Badtz-Maru is a penguin. His birthday is April 1st (April Fool's day). He is one of the few Sanrio characters that is marketed to both males and females. In Japanese "badtz" (batsu) is a term for "X", the cross signifying a wrong answer. "Maru" means circle or "O", and signifies a correct answer. Thus, his name figuratively means "wrong-correct," and is frequently represented by "XO". Badtz-Maru has many different facial expressions and poses, but a common expression is of pulling one eye down and sticking out his tongue, a gesture equivalent to blowing a raspberry.[1]
Obviously a hooligan of a character, Badtz Maru has been the protector of my spare change for several years now, with the words "Accept No Substitutes" circling the piggy bank's top and bottom.
Anyways, today I took Badtz-Maru to the bank. When I used to take change to the bank, they would throw it down a machine to count, charge me a service fee, and hand me some cash. This time, Scott (the banker) and I got to bond over 8 minutes of counting change and putting it in an old-school plastic counting device.
Worth it? $50 later, I'd say so.
If you are interested in what could possibly be the description for "blowing a raspberry", I have also included it here:
Blowing a raspberry or strawberry or making a Bronx cheer is to make a noise signifying derision (and/or silliness), made by sticking out the tongue between the lips and blowing to make a sound reminiscent of flatulence. In the terminology of phonetics, this sound can be described as an unvoicedlinguolabial trill [r̼̊]. It is never used in human language phonemically (i.e., to be used as a building block of words), but it is widely used across human cultures.
Nomenclature varies: in the US, Bronx cheer is sometimes used; otherwise, in the US and in other English-speaking countries, it is known as a raspberry, rasp or razz—the origin of which is an instance of rhyming slang, in which the non-rhyming part of a rhyming phrase is used as a synonym. In this case, "raspberry tart" rhymes with "fart".[1] It was first recorded in 1890.[2]
The term "Bronx Cheer" is used ironically because it is not a cheer, it is used to show disapproval. The term originated as a reference to the sound used by some spectators in Yankee Stadium, located in the Bronx, New York City.[3]
And if you are curious as to it's usage...read on:
One of the most famous uses of the Bronx cheer is in the song "Der Fuehrer's Face" (from the Disney animated film of the same name), as recorded by musical comedian Spike Jones in 1942, which shows disdain for Adolf Hitler with the repeated refrain "We Heil! (Bronx cheer) Heil! (Bronx cheer) Right in Der Fuehrer's Face!"
The Golden Raspberry Awards, actually a parody of the Oscars, are designed to dishonor the worst films, actors, directors, etc.
Now, what is this Disney movie "Der Fuehrer's Face"? I've never heard of it.
Der Fuehrer's Face is a 1943 animated cartoon by the Walt Disney Studios, starring Donald Duck. It was directed by Jack Kinney and released on January 1, 1943 as an anti-Nazi propaganda movie for the American war effort. The film won the 1943 Academy Award for Animated Short Film, and was the only Donald Duck cartoon to win an Oscar. In 1994, it was voted #22 of "the 50 Greatest Cartoons" of all time by members of the animation field.
And the famous song lyrics by Spike Jones that incorporate blowing raspberries, later exploited by Badtz Maru, who is the deranged looking penguin on my piggy bank who accepts no substitutes and just made me $50?
Spike Jones Lyrics
P.S. The number one greatest cartoon, according to the same people who voted "Der Fuehrer's Face" as #22, is "What's Opera, Doc?" and I completely agree. You may know this cartoon by a different name...Kill The Wabbit.
Whoa Rach, this is quite the research project! I feel like I've learned so much! You must be an expert research paper writer :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of the cartoon:
Hunter: Oh Brunilda, you're so lovely!
Brunilda: Yes I know it, I can't help it! ...made me smile :)
One thought, though... what is this teaching little girls?? That women can get anything they want (or get out of anything they want) simply by exercising their womanly wiles over men??