Monchhichis (TV series)

Monchhichis is an American animated series based on the stuffed toy line of dolls, released by the Japanese company Sekiguchi Corporation.^[1] Produced by Hanna-Barbera, it premiered on ABC on September 10, 1983 as part of The Monchhichis/Little Rascals/Richie Rich Show, replacing Pac-Man (which had by then been given its own half-hour time slot) from the previous season.

Monchhichis
Genre	Comedy Fantasy Adventure
Based on	Monchhichis by Yoshiharu Washino
Directed by	Oscar Dufau George Gordon Carl Urbano John Walker Rudy Zamora
Voices of	Ellen Gerstell Sidney Miller Bobby Morse Frank Nelson Laurel Page Hank Saroyan Frank Welker
Theme music composer	Hoyt Curtin
Opening theme	"Monchhichis"
Ending theme	"Monchhichis" (Instrumental)
Composer	Hoyt Curtin
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of episodes	13
Production
Executive producers	William Hanna Joseph Barbera
Producers	George Singer Iwao Takamoto (creative producer)
Editor	Gil Iverson
Running time	22 minutes approx.
Production company	Hanna-Barbera Productions
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	September 10 (1983-09-10) – December 3, 1983 (1983-12-03)

The series aired as part of a package show with The Little Rascals and Richie Rich through the end of 1983, but as early as January 7, 1984, because of lower-than-anticipated ratings, the package show was split up into two separate half-hour shows - Monchhchis moved to 8:00 a.m. ET, switching slots with The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show (which aired initially at 11:30 a.m. ET), the latter of which would move to 9:00 a.m. ET and The Little Rascals and Richie Rich remained in the 8:30 a.m. ET slot, as a downgraded package series The Little Rascals/Richie Rich Show for the remainder of the 1983-84 season.

The half-hour episodes were later re-aired as part of the USA Cartoon Express during the late 1980s.

Plot

The Monchhichis are monkey-like creatures who live in the forest land of Monchia at the very top of tall trees well above the clouds. The tribe's leader Wizzar is a magical wizard who can make up spells and potions to defeat their enemy, Horrg and the evil Grumplins of Grumplor.^[2]

Voice cast

• Robert Arbogast – Snogs
• Peter Cullen – Snitchit, Gonker
• Laurie Faso – Scumgor, Yabbot
• Ellen Gerstell – Tootoo
• Hettie Lynne Hurtes –
• Laurie Main –
• Joe Medalis –
• Sidney Miller - Horgg
• Bobby Morse – Moncho
• Frank Nelson – Wizzar
• Laurel Page – Kyla
• Hank Saroyan – Thumkii
• Rick Segall –
• Frank Welker – Patchit
• Bill Woodson –

List of episodes

#	Title	Written by	Original air date
1	"Tickle Pickle"	Dick Robbins and Bryce Malek	September 10, 1983 (1983-09-10)
The Grumplins fly over Monchia and shut down their Happy Works. The Monchhichis require a new tickle crystal to put the Happy Works back in operation.
2	"TooToo Trouble"	Dick Robbins and Bryce Malek	September 17, 1983 (1983-09-17)
3	"Double Play"	Bob Langhans	September 24, 1983 (1983-09-24)
4	"Swamp Secret"	Douglas Booth	October 1, 1983 (1983-10-01)
5	"Dueling Wizzars"	Dick Robbins and Bryce Malek	October 8, 1983 (1983-10-08)
6	"Thumkii's Pet"	Donald F. Glut	October 15, 1983 (1983-10-15)
7	"Misfit Grumplin"	Evelyn A-R Gabai	October 22, 1983 (1983-10-22)
Thumbkii is captured and taken to Grumplor where he meets Melmoth, a grumplin whose friendly demeanor has made him an outcast among the others.
8	"Jingle Pods"	Unknown	October 29, 1983 (1983-10-29)
9	"Moncho's Gift"	Dick Robbins and Bryce Malek	November 5, 1983 (1983-11-05)
10	"Cloud City"	Douglas Booth	November 12, 1983 (1983-11-12)
11	"Helpless Hero"	Evelyn A-R Gabai	November 19, 1983 (1983-11-19)
12	"Grumpstaff Grief"	Larry Parr	November 26, 1983 (1983-11-26)
13	"Charm Alarm"	Dick Robbins and Bryce Malek	December 3, 1983 (1983-12-03)

Home media

An episode of the show ("Tickle Pickle") was released as part of Saturday Morning Cartoons: The 1980s DVD set by Warner Home Video in 2010. In April 2017, Warner Archive released Monchhichis: The Complete Series on DVD in region 1, as part of their Hanna-Barbera Classic Collection. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.^[3]

See also