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Difference between revisions of "Minimoni"

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[[Image:Shin_Minimoni.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Third Generation July 2009]]
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[[Image:Minimoni.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Minimoni Second Generation]]
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[[Image:Minimoni_2nd.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Second Generation Minimoni. promoting the single [[Lucky Cha Cha Cha!]] (2004)]]
 
  
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Mini Moni (ミニモニ。) was a subgroup of Japanese pop girl group [[Morning Musume]] under the [[Hello! Project]] label. They were one of Morning Musume's most popular subgroups for their entire existence due to a combination of their outrageous music videos and live performances, their vocal harmonies, and their widely varied musical styles.
+
<div align=justify>
−
== History ==
+
'''Minimoni''' (ミニモニ。) was a subgroup of Japanese pop girl group [[Morning Musume]] under the [[Hello! Project]] label. They were one of Morning Musume's most popular subgroups for their entire existence due to a combination of their outrageous music videos and live performances, their vocal harmonies, and their widely varied musical styles. The original group was retired in 2004, but the concept was revived in summer 2009 with the shuffle unit Shin Minimoni (新ミニモニ。; ''New Minimoni'').
−
=== 2000 ===
 
−
The group was founded in late 2000 by Morning Musume member [[Yaguchi Mari]], who had an idea for a subgroup whose members were 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in height or shorter. Yaguchi, and Morning Musume's songwriter and producer [[Tsunku]], selected two of Morning Musume's newest members, [[Kago Ai]] and [[Tsuji Nozomi]], for the new subgroup and the trio began performing in concerts as Mini Moni. American-born [[Mika Todd]] of [[Coconuts Musume]] was later added into the group to give the group "an international flavour" and Tsunku made them official. Their debut single, "[[Minimoni Jankenpyon!]]", was a #1 hit.
 
−
 
 
−
While Mini Moni was initially directed towards younger listeners (in spite of the fact two of the members, Yaguchi and Todd, were in their late teens), they also had an older fan base consisting of older Morning Musume fans (especially of Yaguchi, Kago and Tsuji) and the parents of the younger Mini Moni fans.
 
−
=== 2001 ===
 
−
The quartet released several singles in 2001 and 2002, and most of these tracks were compiled into their first album "[[Minimoni Song Daihyakka 1 Kan]]". The album's musical styles spanned wildly from track to track, defiantly incorporating such diverse styles as blues, electronica, march music, jazz, reggae, and horn-driven 60's soul music.
 
−
 
 
−
The group's almost anarchic presentation would also carry into some of the group's television appearances, many of which are circulated on-line, especially amongst the band's non-Japanese cult audience; these antics have included: Kago playfully saying "big doo-doo" (in English) in response to a Japanese TV interviewer's question (a bleeped version of the clip has been misidentified as "Kago says fuck you"); band members collectively grabbing the buttocks of a female assistant backstage at a concert (dubbed by some Western fans as the "Mini Moni Ass Grab", in parody of the song title "Mini Moni Bus Guide"); and an Utaban appearance where Kago slugged Yaguchi in the crotch while Yaguchi was in the middle of a sentence (which was actually a Morning Musume appearance for the song "[[Souda! We're Alive]]").
 
−
 
 
−
Simultaneously with their single releases, the band became the subject of a series of short cartoons of their own, Yarunoda Pyon!, in which they supplied their own voices. They also contributed their voices to the Hamtaro cartoon series, in which hamster versions of Mini Moni are featured. The group recorded two songs especially for Hamtaro under the group pseudonym 'MiniHams'.
 
−
 
 
−
=== 2002 ===
 
−
In 2002, Yaguchi graduated from Mini Moni to take on leading the subgroup [[ZYX]], one of the first Hello! Project groups to incorporate the [[Hello! Project Kids]] (including a couple of then-future members of [[Berryz Koubou]] and [[°C-ute]]). Another Morning Musume member, [[Takahashi Ai]] took Yaguchi's place, while Mika Todd, as the oldest member of the current lineup, took over as the group's leader.
 
−
 
 
−
That same year, all five members of Mini Moni filmed the movie Mini Moni ja Movie: Okashi na Daibōken! (Mini Moni The Movie: The Great Cake Adventure), part of the storyline of which, in the context of the movie's fantasy setting, "explains" how Yaguchi ended up leaving Mini Moni to begin leading ZYX and how Takahashi ended up in the band.
 
