Line #75 Animation/Pucca


1	[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pucca2.jpg]]
2
3	Originally a cute little character created by Korean company Vooz, plenty of merchandise goodies, a WebAnimation series, and later a television series and a few games, it's about Pucca, who is a young girl living with her uncles, a trio of Chinese chefs. Pucca is in MadLove with her [[ShesNotMyGirlfriend "boyfriend"]] Garu, a {{ninja}} who is none too keen on her outlandish displays of affection. The series takes place in the town of Sooga, an [[AdventureTowns Adventure Town]] with plenty of EccentricTownsfolk, including off-season [[SantaClaus Santa]], who spends the 364 other days of the year in town relaxing.
4
5	''Pucca'' became popular worldwide because it relies on visual and gag humor rather than language, much like ''WesternAnimation/ThePinkPanther'', the ''[[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Road Runner]]'' and other pantomime cartoons. Though the series has since picked up dialog, translation has worked well enough and the series remains mostly silent. Both show leads, Garu and Pucca, are {{Heroic Mime}}s, though they do laugh, sigh and make other sounds.
6
7	The TV series, a co-production between Vooz, Creator/StudioBProductions, and Creator/JetixEurope N.V. (Majority owned by Disney), aired for two seasons from 2006 to 2008. A third season, which served as a ContinuityReboot, was aired in South Korea in December 2018 on {{Creator/MBC}} and Tooniverse. It was produced by Vooz and CJ ENM, with Thai animation company {{RiFF Studio}} providing the 3D animation, and distributed internationally by Planeta Group without Disney nor Studio B's involvement. The company would also acquire the distribution rights to the first two seasons from Disney.
8
9	As of January 2020, {{Creator/Netflix}} released the third season under the title ''Pucca: Love Recipe'', with an English dub.
10	----
11	!!This series provides examples of:
12	* AbhorrentAdmirer: Pucca, Pucca, Pucca. It's suggested in some iterations that Garu ''does'' sort of like her, but is completely turned off by her clinginess.
13	* AccidentalProposal: Garu does one on Pucca. In one episode, he's trying to save a ring case from being stolen by the vagabonds. When he finally has it, he does somersaults in the air, and when he lands, he's on one knee with the case flipped open...in front of Pucca. Pucca is thrilled at this, and the people around begins to prepare their wedding. But just as Pucca approaches him, Santa comes and takes the case away from him (because it was actually his), much to Garu's relief.
14	* TheAce: Garu is considered this in-universe. Part of the humor comes from how easily Pucca outdoes him in everything.
15	* {{Acrofatic}}: When not getting kicked around, Santa can be surprisingly agile and is no slouch in combat. His agility is best demonstrated in "'Tis the Season of Revenge", where he takes on and defeats Black Powder, his former fellow bandit.
16	* ActionGirlfriend: While Garu is a ridiculously badass ninja himself, he's got nothing on Pucca, who is more like a force of nature than a fighter.
17	* AllClothUnravels: In "Woolen Warrior" Pucca uses this on a sheep's wool, Muji's hair and [[SerialEscalation a test pattern on the TV]] to knit a sweater for Garu.
18	* AlmightyJanitor: Pucca is much stronger than Garu and Tobe, both of whom are supposed to be highly trained elite ninja who can topple entire armies with ease. She's a waitress at a restaurant.
19	** Her uncles trained her in martial arts, and while not quite as extreme as Pucca, are all some of the best fighters in the show.
20	* AllLoveIsUnrequited: Usually varies, but most of the time Garu does not return Pucca's affections.
21	* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Let's just say that Dada is not a very popular person in town.
22	** Neither is Tobe.
23	* AlphaBitch: Ring-Ring, who just enjoys antagonizing Pucca.
24	* AllThereInTheManual: This is more so with the TV series:
25	** According to the Jetix website, the Cat Clan (Mio's rivals) are named, Brutus, Socrates, and Napoleon.
26	** According to the credits, Vagabond Ninja Clan's names are "Binggure" (Clown), "Jing-Jing" (Chief), and "Jumong" (Shaman).
27	* AlterKocker: Master Soo talks like this.
28	* AlternateRealityEpisode: There are MANY of these, usually transplanting the main cast to another stereotype-rife country, e.g. Canada, Spain, Brazil, the Netherlands, or 1950's USA. Surprisingly averted for the CowboyEpisode, where Pucca accidentally digs a tunnel to the other side of the world, where they find an [[TheWildWest Old West]] version of Sooga populated with {{Identical Stranger}}s.
29	* AmazonChaser: A whole episode is dedicated to Ching trying several plans to get Abyo's attention, including [[DeliberatelyDistressedDamsel intentionally putting herself in danger so he'd rescue her]]. She only succeeds when [[DistressBall he gets caught in her last "scheme"]] and she saves his life, which has Abyo ''stunned'' and almost stammering as he tells her how her ActionGirl skills make her "the coolest girl".
30	* AmericanRobot: In ''Super Size Sooga'' Texas Lugie and Sloppy Sue have two impressive mechas, one of which transforms from their mobile home and the other from their SUV. [[spoiler: It is one of the fewest things that is stronger than Pucca herself.]]
31	* AnimalsLackAttributes: Partial aversian; as fitting the style, animals have x shapes for buttholes.
