Originally a cute little character created by Korean company Vooz, plenty of merchandise goodies and Web Animation series and later television series, Pucca is a young girl who lives with her uncles, a trio of Chinese chefs. Pucca is in Mad Love with her "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 Adventure Town with plenty of Eccentric Townsfolk, including off-season Santa, who spends the 364 other days of the year in town relaxing.Pucca became popular worldwide because it relies on visual and gag humor rather than language, much like the Pink Panther, the Road Runner and other pantomime cartoons. Though the series has since picked up dialog, translation has worked well enough and the series remain mostly silent. Both show leads, Garu and Pucca, are Heroic Mimes, though they do laugh, sigh and make other sounds.
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.
Digging To China: Inverted; one episode 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...
Double Standard: If the genders of the two leads were switched, this show would be much creepier.
Naturally, this is played with in one episode. 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.
Double Standard Rape Sci Fi: Pucca uses magical ways to charm Garu more than once (as the example above). Everyone is ok with that, even when they know "normal" Garu doesn't want to be with Pucca.
Eagleland / Everything Is Big In Texas: 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 to the people of Sooga.
Eyes Always Shut: Pucca, except for one episode in which a sock turns her evil and her eyes are opened for a few seconds.
Faceless Masses: Rendered as blue and pink waist-high smiley faced gum-drop people. Averted because Sooga has a lot of extras and no real need for them.
Far East: Sooga village and its denizens have elements of Japanese, Chinese and Korean culture.
Foe Yay/Ho Yay: In the episode "Stuck on Goo" Garu and his enemy Tobe end up stuck together via a mishap with melted candy canes. They end up having to share a bed in one scene, in which Tobe accidently touches Garu's hand, he then jerks away, embarrased, and says they "will never speak of this again." Later as the two learn to get along, Tobe suggests they return to "Our home" (Garu's house) in a loving manner as they look at each other warmly.
Fun With Flushing: 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.
Getting Crap Past the Radar: All the time. Notably the birthday episode, 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.
Heroic Mime: Pucca and Garu, though they do make some noises.
Hot Amazon: More like Cute Amazon, but hey. A whole episode is dedicated to Ching trying several plans to get Abyo's attention, and only succeeds when she saves his life.
Karma Houdini: In "Noodle Round the World" Pucca gets away with eating her guardians' world record entry before it can be judged just so she can steal a kiss from Garu. Her guardians are just happy that they finished the noodle, but she didn't know this.
Mad Love: Pucca and Garu's constant cat-and-mouse chase for her to steal kisses.
Motor Mouth: 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 Santa telling him to step down, after which he whispers, "I thought he'd never shut up."
New Powers as the Plot Demands: 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.
Ocular Gushers: 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!
Once an Episode: Several running gags, like the misfortune of Santa and Dada, and Abyo ripping his shirts, could count. One of Tobe's ninjas screwing up is also a constant.
Serial Escalation: 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.
Serious Business: The three uncles' perseverance to be the best noodle cooks in Sooga.
Shown Their Work: Occasionally things get a bit Off Model, but the animation is generally very good.
She Is Not My Girlfriend: Garu, for Pucca. However, there are a few instances in the web animations where he doesseem to have feelings for her - an example is when he actually 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.
Throw the Dog a Bone: 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.
Another episode gave the Chew Toy Dada a temporary level in badass, using his janitorial skills to fight in a tournament.
There's a food drive for the Vagabonds in "Jingle Cans".
Unholy Matrimony: Tobe almost had this with Chief in one episode, before the love potion wore off.
Why Do You Keep Changing Jobs?: Santa Claus. No, really. He's had A Day in the Limelight 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.
Violently Protective Girlfriend: 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.
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