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senoritafish
About six years ago, I came across a funny little Flash web series from Korea, made by animators SamBakZa. If there's one thing I love, it's a story that's understandable whatever your language. Simply drawn, but extremely well animated if (I wish certain other of my favorite shows were this smooth), they're set to some catchy K-pop/rock songs, which I find myself humming even if I don't know the words. They can be found at the animators' Korean site, or at Newgrounds (the North American community, sort of YouTube for Flash). They also can be found at YouTube, where some have English subtitles for the songs, but they're not really necessary to enjoy the animation; in terms of quality, they are probably best viewed at the sites where the creators first submitted them. For a very long time I was only aware of the first two, then recently I came across some fanart that directed me to the final three in the series. As a rule, I generally avoid rabid cuteness, but in this case it overwhelmed me and now I must inflict it on everyone else. XD All of these shorts are around 5 minutes long.
There She Is was intended to be a stand-alone animation. It involved a reluctant male cat and a rather obsessive female rabbit, who meet at the vending machines in the local park. It's love at first sight for Doki, the rabbit, but the object of her affection is bewildered by all the carrots suddenly being shoved in his direction. Nabi, the cat, first attempts to flee and when that's unsuccessful, tries explanations and alternatives. Doki, a true romantic, ignores everything but Nabi himself, including the literal warning signs. Although cat/rabbit society seems integrated, and both species mix and socialize in public, it seems Doki's sort of affections are frowned upon. And actually here in the US, Doki's behavior might get her arrested, or at least slapped with a restraining order.
Doki, Doki, didn't your mom tell you stalking is not really the best way to attract a guy? Tends to scare 'em off.
Music: "She is coming" (떳다! 그녀!!) by Witches (위치스).
Due to overwhelming fan popularity, SamBaZa decided to to continue this one-sided romance as a series. There She Is - Step 2, Cake Dance finds Nabi relenting and bringing Doki a cake for her birthday. While she waits with her friends - members of a band, their manager, and her bodyguard - at a restaurant, Nabi dodges various hazards while trying to keep the cake safe, including a scruffy rabbit gang. They don't appear happy that Nabi is becoming friendly with Doki - the Wikipedia page mentions speculation that one of them is either Doki's brother, likes her himself, or just doesn't like cats. Also note that Hana, the band manager, has an admirer herself - if you missed it, they appeared at the end of the first video, too. And while it appears that the party's ending, it could be taken that Doki's public display of affection for Nabi bringing her cake has gotten them thrown out of the restaurant, which has an anti-cat/rabbit sign swinging ominously on the door.
Click to view There She Is - Step 2: Cake Dance
Music: "Happy Birthday to Me" by Bulldog Mansion
In the third episode, Doki and Nabi set out on their first date; Nabi, still in denial, is reserved and reticent, although showing evidence of warming - Doki is still bubbly and enthused, to the point that she's annoying the neighbors. Feeling conflicted, Nabi vacillates between making a move at the movies and avoiding one on the street from her, fearing public contempt. But finally, quietly, he succumbs to the inevitable. However, clouds are gathering....
By the way, it turns out that the animals hounding Nabi in Step 2 are Doki's friends; they wear green ribbons reminiscent of Nabi's scarf.
Click here to view There She Is - Step 3: Nabi & Doki
Music: "3차성징" ("Sam-cha Seong-jing", translating to "tertiary sex characteristic") by T.A.COPY.
Step 4 - Paradise takes a decidedly darker turn, opening with rocks thrown through Nabi's window, vandalism on his door, and the pair being forcibly ejected from a cafe. Cat/rabbit interrelationships are now a civil rights issue, and demonstrators from both sides roam the city. Doki and one of her pets are injured by a pursuing mob. Nabi just can't deal, and decides the only way to protect her is to break up, but it's a bit surprising who angrily tries to talk him out of it.
Click to view There She Is - Step 4: Paradise
Music: "Wolsik" by Tabu
Final Step: Imagine - Unable to contact Nabi, heartbroken Doki heads to the airport to escape, after tying a green ribbon to a tree branch. Nabi, in trying to rescue a bird (maybe because it's something Doki would do) comes upon the tree and realizes he's made an awful mistake. And again (shouldn't you be anticipating this by now? ;p ) help comes from unexpected sources...
This one does have English subtitles if you hover the cursor in the bottom right corner of the screen, Spanish in the top right, and Japanese (I think) in the bottom left.
Click to view There She Is - Final Step: Imagine
Quite honestly, the ending is straight out of L.A. Story, but it's great fun nonetheless. I was a bit confused by Nabi's tearing up of a plane ticket obviously meant for him, but apparently it's meant as a stay-and-face-your-problems-instead-of-running-away-from-them sort of thing. Several more cat/rabbit pairs are noticeable by the time the series finishes. The obvious interpretation is paralleling this to interracial relationships, but my kids, watching this, made the parallel to gay marriage almost immediately as well. XD
For more information on the animation, characters, and easter eggs in the videos, see the Wikipedia page. The series has also spawned tons of fanart.
And I guess Nabi and Doki set a good precedent. On Cartoon Network now, the first season of The Amazing World of Gumball follows another cat/rabbit family. Nicole, the mom, is a cat and dad Richard, is a large pink rabbit. If you were wonder how their kids turned out, son Gumball is a kitty, daughter Anais is a bunny, and I think Darwin (a fish with legs) seems to have been adopted. No interspecies prejudice in evidence.
Enjoy.