−
=== 2003 ===
 
−
They started to have a more mature, modern R&B-heavy sound to their music with the single "[[Crazy About You]]", a style the group explored more heavily on their second album "[[Minimoni Songs 2]]". However, their silly side was also well represented on the album with two more songs they contributed to Hamtaro as MiniHams. Former member Yaguchi also appears on three cuts, two of which previously appeared on the Okashina Daibouken soundtrack. They also starred in a mini-series called Mini Moni's The Brementown Musicians starring Takahashi, Tsuji, and Kago; Mika made brief appearances in two episodes.
 
−
=== 2004 ===
 
−
The group disbanded in May 2004 after the graduation of Mika Todd and the release of one final single, "[[Lucky Cha Cha Cha!]]".
 
−
 
 
−
An interesting side note is that Mika Todd usually wore drastically different costumes than her bandmates ((While the other girls wore skirts and bows, Todd was often seen wearing jumpsuits or typically more masculine outfits). This could be attributed to her being the tallest member of the group, just making the height requirements at the bands start. It is also possibly due to her being from Hawaii as opposed to the other members.
 
−
 
 
−
== Post-Mini Moni Careers ==
 
−
* [[Yaguchi Mari]] (矢口真里) continued as sub-leader of [[Morning Musume]] after she left Mini Moni. In 2003 she also formed the short-lived unit [[ZYX]] with four members of the [[Hello! Project Kids]]. In April 2005, she resigned from Morning Musume due to scandal and embarked on a solo career under the Hello! Project banner.
 
−
* [[Mika Todd]] (ミカ) is currently living and studying music in Los Angeles, occasionally travelling to perform with her father, jazz pianist Johnny Todd. She released a self-titled solo EP in 2005 that has been available only at her rare live performances.
 
−
* [[Tsuji Nozomi]] (辻希美) and [[Kago Ai]] (加護亜依) graduated together from Morning Musume in August 2004 to form a new unit, [[W]], under the Hello! Project banner. Following Kago's suspension, Tsuji continued as a soloist in Hello! Project until May 10, 2007 when she announced that she was engaged to actor Sugiura Taiyou and already two months pregnant with his child. She is currently on personal leave from Hello! Project, but she may resume her career after having her baby. On November 26, 2007, Tsuji gave birth to a girl named Sugiura Noa(杉浦希空).
 
−
* Kago Ai (加護亜依) was suspended in February 2006 and then terminated in March 2007 after a series of tabloid scandals, she came back on April 6 but no longer under the Hello! Project banner. She is currently shooting a movie in Hong Kong.
 
−
* [[Takahashi Ai]] (高橋愛) continued as a member of Morning Musume and she is the current leader of the group and of the entire Hello! Project label. Her distinctive vocals have been more prominent on their last several singles and on their albums "[[Ai no Dai 6 Kan]]", "[[Rainbow 7]]" and "[[Sexy 8 Beat]]".
 
−
 
 
−
== Mini Moni in American media ==
 
−
In February 2006 Mini Moni's name was invoked on American television (NBC's The Tonight Show With Jay Leno) during a skit claiming that one of Leno's house band members had started out as a member of Mini Moni; a manipulated picture of the Leno band member with Mini Moni (in their outfits from the cover of "MiniMoni Songs 2") was aired as part of the sketch.
 
−
 
 
−
In June 2007, an excerpt from an early 2001 appearance by Mini Moni on Hello! Morning of a prairie dog turning his head suddenly, became the basis for the Internet phenomenon The Dramatic Chipmunk. A parody of the Dramatic Chipmunk clip, including lookalikes of Mini Moni, appears in Weezer's music video for their 2008 single "Pork and Beans". The real Mini Moni did not appear because of licensing issues, their lack of mainstream recognition in America and other logistical difficulties (including the fact that both Mika Todd and Kago Ai were no longer contracted by Up-Front Works by that time).
 