32	* {{Animesque}}: Some thought it was an anime series when they first watched it because of its chibi art-style..
33	* [[AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther Aww, Look! He Really Does Love Her]]: This seems to [[DependingOnTheWriter depend on the writer]], but at least a few of the web episodes show that Garu does love Pucca back - he just doesn't show it very often. Perhaps the most obvious example is the episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnjDaHxKYnY&playnext=1&list=PL1B93234B03F49EBC "The Ring"]]. There's also the episodes [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jp1tJcjEaY "Flower Delivery"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3CY17DhZCo "Dreaming"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbT9L7FeN3M&feature=related "He Loves Me Not".]]
34	* BackToBackBadasses:
35	** ''Rootin' Tootin' Ninjas'' has the Sooga Villagers and their Western counterparts backed up against each other when taking on some Western ninjas.
36	** Literally in "Stuck on Goo", where Garu's and Tobe's clothes got washed with candycanes and got them accidentally stuck together, back-to-back. Trying to adapt to the new life of being in that position, one of the mundane things they do is spar.
37	* BadassAdorable: [[KidHero Pucca, Garu, Ching, and Abyo]] pretty much have this covered.
38	* BalloonBelly: The show ''loves'' this trope:
39	** Pucca in "Noodle Round the World" after sucking up the record-breaking noodle Garu was pulling in order to steal a kiss.
40	*** And again in "Four-Alarm Fire" after drinking a whole lake.
41	** Garu's body puffs up like a balloon upon contacting each of the many poisonous Australian things in "Garu Down Under."
42	** Almost everyone in town (including a very agitated and confused Garu) in “Sooga Size Me,” having gained considerable weight from the Texan couple's fattening foods.
43	** The biggest balloon belly in the show's history was seen in "Noodle to the Stars". In that episode, Muji bloats to planetary size upon eating a special batch of noodles. He becomes so big, in fact, that he becomes a red giant and develops his own gravitational pull. He eventually explodes in a spectacular fashion.
44	* BattleStrip: Abyo, though sometimes he does it ''after'' beating up the bad guys.
45	* BerserkButton: Accusing Garu of having no honor will instantly cause him to want to pick a fight with you.
46	* BetaCouple: Abyo and Ching, on and off.
47	%% * BettyAndVeronica: Pucca (Betty) and Ring-Ring (Veronica) to Garu.
48	* BewareTheNiceOnes:
49	** Ching, Pucca's best friend. She's a sweet [[ThePollyanna Pollyanna]] who ''really'' knows how to use her swords.
50	** Pucca is a caring person, but she's still tough as hell, so getting her angry would be ill-advised.
51	* TheBigDamnKiss: Almost all shorts and episodes feature Pucca planting these on Garu, usually at the ending, though sometimes she gives them more than once per episode in the series.
52	* BlazingInfernoHellfireSauce: Exaggerated in "Ring Ring's Party Favors", where a single drop of the hot sauce Ring Ring pours on the floor causes it to heat up like a hot griddle.
53	* BruceLeeClone: Abyo. He even wears the famous yellow and black jumpsuit at least twice. His dad is also named Bruce.
54	* ButtMonkey:
55	** Poor Garu never gets sympathy from anyone for being chased around by Pucca (except maybe Tobe).
56	** Tobe is maybe more of a ButtMonkey. He never gets back at Garu the way he wants and is often beaten to a pulp by [[StalkerWithACrush Pucca]] whenever he goes after him.
57	** Poor Dada. He is the town's laughingstock and also a loser, but unlike Tobe, he never did anything to deserve his status.
58	* CandyStriper: In the 2007 episode "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POWn-y22NOU A Leg Up]]," Pucca volunteers as a Candy Striper so that she can take care of Garu after he ends up in the hospital with a broken leg.
59	* CanonForeigner: While some of the characters have had their roots in the original shorts, several of the characters were made just for the TV series.
60	** CanonImmigrant: Ring-Ring was originally created for the TV series before becoming a main character in the franchise.
61	* CasanovaWannabe: Abyo is normally seen trying to show off to any girl who is watching, much to [[LoveInterest Ching's]] distaste.
62	* CassandraTruth: Everyone seems to believe Pucca is a harmless and adorable girl who needs constant protection, despite her constantly performing mind-bending feats right in front of them on a daily basis. Only Garu and Tobe seem to realize just how ungodly powerful she is.
63	* CharacterExaggeration: The TV series takes Pucca and Garu's MadLove to extremes. Pucca went from clingy but still likable to a self-absorbed ClingyJealousGirl, whereas Garu's "I like you, really, but please give me my space okay?" attitude became him borderline loathing her.
64	* ChasedOffIntoTheSunset: There are a couple of episodes that end with Garu being chased by the titular character as she wishes to kiss him (which Garu does not like).
65	* ChekhovsGun: in "Sooga Size Me," while introducing their restaurant to Pucca and the chefs, Tex and Sue start dancing when a radio starts playing some country music. They mention that they can't help but dance whenever such music plays, a compulsion that Pucca uses against them later on when the couple unleashes their mech. She even plays the same song, no less!
66	%%* TheChewToy: Poor Dada!
67	%%** Garu as well, to a lesser extent
68	* ChickMagnet: Garu attracts plenty of women (and a few men) over the course of the series. [[UnwantedHarem He doesn't want any of them, ''especially'' Pucca]].
