Difference between revisions of "Professor Asobin"

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[[File:Asobin.jpg|200px|right]]
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[[File:ProfessorAsobin.svg|200px|right]]
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'''Professor Asobin''' (アソビン教授) is a smartly dressed anthropomorphic rabbit and an "unofficial" mascot of [[Sega]].
+
'''{{PAGENAME}}''', or '''Asobin Kyouju''' (アソビン教授) is a smartly dressed anthropomorphic rabbit and an "unofficial" mascot of [[Sega]].
  
 
Professor Asobin bares more than a passing resemblance to the "White Rabbit" character in Lewis Carroll's classic children's story "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", with a particular similarity to the popular characterisation depicted in Disney's 1951 animated version of the book "Alice in Wonderland". No information is known as to the origins of Asobin or why, or if, Sega chose to mimic these characteristics.
 
Professor Asobin bares more than a passing resemblance to the "White Rabbit" character in Lewis Carroll's classic children's story "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", with a particular similarity to the popular characterisation depicted in Disney's 1951 animated version of the book "Alice in Wonderland". No information is known as to the origins of Asobin or why, or if, Sega chose to mimic these characteristics.
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His last appearance giving advice was seen in the manual for ''[[Makai Retsuden]]'' (aka ''Kung Fu Kid'') released on 17th May 1987, however he continued to appear in manuals on the page describing the correct care and maintenance of cartridges and cards during the rest of the Mark III releases.
 
His last appearance giving advice was seen in the manual for ''[[Makai Retsuden]]'' (aka ''Kung Fu Kid'') released on 17th May 1987, however he continued to appear in manuals on the page describing the correct care and maintenance of cartridges and cards during the rest of the Mark III releases.
 
[[File:asobin_sggg.jpg|thumb|right|Asobin in ''Segagaga''.]]
 
[[File:asobin_sggg.jpg|thumb|right|Asobin in ''Segagaga''.]]
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With the release of the [[Sega Mega Drive]] in late 1988 and ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' in June 1991, Professor Asobin was retired by Sega, and has only appeared sporadically since. In 1994 the character appeared in the manual for ''[[Phantasy Star Fukkokuban]]'' promoting support hotlines. He has cameoed in the likes of ''Segagaga''.
+
With the release of the [[Sega Mega Drive]] in late 1988 and ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' in June 1991, Professor Asobin was retired by Sega, and has only appeared sporadically since. In 1994 the character appeared in the manual for ''[[Phantasy Star Fukkokuban]]'' promoting support hotlines. He has cameoed in the likes of ''[[Segagaga]]'' and ''[[Hi-sCoool! SeHa Girls]]'', and often appears in Sega-related throwbacks, such digital manuals for [[Sega Networks]] games.
  
−
Professor Asobin is not thought to have appeared in any non-Japanese manuals or promotional material, meaning the character is practically unknown in the Western world.
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Professor Asobin is rarely printed in any non-Japanese manuals or promotional material, though is occasionaly spotted, such as on the box of ''[[Sega 3D Classics Collection]]'' for the [[Nintendo 3DS]].
  
 
==Manual appearances==
 
==Manual appearances==
 
===SG-1000 games===
 
===SG-1000 games===
−
<gallery>
 
−
File:Monacogp_mycard_jp_manual.pdf|page=12|C-17: ''[[Monaco GP]]''
 
−
File:Zippyrace_mycard_jp_manual.pdf|page=14|C-26: ''[[Zippy Race]]''
 
−
File:ChampionBoxingCardSGJPManual.pdf|page=9|C-33: ''[[Champion Boxing]]''
 
