View source for Monchhichi

{{Short description|Line of Japanese stuffed animal toys}}
{{Infobox toy|name=Monchhichi|image=|caption=Monchhichi doll (boy)|company=Sekiguchi Corporation|country=Japan|from=1974|website=https://www.monchhichi.co.jp}}

{{Nihongo|'''''Monchhichi'''''|モンチッチ|Monchitchi}} is a line of Japanese stuffed monkey toys from the Sekiguchi Corporation, first released in 1974. They were licensed by [[Mattel]] in the United States until 1985, and later distributed worldwide directly by Sekiguchi. 
Five television series were produced based on the characters: the Japanese [[anime]] series {{Nihongo|''Monchhichi Twins''|ふたごのモンチッチ|Futago no Monchhichi}} in 1980, produced by Tokyo 12 Channel (now [[TV Tokyo]]); the American cartoon series ''[[Monchhichis (TV series)|Monchhichis]]'' in 1983, produced by [[Hanna-Barbera|Hanna-Barbera Productions]]; the French cartoon series ''Kiki, le Kiki de tous les Kiki'' in 2001, produced by Ben-J Productions; the Japanese stop-motion series {{Nihongo|''Monchhichi''|モンチッチ| Monchhichi}} in 2005, by [[Kids Station]]; and the French CGI series ''Monchhichi Tribe'' (La Tribu Monchhichi) in 2017, produced by [[OuiDo! Productions (company)|Technicolor Animation Productions]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.technicoloranimationproductions.com/en/production.php?prodid=2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524082650/https://www.technicoloranimationproductions.com/en/production.php?prodid=2 |archive-date=2018-05-24 |title=Technicolor Animation Productions {{!}}}}</ref>

[[Category:Stuffed toys]]

==History==
[[File:Monchhichi doll.jpg|thumb|right|A Monchhichi doll]]
The Monchhichi franchise is held by the Sekiguchi Corporation, a famous doll company, located in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]. Monchhichi was created by Yoshiharu Washino [[:ja:ワシの良春|ワシの良春]] on January 25, 1974, as an improvement to the already successful Kuta Kuta Monkey {{Nihongo||くたくたモンキー|}} (Exhausted monkey).
Sekiguchi claims they created these characters in order to inspire respect and love in the young (Japanese) children and adults. Their name is derived from the words "Mon" which translates to "Mine" in French, and "Chichi" which closely resembles the sound a child's pacifier would produce according to Japanese phonetics. The resulting word also has a similar sound to the word "Monkey" in English.

The dolls were successful in Japan, and the 1980 animated TV series ''Futago no Monchhichi'' (ふたごのモンチッチ, ''Monchhichi Twins'') helped increase its popularity even further.

Export of the doll line started in 1975 to [[Germany]] and [[Austria]]. The following years would see the Monchhichi line marketed in more countries. The original name was officially changed to "Chicaboo" in the [[United Kingdom]], to "Mon Cicci" in [[Italy]], to "Kiki" in [[France]], and to "Bølle" in [[Denmark]]. Additionally, non-officially licensed by Sekiguchi clones popped up in several countries, like "Moncsicsi" in [[Hungary]] and "Virkiki" in [[Spain]]. The height of the Monchhichi dolls' popularity was in Germany during the 1980s, surpassing even the Japanese figure sales during this period.

The Monchhichi doll line reached North American shores in 1980. [[Mattel]] bought the license for the toy line. The American cartoon series ''[[Monchhichis (TV series)|Monchhichis]]'' was produced by [[Hanna-Barbera]] in 1983 and aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (as part of ''[[The Monchhichis/Little Rascals/Richie Rich Show]]'') in an effort to promote the doll line. The line was dropped by Mattel due to poor sales in 1985, but was reintroduced during Monchhichi's 30 anniversary in 2004 by Sekiguchi. As of 2025, Monchhichi dolls are still available in the United States from retailers such as Urban Outfitters.
In 2013 Sekiguchi decided to distribute Monchhichi worldwide directly, stopped the licensing and use of the different names in foreign markets, and unified the brand under the name Monchhichi officially in all the distribution markets.

As of 2025, Monchchichi are still popular in Europe, mostly as a nostalgic toy or for collectors. Many variants and sizes of Monchhichi have emerged. For example, the original Monchhichi is still available under the Classic variants in 10&nbsp;cm, 20&nbsp;cm, 24&nbsp;cm, 45&nbsp;cm, and even 80&nbsp;cm sizes. Other variants like Boutique (Monchhichi in various dress styles), Mother Care (Monchhichi with a young one in her front pocket), and Anniversary editions are available. Dollhouses for Monchhichi also exist.

==1980 anime series==
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name            = Monchhichi
| image           =
| caption         =
| ja_kanji        = モンチッチ
| ja_romaji       = Monchitchi
| genre           = Family
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = tv series
| title           = Monchhichi Twins
| director        = Hiroshi Jinsenji
| producer        = 
| writer          = 
| music           = 
| studio          = [[Ashi Productions]]<br />[[Kokusai Eiga-sha]]
| licensee        = 
| network         = [[TV Tokyo|Tokyo Channel 12]]
| first           = February 4, 1980
| last            = August 1, 1980
| episodes        = 130 segments
| episode_list    = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}

{{Nihongo|''Monchhichi''|モンチッチ|Futago no Monchitchi|Indonesian Language: Si Kembar Monchihi}} is a Japanese [[Animation|animated]] series which first aired in 1980.

;Japanese voice cast
* Monchhichi–[[Japanese honorifics#Kun|kun]] – [[Fuyumi Shiraishi]]
* Monchicchi-[[Japanese honorifics#chan|chan]] – [[Keiko Han]]
* Lily–[[Japanese honorifics#Chan|chan]] – Keiko Han
* Sakura–[[Japanese honorifics#San|san]] – Fei Fei Liu
* Amy – [[Sanji Hase]]

==American animated television series==
{{See also|Monchhichis (TV series)}}
The American ''Monchhichi'' cartoon aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] in the 1983–1984 season.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erickson |first1=Hal |title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 |date=2005 |edition=2nd |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=978-1476665993 |page=561}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Toys|1980s|Japan}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.monchhichi.co.jp/ Official Monchhichi website] {{in lang|ja}}
* {{ann|anime|2201|Monchhichi, the Twins}}

{{Ashi Productions}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1970s toys]]
[[Category:1980 anime television series debuts]]
[[Category:1980s toys]]
[[Category:Doll brands]]
[[Category:Japanese brands]]
[[Category:Fictional monkeys]]
[[Category:Mattel]]
[[Category:Toy companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Toy animals]]
[[Category:TV Tokyo original programming]]
[[Category:Japanese popular culture]]