nemu*nemu iPhone and iPod Touch App

All about nemu*nemu!

Thanks for stopping by! Here's where you'll find how the nemu*nemu started out and all about our cast of characters. To learn more about KimonoKitsy Studios and the authors, please go here.

For starters, "nemu" (pronounced "NEH-moo") is based the Japanese word for "sleepy" ("nemui / 眠い").

The Process

nemu*nemu started in 2006 and is updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The comic is penciled on 8.5" x 14" typing paper in blue pencil, then tightened up a bit with regular black pencil. The drawings are then scanned into my Macintosh computer then digitally inked and colored in Photoshop CS4. Lettering is done separately in Illustrator CS4. The text and strip are then combined in Photoshop.

The Story

Anise and Kana are best friends. In hopes of finding a little excitement on one particularly boring afternoon, they decide to explore the town. They happen upon a mysterious, little shop that sells what looks like antiques and other treasures. What they find inside changes their lives forever!

Although the ideal place to start reading if you are new to nemu*nemu is the very first comic strip (which was published on April 1, 2006), there are many points at which you can enter the story as most chapters start a new adventure for our characters.

Originally, our comic strips were drawn in a Japanese 4-koma style layout utilizing 4 panels arranged vertically. In our third year, we switched to a more traditional horizontal style which allows us much more artistic freedom and greater flexibility of layout and design. All of the original comics can still be viewed in their original 4-koma format in the archives in in our printed editions.

Our Current Cast of Characters

About Anise

Anise Kurobu

Pronounced: Ah - Nees.
Nickname: Ani
Birthdate: October 31
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Age: 10
Chinese Zodiac: Metal Tiger
Blood Type: B
Favorite Foods: Pizza, Edamame (boiled soybeans), Cheeseburgers
Hobbies: Videogames, Watching Henshin Rider, Cosplay, Snacking, Collecting Old Things
Talent: Fixing Stuff

Anise (or "Ani" for short) is the more outspoken girl of the two. She's very tomboyish, spunky, and impulsive. Loves Henshin Rider (our parody of old 70's Japanese Tokusatsu shows) and building things. She is a natural-born leader, although she tends to leap before she looks.

At home, she is an independent, latch-key child. Her mother is deceased and her father is always away working. She makes herself at home at Kana's house regularly, even adopting a drawer of her own. She is a packrat, spends all her savings on Henshin Rider toys, despite the small living quarters she and her dad live in.

As a side note: Ani's name is a play on words. "Kurobu" is the Japanese pronounciation of "Cloves". Ani's name is pretty spicy when you think about it!

About Kana

Kana Mezurashi

Prounounced: Kah - Nah.
Nickname: Ka, Kya
Birthdate: January 19
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Age: 11
Chinese Zodiac: Earth Ox
Blood Type: A
Favorite Foods: Parfaits, Cakes, Noodles, Hawaiian Food
Hobbies: Tinkering around on her computer, Reading magazines, Crafts, Collecting books
Talent: Retains all sort of information (useful and otherwise)

Kana is Anise's long-time friend. She's much more conservative and girly, brainy and craftsy. She serves as Anise's balance - keeping her in check whenever she gets wild ideas and does brash and silly things.

Kana is much more well-off than Anise. She lives in a large, multi-story home and has both parents - although they are often away on business. In her own way, she is independent, but more homesy. (Likes to cook, clean, keep organized) Although their lives and personalities are so different, Anise and Kana compliment each other very well.

As a side note: Kana's name is a play on words. "Mezurashii" (yes, with two "i"s) is a Japanese word for "strange" or "unsusal". If you read her name in the traditional Japanese style of family name first, "Mezurashi Kana" sounds like "Isn't she unusual?"

About Anpan

Anpan

Pronounced: Ahn - Pahn.

Anpan is the stuffed pup Anise ends up with. She names him after the baked sweet bean paste buns in Japanese confectionaries. He immediately takes on a personality similar to Anise - outspoken, "aggressive", and leader-like. He is distinguished by his downward "v" mouth and often "angry" looking eyes. He later adopts a red scarf. Anise often carries Anpan on her head.

About Nemu

Nemu

Pronounced: Neh - Moo.

Nemu is Anpan's "twin" companion pup given to Kana. He is very soft-hearted and looks at the world in wonder. Nemu is the slightly pudgier of the two pups and loves gooey foods. Some may say Nemu is "slower" to catch on to things, but he just understands the world in a very different way. Kana often carries Nemu in her arms or in her bags.

About nemunemu

Henshin Rider

From the live action Tokusatsu TV show comes the coolest sentai hero: Henshin Rider! Battling the evil empire of Space Cow and his legion of monsters, this weekly TV series captures the hearts of the girls and pups. Anise is a Henshin Rider fanatic and often claims herself to be Henshin Rider's #1 fan.