The limited edition Chocola 2000 DiGi Charat art collection is just about the prettiest thing I've ever seen ... that is... it WAS, 2001 causes it to pale by comparison!

   The artbook alone is excellent, but the whole package is awesome! It comes with the artbook (obviously), a box of about thirty nice sized pictures suitable for framing, and a tote bag with a printed face of DiGi Charat on the front. The whole set is presented in a plain cardboard box with the words 'Chocola 2000 -So that the 21st century may be wonderful for you-' printed on it. I've been told that there were only a total of about 5,000 sold (if this is the number of sets or if this is the number of artbooks sold... I have no idea, probably the number of full sets though).


   The artbook itself is divided up into sections; DiGi Charat, Rabi~en~Rose, Petit Charat, Pyocola Analogue III, DiGi Charat and her Friends, Aquarian Age, and Gema Gema. Aquarian Age is a card game that features non-DiGi Charat characters, the rest of the sections are on all of the DiGi Charat characters. Each picture includes a footnote of where the picture first appeared, such as on postcards, manga covers, cards... etc and the date of publish. The very last page of Chocola features an interview with Koge-Donbo.

CHOCOLA 2000 KOGE-DONBO INTERVIEW

Q1: This year Chocola was released again. What do you think about it?
Koge-Donbo: I drew a lot! I guess that's how I feel. So it must have been hard for the assistants too. *laugh*

Q2: In Chocola 2000 which illustration is your favorite?
Koge-Donbo: pg. 90, the ninth picture where Dejiko has her mouth wide open and she is facing the wind. When I was drawing it I thought "how stupid", but it was fun to draw.

Q3: Ok, in Aquarian Age which illustration was your favorite?
Koge-Donbo: Cobalt from 'Amazasorikan no Shukumei'. The illustration, by the characteristics in it, I didn't think it would be a nice picture, but I did my best.

Q4: Out of all the DiGi Charat goods, which is your favorite?
Koge-Donbo: The tote bag that came with 2000's Dejiko Valentine pack. The color and design doesn't look as much like character goods, so it's easy to use. I also like to use the Hokke-Mirin eye pillow when I want to sleep.

Q5: In 2000s season there was Gema, Majin-Gappa, Hokke-Mirin, Nazo-Gema, etc... There were many slaves, which would you want as your slave?
Koge-Donbo: If I was to choose, it would be one that doesn't talk much and has intelligence, it would understand my wishes... So I would pick Majin-Gappa. Nazo-Gema is quiet too, but it doesn't seem accessible. Gema would do a lot, but it would talk too much.

Q6: This time it seems that you used many different drawing tools. Which one did you most enjoy using?
Koge-Donbo: Speed-wise, I would say watercolor, but for fixing mistakes I would say data (computer). This year I used Painter. I used it to color illustrations, but I'm not very good at it.

Q7: If you were to reincarnate as male or female, which would you want to be?
Koge-Donbo: Before, I thought male would be nice. But now I think I would want to be female. I choose the one god gave me. *laugh*

Q8: If you had money to do anything with, what would you do?
Koge-Donbo: I would buy a house, a trip around the world, and I would save the rest.

Q9: Was there a time when you thought you couldn't do it anymore? When?
Koge-Donbo: When I got the flu, when I couldn't stand up. At the time I didn't know what I had, I thought I was going to die.

Q10: What are you good at cooking?
Koge-Donbo: Spaghetti meat sauce, that's it, my family says it tastes good. Also, the maaboodofu in our house is different, it tastes like soysauce, it's not as hot. This special maaboodofu is also something I make well... but I'm not that good at cooking.

Q11: When do you feel peaceful?
Koge-Donbo: Eating salad with Ducky Duck (daffy duck?) while reading a book makes me feel peaceful.

Q12: Finally, say something about the future of Dejiko.
Koge-Donbo: Recently Dejiko's personality is becoming that of a bad girl. But really she's a very nice girl. I would like her to grow up as a good girl, and I would like to take care of her for a long time.

[interview translation by Natsuki exclusively for this unofficial fan site]