  
 
==Members==
 
==Members==
−
 
+
===First Generation (2000 – 2003)===
−
[[Image:Minimoni_1st.jpg|right|400px|thumb|First Generation Minimoni. promoting the single [[Minimoni. Jankenpyon!]] (2001)]]
 
−
 
 
−
===First Generation===
 
−
2000 – 2003
 
−
 
 
 
* [[Yaguchi Mari]] (矢口真里, Leader)
 
* [[Yaguchi Mari]] (矢口真里, Leader)
 
* [[Tsuji Nozomi]] (辻希美)
 
* [[Tsuji Nozomi]] (辻希美)
Line 50: Line 11:
 
* [[Mika Todd]] (ミカ, from [[Coconuts Musume]])
 
* [[Mika Todd]] (ミカ, from [[Coconuts Musume]])
  
−
===Second Generation===
+
===Second Generation (2003 – 2004)===
−
2003 – 2004
 
−
 
 
 
* [[Mika Todd]] (ミカ, Leader)
 
* [[Mika Todd]] (ミカ, Leader)
 
* [[Tsuji Nozomi]] (辻希美)
 
* [[Tsuji Nozomi]] (辻希美)
Line 58: Line 17:
 
* [[Takahashi Ai]] (高橋愛)
 
* [[Takahashi Ai]] (高橋愛)
  
−
===Third Generation / Shin Minimoni===
+
===Third Generation / Shin Minimoni (2009 – 2010)===
−
2009 - present
 
  
 
* [[Linlin]] (リンリン, Leader)
 
* [[Linlin]] (リンリン, Leader)
Line 65: Line 23:
 
* [[Takeuchi Akari]] (竹内朱莉)
 
* [[Takeuchi Akari]] (竹内朱莉)
 
* [[Miyamoto Karin]] (宮本佳林)
 
* [[Miyamoto Karin]] (宮本佳林)
 +
 +
===Fourth Generation / Shin Minimoni===
 +
* [[Fukuda Kanon]] (福田花音)
 +
* [[Takeuchi Akari]] (竹内朱莉)
 +
* [[Miyamoto Karin]] (宮本佳林)
 +
 +
== History ==
 +
[[Image:Minimoni_1st.jpg|right|300px|thumb|First Generation Minimoni. promoting the single "[[Minimoni Jankenpyon! / Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!]]" (2001)]]
 +
=== 2000 ===
 +
The group was founded in late 2000 by Morning Musume member [[Yaguchi Mari]], who had an idea for a subgroup whose members were 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in height or shorter. Yaguchi, and Morning Musume's songwriter and producer [[Tsunku]], selected two of Morning Musume's newest members, [[Kago Ai]] and [[Tsuji Nozomi]], for the new subgroup and the trio began performing in concerts as Minimoni. American-born [[Mika Todd]] of [[Coconuts Musume]] was later added into the group to give the group "an international flavor," and Tsunku made them official. Their debut single, "[[Minimoni Jankenpyon! / Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!|Minimoni. Jankenpyon! / Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!]]", was a #1 hit.
 +
 +
While Minimoni was initially directed towards younger listeners (in spite of the fact two of the members, Yaguchi and Todd, were in their late teens), they also had an older fan base consisting of older Morning Musume fans (especially of Yaguchi, Kago and Tsuji) and the parents of the younger Minimoni fans.
 +
[[Image:minimoni mascot.jpg|left|230px|thumb|Minimoni's mascot, Minimo.]]
 +
=== 2001 ===
 +
The quartet released several singles in 2001 and 2002, and most of these tracks were compiled into their first album ''[[Minimoni Song Daihyakka 1 Kan]]''. The album's musical styles spanned wildly from track to track, defiantly incorporating such diverse styles as blues, electronica, march music, jazz, reggae, and horn-driven '60s soul music.
 +
 +
The group's almost anarchic presentation would also carry into some of the group's television appearances, many of which are circulated on-line, especially amongst the band's non-Japanese cult audience; these antics have included: Kago playfully saying "big doo-doo" (in English) in response to a Japanese TV interviewer's question; band members collectively grabbing the buttocks of a female assistant backstage at a concert; and an Utaban appearance where Kago slugged Yaguchi in the crotch while Yaguchi was in the middle of a sentence (which was actually a Morning Musume appearance for the song "[[Souda! We're Alive]]").
 +
 +
Simultaneously with their single releases, the group became the subject of a series of short cartoons of their own, Yarunoda Pyon!, in which they supplied their own voices. They also contributed their voices to the Hamtaro cartoon series, in which hamster versions of the members were featured. The group recorded several songs especially for the Hamtaro movies under the group pseudonym 'Minihams'.
 +
 +
=== 2002 ===
 +
In 2002, Yaguchi graduated from Minimoni to take on leading the subgroup [[ZYX]], one of the first Hello! Project groups to incorporate the [[Hello! Project Kids]]. Another Morning Musume member, [[Takahashi Ai]] took Yaguchi's place, while Mika Todd, as the oldest member of the current lineup, took over as the group's leader.
 +
 +
That same year, all five members of Minimoni filmed the movie Mini Moni ja Movie: Okashi na Daibōken! (Mini Moni The Movie: The Great Cake Adventure), part of the storyline of which, in the context of the movie's fantasy setting, "explains" how Yaguchi ended up leaving Minimoni to begin leading ZYX and how Takahashi ended up in the group.
 +
=== 2003 ===
 +
They started to have a more mature, modern R&B-heavy sound to their music with the single "[[Crazy About You|CRAZY ABOUT YOU]]", a style the group explored more heavily on their second album ''[[Minimoni Songs 2]]''. They also starred in a dorama called ''Mini Moni's The Brementown Musicians'' starring Takahashi, Tsuji, and Kago; Mika Todd made brief appearances in two episodes.
 +
[[Image:Minimoni_2nd.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Second Generation Minimoni promoting the single "[[Lucky Cha Cha Cha!]]" (2004)]]
 +
 +
=== 2004 ===
 +
The group disbanded in May 2004 after the graduation of Mika Todd and the release of one final single, "[[Lucky Cha Cha Cha!]]".
 +
=== 2009 ===
 +
On May 6, 2009 former Minimoni leader Yaguchi Mari announced on her blog that Hello! Project producer [[Tsunku]] had asked her permission to revive Minimoni. Tsunku announced on his own blog that [[S/mileage]] member [[Fukuda Kanon]] and [[Morning Musume]] member [[Linlin]] would be members of the revived Minimoni. It was later announced that [[Hello! Pro Egg|Hello! Pro Eggs]] [[Takeuchi Akari]] and [[Miyamoto Karin]] would be the final two members, and that the new unit would be one of seven shuffle units featured on the compilation album ''[[Champloo 1 ~Happy Marriage Song Cover Shuu~]]''. Shin Minimoni performed at the Hello! Project summer concert tour ''[[Hello! Project 2009 Summer Kakumei Gannen ~Hello! Champloo~|Hello! Project 2009 SUMMER Kakumei Gannen ~Hello! Champloo~]]'' and released a new track, "[[Pen Pen Kyoudai]]," on the compilation album ''[[Petit Best 10]]''.
 +
=== 2010 ===
 +
Shin Minimoni performed at Hello! Project winter concert tour ''[[Hello! Project 2010 Winter Kachou Fuugetsu ~Shuffle Date~|Hello! Project 2010 WINTER Kachou Fuugetsu ~Shuffle Date~]]''. No future activity for the shuffle units has been announced.
  
