Summary
Monkey Mates
Monkey Mates is character based clothing and accessories brand featuring the characters of Mumu and Momo Monkey. Monkey Mates products can be bought through the Monkey Mates online store.
Brand name
The Monkey Mates is a brand and registered trademark of Play One Limited, a UK company.
‘Mates’ is a word used to refer to friends and is commonly used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland.
The name Monkey Mates refers to Momo and Mumu monkey’s friendship with each other.
History
September 2004
Momo and Mumu Monkey are ‘born’.
June 2005
Launch of MonkeyMates.com
July 2005
Launch of the Monkey Mates UK online store.with first two T-shirt prints Marching Mumu and Oh Dear Momo!
April 2007
Launch of the new Monkey Mates international online store with new payment partner WorldPay. Increase in number and range of products.
Characters
Mumu and Momo
The two playful and care-free monkey characters of Mumu and Momo monkey were created in September 2004. 2004 was also coincidentally the Chinese year of the Monkey.
Character names
Momo (pronounced Mo-Mo) takes her name from the Japanese for peach is also a name commonly used for girls in Japan.
Mumu’s name is pronounced “Moo Moo” like the sound a cow makes.
Character style
The style of illustration of Mumu and Momo Monkey and their environment is bold, colourful, simplistic to reflect Mumu and Momo fun and care-free personalities and outlook on life.
The use of flat colour and basic geometric shapes intentionally avoids complexity, and for many viewers, evokes a sense of nostalgia of childhood for and in particular children’s books and toys.
This is also true of the behaviour and activities of the characters from Mumu banging his drum to Momo crying when she drops her icecream.
To learn more about Mumu and Momo please visit their interactive animated All about Mumu and Momo page.
Character Internationalisation
New versions of Mumu and Momo monkey have been created to represent different regions and countries of the world including Eskimo Momo, Mountie Mumu, Howdy Mumu, Malibu Mumu and Queen Momo.
Products
Product range
Since launching Monkey Mates has created a product range that includes T-shirts, long sleeve tops, drawstring bags, tote bags and button badges.
Product launches
- Jul. 2005: Marching Mumu Monkey T-shirts
- Jul. 2005: Oh Dear Momo Monkey T-shirts
- Nov. 2005: Marching Mumu Monkey Long Sleeve T-shirts
- Nov. 2005: Oh Dear Momo Monkey Long Sleeve T-shirts
- Dec. 2005: Monkey Mates Drawstring backsack range
- Apr. 2006: Rolla Momo T-shirts
- Sep. 2006: “Howdy!” Mumu Cowboy Monkey T-shirts
- Sep. 2006: “Surf’s Up!” Malibu Mumu Surfer Monkey T-shirts
- Sep. 2006: “Bang the Drum!” Drummer Mumu Monkey T-shirts
- March 2007: Peek-a-Mumu 4 button badge sets
- March 2007: Peek-a-Momo 4 button badge sets
- February 2008: “Monkey Dozen” Tote bags
External Links
- Monkey Mates YouTube channel - Monkey Mini Movies
- Monkey Mates BT Tradespace
- Monkey Mates MySpace page
- Monkey Mates on Vimeo
© 2004-2010 Monkey Mates. All rights reserved. Monkey Mates® is a registered trademark.