69	* ChickenpoxEpisode: Parodied in "Chicken Spots", when the Vagabond Ninja Clan release an illness through a spell that covers Sooga Village residents in spots and makes them act like chickens. As it turns out, the cure is dressing as a fox and growling at the infected ones.
70	* ClingyJealousGirl: Pucca, sometimes Ching (but much less, since she tends to be ''as much'' a little passive-aggressive).
71	* ConservationOfCompetence: Tobe would be genuinely threatening if he didn't have such incompetent henchmen.
72	* CookingDuel: Pucca's trio of chef uncles often have to defend their culinary honor.
73	* {{Costumer}}: Some episodes are set in different time periods, such as [[UsefulNotes/AncientGreece Greece]] ("Gold Medal Garu"), [[AncientEgypt Egypt]] ("Puccapatra"), and the [[TheFifties 1950s]] ("Ching It On").
74	* CoveredInKisses: When Pucca is not giving Garu TheBigDamnKiss, she makes it up with many kisses on his face, often leaving his visage covered with two or three lipstick marks from the assault. It's taken further in the series as not only does Pucca have more screen time to kiss Garu but she leaves his face more covered in kiss marks.
75	* CuteBruiser: Pucca, Ching and Ring-Ring. All of them are tiny, pre teen ActionGirl types.
76	* CuteMute: Pucca, who communicates through giggles, sighs, and facial expressions without dialogue, and Garu, who mostly remains silent as part of his ninja training, with his occasional grunts of frustration.
77	* TheCynic: Garu is an angsty, ultra-serious ninja not unlike [[{{Manga/Naruto}} Sasuke Uchiha]], despite living in the world of a light-hearted GagSeries.
78	* ADayInTheLimelight: Ching, Dada, Abyo, Tobe, and Ring-Ring all get one-shots. The three chefs get two.
79	* DependingOnTheWriter: Tobe's skill at fighting depends on either what helps move the plot along or what's funniest. He's generally around equal to Garu in terms of skill, but is occasionally portrayed as [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter stronger than him]] or [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain much, much weaker than him]].
80	* DeusExMachina: These happen all the time. Mostly with Pucca.
81	** One episode has a virus going around turning people into chickens. When the virus tries to infect Pucca it bounces off her, showing she's immune for no reason other than plot convenience.
82	* {{Deuteragonist}}: Garu is generally shown alongside Pucca in all advertisements and is generally the one who is actually trying to accomplish something in the episode. Pucca always ends up saving the day in the end, though.
83	* DiggingToChina: Inverted; ''Rootin' Tootin' Ninjas'' has the characters winding up through a hole in a Western (in most every sense) counterpart of Sooga, whose version of Garu (who is a cowboy drifter here) takes a liking to Pucca; but then there's Pucca's own counterpart...
84	* DistressedDude: Garu takes this role the most often. He always either ends up in trouble, gets captured by someone who falls in love with him, or otherwise is caught in the crossfire of fights between Pucca and Ring-Ring. Poor guys got it rough.
85	* TheDreaded: The first instinct of Garu and Tobe upon seeing Pucca is to ''run on sight''.
86	* DoubleStandard: This is played with in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN6AVCf6HCY "Full Moon Pucca."]] Pucca figures out a way to use the moon to get Garu to fall head over heels in love with her, constantly chasing her down in her own style, and stealing kisses when possible. In the end, she turns things back to normal because ''she'' couldn't stand it.
87	* {{Eagleland}} / EverythingIsBigInTexas: From ''Sooga-Size Me'' and ''Monster Truck Island'' Texas Lugie and Sloppy Sue are both type 2 Americans. They throw packs of dollars into the faces of the people of Sooga, pollute the environment with crude oil and smoke, make people unhealthy and fat with their greasy and unhealthy fast food, and generally just wreak havoc with their obnoxious personalities and their indifference towards the people of Sooga.
88	* EatenAlive: Garu by a lion in "Big Top Bang Bang". Chief is chomped down on shortly after, but it's unknown if she was actually swallowed.
89	* {{Elseworlds}}: A number of episodes where the setting changes to fit a different genre.
90	* EmbarrassingAdGig: At the end of "The Ring Ring Touch", Mr. Zoom decides that both Ring Ring and Pucca will be his models in a magazine. Ring Ring is initially overjoyed until she reads a magazine that says Mr. Zoom's beauty cream will turn girls from "drab to fab", and a picture of a filthy Ring Ring is seen in the "drab" part. Ring Ring ''[[VisualPun literally]]'' [[VisualPun explodes in anger]] from seeing that.
91	* EveryoneHasStandards: The one place Pucca will never follow Garu into is the bathroom. He actually takes advantage of this, as he stays in there for awhile to get away from her.
92	* EverythingTryingToKillYou: Australia's tendency for this is spoofed in one episode.
93	--> Watch out for that electric fence. It's poisonous.
94	* {{Eyedscreen}}: Happens regularly in episodes where Tobe is the main antagonist. In one episode, the bars appeared on the left and right sides of the screen instead of top and bottom as usual and it's revealed Tobe's minions were responsible for that mistake. Tobe was upset for that.