 
==Discography==
 
==Discography==
−
 
 
===Albums===
 
===Albums===
−
 
 
* [2002.06.06] [[Minimoni Song Daihyakka 1 Kan]] (ミニモニ。ソング大百科１巻)
 
* [2002.06.06] [[Minimoni Song Daihyakka 1 Kan]] (ミニモニ。ソング大百科１巻)
 
* [2004.02.11] [[Minimoni Songs 2]] (ミニモニ。ソングズ２)
 
* [2004.02.11] [[Minimoni Songs 2]] (ミニモニ。ソングズ２)
  
 
===Singles===
 
===Singles===
−
 
+
* [2001.01.07] [[Minimoni Jankenpyon! / Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!|Minimoni. Jankenpyon! / Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!]] (ミニモニ。ジャンケンぴょん！／春夏秋冬だいすっき！)
−
* [2001.01.07] [[Minimoni. Jankenpyon!]] (ミニモニ。ジャンケンぴょん！)
+
* [2001.09.12] [[Minimoni Telephone! Rinrinrin / Minimoni Bus Guide|Minimoni. Telephone! Rin Rin Rin / Minimoni. Bus Guide]] (ミニモニ。テレフォン！リンリンリン/ミニモニ。バスガイド)
−
* [2001.09.12] [[Minimoni. Telephone! Rin Rin Rin]] (ミニモニ。テレフォン！リンリンリン)
 
 
* [2001.12.05] [[Minihamus no Ai no Uta]] (ミニハムずの愛の唄) ('''Minihamus''')
 
