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Tuesday Otaku Debate: Hello Kitty vs Gloomy Bear
by Tim Sheehy, 09/15/2009
Tuesday Otaku Debate: Hello Kitty vs Gloomy Bear photo

Last weeks debate was interesting to say the least. It was our second music debate and since the last one had to do with pop idols, I tried going with something different by taking two very different rock bands and pitting them up against each other. That being the case, I was certain that there wouldn't be many of you who didn't already know which side you'd choose. It wasn't too much of a surprise to me when L'Arc~en~Ciel came out on top, but I'm glad to see that the Dir En Grey fans were at least passionate about their love for their band.

Now, I know there are a handful of you out there who spend each day watching FLCL like it's the only anime in existence, and subsequently think that all Japanese music needs to sound like The Pillows, but please understand that there are other bands out there. Besides, I'm sure they'll probably get their own debate in the future. Hell, they might go up against Asian Kung-Fu Generation or Beat Crusaders... or some other band that sounds just like all of the above. 

Dir En Grey - 10 votes

L'Arc~en~Ciel - 25 votes

Check out the next debate after the jump

This latest debate was a fan suggestion, so I hope it doesn't disappoint. Today we have two contenders for the title of best mascot. In one corner, the original classic Hello Kitty. Sanrio's cute little kitten has turned into a billion dollar operation over the course of the last 35 years. Over the last few decades, we've seen everything from anime, to games and clothing that featured this lovable character.

In the other corner, we have Kitty's antithesis. As cute as it's deadly, Gloomy Bear isn't nearly as friendly as his Sanrio counterparts. He may not have a vast empire of clothing accessories, video games, or an even animated series, but he does have one thing--an appetite for human blood. The closest Kitty comes to that is having a murder case named after her, the details of which aren't for the faint of heart. Still, my vote's for Gloomy.

 





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Legacy comments:

gwjunkie

Hello Kitty. That bear's picture creeps me out.

 
Gee-Man

Well it's not like as if though Pillows fandom is unwarranted. They are Japan's best rock band after all (either them or the Asian Kung Fu Generation, it's a close match).

Staying on topic though, definitely Hello Kitty, though my stance is more, "I tolerate Hello Kitty slightly more than that creepy other thing" than an actual preference for either. Also because Badtz Maru is f*cking pimp.
 
BobTheGreat

To throw a curveball at this, I'ma vote for Paranoia Agent's "Maromi." Has the cuteness of Hello Kitty and the violence and death of Gloomy Bear all rolled into one.

[If this is unacceptable, then put one in the column for Gloomy.]
 
Mr. Dapper

Gloomy Bear forever!
 
Bastion of Youth

Gloomy Bear. Hello Kitty's got too much of that "I have no mouth and I must scream" thing going on. Gloomy Bear at least vents his anger.
 
Remioromen

LOL! My bad for starting the whole Pillows thing I didn't realize a few people actually agreed with me until now XD. I was joking by the way, even though i said "seriously", I really was just having a hard time deciding D:

And cmon! I've been listening to The Pillows since '95 and that's before FuriKuri even came out. To me they're not "That FLCL band", just plain The Pillows. I'm not even that big of an anime fan. J-music my addiction when it comes to Japan... and Japanese girls.

As for this debate. Gloomy Bear. Hands down. Bears are awesome.
 
The_Kenji

Gloomy Bear that pic there sold me.
 
EvilThoughts

That Gloomy Bear pic almost won me over, but considering I've never heard of that until now, I'm gonna have to go with Hello Kitty.
 
Arcade Ness

I vote Gloomy Bear.
 
chiqiunohito

Hello Kitty for sure.

That Gloomy Bear remains me of Happy Tree Friends...
 
Tim Sheehy

@Remioromen & @Gee-Man

lol, it's cool. I was just poking fun.

@BobTheGreat
There's nothing wrong with arguing that something is better than the choices you're given here. Just remember, the only votes that I'm counting are for the contenders I listed. :)

Also, just like with The Pillows, you might even see your suggestion in a future debate.
 