95	* EyesAlwaysShut: Pucca, except for one episode, ''The Usual Ching'', in which a sock turns her evil and her eyes are opened for a few seconds. We also have this with Ssosso, who has his always closed (one episode lampshading this when he didn't notice his bowl of rice being swiped), except for one instance when he opens them when Abyo destroys his temple (as be seen [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/pucca/images/b/b6/Pucca_2.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110116222510 here]]).
96	* FacelessMasses: In the first TV series, Sooga has some rendered as blue and pink waist-high smiley faced gum-drop people. They're treated like a separate species sometimes, like in "Four-Alarm Fire" where they were turned into fire goblins just by eating very spicy food.
97	* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: Garu's attempts to earn honor by completing various missions due to Pucca's interference. Tobe's attempts to kill/shame Garu for the same reason.
98	* FarEast: Sooga village and its denizens have elements of Japanese, Chinese and Korean culture.
99	* FastFoodNation: The first appearance of recurring villains [[{{Eagleland}} Texas Lugie]] and his wife has them open a fast food restaurant with fattening and highly addictive food, causing the villagers to become really fat and out of shape.
100	* TheFatEpisode: In "Sooga Size Me", Tex Lugie and Sloppy Sue start a fast food restaurant that causes almost everyone in town to become bloated and unable to move. Garu and Abyo can't even spar with each other due to how heavy they are. Pucca has to find a way to put a stop to this, especially when the fast food place causes the Goh-Rong to shut down.
101	* FierySensuality: In "Hot and Bothered", Ho meets Hottie, the goddess of the fire swamp, who has [[FlamingHair red hair in the shape of a fire]], and can manipulate flames. She is quite flirtatious towards him and they fall in love.
102	* {{Flanderization}}: All of the characters become much bigger jerks in the TV series, and Pucca's fighting ability is upped from "Equal to a highly trained ninja with the addition of incredibly quick wits and outside the box thinking" to "An unstoppable force that can crush anything and everything in its path".
103	* FootPopping: Pucca sometimes does this, as seen on this page's image.
104	* ForcefulKiss: Pucca does one on Garu at least OncePerEpisode, and never reciprocates it.
105	** The mobile game ''Talking Pucca'' has Pucca pull this on ''[[TheFourthWallWillNotProtectYou you]]'' when Garu isn't there. [[https://youtu.be/s5g5HXJifXY?t=02m07s Not kidding.]] But don't worry, Garu also can get kissed as usual.
106	* FormulaBreakingEpisode: Some episodes in the first TV Series present what-if scenarios with the characters present in different time periods or themes. We've had Tarzan, Jacques Cousteau, Roman games, and more.
107	* FoulMedicine: In "A Leg Up", Garu [[InjuredLimbEpisode has broken his leg]] and is in the hospital. Pucca offers him a spoonful of medicine, which he turns down. Pucca becomes frustrated and slaps him on his bad leg to make him yelp, and she stuffs it into his mouth. He groans in disgust after the fact.
108	* FunWithFlushing: Pucca pulls a drain under the lake after saving Garu from a shark. They get stuck in the pipes and Dada inadvertently saves them while unclogging one of the toilets, freeing them both.
109	* GassyGastronomy: In "Misplaced Face", [[LiteralMetaphor Abyo quite literally loses face]], and his detached face lands on a bench. SantaClaus unknowingly sits on him and hears his muffled protests from underneath. [[MistakenForFlatulence Santa then sheepishly comments he should eat fewer beans]].
110	* GettingEatenIsHarmless: Garu might be a little embarrassed when he comes out of a lion's butthole in "Big Top Bang Bang" in front of a crowd, but there's not even a scratch on him from its teeth or digestive system.
111	* HairTriggerTemper: It takes very little for Pucca to kick your ass. Not even Garu is completely safe from it! Though, this is downplayed in the TV series.
112	* HeadPet: Won, Ching's chicken. [[spoiler: And if she ever goes away, [[EmptyShell the effects on Ching are TERRIBLE]].]]
113	* HereWeGoAgain: "Feud Fight" with Dada causing another accident.
114	* HeroicMime: Mostly in the web series, Pucca and Garu, though they do make some noises.
115	* HeterosexualLifePartners: Garu and Abyo.
116	** Pucca and Ching, too.
117	* HeWentThatWay: Tobe tricks Pucca with this in "Stuck on Goo".
118	* HypercompetentSidekick: Despite being the title character, it's Garu, not Pucca, who is treated as TheHero in universe along with being the one who goes on all of the adventures. Pucca simply tags along to try and steal a kiss... and almost always ends up saving Garu's hide multiple times.
119	* IncredibleShrinkingMan: "Cat Toy"
120	* IneffectualLoner: Garu prefers to do things on his own, but unfortunately for him, Pucca won't let him. It generally works out in his favor, as Pucca tends to be the one who saves the day in the end.
121	* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: Tobe. Dear God, Tobe. It's very hard to hate him, especially when it's hinted that he's Garu's rival just for fun, and not actually malicious.
122	* InformedAttractiveness: Garu is supposedly a {{Bishonen}}, though he looks no different from anyone else.
123	** Pucca is also apparently the resident WorldsMostBeautifulWoman. While she's certainly cute, she doesn't particularly stand out compared to some of the other girls, and even dresses rather plainly.