−
</gallery>
 
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
−
* ''[[Champion Golf]]''(C-05)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Bank Panic|SG}} Page29
−
* ''[[Star Force]]''(C-43)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|The Black Onyx|SG}}
−
* ''[[Dragon Wang]]''(C-46) Page17
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Bomb Jack|SG}}
−
* ''[[Zoom 909]]''(C-47) Page17
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|The Castle|SG}} Page18
−
* ''[[Choplifter]]''(C-48) Page16
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Chack'n Pop|SG}}
−
* ''[[Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns]]''(C-49) Page16
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Champion Billiards|SG}} Page16
−
* ''[[Doki Doki Penguin Land]]''(C-50)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Champion Golf|SG}}
−
* ''[[Drol]]''(C-51) Page23
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Champion Ice Hockey|SG}} Page19
−
* ''[[Chack'n Pop]]''(C-52)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Champion Kendou|SG}}
−
* ''[[Bank Panic]]''(C-53) Page29
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Championship Lode Runner|SG}}
−
* ''[[Rock n' Bolt]]''(C-54)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Choplifter|SG}} Page16
−
* ''[[Elevator Action]]''(C-55)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|C_So!|SG}}
−
* ''[[Soukoban]]''(C-56) Page37
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Doki Doki Penguin Land|SG}}
−
* ''[[Championship Lode Runner]]''(C-57)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Dragon Wang|SG}} Page17
−
* ''[[H.E.R.O.]]''(C-58) Page23
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Drol|SG}} Page23
−
* ''[[Champion Ice Hockey]]''(C-59) Page19
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Elevator Action|SG}}
−
* ''[[Hang On II]]''(C-60) Page14
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Gulkave|SG}}
−
* ''[[Bomb Jack]]''(C-61)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|H.E.R.O.|SG}} Page23
−
* ''[[Gulkave]]''(C-63)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Hang On II|SG}} Page14
−
* ''[[C_So!]]''(C-64)  
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Monaco GP|SG}}{{fileref|Monacogp mycard jp manual.pdf|page=13}}
−
* ''[[Ninja Princess]]''(C-65)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Ninja Princess|SG}}
−
* ''[[Super Tank]]''(C-66)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns|SG}} Page16
−
* ''[[Champion Kendou]]''(C-67)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Rock n' Bolt|SG}}
−
* ''[[Wonder Boy]]''(C-69)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Soukoban (SG-1000)|SG}}  Page37
−
* ''[[Champion Billiards]]''(C-71) Page16
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Star Force|SG}}
−
* ''[[The Black Onyx]]''(C-72)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Super Tank|SG}}
−
* ''[[The Castle]]''(G-1046) Page18
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Wonder Boy|SG}}
−
|cols=3|}}
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Zoom 909|SG}} Page17
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Champion Boxing|SG}}
 +
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Zippy Race|SG}}
 +
|cols=3}}
  
 
===Master System games===
 
===Master System games===
 +
====Card====
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
−
* ''[[Teddy Boy Blues]]''(C-501) Page14
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Comical Machine Gun Joe|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Hang-On]]''(C-502) Page13
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|F-16 Fighter|SMS}} Page34
−
* ''[[TransBot]]''(C-503)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Ghost House|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Great Soccer]]''(C-504) Page19
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Great Baseball|SMS}} Page17
−
* ''[[Great Baseball]]''(C-505) Page17
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Great Soccer|SMS}} Page19
−
* ''[[Satellite 7]]''(C-506)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Hang-On|SMS}} Page13
−
* ''[[Pit Pot]]''(C-507) Page24
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|My Hero|SMS}}
−
* ''[[F-16 Fighter]]''(C-508) Page34
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Pit Pot|SMS}} Page24
−
* ''[[My Hero]]''(C-510)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Satellite 7|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Comical Machine Gun Joe]]''(C-511)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Spy vs Spy|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Ghost House]]''(C-512)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Super Tennis|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Spy vs Spy]]''(C-514)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Teddy Boy Blues|SMS}} Page14
−
* ''[[Super Tennis]]''(C-515)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|TransBot|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Woody Pop]]''(C-519)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Woody Pop|SMS}}
 
