Monchhichis

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Monchhichi
モンチッチ
Genre Family
TV anime: Monchhichi Twins
Director Hiroshi Jinsenji
Studio Ashi Productions
Network TV Tokyo
Original run February 4, 1980 – August 1, 1980
Episodes 130
TV anime
Network Television Saitama
Original run January 4, 2005 – ongoing

Monchhichi (モンチッチ?) is a Japanese animated series (known as Futago no Monchihichi in Japan), whose American version was produced by Hanna-Barbera. The cartoon series premiered, in the United States, on ABC on September 10, 1983.

The show's characters were based on an exported line of toys licensed by the American company Mattel, who co-produced the Monchhichis series.

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[edit] History

Female Monchhichi doll
Female Monchhichi doll

The Monchichi franchise is Japanese and 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.

The doll was successful in Japan, and the animated TV series, Futago no Monchhichi (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 and to "Kiki" in France.

The Monchhichi doll line reached the North American shores in 1979, where it was successful. Mattel bought the license for both the toy line and the TV series, localized as Monchhichis. As recently as March 2007, Monchhichis are still available in the United States in places such as Japan in Disney World's Epcot theme park.

[edit] TV series

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.

The show didn’t catch on as well as Hanna-Barbera’s other little critter shows like The Smurfs and Snorks. The show aired for just one season on ABC’s Saturday morning lineup.

Queens-bred rapper Pharoahe Monch derived his rap name from his sister's childhood taunt that he resembled a Monchhichi.

[edit] Voice cast

[edit] U.S. voice cast

[edit] Japanese voice cast

[edit] External links