124	* InterchangeableAsianCultures: A rare example of this trope where it's in a Asian (South Korean specifically) work. Sooga takes influence from China, Japan, and Korea. Justified, since it's a fictionalized, vaguely Asian setting.
125	* ItsAllAboutMe: While usually [[NiceGirl sweet and open-minded]], Pucca has the tendency to force Garu into her activities and threatens him with physical violence if he rejects her and doesn't realize that Garu is busy.
126	** She will even attack others when they try to point out that Garu wants to be left alone.
127	* ItsAlwaysMardiGrasInNewOrleans: The episode set in Brazil took place during Carnaval.
128	* JailedOneAfterAnother:In “The Shirtless Avenger” episode, Abyo receives a super-hero kit in the mail and becomes a defender of justice by calling himself “The Shirtless Avenger". However, the power quickly goes to his head and end up sending everyone (including his father) to jail for no reason.
129	* {{Jerkass}}: %%Abyo, [[DependingOnTheWriter from time to time]].
130	** Garu can veer into this territory, generally when he acts like a jerk to Pucca for no real reason.
131	* JerkassToOne: For no reason, the Chefs tend to be rather cruel to Dada in the series. Admittedly, he's a bit clumsy, but their treatment of him doesn't paint them in a good light.
132	* JumpRopeBlunders: An online game called "Jumping Rope" has [[SantaClaus Santa]] and Ssoso holding two sides of a jump rope as Pucca (and as levels go on, more characters) jump in the middle. If you fail to make a character jump in time, they'll trip and land on their side, causing you to lose the level.
133	%%* KidHero: Pucca and Garu are 10 and 12, respectively.
134	* LaserGuidedKarma: After constantly acting all lovey dovey towards Garu, Pucca gets a taste of her own medicine in the episode ''Full Moon Pucca''.
135	* LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain: In "Stuck on Goo", Garu and Tobe share a bed due to their [[ItMakesSenseInContext clothes being stuck to each other]]. In the morning, Tobe takes Garu's hand in their sleep, and then they both wake up, surprised and embarrassed. Tobe's response is what the trope says.
136	* LittleMissBadass: Pucca. She's able to take out Tobe without effort (while Garu struggles to do so). Ching too, who uses swords and martial arts.
137	* LongHairedPrettyBoy: Garu's hair is almost always in pigtails, but the few times we see it out of them it reaches his waist.
138	* LoveAtFirstSight: In the television series, episodes where those versions of Garu and Pucca meet for the first time, it's undoubted Pucca will immediately fall for Garu instantly, but always one-sided.
139	* LuminescentBlush: Happens to Garu a lot, usually after Pucca catches and kisses him.
140	* MadeOfIron: Pucca, although mostly for a RunningGag.
141	* MadLove: Pucca and Garu's constant cat-and-mouse chase for her to steal kisses.
142	* MartialArtsAndCrafts: The prime example being the three chefs, martial arts masters who exclusively use their talents for cooking noodles.
143	* {{Mcninja}}: Regardless of the setting of the episode Garu will always be a ninja. Even when he's already a spaceman, an ancient Greek Olympian or a 1950's high school football quarterback.
144	* {{Mooks}}: Tobe's Ninjas, who double as FacelessGoons.
145	* MoreDeadlyThanTheMale: Ching is much, ''much'' more skilled than Abyo at fighting. While Garu himself is a fantastic fighter, he's still got nothing on Pucca, who goes beyond superhuman all the way to godlike.
146	** It goes for the villains too. While Tobe can be quite competent and even deadly, [[AlphaBitch Ring Ring]] is one of the only characters to even come close to Pucca in terms of power.
147	* MotorMouth: This is one of the few examples of a trope whose aversion was subverted. In the episode "Trial By Fury," Garu is called to the witness stand. The scene cuts to Judge Soo telling him to step down, after which he whispers, "I thought he'd never shut up."
148	* MilesGloriosus: Abyo thinks he's a badass on par with Garu. In reality, he's incredibly weak and doesn't actually know how to fight. Garu humors him with a few sparring matches sometimes, but they're always one-sided.
149	* MissingMom: We never see Ching or Abyo's mothers
150	* MistakenForGay: Abyo, by Garu. Pucca made herself invisible in a chain of events, and goes after Garu to harass him with kisses. Of course, Garu doesn't see her, and wonder what the heck is going on. When she stops for a moment, Garu turns around and sees Abyo, suggesting that they spar. The look on Garu's face certainly proves that he thought this.
151	* {{Nephewism}}: According to ''Slam Bam Birthday Bash'', Linguini, Dumpling, and Ho are Pucca's uncles and it's not said how they came to be guardians of her.
152	* NeverBringAKnifeToAFistFight: Pucca never fights armed, and though Tobe uses a katana, he's lucky if he can get a swing in edgewise.
153	* NewJobAsThePlotDemands: Santa Claus. No, really. He's had ADayInTheLimelight episode or two, but he's mostly there to be whatever strange job is needed, from ticket taker, to "guy in a frog costume." Since he only works his well-known job one day a year, he seems to have a lot of hobbies and side jobs.
154	* NewPowersAsThePlotDemands: Pucca will sometimes have a new power out of nowhere when it suits the plot. Like when she used her hair buns as a beacon to contact aliens.
