OtamatonePusheen The Cat Electronic Portable Music Instrument / Synthesizer Toy from Japan by Maywa Denki [Limited Edition [English Instructions]

How cute is this thing ! It’s a gift for my 8 year old daughter!

I am glad it was not to loud.

I've been to Japan many times, but for some reason I had never run across an Otamatone. The first time I saw it was on youtube on an audition on America's Got Talent. Having tried playing with this in real life now, I know how skilled that auditioner was on that show. His skills are incredible - and they were enough that I wanted to try one for myself.When this Otamatone came, I was a bit surprised that it was larger than I expected it to be at just shy of 11" tall. It makes sense, though, because the neck is the pressure sensitive strip where all the notes are, and you need room for adult fingers to line up on it. Besides the notes that play by pressing on the neck (and sliding notes is possible), you can do a wah wah type effect by squeezing the cheeks of the cat at the bottom, which opens its mouth.The batteries this requires don't come with it, but that's no big deal, really. Unfortunately, without a LOT of practice, this doesn't rise above the level of a toy to play around with and make different sounds and combinations of sounds. But that's fun enough. This might also be a good way to get kids interested in music because it IS fun to noodle around with, which is likely mission accomplished for the people that designed this.

I love being able to introduce my kids to novel & easy-to-use instruments that aren't typically included in kids music sets. We already own & enjoy an ocarina, kalimba, steel tongue drum and others-- but the Otamatone has remained on my wishlist for a while. I was so excited when I saw an opportunity to request to review one and it definitely didn't disappoint. This Pusheen cat + silly synthetic sounds makes it practically irresistible to kids. I have no doubt we'll be having fun with this for years to come.My only criticism is the apparent lack of storage case available for this specific instrument in the Otamatone store because of the ears of the cat. This instrument isn't cheap and it's electronic, so it's something I'd like to be able to protect when not in use.

The Otamatone Pusheen The Cat Electronic Portable Music Instrument is a delightful fusion of cuteness and musical creativity, making it a must-have for fans of Pusheen and quirky instruments alike. Here's what makes this limited-edition Otamatone shine:Key Features:Special Edition Charm: This Otamatone boasts an exclusive Pusheen the Cat design, blending one of Japan’s best-selling musical toys with the internet’s favorite feline. It’s an irresistible collectible for Pusheen lovers!Simple and Fun to Play: Slide your fingers along the stem to adjust pitch and squeeze the cheeks for vibrato effects. With low, medium, and high pitch options, it’s easy to experiment and create harmonies, even if you're new to music.Perfect for Creative Expression: The Otamatone encourages users to explore sound and melody in a playful way. Its lightweight and portable design make it great for campfire singalongs, family gatherings, or solo musical adventures.Great for All Ages: Whether you’re a kid, teen, or seasoned musician, the Otamatone offers a silly yet engaging way to create music. It’s both an introduction to musical instruments and a fun toy for experts to experiment with.Quick Setup: Requires 3 AAA batteries (not included). Its compact size (10.6 inches) and included instructions make it easy to start playing right out of the box. Plus, a practice sheet helps you learn your first tune effortlessly.Final Thoughts:The Otamatone Pusheen The Cat Edition combines adorable aesthetics with accessible musical fun. Whether you’re gifting it to a Pusheen fan, surprising a music enthusiast, or adding to your collection of quirky instruments, this Otamatone delivers joy and creativity in spades.

One of the coolest “instruments “ around! At least in my opinion. It came fast and packaged well! I was able to open it and put batteries in it and start playing within only a few minutes. The tone and sound is great and the added character cat makes it super cute!

The notes are evenly spaced but we only played it probably three times before it stopped working altogether. It was stored properly in ambient temps, didn't get wet or mistreated.

Our daughter loves loves loves music. This otamatone has been an indulgence she's love playing around with, testing out different tones and such. Is it mildly bothersome as an adult? yes! but it's worth it when i see how excited she is that she can almost pay twinkle twinkle little star