Monchhichis
Encyclopedia
is a line of Japanese stuffed toy monkeys from the Sekiguchi Corporation. They are licensed by Mattel
in the United States. Two television series were produced based on the characters: the Japanese anime series in 1980, and the American cartoon series Monchhichis in 1983.
, 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 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. Mattel bought the license for both the toy line. As recently as January 2010, Monchhichis are still available in the United States from retailers such as Target. The American cartoon series Monchhichis was produced by Hanna-Barbera
in 1983 and aired on ABC.
. 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.
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. An episode of the show was featured in the Saturday Morning Cartoons: The '80s DVD boxed set released by Warner Home Video
in 2010.
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
in the United States. Two television series were produced based on the characters: the Japanese anime series in 1980, and the American cartoon series Monchhichis in 1983.
History
The Monchhichi franchise is held by the Sekiguchi Corporation, a famous doll company, located in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. 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 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
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The following years would see the Monchhichi line marketed in all of Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
. The original name was changed to "Chicaboo" in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, to "Mon Cicci" in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and to "Kiki" in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The Monchhichi doll line reached the North American shores in 1979. Mattel bought the license for both the toy line. As recently as January 2010, Monchhichis are still available in the United States from retailers such as Target. The American cartoon series Monchhichis was produced by Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
in 1983 and aired on ABC.
1980 anime series
is a Japanese animated series which first aired in 1980.Japanese voice cast
- Monchhichi - kun - Fuyumi ShiraishiFuyumi Shiraishiis a Japanese voice actor.-Voice Roles:*Ashita no Joe *Osomatsu-kun 1966 *Obake no Q-Taro 1985 *Kaibutsu-kun 1968 *Mobile Suit Gundam 1979-1980 *Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam 1985...
- Monchhichi - chan - Keiko HanKeiko Hanis a Japanese voice actress. She attended Tōyō Eiwa Jogakuin, going on to study theatre arts at Nihon University. She gained experience in theater while attending school by obtaining work through Aoni Production, singing the theme songs in productions such as Story of the Alps: My Annette and...
- Narrator - Sanji HaseSanji Hase', born ' on January 2, 1936 in Tokyo, Japan, was a seiyū and the father of Macross star Arihiro Hase. He died of lung cancer on March 8, 2002 at the age of 66...
1983 American animated television series
Monchhichis is an American cartoon series produced by Hanna-BarberaHanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
. It premiered in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
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.
The show didn’t catch on as well as Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
’s other little critter shows like The Smurfs
The Smurfs (1981 TV series)
The Smurfs is an American animated television series that aired on NBC from September 12, 1981 to August 25, 1990...
and Snorks. The show aired for just one season on ABC’s Saturday morning lineup. An episode of the show was featured in the Saturday Morning Cartoons: The '80s DVD boxed set released by Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
in 2010.
U.S. voice cast
- Moncho - Robert MorseRobert MorseRobert Morse is an American actor and singer. Morse is best known for his appearances in musicals and plays on Broadway. He has also acted in movies and television shows. His best known role is that of J. Pierrepont Finch in the 1961 Broadway musical, and 1967 film How to Succeed in Business...
- Kyla - Laurel PageLaurel PageLaurel Page is an American actress. She was born in Los Angeles, California. Page provided voice-overs in the following animated series:*Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels - Taffy...
- Tootoo - Ellen GerstellEllen Gerstell-Voice roles:*Jem *Monchhichis *Dragon's Lair - Princess Daphne *My Little Pony: The Movie *Little Clowns of Happytown *My Little Pony TV series...
- Patchitt - Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
- Thumkii - Hank Saroyan
- Horrg - Sidney MillerSidney Miller (actor)-As actor:*1988 Memories of Me*1983-1985 Dungeons & Dragons *1972 Every Thing You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask*1955 The Donald O'Connor Show *1954 Dragnet...
- Wizzar - Frank Nelson
- Snogs - Bob ArbogastBob ArbogastRobert "Bob" Arbogast was an American radio broadcaster, voice actor, and television host.-Biography:...
- Shreeker, Snitchitt, Gonker - Peter CullenPeter CullenPeter Claver Cullen is a Canadian voice actor, known as the voice of Eeyore in the Winnie-the-Pooh franchise, Optimus Prime and Ironhide in the original Transformers series, and the narrator in both of the original American Voltron series...
- Yabbott, Fasit, Scumgor - Laurie FasoLaurie FasoLaurie Faso is an American television actor and occasional voice actor. In his career, he has held several bit parts on various shows, in addition to doing voices for several animated series and films, such as The Snorks, Monchichis, Darkwing Duck, Transformers and The Little Troll Prince...