155	* NiceGirl: Pucca is generally presented as this, though later animations, particularly the TV show, amp up her {{Yandere}} aspect. When not chasing Garu, she can be quite a sweet girl even to Ring-Ring, who hates her guts.
156	** Ching is a more consistent case.
157	* NightOfTheLivingMooks: Muji, a recurring villain in the show, has an army of zombies (named 'Xombies') that serve him.
158	* {{Ninja}}: Garu, Tobe, and a dozen of other characters.
159	* NoodleIncident: It's not said as to why Tobe keeps challenging Garu or, for that matter, why the latter has taken a vow of silence but the fact that Tobe often mentions his ancestors may have something to do with the former.
160	* TheNoseless: Nobody is drawn with a nose, though some of the humans have dotted nostrils.
161	* NotSoAboveItAll: Garu of all people gets giddy at the thought getting presents from Santa during Christmas.
162	* OcularGushers: In ''Slam Bam Birthday Bash'' Pucca creates a ''literal waterfall'' when she can't find any of her friends on her birthday. The blast get turned on Garu and ''knocks him away''!
163	* OnceAnEpisode: Several running gags, like the misfortunes of Santa and Dada, and Abyo ripping his shirts. One of Tobe's ninjas screwing up is also a constant.
164	* OneManArmy: Garu slaughters an entire ninja army in one short. Pucca easily tops him soon afterward.
165	* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Tobe is Garu's sworn rival. In a sense, Abyo also fits, though more in a friendly way.
166	* OnlySaneMan: Garu is the only character that seems to consistently notice Pucca's superhuman abilities.
167	* OOCIsSeriousBusiness:
168	** In "Feud Fight", Pucca is so distraught over the chefs' feud and refusal to cook together again that she completely ignores Garu. He's so taken aback by this that he tries offering flowers to her, just to confirm that she's lost interest in him. Sure enough, he gets no response in return, and he couldn't be happier until Pucca later returns to normal.
169	** In "Soap Opera," Dada encounters a magic bottle of soap containing Mr. Dishy, a whimsical cleaning spirit who speaks in rhyme. He cleans up Dada and makes him handsome enough for Ring Ring to consider dating him. Unfortunately, Dishy's magic wears off whenever Dada gets even slightly dirty... which happens during every activity throughout his date. He keeps having Dishy reapply his magic to keep up his appearance when no one is looking. This happens so much that Dishy eventually drops his rhyming and firmly warns Dada about his wastefulness.
170	--->'''Mr. Dishy:''' You're using me up ''too'' fast! ''[He casts his magic onto Dada once again.]'' Now ''stay clean!''
171	* OvershadowedByAwesome: Everyone who isn't [[TheRival Tobe]] is much weaker than Garu, while Garu and Tobe are much weaker than Pucca.
172	* ParachutePetticoat: Pucca uses her dress as a parachute in several episodes.
173	* ParentalAbandonment: In the birthday episode, we find out that Linguini, Dumpling, and Ho are Pucca's guardians but we don't know why or how she came to live with them, let alone what side of the family they come from
174	* PartySchedulingGambit: In ''Ring-Ring's Party Favors'' Ring Ring held a party and invited everyone except for Pucca, who instead got a note stating she wasn't invited and that, Ring Ring so wanted her not to show up, she wouldn't even tell the day of the party. Ring Ring also told Pucca [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking not to wear the same dress as her during the party]]. Pucca and the chefs then held a party at the Goh-Rong. Pucca invited everyone. That included Ring Ring but she didn't open the letter, assuming it was fan mail. Both parties were held at the same day and nobody showed up at Ring Ring's (other than the Vagabonds but they just ate and left). After several attempts to ruin Pucca's party, Ring Ring finally read her invitation and learned Pucca wanted Ring-Ring to tell the day of her party to avoid holding hers the same day.
175	* PersonalRainCloud: Pucca [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbT9L7FeN3M&feature=related gets one]] that turns into a '''hurricane''' in "He Loves Me Not".
176	* PintSizedPowerHouse: Pucca. She is able to carry a freaking house.
177	* PoorCommunicationKills: In the television series, Garu's taken a vow of silence. Unfortunately, it's because of that vow he can't tell Pucca that he's not interested in her, causing her to misinterpret incidents as him showing affection or let people think they're a couple.
178	* PottyFailure: A running gag with Dada, as he tends to pee his pants.
179	* PrettyBoy: Garu is described as one in the opening song.
180	* ThePowerOfLove: Allegedly the reason why Pucca is so damn powerful.
181	* ProtagonistTitle: Pucca stars Pucca.
182	* RecurringElement: ''Love Recipe'' has a few shared traits between itself and the original TV series.
183	** Dong King and his crew follow similar beats to a few antagonists from the previous TV series:
184	*** Much like the Lugies, they employ hi-tech gadgetry, run a rival restaurant, frequently put the village in danger, and are not native to Sooga. Dong King himself [[spoiler: caps off his visit by attacking the island with his own giant, pilotable machine]].
185	*** Casano, much like Laslow Gotzalotovich from "Prince Not So Charming," is very popular with women not named Pucca, whom he has an unrequited crush on.
186	** The Pirates are a greedy, thieving trio (sometimes a quartet) that each have a distinct quirk, much like the conspicuously absent Vagabond Ninja Clan.
