Shinsetsu Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo

is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshio Sawai. It was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from February 2001 to November 2005, with its chapters collected in 21 volumes. It was followed by a sequel titled ''Shinsetsu Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo'', serialized from December 2005 to July 2007, with its chapters collected in seven volumes. In North America, Viz Media published some volumes of the manga.

A 76-episode anime television series adaptation by Toei Animation was broadcast on TV Asahi from November 2003 to October 2005. The anime series aired in the United States on Cartoon Network from 2005 to 2007.

A spin-off, ''Fuwari! Don Patch'', was serialized from December 2011 to June 2014, with its chapters collected in three volumes, with a second part, ''Honnori! Don Patch'', being serialized from October 2014 to August 2015 and collected as a single volume.

By January 2021, the ''Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo'' manga had over 7 million copies in circulation.

Plot

In the year 300X, the entire world is under the tyrannical rule of a regime called the Maruhage Empire (Chrome Dome Empire in the English translation of both the manga and anime). Its ruler, Emperor Tsuru Tsurulina IV (Czar Baldy Bald IV), has initiated the Hair Hunt, a crusade where his army, the Hair Hunters, invade settlements, shave bald every person they see, and leave said settlements in ruins. Standing against the Hair Hunt is Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, a bizarre, but powerful rebel who fights the Hair Hunters with the Hanage Shinken (Super Fist of the Nose Hair), a martial art that gives him the power to control his nose hairs like whips. Bo-bobo's group consists of Beauty, a teenage girl he rescued; Heppokomaru (Gasser), a teenage boy who fights with the Onara Shinken (Super Fist of the Back Wind), allowing him to weaponize his own flatulence; and Don Patch (Poppa Rocks), an eccentric creature who leads the Hajike Gang (Wiggin Gang), a group that fights by confusing their enemies into submission. Bo-bobo is on an exciting, gag-filled quest in which he ventures from locale to locale, fighting the forces of the Maruhage Empire and gaining more allies along the way.

Media

Manga

''Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo'', written and illustrated by Yoshio Sawai, was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from February 20, 2001, to November 14, 2005. Shueisha collected its 230 individual chapters into 21 volumes, released from July 4, 2001, to May 2, 2006.

A sequel manga titled was published in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from December 19, 2005, to July 2, 2007. Shueisha compiled the sequel's 73 individual chapters into seven volumes released from July 4, 2006, to January 1, 2008.

In North America, the manga has been licensed by Viz Media and was published in a one-shot graphic novel form on October 5, 2005, including content from the ninth and tenth volumes of the Japanese release. It was later published monthly in '' Shonen Jump'' from July 2007 to June 2009. At Anime Expo 2008, when asked about why certain volumes were never published, Viz Media said it was for content reasons. Viz Media restarted the manga release in 2008. The first volume (eleventh volume of the Japanese release) was published on August 5, 2008. A total of five volumes of ''Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo'' were published until October 5, 2010, before Viz Media ceased the series' publication.

A spin-off, titled , started in Shueisha's ''Saikyō Jump'' on December 3, 2011. Shueisha released three volumes from November 2, 2012, to June 4, 2014. A second part, titled , was published on ''Shōnen Jump+'' from October 3, 2014, to August 3, 2015. A single volume was released on August 4, 2015.

Anime

The anime adaptation of ''Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo'' is directed by Hiroki Shibata, produced by Toei Animation and ran for 76 episodes from November 8, 2003, to October 29, 2005, on TV Asahi. The first opening theme for episodes 1 to 32 is "Wild Challenger" by Jindou, and the second opening theme for episode 33 onwards is by Ulfuls. The first ending theme for episodes 1 to 19 is by Mani Laba, the second ending theme for episodes 20 to 32 is by Freenote, and the third ending theme for episode 33 onwards is "H.P.S.J." by Mihimaru GT.

In North America, the anime was licensed by the Joy Tashjian Marketing Group, a licensing representative named by Toei Animation. A sneak peek