Down Under Disneyana Australian Disney Forum

As you know, Duffy is like a rock star in Japan, and his image was boosted a few years ago with the introduction of his friend Shellie-May.

Now, a new friend has been added to the Duffy Story - Gelatoni the cat! He was launched today after a teaser campaign that has been ongoing for a couple of weeks, and here he is!



There is a full backstory of course - but it is Japanese, so I don't quite get it! You can see more of the Gelatoni merchandise at the official Tokyo Disneysea website here: http://fantasy.tokyodisneyresort.jp/tds ... goods.html

Oh my....

Millie is going to FREAK OUT when she see's this. She really REALLY is not a fluffy person, but she absolutely fell in love with Duffy and Shellie May last year when we were in the park. She's doing a minor in Japanese and she comes in very handy for translating... I'll get her onto this when she gets up and I imagine her 'we must go back' discussions are now going to be doubled, because the only thing she loves more than everything oriental, is cats.

here is Gelatoni's story in English.... so so so cute. I'm pretty sure whoever designed this had Millie in mind because it is going to tick all the boxes.

http://www.japanalyst.com/duffy-disney- ... ainter-cat

So Lisa - did Millie see Gelatoni? What did she think?

Della is in two minds about it - but I think she'd get excited if she was in Tokyo and got wrapped up in the Gelatoni buzz.

Oh yes she did, and she is back into the 'next trip' talk in earnest. She loved him and really really wants one... of everything.

Seeing as I am on uni break, I spent a little time seeing what other forums were saying about him and honestly, unless you want your head to spin around from the total navel-gazing, deeply significant narrative then I wouldn't bother.

* I learned that many feel that he is going to dilute the Duffy brand (this was the mildest of all the wacky stuff being discussed like Toni - as they are already calling him - was a real person)

* I learned that many felt they could come up with a better 'story' for Gelatoni than Disney did - because throwing a few Italian words into their dialogue made all the difference

* I learned that many feel that Gelatoni has no real reason for existing because Minnie didn't make him, and that they hoped that Disney didn't bring a new 'friend' for every port, and Disney better not give him clothes because that would be silly


Personally, I really DO hope that Disney dig up a friend for every port for Duffy - a) it gives me something new to 'need' and b) it def fits in with Duffy's travel theme.
And what interested me was how the posters were so busy trying to 'Americanise' poor Tony, they were missing the whole point ... the Japanese LOVE cats to the point of obsession, are highly artistic as a general populous and really do love Duffy as much as Mickey. This character is a master stroke ( pardon the pun) of direct marketing. This is made for the Japanese market which can carry a stand alone toy - which Shellie May proved. So I hope these unique characters keep coming because it only adds richness to my Disney Side and keeps us going back to the Japanese parks -/

This is made for the Japanese market

Exactly - Disney know how each of their markets work, and set products up for each of those - Gelatoni will probably never make it out of Japan - which is fine by us, because that gives us another reason to travel there!