* [2001.12.05] [[Minihamus no Ai no Uta]] (ミニハムずの愛の唄) ('''Minihamus''')
−
* [2002.01.30] [[Minimoni. Hinamatsuri! / Mini. Strawberry~ Pie]] (ミニモニ。ひなまつり！／ミニ。ストロベリ〜パイ)
+
* [2002.01.30] [[Minimoni Hinamatsuri! / Mini Strawberry Pie|Minimoni. Hinamatsuri! / Mini. Strawberry~ Pie]] (ミニモニ。ひなまつり！／ミニ。ストロベリ〜パイ)
−
* [2002.04.24] [[Ai~n Taisou / Ai~n! Dance no Uta]] (アイ〜ン体操/アイ〜ン！ダンスの唄) ('''Bakatono-sama to Minimoni-hime''')
+
* [2002.04.24] [[Ain Taisou / Ain! Dance no Uta|Ai~n Taisou / Ai~n! Dance no Uta]] (アイ～ン体操/アイ～ン！ダンスの唄) ('''Bakatono-sama to Minimoni-hime''')
−
* [2002.11.27] [[Genki Jirushi no Oomori Song / Okashi Tsukutte Okkasui~!]] (げんき印の大盛りソング/お菓子つくっておっかすぃ〜) ('''Minimoni to [[Takahashi Ai]] + [[4KIDS]]''')
+
* [2002.11.27] [[Genki Jirushi no Oomori Song / Okashi Tsukutte Okkasui!|Genki Jirushi no Oomori Song / Okashi Tsukutte Okkasui~!]] (げんき印の大盛りソング/お菓子つくっておっかすぃ～) ('''Minimoni to [[Takahashi Ai]] + [[4KIDS]]''')
 
* [2002.12.04] [[Minihamus no Kekkon Song]] (ミニハムズの結婚ソング) ('''Minihamus''')
 
* [2002.12.04] [[Minihamus no Kekkon Song]] (ミニハムズの結婚ソング) ('''Minihamus''')
−
* [2003.04.09] [[Rock n' Roll Kenchoushozaichi ~Oboechaina Series!~]] (ロックンロール県庁所在地～おぼえちゃいなシリーズ！～)
+
* [2003.04.09] [[Rock 'n' Roll Kenchoushozaichi ~Oboechaina Series!~]] (ロックンロール県庁所在地～おぼえちゃいなシリーズ！～)
−
* [2003.05.14] [[Minimoni. Kazoe Uta]] (ミニモニ。数え歌)
+
* [2003.05.14] [[Minimoni Kazoe Uta ~Ofuro Version~ / Minimoni Kazoe Uta ~Date Version~|Minimoni. Kazoe Uta ~Ofuru Version~ / Minimoni. Kazoe Uta ~Date Version~]] (ミニモニ。数え歌～お風呂ば～じょん～／ミニモニ。数え歌～デートば～じょん～)
 
* [2003.10.16] [[Crazy About You|CRAZY ABOUT YOU]]
 
* [2003.10.16] [[Crazy About You|CRAZY ABOUT YOU]]
−
* [2003.11.19] [[Mirakururun Grand Purin! / Pi~hyara Kouta]] (ミラクルルングランプリン! / ピ~ヒャラ小唄) ('''Minihamus/[[Abe Natsumi|Purin-chan]]''')
+
* [2003.11.19] [[Mirakururun Grand Purin! / Pihyara Kouta|Mirakururun Grand Purin! / Pi~hyara Kouta]] (ミラクルルングランプリン! / ピ~ヒャラ小唄) ('''Minihamus/[[Abe Natsumi|Purin-chan]]''')
 
* [2004.04.21] [[Lucky Cha Cha Cha!]] (ラッキーチャチャチャ！)
 
* [2004.04.21] [[Lucky Cha Cha Cha!]] (ラッキーチャチャチャ！)
  
 
===Soundtracks===
 
===Soundtracks===
−
* [2003.02.19] ミニモニ。じゃムービーお菓子な大冒険！オリジナルサウンドトラック ([[Minimoni ja Movie Okashi na Daibouken! OST]])
+
* [2003.02.19] [[Minimoni ja Movie Okashi na Daibouken! Original Soundtrack]] (ミニモニ。じゃムービーお菓子な大冒険！オリジナルサウンドトラック)
−
* [2003.03.26] 劇場版とっとこハム太郎　ハムハムージャ！幻のプリンセス　オリジナルサウンドトラック (Hamtaro OST, tracks 7 and 25)
+
* [2003.03.26] [[Hamtaro Original Soundtrack]] (劇場版とっとこハム太郎　ハムハムージャ！幻のプリンセス　オリジナルサウンドトラック)
  
