AREA Kids BROOKLYN: 01/16/09

Friday, January 16, 2009

popesku

Even though I'm enjoying the new year and all of the beautiful snow, I can't wait until February and see my doggy. Look at what I get to come home to : )

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 June 2008, Monchhichis are still available in the United States in places such as Japan in Disney World's Epcot theme park.

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's artist name Pharoahe Monch is derived from the Monchhichis. After receiving a bad haircut, which left Monch looking like a "chimpanzee", girls in Monch's class at the High School of Art and Design began calling him "Monchhichi", which was later shortened to "Monch".

Play Scene....."Map Of the US" Educational Indeed!

With this Map of the U.S.A., children can take their characters and travel across the country, take a canoe ride up a river or simply match the state name stickers with the corresponding state shape on the board. With over 50 vinyl stickers to choose from, this play scene is not only portable fun for children, it’s educational too!