187	* RealityWarper: Pucca gets upped from simply an ActionGirl into this in the TV series. In one episode, she effortlessly opens up a rift in the time-space continuum with a pair of chopsticks.
188	* RealMenWearPink: Garu has a heart on his uniform and is apparently better at knitting than Pucca is in "Woolen Warrior". Also, when Garu, Pucca, Abyo and Ching became Franchise/SuperSentai expies, Abyo was the pink one. He didn't like it.
189	* RedShirtArmy: Tobe's Ninjas.
190	* TheRival: Tobe to Garu for some reason. Ring-Ring is this to Pucca, which is mostly one sided.
191	* RuleOfFunny: The whole show pretty much lives off of this trope.
192	* RunningGag: Various; the most frequent is Abyo randomly tearing off his shirt, which comes close to being a OnceAnEpisode event.
193	** Don't forget the misfortunes that befall either Santa or Dada OnceAnEpisode.
194	** Hungry Vagabonds.
195	* SceneryPorn: The web episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBxPRhYvMEE&feature=autoplay&list=PL1B93234B03F49EBC&index=31&playnext=3 "Fragrance of Spring".]]
196	* ScoutOut: The Dragon Girls.
197	* SerialEscalation: The TV series seems to thrive on becoming as weird as possible, then topping it. Santa is secretly a ninja ex-thief? We got that. A jive-talking, lounge-singing dragon being added to the supporting cast partway through the series? We got that. An entire episode revolving around a sock that turns anyone who touches it evil? We got that. The web animations are a bit less bizarre.
198	* SeriousBusiness: The three uncles' perseverance to be the best noodle cooks in Sooga.
199	* ShaggyDogStory: In "The Chef's Leave", the three uncles feel like they lost their culinary honor when they noticed a customer hadn't finished their meal, so in order to regain it, they endured a quite dangerous trial full of deadly traps. Turns out the customer (who was actually Bruce) got his plate taken away by Dada ''before'' he could finish, so all their effort was rendered moot. The uncles get understandably pissed off at Dada for his screw up.
200	* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Garu, for Pucca. However, there are a few instances in the web animations where he ''does'' [[DependingOnTheWriter seem to have feelings for her]] - an example is when he actually [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnjDaHxKYnY&playnext=1&list=PL1B93234B03F49EBC melts down his beloved sword to make a ring for her]], which he also uses as a holder for a long, rolled up note that he intends to give to her. He is later horrified when she completely fails to notice the ring, throwing it away and fawning over the letter instead.
201	* ShoutOut:
202	** The TV series does this a lot. One episode even features a character who is a blatant reference to [[Franchise/TombRaider Lara Croft]].
203	** Doga in "Hex Door Neighbour" furiously shouts at the top of her van [[Film/GranTorino "Get off my lawn!"]].
204	** The first episode of the ''Netflix'' series has a fishing competition. One of the [[FishingForSole non-fish catches]] is [[WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants a yellow sponge wearing underwear]].
205	* ShipperOnDeck: Unless they are competing for their affections, everyone is this for Garu and Pucca, much to the former's annoyance.
206	* SilentSnarker: Garu.
207	* SingleTargetSexuality: The only one Pucca has eyes for is Garu. One episode featured a playboy who had every girl fawn for him save for Pucca, who he obsessed over.
208	* SmugSmiler: The only times Garu ever smiles are when he's giving a cocky grin, generally [[BreakingTheFourthWall while looking at the camera]].
209	* SpaghettiKiss: Done with Pucca and Garu in "Noodle Round the World" with the world's longest noodle.
210	* StalkerWithACrush: Pucca, on occasion.
211	* StalkingIsFunnyIfItIsFemaleAfterMale: Basically the entire show.
212	* StartMyOwn:
213	** Pucca and Ching wanted to visit Abyo and Garu's treehouse but Abyo wouldn't allow girls in. They built their own treehouse (which was better as expected of something built by Pucca) and wouldn't allow Garu and Abyo in.
214	** When Ring-Ring wouldn't allow Pucca and Ching to join the cheerleading squad, they started their own.
215	** Also, because Texas Lugie and Sloppy Sue didn't like the food served at the Goh Rong, they started a rival restaurant.
216	* TheStoic: Garu, foiled because Pucca's schemes to steal a kiss succeed often.
217	* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: In "Sooga-Size Me", the heavily overweight Garu and Abyo try sparring after days of gorging on the Texan couple's fast food. {{Acrofatic}} characters ''do'' exist in the show, but because of the boys' unhealthy diets, they run out of breath quickly and can barely lift themselves off the ground.
218	* SwallowedWhole: Garu by a lion in "Big Top Bang Bang".
219	* TerribleTrio: The Vagabond Clan; Chief, Shaman, and Clown. Not exactly evil since most of their schemes center around getting food.
220	* ThickLineAnimation: Yes, though much of this due to originating as flash animation series.
221	* ThirtyMinutesOrItsFree: One episode features the Vagabonds trying to get free noodles by delaying Pucca when the chefs send her to deliver their order. Officer Bruce arrests them for the laws they break during their efforts and seizes the noodles when Pucca shows up.