 
=== Compilations ===
 
=== Compilations ===
−
 
+
* [2001.04.18] Various - [[Together! -Tanpopo, Petit, Mini, Yuko-]] (#1 ''Minimoni. Jankenpyon!'', #7 ''Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!'', #13 ''Minimoni. Dancing!'', #14 ''Minimoni. no Uta'')
−
* [2001.04.18] Various - [[Together! -Tanpopo, Petit, Mini, Yuko-]] (#1 ''Minimoni. Jankenpyon!'', #7 ''Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!'', #13 ''Minimoni. Dancin!'', #14 ''Minimoni. no Uta'')
 
 
* [2001.12.19] Hello! Project - [[Petit Best 2 ~3, 7, 10~]] (#4 ''Minimoni. Telephone! Rin Rin Rin'')
 
* [2001.12.19] Hello! Project - [[Petit Best 2 ~3, 7, 10~]] (#4 ''Minimoni. Telephone! Rin Rin Rin'')
 
* [2002.10.30] Hello! Project - [[Club Hello! Trance Remix|CLUB Hello! TRANCE REMIX]] (#2 ''Minimoni. Jankenpyon! (TRANCE REMIX)'', #15 ''Minimoni. Hinamatsuri! (TRANCE REMIX)'')
 
* [2002.10.30] Hello! Project - [[Club Hello! Trance Remix|CLUB Hello! TRANCE REMIX]] (#2 ''Minimoni. Jankenpyon! (TRANCE REMIX)'', #15 ''Minimoni. Hinamatsuri! (TRANCE REMIX)'')
 +
* [2002.12.10] Hello! Project - [[2003 Nendo Hawaii Genteiban Hello! Project Best 1]] (#1 ''Okashi Tsukutte Okkasui~!'', #12 ''Ai~n! Dance no Uta'')
 +
* [2002.12.10] Hello! Project - [[2003 Nendo Hawaii Genteiban Hello! Project Best 2]] (#1 ''Genki Jirushi no Oomori Song'', #10 ''Ai~n Taisou'')
 
* [2002.12.18] Hello! Project - [[Petit Best 3]] (#6 ''Ai~n! Dance no Uta (MORE TRANCE REMIX)'')
 
* [2002.12.18] Hello! Project - [[Petit Best 3]] (#6 ''Ai~n! Dance no Uta (MORE TRANCE REMIX)'')
 +
* [2003.04.26] Hello! Project - [[2003 Nendo Hawaii Genteiban Hello! Project Best 3]] (#3 ''Rock 'n' Roll Kenchoushozaichi ~Oboechaina Series!~'')
 
* [2003.12.17] Hello! Project - [[Petit Best 4]] (#12 ''Minimoni. Kazoe Uta ~Ofuro Version~'')
 
* [2003.12.17] Hello! Project - [[Petit Best 4]] (#12 ''Minimoni. Kazoe Uta ~Ofuro Version~'')
−
* [2009.07.15] Hello! Project - [[Champloo 1 ~Happy Marriage Song Cover Shuu~]] (#4 ''Tentoumushi no Samba'') (Shin Minimoni)
+
* [2009.07.15] Hello! Project - [[Champloo 1 ~Happy Marriage Song Cover Shuu~]] (#4 ''Tentoumushi no Samba'') ('''Shin Minimoni''')
−
* [2009.12.02] Hello! Project - [[Petit Best 10]] (#9 ''Pen Pen Kyoudai'') (Shin Minimoni)
+
* [2009.12.02] Hello! Project - [[Petit Best 10]] (#9 ''Pen Pen Kyoudai'') ('''Shin Minimoni''')
 +
* [2012.08.03] Hello! Project - [[CR Ganso Hello! Project Special CD]] (#10 ''Minimoni. Jankenpyon'')
 +
* [2014.07.09] Hello! Project - [[Hello! Project no Zenkyoku Kara Atsumechaimashita! Vol. 3]] (#2 ''Suki, Suki, Kirai, Kirai, Kirai, Suki.'', #20 ''Minimoni. Dancing!'')
  
