San-X (サンエックス San Ekkusu) is a Japanese company that specializes in the creation, production and marketing of goods featuring cute characters such as Tarepanda, Rilakkuma, Kogepan and Afro Ken. The characters are usually anthropomorphic representations of animals or inanimate objects; the character Tissue-san was modelled on an ordinary box of tissues. Each character has its own quirky traits. For example, Momobuta is a pig with a head shaped like a peach, who enjoys karaoke and painting her nails. San-X head designer and creator of Tarepanda, Hikaru Suemasa said in 1999: "It's not just being cute. There is something different - a relaxed look, powerless".
San-X characters can be found on stationery sets and pencils, as small figurines, keychains and stuffed toys. They are sold as blind boxes, ,gashapon and in UFO catchers, and other prize machines in Japan's arcades. There are also anime series, video games, and children's books featuring the characters.
San-X characters can be found on stationery sets and pencils, as small figurines, keychains and stuffed toys. They are sold as blind boxes, ,gashapon and in UFO catchers, and other prize machines in Japan's arcades. There are also anime series, video games, and children's books featuring the characters.