Tomo And Hariko

An aspiring manga artist, 7-year-old Tomo sees her world through comic-lenses. Since leaving Japan two years ago, Tomo Sakuma and her parents have called the USA home. Close by her side is her inu hariko, a Japanese folk craft that Tomo was gifted at birth. While an inanimate confidant in Tomo’s day-to-day reality, Hariko comes to life in her *imanganation (*Tomo’s manga-style imagination headspace). Here, Hariko fulfills his purpose as Tomo’s safeguard from social pitfalls and always nudges her in the right direction. Together, they use comic art and storytelling to navigate social learning lessons in order to help Tomo connect with her friends and the world around her.

Tomo & Hariko teaches viewers empathy by inviting them into the manga-style imagination of a new friend with a unique point of view.