Super Duper Sumos (Korean: 으랏차차 삼총사) is an animated television series co-produced by DIC Entertainment, L.P. and Ameko Entertainment.

Overview

Three crimefighting sumo wrestlers — the brothers Booma, Kimo, and Mamoo — go on adventures and fight using their enormous size and gigantic hindquarters. A typical episode consisted of "Bad Inc" trying to destroy Generic City in numerously themed ways, although almost all of their plans involved giant monsters. The head of Bad Inc, Ms. Mister, usually assigned the in-house mad scientist Stinger to create these evil monsters. At the end of each episode, Ms. Mister fires Stinger for failing to create an unstoppable monster (although he always appears employed in the next episode and is never actually fired). Every episode contained gratuitous use of the word "butt". In every episode, the three wrestlers use "Sumo Size". This makes them stronger, more muscular, and considerably larger. Each sumo has a characteristic move they use when "Sumo Sized", usually the three sumos initiate their attack one after another in the same order. Often in times of trouble, the sumos undertake a flashback remembering something Wisdom San (their teacher) taught them. They also may get advice from Prima, who is the sumos' friend and encouraging sidekick who often follows them and acts the most sensibly. Throughout the whole series, each sumo fights for their own cause (they draw their abilities from a force known as 'P.H.A.T.', standing for Peace, Honor And Truth).

Characters

Super Duper Sumos

Allies

Bad Inc

Episode list

Running gags

Voice cast

Additional voice cast

Production

In October 1999, DIC Entertainment (then-owned by The Walt Disney Company) teamed up with South Korean firm Ameko Entertainment to produce three animated shows, with Super Duper Sumos being the first as part of the deal. This would be the first time DIC would partner with a Korean company to co-producing an animated series and not just outsource. The production of the series began in July 2000. DIC handled worldwide distribution for the property except in Korea, where Ameko distributed the series.

Broadcast

The show first aired in the United Kingdom on CBBC on September 22, 2001, Shortly after its UK debut, DIC pre-sold the series to a selection of broadcasters including Antena 3 (Spain), YTV (Canada), Mediaset (Italy), Foxtel (Australia, to air on Fox Kids), Fox Kids (Latin America), Disney Channel (Asia), and RCTV (Venezuela). The series debuted in the United States on Nickelodeon on April 7, 2002. Reruns of the series aired in syndication in 2005. Additional pre-sales over the world included Disney Channel in France in 2003.

Merchandise

DIC signed a European deal with the UK-based toy company Martin Yaffe International in October 2001 to develop a toy and merchandising line based on the property, alongside DIC's Consumer Products division handling other kinds of merchandising.

Home media releases

In 2002, ADV Films acquired the distribution rights to the series on VHS and DVD, and in February 2003, released "They've got Guts!" on VHS and DVD, consisting of the first 5 episodes of the series. ADV would later release 5 more volumes throughout that year. In July 2010, Mill Creek Entertainment released a 10 episode best-of collection entitled Super Duper Sumos: They've Got Guts! on DVD in Region 1 which also includes a bonus episode of World of Quest.

Video game

A video game based on the series for the Game Boy Advance was developed by Midway Games and released on October 26, 2003. A PlayStation 2 game was planned but never surfaced.