|cols=3|}}
 
|cols=3|}}
 +
 +
====Cartridge====
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
−
* ''[[Fantasy Zone]]''(G-1301) Page25
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Action Fighter|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Pro Wrestling]]''(G-1302)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Alex Kidd in Miracle World|SMS}} Page26
−
* ''[[Black Belt]]''(G-1303) Page13
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Astro Warrior|SMS}} Page9
−
* ''[[World Grand Prix]]''(G-1304)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Black Belt|SMS}} Page13
−
* ''[[Action Fighter]]''(G-1305)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Enduro Racer|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Alex Kidd in Miracle World]]''(G-1306) Page26
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Fantasy Zone|SMS}}{{fileref|FantasyZone SMS JP Manual.pdf|page=27}}
−
* ''[[Secret Command]]''(G-1307)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Great Golf|SMS}}
−
* ''[[The Ninja]]''(G-1308)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Great Volleyball|SMS}} Page14
−
* ''[[High School! Kimengumi]]''(G-1309) Page15
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|High School! Kimengumi|SMS}} Page15
−
* ''[[Space Harrier]]''(G-1310)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Kung Fu Kid|SMS}} Page11
−
* ''[[Astro Warrior]]''(G-1312) Page9
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|The Ninja|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Great Golf]]''(G-1313)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Pro Wrestling|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Quartet]]''(G-1314)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Quartet|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Wonder Boy]]''(G-1316) Page14
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Rocky|SMS}} Page14
−
* ''[[Great Volleyball]]''(G-1317) Page14
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Secret Command|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Sukeban Deka II: Shoujo Tekkamen Densetsu]]''(G-1318) Page11
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Space Harrier|SMS}}
−
* ''[[Rocky]]''(G-1319) Page14
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Sukeban Deka II: Shoujo Tekkamen Densetsu|SMS}} Page11
−
* ''[[Enduro Racer]]''(G-1322)
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|Wonder Boy|SMS}} Page14
−
* ''[[Kung Fu Kid]]''(G-1324) Page11
+
*{{ReleaseWithDate|World Grand Prix|SMS}}
 
|cols=3|}}
 
|cols=3|}}
  
 
===Other games===
 
===Other games===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
−
Phantasystar md jp manual.pdf|page=31|''[[Phantasy Star Fukkokuban]]'' ([[Mega Drive]]; 1994)
+
Phantasystar md jp manual.pdf|page=31|''[[Phantasy Star Fukkokuban]]''
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
Line 98: Line 99:
  
 
[[Category:Sega]]
 
[[Category:Sega]]
 +
[[Category:Mascots]]

Latest revision as of 10:59, 4 October 2024

ProfessorAsobin.svg

Professor Asobin, or Asobin Kyouju (アソビン教授) is a smartly dressed anthropomorphic rabbit and an "unofficial" mascot of Sega.

Professor Asobin bares more than a passing resemblance to the "White Rabbit" character in Lewis Carroll's classic children's story "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", with a particular similarity to the popular characterisation depicted in Disney's 1951 animated version of the book "Alice in Wonderland". No information is known as to the origins of Asobin or why, or if, Sega chose to mimic these characteristics.

History

Although he never starred in a game of his own, Asobin gained attention by appearing in nearly every Japanese SG-1000 game manual following the console's retail launch on July 15, 1983. He was replaced briefly by a very similar, but less leporine Dr. Games in 1984, but reappeared for the new range of MyCard software in 1985 and also appeared in a number of early Sega Mark III games as well. Usually printed towards the end of the manual, Asobin offered advice to players that was usually helpful and specifically tailored for each game.

His last appearance giving advice was seen in the manual for Makai Retsuden (aka Kung Fu Kid) released on 17th May 1987, however he continued to appear in manuals on the page describing the correct care and maintenance of cartridges and cards during the rest of the Mark III releases.

Asobin in Segagaga.

With the release of the Sega Mega Drive in late 1988 and Sonic the Hedgehog in June 1991, Professor Asobin was retired by Sega, and has only appeared sporadically since. In 1994 the character appeared in the manual for Phantasy Star Fukkokuban promoting support hotlines. He has cameoed in the likes of Segagaga and Hi-sCoool! SeHa Girls, and often appears in Sega-related throwbacks, such digital manuals for Sega Networks games.

Professor Asobin is rarely printed in any non-Japanese manuals or promotional material, though is occasionaly spotted, such as on the box of Sega 3D Classics Collection for the Nintendo 3DS.

Manual appearances

SG-1000 games

Master System games

Card

Cartridge

Other games

References

  1. ↑ File:Monacogp mycard jp manual.pdf, page 13
  2. ↑ File:FantasyZone SMS JP Manual.pdf, page 27
Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=Professor_Asobin&oldid=1014565"