222	* ThrowTheDogABone: One episode is all about Garu trying to perfect a move and Pucca's interference constantly both impeding and progressing the progress. He perfects the technique, making him intangible. Pucca attempts to glomp him, but fails, giving Garu a much needed happy ending.
223	** Another episode gave the ChewToy Dada a temporary level in badass, using his janitorial skills to fight in a tournament.
224	** There's a food drive for the Vagabonds in "Jingle Cans".
225	* TinyTyrannicalGirl: Pucca and Ring-Ring. The latter is mostly the case.
226	* ToiletHumor: All the time. Notably the birthday episode (''Slam Bam Birthday Bash''), where Garu glared at an animate statue - who made a farting noise and dropped a brick. And not five minutes later, the police station falls down to reveal Bruce sitting on the toilet. A minor example is Dada being visibly shown peeing his pants.
227	* TooDumbToLive: In one episode, Master Turtle warns Tobe that whatever is written as a fortune will come true when read aloud. Well, this doesn't stop him from trying to get Garu with a fortune that says, ''"Anyone that reads this will explode"''. He ends up reading it himself and doing just that. Adding to this, he seemed to forget that Garu took a vow of silence.
228	* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Pucca loves to eat the chefs' noodles. It seems to be the only thing she eats as she eats them in place of popcorn while watching a movie. And only the noodles they make, as she rejects Santa's North Pole Noodles.
229	* {{Tsundere}}:
230	** Despite his constant annoyance at her, Garu does seem to possess ''some'' feelings for Pucca, although whether or not they're romantic is ambiguous.
231	** Pucca herself is a type B. She's almost ''too'' sweet and affectionate when dealing with Garu, but isn't afraid to beat the crap out of him when he's being a jerk or not returning her affections.
232	* UltimateJobSecurity: Dada screws up so much it's a miracle he hasn't been fired.
233	* UnconventionalFoodUsage: In "Noodle Around the World", Pucca's uncles make an extremely long noodle and get Garu to walk around the world with it so they can beat the record for the world's longest noodle.
234	* UnexpectedlyDarkEpisode: "He Loves Me Not." There aren't as many humorous moments compared to other episodes; Ring-Ring constantly rubs her newfound relationship with [[spoiler: who she thinks is]] Garu in Pucca's face, and only a few of her jeers are played for laughs. Meanwhile, Pucca herself spends the majority of the episode horribly depressed and irritable. Eventually, she lets her rage and envy build up until she unleashes a terrible power upon Ring-Ring and the surrounding environment.
235	* UnholyMatrimony: Tobe almost had this with Chief in one episode, before the love potion wore off. He did still marry her though
236	* UnknownRival: Abyo considers Garu his rival, when there's really no comparison. Interestingly, Garu ''does'' appear to consider Abyo to be his best friend, as the two are frequently shown hanging out.
237	* UnwantedHarem: Almost every girl in the show has a thing for Garu, who isn't interested in romance at all. None of them have a chance at competing with Pucca for him though.
238	* VerbalTic: Officer Bruce. Over.
239	** Clown, eh!
240	* ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend: Pucca, when Garu is in trouble. Despite being very peaceful and child-like, she can be roused into ''the'' most powerful martial artist in Sooga.
241	* TheVoiceless: Pucca and Garu. It's explained that Garu took a vow of silence, making him TheQuietOne. Pucca...[[ShrugOfGod who knows.]] However, in the animated series, this is played with, as we do hear her speak briefly (she says "Hello" in one episode) and sing (in another episode when they went to Tokyo).
242	* WalkingShirtlessScene: Abyo has an habit of ripping his shirt before going {{Kiai}}.
243	* WantingIsBetterThanHaving: In "Full Moon Pucca", Pucca finally gets her dream of Garu returning her affections, but realizes how annoying it is for her and decides to change him back.
244	* WeakButSkilled: Garu is nothing compared to Pucca when it comes to fighting, but he comes closer than every other character by being an incredibly skilled ninja with moves Pucca doesn't know how to use. It should be noted that he's only weak in comparison to Pucca, as he also appears to have some level of superhuman ability.
245	* WeaksauceWeakness: Tex and Sue's first mech dances uncontrollably when square dance music is played nearby. Pucca and the three chefs trick it into dancing off a cliff.
246	* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Garu has an almost psychological fear of Pucca in the television series.
247	* WiseOldTurtle: The Wise Turtle, who is apparently a master ninja who makes fortune cookies that always seem to come true.
248	* WorldOfBadass: Everyone is a martial artist.
249	* WorthyOpponent: Tobe and Garu have a grudging respect for each other, brought on by both their skill and their mutual understanding that [[{{Yandere}} Pucca]] is a much greater threat than either of them.
250	* {{Yandere}}: Pucca. Woe betide you if you get between her and her Garu. Ring-Ring found that out the hard way.
251	* YoungerThanTheyLook: Most of the characters are preteens to teenagers. Pucca and Ching are 10-11, Garu, Abyo and Ring-Ring are 12-13, and Dada and Tobe are 14-15. This can be quite egregious to guess because many of them, most noticeably Garu, live alone without a guardian.
252	* ZombieApocalypse: A comical one occurs in "Feud Fight" when the chefs split up and stop making Jajang noodles, causing the town's residents to fall into zombie-like trances, complete with grey skin and blank eyes.

Context Animation / Pucca