 
===DVD===
 
===DVD===
Line 111: Line 104:
 
[[Image:Minimoni PB.jpg|100px|Minimoni. Photo Book]]
 
[[Image:Minimoni PB.jpg|100px|Minimoni. Photo Book]]
 
* [2001.05.28] ミニモニ。Photo Book (Minimoni. Photo Book) <small>[http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4847026535 amazon.co.jp]</small>
 
* [2001.05.28] ミニモニ。Photo Book (Minimoni. Photo Book) <small>[http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4847026535 amazon.co.jp]</small>
 +
 +
== Minimoni in International Media ==
 +
In February 2006 Minimoni's name was invoked on NBC's The Tonight Show With Jay Leno during a skit claiming that one of Leno's house band members had started out as a member of Minimoni. A manipulated picture of the Leno band member with Minimoni in their promotional outfits for ''MiniMoni Songs 2'' was aired as part of the sketch.
 +
 +
In June 2007, an excerpt from an early 2001 appearance by Minimoni on Hello! Morning of a prairie dog turning his head suddenly, became the basis for the Internet phenomenon The Dramatic Chipmunk. A parody of the Dramatic Chipmunk clip, including lookalikes of Minimoni, appears in [[wikipedia:Weezer|Weezer]]'s music video for their 2008 single "[[wikipedia:Pork and Beans (song)|Pork and Beans]]."
 +
</div>
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
−
<div class="thumb tleft"><div class="thumbinner" style="width: 108px">[[Image:minimoni mascot.jpg|106px|Minimoni's cute mascot, the Minimo.]]<div class="thumbcaption">Minimoni's cute mascot, the '''Minimo'''.</div></div></div>
 
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* UP-FRONT WORKS: [http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/27/list.html Minimoni discography]
 
* UP-FRONT WORKS: [http://www.up-front-works.jp/discography/zetima/27/list.html Minimoni discography]
 
* projecthello.com: [http://www.projecthello.com/minimoni/ Minimoni lyrics]
 
* projecthello.com: [http://www.projecthello.com/minimoni/ Minimoni lyrics]
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* [http://www.magisus.com/magistar/articles/liveaction/mini_moni_the_movie.html Magistar Movie Review: Mini Moni The Movie]
 
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* [http://but.lolicom.org/wiki/wiki.cgi?ミニモニ。 娘｡典 wiki: ミニモニ。], a japanese wiki entry about Minimoni
 
 
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ミニモニƒ‹ Japanese Wikipedia: ミニモニ。]
 
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ミニモニƒ‹ Japanese Wikipedia: ミニモニ。]
  
 
{{Minimoni}}
 
{{Minimoni}}
  
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[[Category:Groups]]
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[[Category:Japanese Girl Groups]]
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[[Category:Sub-Units]]
 
[[Category:J-Pop]]
 
[[Category:J-Pop]]
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[[Category:Morning Musume Subgroups]]
 
 
[[Category:Hello! Project]]
 
[[Category:Hello! Project]]
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[[Category:2001 Debut]]

Latest revision as of 17:19, 28 October 2017

Minimoni Second Generation

Minimoni (ミニモニ。) was a subgroup of Japanese pop girl group Morning Musume under the Hello! Project label. They were one of Morning Musume's most popular subgroups for their entire existence due to a combination of their outrageous music videos and live performances, their vocal harmonies, and their widely varied musical styles. The original group was retired in 2004, but the concept was revived in summer 2009 with the shuffle unit Shin Minimoni (新ミニモニ。; New Minimoni).

Members

First Generation (2000 – 2003)

Second Generation (2003 – 2004)

Third Generation / Shin Minimoni (2009 – 2010)

Fourth Generation / Shin Minimoni

History

First Generation Minimoni. promoting the single "Minimoni Jankenpyon! / Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!" (2001)

2000

The group was founded in late 2000 by Morning Musume member Yaguchi Mari, who had an idea for a subgroup whose members were 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in height or shorter. Yaguchi, and Morning Musume's songwriter and producer Tsunku, selected two of Morning Musume's newest members, Kago Ai and Tsuji Nozomi, for the new subgroup and the trio began performing in concerts as Minimoni. American-born Mika Todd of Coconuts Musume was later added into the group to give the group "an international flavor," and Tsunku made them official. Their debut single, "Minimoni. Jankenpyon! / Haru Natsu Aki Fuyu Daisukki!", was a #1 hit.

While Minimoni was initially directed towards younger listeners (in spite of the fact two of the members, Yaguchi and Todd, were in their late teens), they also had an older fan base consisting of older Morning Musume fans (especially of Yaguchi, Kago and Tsuji) and the parents of the younger Minimoni fans.

Minimoni's mascot, Minimo.

2001

The quartet released several singles in 2001 and 2002, and most of these tracks were compiled into their first album Minimoni Song Daihyakka 1 Kan. The album's musical styles spanned wildly from track to track, defiantly incorporating such diverse styles as blues, electronica, march music, jazz, reggae, and horn-driven '60s soul music.

