Boko is the name of a fictional teddy bear and franchise in Girls und Panzer.
Profile
Boko is a beaten up bear, it is characterized for being weak, but always having strength to never give up.
Appearance
Boko is a teddy bear. Boko's appearance, skin color, size and type changes between particular products, but he always has at least one of the following characteristics: tissues and bandages, broken limbs and visible injuries, like swollen eyes.
Personality
Boko has a strong personality, and he is very optimistic: He doesn't fear his enemies and even though he always ends beaten up on the ground he never gives up. According to other characters from his franchise, like cats and mice, he is arrogant. According to the girls during their visit to the museum he's described as being weak.
Boko products
The most well known product from Boko is the stuffed animal, as it can be seen in the very first episode from the anime, other products include clocks, several types of boko toys, like him driving cars, a lucky stab pop-up boko, stuffed animals of all sizes, plushies, robotic bear, shows, theatrical show, wearables, like costumes and blankets, and movies. There are also museums and shops for these products, as mentioned by Miho
Boko Museum
There are museums dedicated to Boko. One such museum is seen in the movie. It resembled a castle, but it was virtually abandoned and in a state of disrepair. As Alice said to her mother, it was on the verge of closing down. It had a robot Boko doing his introduction at the entrance. It also includes several Boko-themed rides such as the river cruise: "It's A Beat-up World", The ghost train: "Beated-up Mansion", and the outer space themed ride: "Space Beat-up-ssey". There is also an interactive show staging a typical Boko episode, where Boko is badly beaten up by his opponents and calls out the audience for strength, before nonetheless getting beaten up again. It is here that Alice Shimada is first seen. There is also a souvenir shop filled with Boko memorabilia.
In the OVA Alice War, according to Saori, Ooarai Girls High School has a Boko Museum that they could visit when they dock. Alice shows some surprise and happiness, it's either because it has diversified content from the museum seen in the movie or just because it's Boko.
Fans
Miho Nishizumi
- Main Article: Miho Nishizumi
Prior to the movie, Miho was the only known fan of Boko. Even her friends could not understand what she liked about him so much. She has a stand full of Boko on her bedroom and sleeps with one as well.
During a visit to her home, also known by others as the Nishizumi Style's House, she goes to her bedroom, she points out to her sister how everything is untouched, it's possible to see a few boko bears all over the bedroom.
In MMLSD, during Miho's birthday party, Shiho Nishizumi, Maho Nishizumi and Alice went to party dressed as Bokos to cheer up, with Miho only realizing who were the actors after they left.
In the Drama CD, Miho manages to get the role of Boko in one of the shows, as the actor who was to play him had sprained an ankle. During the act she dodges from some hits and tried to help the attackers to get up. Alice was on the audience, without knowing that it was Miho on stage, she wonders if Boko was changing and becoming stronger, the girls convince her that it was nothing and Boko was still the same. Miho comments after Alice goes away, she would still rather watch Boko, than be Boko.
Miho usually holds to a Boko during rough times, for example, while she was in her bedroom reflecting about how emotionless the true way of fight of the Nishizumi style is - Episode 7 - or in the movie, under the night sky, reflecting about the futture of Ooarai school.
Alice Shimada
- Main Article: Alice Shimada
Alice's first appearance in the movie is at the Boko museum that coincidentally Miho and her friends were also visiting. They both watched the Boko show at the same time. They later met eyes at the gift shop when she and Miho both tried to hit for a plushie at the same time. Miho gave away the toy to her and Alice left without saying a word.
In her university dormitory, she has a basket with some collectible plushies having a picnic in it.
During the annihilation match against Ooarai Compound Team, she carries the plushie with her in her pocket. She mentions that the never-give-up mentality of her opponents reminds of Boko.
In the OVA, she has a Boko styled blanket. While still in Ooarai, Alice sleeps over with Miho, the bed is full of Boko bears, she also finds and wears a kid-sized Boko costume owned by Miho. Miho thought she hadn't brought it to the school ship, and whether or not Alice kept the costume after that is unknown. She is also seen with a Boko teddy bear in the end of OVA, it's possible that Miho gave it to her, as she doesn't make her cameo carrying it.
In the end of the movie she is with the Bermuda Trio members, Azumi, Megumi and Rumi, restoring the Boko museum, assuming that her mother is now a sponsor, which is odd as she would become a sponsor if All-star university won the annihilation match against the Ooarai. It is possible that the Bermuda Trio may also have a hand in the restoration after the events of the drama CD 5.
In the drama CD 5 she hangs out in a bar with the Bermuda Trio. They try to bond with her and create a friendship, they also take this opportunity to probe her regarding anyone she may like, she answers Boko because he always get beat up and regain strength. The Bermuda Trio comments between them that he is sort of a loser and might not be good for her as the commander, however they take the conclusion they can't do anything regarding her hobby.
in the spin-off manga Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! Alice brings Boko with her whilst sneaking onto the Ooarai carrier. The moment where she trips and drops Boko is whence she is brought face-to-face with Maho Nishizumi.
Trivia
- Boko's theme song is おいらボコだぜ. Alice sings this song during her Sensha-dō matches, which the Bermuda Trio take as a signal that she is joining the attack.
- Miho's stand of Boko bears eventually sees the exclusive addition of a photo of Anglerfish Team, symbolising how she values their friendship.
- Although the Shimada family only agreed to become a Boko Museum sponsor if Alice won the match against Ooarai, the museum is nonetheless seen in a restored state at the end of the movie. It is not mentioned who exactly is funding the restoration.
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