Cartoon
Zoobles! (TV series)
The story
Zoobles! (Korean: 쥬블스, Katakana: ズーブルズ!, Zūburuzu!) is an animated TV series, based on the toy line of the same name by Spin Master and Sega Toys. Produced by Dong Woo Animation in South Korea, the series is written by Tetsuo Yasumi, best known as the head writer of the animated adaptation of Happy Happy Clover, with Duel Masters producer Mitsuko Ohya in charge of production. The series' characters were designed by Nam Jong-Sik of Animal Yokochō and Kazuya Hayashi of Happy Happy Clover.
The series began airing on SBS in South Korea between May 18 and November 23, 2011. An official Japanese dubbed version aired in Japan on TV Tokyo from February 5 to March 25, 2012, replacing Bakugan Battle Brawlers: Gundalian Invaders in its initial time slot. The series re–aired on April 5, after moving to a newer time slot and ended its broadcast on September 27 the same year.
Plot
The Candy Factory is the place where all Zoobles are born. Beyond the factory is a world called Candy Land where all Zoobles live. The story revolves around three main Zoobles: Chevy, a cat Zooble with an orange flavor, Coron, a rabbit Zooble with a strawberry milk flavor and Panky, a panda Zooble with a blueberry yogurt flavor. The trio live in Candy Land, living and playing together with their friends and getting in misadventures as they learn to solve each problem they face.
Development
Development of the series began after the toys were released in Japan and Korea. The series itself is based on the Sega Toys adaptation of the toyline in both Japan and Korea, which differs greatly from the western version by Spin Master. Sega Toys approached Korea's Dong Woo Animation to help them make an animated series based on the toys. In turn, Dong Woo Animation and Sega assembled a group of animation staff and crew for said project. The people involved include Tetsuo Yasumi, the head writer of the animated adaptation of Happy Happy Clover and Mitsuko Ohya, director of Duel Masters as producer, while the character designs were done by Nam Jong-Sik of Animal Yokochō and Kazuya Hayashi of Happy Happy Clover. Korean pop group Rainbow also contributed to the series' production as they sang both the opening and ending themes.
Japanese dub
According to Mai Hirano, the airing dates of the episodes do not follow the standard episodic order during the dubbing of the series, unlike the Korean version.
Music
Opening theme
I Love Zoobles!
Lyrics: Lee In-Young
Composition: Lee In-Young
Arrangement: Lee In-Young
Artist: Rainbow (DSP Media/Universal Sigma)
Episodes: 1–8
Candy Girls!
Lyrics: Mai Watarai
Rapping: Emyli
Composition: Han Sang-Won, Yoon Young-Mi
Arrangement: Han Sang-Won, Yoon Young-Mi
Artist: Rainbow (Universal Sigma)
Episodes: 9-26
Ending theme
Adventures of Zoobles (Zooblesの冒険, Zūburuzu! No bōken)
Lyrics: Lee In-Young and Yoo Seung-Hye
Composition: Lee In-Young and Yoo Seung-Hye
Arrangement: Lee In-Young and Yoo Seung-Hye
Artist: Rainbow (DSP Media/Universal Sigma)
Home video
An official DVD release by Universal Japan of the first volume was released on September 5, 2012, containing the first 12 episodes (24 mini-episodes each) and the music video of "Candy Girls!" performed by Rainbow. A second volume was released on November 14 the same year.