Star Stickers is the 3rd segment of the 2nd episode of the 3rd season of Pucca: Love Recipe.
Synopsis[]
On the occasion of the 100th edition of the magazine "Martial Artist", one of the students of the martial arts academy in Sooga will be chosen for its cover. The person who wins the greatest number of stickers for good deeds will get the honor, and Abyo will do anything to get more stars than Garu!
Plot[]
In Chang's dojo, the instructor tells his students about a special opportunity that's been gifted to them. One of them will be chosen as the cover model for the famous magazine, The World's Martial Artist, for their 100th year Anniversary edition. Abyo especially is excited about the chance. To pick who it will be, Chang gives them all books and declares that for every good deed they do, they will receive a star sticker. The one to earn the most star stickers will win the spot on the cover page.
Getting a head start on everyone, Abyo turns to Ssoso and offers to clean his glasses (whether they need it or not). This earns him the first sticker. But in the next moment, Garu goes up to Chang to show how a sticker was already in the pig-tailed boy's book by mistake. For this honesty, Chang lets him keeps it, to Abyo's annoyance.
After class ends, the kids are heading down the road with Ching fantasizing about becoming famous if she wins a spot on the magazine cover. A call for help directs their attention to Granny's run-away cart coming their way. Abyo eagerly leaps in to catch it but at the last moment, it veers away and comes towards Garu, slowing down enough for him to stop it easily. Granny thanks the ninja boy while Chang, popping out from behind a wall, awards him with another sticker. Abyo is furious that his chance was stolen.
Abyo walks off to mope about what good deeds he might do and comes across Siva drying his laundry. The ninja boy offers to help but his overzealousness just ends up ripping some of the clothes.
On another attempt, he tries to help milk a cow. However, he upsets the beast who runs off and crashes into a tree, knocking down a bird's nest. Garu, who was reading a book underneath the tree, unintentionally catches the nest while the cow comforts itself by sitting beside of him. Chang equates it to Garu having a love for animals and gives him two stickers for being a help to the animals. Abyo is ignored.
The next day, the kids are back in class gain but are interrupted by the arrival of Uncle Dumpling. He requests that Chang let Pucca out of school early, explaining how she had helped out at the restaurant when Ho became sick and is no doubt very tired. Chang acknowledges the girl's kindness for her family and gives her three stickers. She is delighted by this but then turns around to give them all to Garu. An outraged Abyo points this out to Chang who turns to see Garu trying to give them back to Pucca. Chang declares both of them are showing kindness to each other and gives them both more stickers anyway. Seeing this, Abyo offers some of his stickers to Ssoso who is glad to have them. However, his deed goes completely unnoticed by Chang and just leaves him further behind in the running for cover model.
The Kung Fu boy is beyond annoyed now that the world seems to revolve around Garu. Thus, he decides to change things so he can be at the center instead.
The Tofu Vendor is setting up his goods for sale but when his back is turned, Abyo snatches one away. When the man panics to see one is gone, the boy then comes forth declaring to have "found" the item. He plays this same trick later on, digging a pitfall in the middle of the street and waiting until villagers fall into it to offer them help getting back out. He even goes so far as to let Uncle Dumpling enter the public restroom and find there is no toilet paper before offering the roll he himself stole.
All of these setups earn Abyo a bunch of star stickers and after several days, he and Garu both show Chang their now full sticker books. It is now a tie and Chang declares he will be rewarding the biggest sticker of all to the student who performs the most impressive act of kindness. A half-crazed Abyo runs off to perform such an impressive act.
Abyo heads to the windmill that supplies electricity to the village and after lassoing its sails, he gets it to stop turning. Power is cut off all across Sooga and the Kung Fu boy loudly declares with a megaphone that he will get them their power back. However, a strong gust of wind loosens the rope on the mill too early and while Abyo struggles to keep it pinned down, the wind mill sail snaps free, almost crushing him. Luckily, he is rescued by Garu while Pucca repairs the windmill then uses her own breath to get it in motion, returning power across the town.
The three return to Chang's dojo where Abyo confesses to his teacher about what he'd done and apologizes for his actions, mentioning it was Garu and Pucca who rescued him. This done, the boy runs off in tears shame.
Sitting together under the night sky, Chang points out to Abyo the stars overhead and declares they are the true star stickers that shine brightly on his acts of goodness. He was impressed with the boy for admitting his wrongdoings as well as declaring the kindness of his friends, all of which is the true identity of martial arts. Abyo is touched by his declaration and asks if this means he will be the magazine cover model. The teacher point blank tells him no as Garu is the winner, an admission that disappoints Abyo who runs off in tears again.
Garu has his photoshoot for the magazine, with Photographer Santa taking pictures of his various fighting poses. Pucca swoops in to start kissing him, which proves to have become the cover image, featuring them both.
Trivia[]
• During the scene after Abyo cuts off the power in Sooga, there is a cameo of “Love Crash” (an old Pucca Short that can be seen in the official Youtube channel) that can be seen in the tv of Goh-Rong a split second before the power cuts off. Its then reappeared when the power is turned on.
Characters[]
- Chang
- Ching
- Won
- Ssoso
- Pucca
- Abyo
- Garu
- Granny
- Uncle Dumpling
- Tofu Vendor
- Panky
- Starry
- Santa
- Siva
- Ho [Mentioned)