Puffy (comprising Yumi Yoshimura and Ami Onuki) debuted in 1996 with the single “Asia No Junshin (Pure Heart of Asia)", which sold more than 1 million copies. The duo specialize in an upbeat pop pastiche with songs like songs like “Circuit no Musume” (Circuit Girl) and “Korega Watashino Ikirumichi” (This Is My Way of Living) that are unashamedly retro in inspiration, recorded under the guiding hands of producers such as
Tamio Okuda and Jellyfish’s Andy Sturmer. Puffy’s unassuming but carefully calculated “anti-idol idol” image helped them quickly become media darlings, as they appeared in TV commercials, magazine print ads, and their own regular TV variety show. Puffy also gained a loyal following in Asia outside of Japan, and like many other J-pop acts, Puffy soon turned their attention to the U.S., basically because their star was no longer in the ascendant in Japan. The duo has released three albums in the United States, where under the name “Puffy AmiYumi” (to avoid confusion with Sean “Puffy” Combs) they are licensed to Hoboken, N.J.-based indie Bar None Records. In November 2004 Puffy became the first J-pop act to become the “stars” of an animated U.S. TV series, on a weekly Cartoon Network show called
Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi.
Puffy (comprising Yumi Yoshimura and Ami Onuki) debuted in 1996 with the single “Asia No Junshin (Pure Heart of Asia)", which sold more than 1 million copies. The duo specialize in an upbeat pop pastiche with songs like songs like “Circuit no Musume” (Circuit Girl) and “Korega Watashino Ikirumichi” (This Is My Way of Living) that are unashamedly retro in inspiration, recorded under the guiding hands of producers such as
Tamio Okuda and Jellyfish’s Andy Sturmer. Puffy’s unassuming but carefully calculated “anti-idol idol” image helped them quickly become media darlings, as they appeared in TV commercials, magazine print ads, and their own regular TV variety show. Puffy also gained a loyal following in Asia outside of Japan, and like many other J-pop acts, Puffy soon turned their attention to the U.S., basically because their star was no longer in the ascendant in Japan. The duo has released three albums in the United States, where under the name “Puffy AmiYumi” (to avoid confusion with Sean “Puffy” Combs) they are licensed to Hoboken, N.J.-based indie Bar None Records. In November 2004 Puffy became the first J-pop act to become the “stars” of an animated U.S. TV series, on a weekly Cartoon Network show called
Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi.
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