Gachapin facts for kids

Gachapin (ガチャピン) is a super popular Japanese TV character! He's a green, friendly dinosaur with buck teeth. You might have seen him on children's shows like Hirake! Ponkikki and Ponkickies on Fuji TV. Gachapin is almost always with his best friend, Mukku, who is a big, red Yeti.

Who is Gachapin?

Jōji Katakiri designed Gachapin. He was inspired by the calm face of Masahiro Noda, who also worked on the TV show. Some people thought Gachapin was based on Paul McCartney from The Beatles, but this was not true.

Gachapin's first voice actor was Kunie Yasawa. Now, Kuniko Amemiya gives Gachapin his voice.

When Hirake! Ponkikki first started, a character called the Captain found an egg on a southern island. Gachapin hatched from this egg! At first, Gachapin was a bit shy and easygoing. But he soon became very adventurous! He tried many exciting activities. These included skiing, rock climbing, hang-gliding, and scuba diving. He also learned karate, gymnastics, bowling, and figure skating. Gachapin even went on an adventure in a space craft!

Gachapin often got interested in helping the environment. He also loved space crafts. These interests led to many of his adventures. Gachapin has seven special energy balls on each wrist. These balls give him his bravery and power. They also help him have amazing reflexes!

Gachapin has a fun catchphrase he uses to say hello. He says, “Gacha Gacha Pin Pin, I am Gachapin!”

The show's theme song was “Year 2100 Gachapin Kid.” In this song, Gachapin could turn into a superhero called “Gachapin Kid.” He would become Gachapin Kid whenever Earth was in danger. Later, in 2006, on the BS Fuji channel, Gachapin fought against a character named Pierre Kasher in a show called "Ike ike Gachapin" (Go go Gachapin).

Gachapin also appeared in a show called Gacha Gachapon. In this show, he played a bar manager. His character was called “Shisho,” which means master.

Gachapin's Appearances

Gachapin has appeared in many different places, not just his own TV shows!

Video Games and Music

• On September 20, 2007, a company called Hudson Soft released a video game. It was called Gachapin's Diary DS (ガチャピン日記DS). This game was a jigsaw puzzle game for the Nintendo DS handheld console. Gachapin was the main star!
• On October 8, 2010, a special voice program was released. It was called "Gachapoid." This program was a Vocaloid, which lets you create songs using a computer voice. Gachapoid used Gachapin's voice! The mascot for this voice was named "Ryuto."

Guest Spots on TV and Radio

Gachapin and Mukku often appear as guests. They visit other TV and radio shows that are part of Fuji TV.

• On May 5, 1992, Gachapin and Mukku were guests on an NHK program. It was called “Along with mother” (おかあさんといっしょ). Another character named Nikonikopun was also on this show.
• Gachapin appeared on Tamori's show, “You can laugh” (笑っていいとも!). The co-host, Masahiro Nakai, joked that the balls on Gachapin's wrist looked like warts.
• In episode 35 of Digimon Adventure, Mukku and a character named P-chan fought evil Digimon in Tokyo. Gachapin also appeared in this episode.
• In 1998, Gachapin and Mukku were in a story called “Angry rock, scissors, paper squad.” It was in a comic book called Big Comic Spirits. The story mentioned that Gachapin received 50 yen each month as pocket money.
• On August 30, 2006, Gachapin and Mukku helped on a show called “Tropia fountain ~ Wonderful wasteful knowledge.” They also took on challenges on a special episode of the same show on May 12, 2007. They worked in a lunch box factory and a convenience store. They even tried being firefighters and fishing for skipjack tuna from a boat! They also did some stunts.
• On October 23, 2006, they played roulette bowling on the SMAPxSMAP show. They used special bowling balls.
• On November 9, 2006, Gachapin was a guest on The best house 123 show. He shared his top three challenges.
• In January 2007, Gachapin made his drama program debut. He was a guest in “Kirakira medical intern” (きらきら研修医). This show aired on TBS.
• He has also been a guest on many radio shows in Japan. These include TBS radio, Culture broadcasts, TOKYO-FM, and J-WAVE.
• In 2007, Gachapin was in a music video for the American rock band the Killers. The song was called “Read My Mind.” Gachapin was shown inside a capsule hotel in Tokyo with a band member.
• On August 12, 2007, he appeared in the Air Guitar 2007 Japan final. He performed to the song “girigiri chop” by B’z. He won 3rd prize for his performance!
• He was a guest on the dream team in “Tamori's Super Vocabulary Heaven.”
• On September 17, 2010, Gachapin was announced as a character for a video game. It was for the 2010 Tokyo Game Show. He was going to be a Downloadable Content character in the game Mega Man Universe. He was called "Megapin." However, the game was later cancelled.
• On July 19, 2014, Gachapin and Mukku appeared in a Japanese music video. It was for Gummibear's YouTube Channel.
• On December 21, 2019, Gachapin and Mukku appeared in episode 192 of Bonobono (2016).

Gachapin Around the World

Gachapin is known in America and Europe for his role in The Killers' "Read My Mind" music video.

Gachapin and Mukku's show, My Ponkikki, was shown in America. It aired without English subtitles. It was on LA18 (KSCI) in Southern California. This was part of an hour-long block called Tokyo Kids Club. It also featured Chibi Maruko-chan. My Ponkikki aired from 2000 to 2009.

The Japanese rock band Mucc actually got its name from the character Mukku! Dominic Howard, the drummer for the band Muse, wore a Gachapin suit during their Japan Tour in 2010. Also, Toru Yamashita, the leader and guitarist of One Ok Rock, is often linked with Gachapin.