The group's almost anarchic presentation would also carry into some of the group's television appearances, many of which are circulated on-line, especially amongst the band's non-Japanese cult audience; these antics have included: Kago playfully saying "big doo-doo" (in English) in response to a Japanese TV interviewer's question; band members collectively grabbing the buttocks of a female assistant backstage at a concert; and an Utaban appearance where Kago slugged Yaguchi in the crotch while Yaguchi was in the middle of a sentence (which was actually a Morning Musume appearance for the song "Souda! We're Alive").

Simultaneously with their single releases, the group became the subject of a series of short cartoons of their own, Yarunoda Pyon!, in which they supplied their own voices. They also contributed their voices to the Hamtaro cartoon series, in which hamster versions of the members were featured. The group recorded several songs especially for the Hamtaro movies under the group pseudonym 'Minihams'.

2002

In 2002, Yaguchi graduated from Minimoni to take on leading the subgroup ZYX, one of the first Hello! Project groups to incorporate the Hello! Project Kids. Another Morning Musume member, Takahashi Ai took Yaguchi's place, while Mika Todd, as the oldest member of the current lineup, took over as the group's leader.

That same year, all five members of Minimoni filmed the movie Mini Moni ja Movie: Okashi na Daibōken! (Mini Moni The Movie: The Great Cake Adventure), part of the storyline of which, in the context of the movie's fantasy setting, "explains" how Yaguchi ended up leaving Minimoni to begin leading ZYX and how Takahashi ended up in the group.

2003

They started to have a more mature, modern R&B-heavy sound to their music with the single "CRAZY ABOUT YOU", a style the group explored more heavily on their second album Minimoni Songs 2. They also starred in a dorama called Mini Moni's The Brementown Musicians starring Takahashi, Tsuji, and Kago; Mika Todd made brief appearances in two episodes.

Second Generation Minimoni promoting the single "Lucky Cha Cha Cha!" (2004)

2004

The group disbanded in May 2004 after the graduation of Mika Todd and the release of one final single, "Lucky Cha Cha Cha!".

2009

On May 6, 2009 former Minimoni leader Yaguchi Mari announced on her blog that Hello! Project producer Tsunku had asked her permission to revive Minimoni. Tsunku announced on his own blog that S/mileage member Fukuda Kanon and Morning Musume member Linlin would be members of the revived Minimoni. It was later announced that Hello! Pro Eggs Takeuchi Akari and Miyamoto Karin would be the final two members, and that the new unit would be one of seven shuffle units featured on the compilation album Champloo 1 ~Happy Marriage Song Cover Shuu~. Shin Minimoni performed at the Hello! Project summer concert tour Hello! Project 2009 SUMMER Kakumei Gannen ~Hello! Champloo~ and released a new track, "Pen Pen Kyoudai," on the compilation album Petit Best 10.

2010

Shin Minimoni performed at Hello! Project winter concert tour Hello! Project 2010 WINTER Kachou Fuugetsu ~Shuffle Date~. No future activity for the shuffle units has been announced.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Soundtracks

Compilations

DVD

Filmography

Photobooks

Minimoni. Photo Book

  • [2001.05.28] ミニモニ。Photo Book (Minimoni. Photo Book) amazon.co.jp

Minimoni in International Media

In February 2006 Minimoni's name was invoked on NBC's The Tonight Show With Jay Leno during a skit claiming that one of Leno's house band members had started out as a member of Minimoni. A manipulated picture of the Leno band member with Minimoni in their promotional outfits for MiniMoni Songs 2 was aired as part of the sketch.

In June 2007, an excerpt from an early 2001 appearance by Minimoni on Hello! Morning of a prairie dog turning his head suddenly, became the basis for the Internet phenomenon The Dramatic Chipmunk. A parody of the Dramatic Chipmunk clip, including lookalikes of Minimoni, appears in Weezer's music video for their 2008 single "Pork and Beans."

External Links

v • d • e
Hello! Project: Minimoni
Minimoni: Yaguchi Mari · Tsuji Nozomi · Kago Ai · Mika · Takahashi Ai
Shin Minimoni: Linlin · Fukuda Kanon · Takeuchi Akari · Miyamoto Karin
Topics Minimoni.jpg
Singles
01 · 02 · 03 · 04 · 05 · 06 · 07 · 08 · 09 · 10 · 11 · 12
Albums
Compilations
Media
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