Post #516232 by TorchGuy on Wed, Mar 10, 2010 7:05 AM

The animal being referred to is a Tanuki, a real Japanese raccoon-like critter. In Japanese mythology, male tanuki have huge, magical balls. Really. Check out the anime film "Pom Poko", where you'll see tanuki doing things with 'em. Surprisingly, Disney did no censoring when releasing the dubbed version. I didn't see the mug, so I'll take your word that it was ugly; however, I highly doubt anything can beat "Moai with open sores". He's pretty revolting; if there's ever an Ugly Mugly contest, Tom Slick, you'll win paws-down. "Moai with bird droppings" is funny; some craft websites sell fairly realistic feathered birds with bendable talons, and I say you buy a raven or other avian critter and perch it atop the mug, as though it's been perched there a while. I'm reminded of the 70s mugs by a potter named Jim Rumph; my father's got two of these, and one is shaped like a knotty tree with a gruff-looking bird perched on the rim. Inside, in the bottom, sits a little troll making a "Mr. Yuk" face, with a white mess on his head. Google Rumph and you'll find photos, it's apparently called the "Splatter Bird" tankard. Not Tiki, but funny, and not even his best work, from what I've seen.