the name "Monokuro Boo" is also a derivation of the words "Monokuro" ("Monochrome") and "Boo" (the Japanese onomatopoeic equivalent for "oink").
Baby Boo
San-X has also created a spin-off line of products which features smaller, pastel or candy-colored pigs known as Baby Boo. Baby Boo consists of seven pigs who are named and colored as follows:
- Berry – pastel red
- Peach – pastel pink
- Orange – pastel orange
- Lemon – pastel yellow
- Mint – pastel green
- Soda – pastel blue
- Grape – pastel purple/lavender
Baby Boo's tagline is "Are you happy?" ("anata wa shiawase?") and "So Happy With You*" ("anata to iru to tottemo tanoshī*"). As with Monokuro Boo, a bee-like insect is also seen hovering near the Baby Boo, except the bee is made to look like a strawberry (or ladybug). Some of the Baby Boos also say, "Poo".
References
- ^ "モノクロブー | キャラクターギャラリー". www.san-x.co.jp. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ a b "RM Licensing Monokuro Boo page". Archived from the original on 2010-05-22. Retrieved 2007-11-04.
- ^ "「モノクロブー＆ベビーブー くるりんBOO」が本日発売。制限時間内にたくさんのブーを消そう". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). 1 August 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.