Production credits
- Executive Producers: William HannaWilliam HannaWilliam Denby Hanna was an American animator, director, producer, and cartoon artist, whose film and television cartoon characters entertained millions of people for much of the 20th century. When he was a young child, Hanna's family moved frequently, but they settled in Compton, California, by...
and Joseph BarberaJoseph BarberaJoseph Roland Barbera was an influential American animator, director, producer, storyboard artist, and cartoon artist, whose film and television cartoon characters entertained millions of fans worldwide for much of the twentieth century.... - Producer: George Singer
- Story Editors: Dick Robbins, Bryce Malek
- Supervising Director: Ray Patterson
- Directors: Oscar Dufau, George Gordon, Carl Urbano, John Walker, Rudy Zamora
- Assistant Directors: Bob Goe, Bill Hutten, Tony Love, Don Lusk, Ann Tucker
- Story Direction: Cosmo Anzilotti, Chad, Jeff Hall, Gary Hoffman, Emilie Kong, Alex Mann, Bill Tollis, Tom Yakutis
- Recording Director: Gordon HuntGordon Hunt (director)Gordon E. Hunt is an American actor, voice actor, director of stage, film, and voiceover and casting director.-Life and career:...
- Animation Casting Director: Ginny McSwainGinny McSwainGinny McSwain is a voice actor, voice casting director, and animation production professional from Los Angeles, CA.McSwain graduated from Stephens College in 1974, before moving to Los Angeles...
- Voices: Robert ArbogastBob ArbogastRobert "Bob" Arbogast was an American radio broadcaster, voice actor, and television host.-Biography:...
, Peter CullenPeter CullenPeter Claver Cullen is a Canadian voice actor, known as the voice of Eeyore in the Winnie-the-Pooh franchise, Optimus Prime and Ironhide in the original Transformers series, and the narrator in both of the original American Voltron series...
, Laurie FasoLaurie FasoLaurie Faso is an American television actor and occasional voice actor. In his career, he has held several bit parts on various shows, in addition to doing voices for several animated series and films, such as The Snorks, Monchichis, Darkwing Duck, Transformers and The Little Troll Prince...
, Ellen GerstellEllen Gerstell-Voice roles:*Jem *Monchhichis *Dragon's Lair - Princess Daphne *My Little Pony: The Movie *Little Clowns of Happytown *My Little Pony TV series...
, Gary Goren, Hettie Lynne Hurtes, Laurie MainLaurie MainLaurence "Laurie" Main is an English former actor. Although Main appeared in many films and television series since the 1950s, he is perhaps best known for hosting and narrating the children's series Welcome to Pooh Corner, which aired on The Disney Channel during the 1980s.His television guest...
, Joe Medalis, Sidney MillerSidney Miller (actor)-As actor:*1988 Memories of Me*1983-1985 Dungeons & Dragons *1972 Every Thing You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask*1955 The Donald O'Connor Show *1954 Dragnet...
, Bobby MorseRobert MorseRobert Morse is an American actor and singer. Morse is best known for his appearances in musicals and plays on Broadway. He has also acted in movies and television shows. His best known role is that of J. Pierrepont Finch in the 1961 Broadway musical, and 1967 film How to Succeed in Business...
, Frank Nelson, Laurel PageLaurel PageLaurel Page is an American actress. She was born in Los Angeles, California. Page provided voice-overs in the following animated series:*Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels - Taffy...
, Hank Saroyan, Rick Segall, Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
, Bill WoodsonBill WoodsonWilliam "Bill" T. Woodson is a retired American voice artist. He has a small onscreen appearance in the 1950s sci-fi film "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" as a newscaster. He can be heard in the opening narrative of the 1970s television series The Odd Couple, explaining how it is that Felix and... - Graphics: Iraj Paran, Tom Wogatzke
- Title: Bill Perez
- Musical Director: Hoyt Curtin
- Musical Supervisor: Paul DeKorte
- Creative Producer: Iwao Takamoto
- Design Supervisor: Bob Singer
- Character Design: Sandra Berez, Ronald Evans
- Layout Supervisor: Margaret Parkes
- Layout: Nancy Avery, Christopher Boyer, Mark Hubley, D. T. La Vercombe, Phil Normand, Shan Price, Rick Rouse, James Wahlberg
- Animation Supervisors: Don Patterson, Roger Chiasson, Sean Newton, Don Spencer
- Background Styling: Al Gmuer, Dennis Durrell, Dennis Venizelos
- Sound Direction: Alvy Dorman, Phil Flad
- Camera: Bob Marples
- Supervising Film Editor: Larry C. Cowan
- Dubbing Supervisor: Pat Foley
- Music Editor: Cecil Broughton
- Effects Editors: Michael Bradley, David Cowan, Jerry Winicki
- Show Editor: Gil Iverson
- Negative Consultant: William E. DeBoer
- Post Production Supervisor: Joed Eaton
- Production Coordinator: Peter Aries
- Production Manager: James Wang
- Production Assistant: Robin Carmichael
- Executives in Charge of Production: Jayne Barbera and Jean MacCurdy
- Supervising Executive: Margaret Loesch
- A HANNA-BARBERA PRODUCTION
- Characters (c) 1983 Sekiguchi Co. Ltd. and Mattel, Inc.
- "Monchhichis" and other related characters are trademarks of Sekiguchi Co., Ltd. Used with permission.
- (c) 1983 Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. All rights reserved.