NEW YORK: Gwen Stefani talks to TV Kids about the inspiration behind the new animated show Kuu Kuu Harajuku, which is sold by DHX Media.
TV KIDS: What sparked your passion for the Harajuku culture? How has this influenced you creatively?
STEFANI: I feel like travelling the world impacted me in ways that I never even knew possible. The first time I went to Japan, I felt this incredible pull toward the culture because of all of the traditions and then all the futuristic-yet-modern sensibilities. In Japan, the attention to detail and care [put toward] everything, whether it be food presentation or layering outfits or wrapping gifts and packages, it’s all completely inspiring to me. Everything is telling a story. I love when Japanese culture takes other cultures and interprets them in its own unique way. I was immediately attracted to all of these things, and will continue to be for the rest of my life.
TV KIDS: How did the collaboration with Moody Street Kids and Vision Animation for Kuu Kuu Harajuku come about?
STEFANI: I’ve wanted to do an animated or live-action Harajuku TV show or movie since the conception of my dance record Love Angel Music Baby. It was one of the first things that I wanted to do; I wanted to do that along with the music. That was more than ten years ago! It is a dream come true that now it’s actually happening. I never really dreamed that it would come to life in the way that it has. [The show] is such a quality work of art with a team that is so devoted.
TV KIDS: What are some of the core values of the Harajuku Girl characters that you want young viewers to embrace?
STEFANI: Self-expression, confidence in who you are, uniqueness and individuality. Be sparkly, be curious, never give up, be resilient, be determined, be stylish, be creative. Basically they need to be me! [Laughs]
TV KIDS: What was your reaction when you first saw this world come to life in animation?
STEFANI: It took my breath away! The level of understanding in terms of my taste and my vision—the team just took it to a place that I couldn’t have even dreamed of in my mind. To me, the artwork is so beautiful, and everything about it is perfect and super kawaii [cute]. I couldn’t even imagine it coming out any better.
TV KIDS: Why do you think this series will resonate with kids all over the world?
STEFANI: Kids everywhere want to laugh, and kids want to see silly things happen. I think kids love to be in an imaginary world, and this cartoon has no boundaries. It literally has so much fantasy going on that your mind can go anywhere, and that is a global and universal thing. People like to escape.
TV KIDS: The show is also filled with music. Why do you think music is such an important tool for reaching kids?
STEFANI: Music is an important tool for reaching all human beings. Music is one of the biggest gifts that we have been given in this world. It’s kind of an unexplainable thing when you see babies react to music the way that they do. You see that it’s an inborn gift that we all gravitate toward and that brings so much joy. Music captures emotion so well. Music will always be important in life, and it was really important to me that it be incorporated into the series.
TV KIDS: What have you enjoyed most about the experience of working on Kuu Kuu Harajuku?
STEFANI: The experience of working on the show has been nothing short of mind-blowing. With this brand, every artist and collaborator that has gotten involved took it to a place that I couldn’t even dream of. The characters are unstoppable. The Harajuku Girls can do anything, they can wear anything, and they can be anything. And that’s what this cartoon has been. Everybody that’s touching this show is so passionate about it and believes in it and really gets it.