Sakumaru

gloomy bear
rawr
 
pollardy

hello kitty

 
pollardy

hello kitty

 
Kilkrazy

If you think Hello Kitty does not take life clearly you are not aware of the Hello Kitty Space Marines:

http://www.exlibrismortis.org/ExLibrisnewSistersArmy.html
 
Pangloss

Hello Kitty, definitely. Just ask the Destructoid IRC, everyone who's anyone is playing Hello Kitty Online now.
 
Pangloss

Not to mention that Hello Kitty's probably the single most recognizable "Thing from Japan" for a pretty big chunk of Americans. Hello Kitty is a pretty damn legendary cultural icon.
 
Gatoh

SHINATTY-CH--


I mean Hello Kitty. I grew up with them mascots and lunchboxes.
 
otakuQT

GLOOY BEAR!
 
otakuQT

lol of course L'Arc~en~Ciel won, Hyde's a vampire.
 
Al-mal

Hello Kitty
 
Colette Bennett

Gloomy. Fuck Hello Kitty.
 
Millia Hakumei

I don't really know anything about gloomy bear, so Hello Kitty ftw. Cats are greater then any other animal, after Penguins.
 
iEro-Sennin

Go Gloomy Bear, go! He's so adorable.
 
LoLo

While Gloomy Bear is adorable and awesome, I have to vote for Hello Kitty. She and the rest of the sanrio gang have been there for me my entire life! I remember cuddling my hello kitty plushie when I was little, even clutching my hello kitty lunchbox on my first day of kindergarten. Heck, I'm a senior in college and my binder is still adorned with hello kitty folders!

 
President Stalin

Gloomy Bear wins. He's murdering a kid in his picture. Let the purge begin.
 
ChubbyHuggs

Gotta drop a vote for Gloomy!

Was at Kumoricon and they were selling him for $25... Broke my heart only having $10 left.
 
Rank57

Never heard of Gloomy before, so I vote for Hello Kitty. Also, cats rule!

For creepy mascots, we already have Domo-kun.
 
Remioromen

Actually I change my answer.

http://siskoid.blogspot.com/2009/09/cat-of-geek-21-hello-kitty.html

HELLO KITTY BEER! Also I think there's a hello kitty vibrator. She's not as innocent as she looks >.>
 
Wing alpha

GLOOOMY BEAAAR!
 
ShortyBoo

Hello Kitty. I watched the shows as a kid and I have been collecting HK merchandise for years now. And I've never heard of the other thing.
 
Zanduar

Hello Kitty.

Go underdogs...err...undercats.

Underroos?

What was I saying?
 
jolanar

Well...
it just has to be Gloomy Bear!
 
C4NT1

Sorry, Hello Kitty...

I vote Gloomy Bear!! XD
 
 
Baka

Hello Kitty for the win.

 
Hineko

Hello Kitt!
 
Bev

Hello Kitty!!!! She's like 35 and still going strong :)
 
Abraham Lincoln

My vote is for Gloomy bear.
 
FuzzZ

Gloomy Bear!

 
zeroduality

Gloomy Bear FTW!!!
 
Papasan

Hello Kitty is a Good Neighbor, a Good Friend, and a Good Example. As "fringy" and "snarky" as I am with my other interests, Hello Kitty stands as inviolable for me, being one of the few representations of pure positivity left in this cool-obsessed world.
 
Raukon

Gloomy Bear gets my vote, although my friend and I prefer call it Rape Bear.
 
Shin_Ra

L'Arc~en~Ciel & Dir En Grey sounds exactly the same to me an they look like mirror copies of each other.

gloomy Bear.
 
halcy0n

Hello Kitty is for little girl's underwear. Gloomy bear has a much more suitable mass - appeal for those with their finger on the pulse. Or no pulse in the case of the little boy

 
NekuraX

@Raukon
Isn't rape for pedo bear?

Hello Kitty

 


  

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