Monchhichi
Monchhichi (モンチッチ Monchitchi) is a line of Japanese stuffed toy monkeys from the Sekiguchi Corporation, first released in 1974. They are licensed by Mattel in the United States. Two television series were produced based on the characters: the Japanese anime series Monchhichi Twins (ふたごのモンチッチ Futago no Monchhichi) in 1980, and the American cartoon series Monchhichis in 1983.
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History [edit]
The Monchhichi franchise is held by the Sekiguchi Corporation, a famous doll company, located in Tokyo, Japan. Monchhichi was created by Koichi Sekiguchi on January 25, 1974. Sekiguchi claims he has created this character in order to inspire respect and love in the young (Japanese) children and adults.
The doll was successful in Japan, and the animated TV series, Futago no Monchitchi (ふたごのモンチッチ, Monchhichi Twins) which ran in 1980, helped increase its popularity even more.
Exportation of the doll line started in 1975, toward West Germany and Australia. The following years would see the Monchhichi line marketed in all of Western Europe. The original name was changed to "Chicaboo" in the United Kingdom, to "Mon Cicci" in Italy, to "Kiki" in France, to "Bølle" in Denmark, to "Moncsicsi" in Hungary and to "Virkiki" in Spain. Monchhichi dolls were popular in Hungary during the 1980s and child singer Mónika Ullmann had a song about them.
The Monchhichi doll line reached the North American shores in 1979. Mattel bought the license for the toy line. The American cartoon series Monchhichis was produced by Hanna-Barbera in 1983 and aired on ABC. As of 2010, Monchhichi dolls were still available in the United States from retailers such as Target.
1980 anime series [edit]
| Monchhichi | |
| モンチッチ (Monchitchi) |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | Family |
| Anime television series | |
| Monchhichi Twins | |
| Directed by | Hiroshi Jinsenji |
| Studio | Ashi Productions |
| Network | TV Tokyo |
| Original run | February 4, 1980 – August 1, 1980 |
| Episodes | 130 |
Monchhichi Twins (ふたごのモンチッチ Futago no Monchhichi) is a Japanese animated series which first aired in 1980.
Japanese voice cast [edit]
- Monchhichi–kun – Fuyumi Shiraishi
- Monchhichi–chan – Keiko Han
- Narrator – Sanji Hase
1983 American animated television series [edit]
Monchhichis is an American cartoon series produced by Hanna-Barbera. It premiered in the United States on ABC on September 10, 1983.
Monchhichis were monkey-like creatures who lived in the forest land of Monchia at the very top of tall trees well above the clouds. The tribe's leader, Wizzar, was a magical wizard who could make up spells and potions to defeat their enemy, the evil Grumplins of Grumplor.
An episode of the show was featured in the Saturday Morning Cartoons: The '80s DVD boxed set released by Warner Home Video in 2010.
U.S. voice cast [edit]
- Moncho – Robert Morse
- Kyla – Laurel Page
- Tootoo – Ellen Gerstell
- Patchitt – Frank Welker
- Thumkii – Hank Saroyan
- Horrg – Sidney Miller
- Wizzar – Frank Nelson
- Snogs – Bob Arbogast
- Snorg - Fei Fei Liu
- Shreeker, Snitchitt, Gonker – Peter Cullen
- Yabbott, Fasit, Scumgor – Laurie Faso
References [edit]
External links [edit]
- Official Monchhichi website (Japanese)
- Monchichi, the Twins (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Monchhichi at the Internet Movie Database
- 1980 anime television series
- Mattel
- 1970s toys
- 1980s toys
- Doll brands
- Fictional monkeys
- Stuffed toys
- 1980s American animated television series
- 1983 American television series debuts
- 1984 American television series endings
- American Broadcasting Company network shows
- Television series by Warner Bros. Television
- TV Tokyo shows
