Chiko-chan & Kyoe Chico Will Scold You! - BE@RBRICK
Fans of Japanese media know about the wide range of variety shows aired each night in Japan. Since 2018, one of the most popular family shows has been NHK's "Chico Will Scold You!" The titular Chiko-chan has an instantly recognizable design and sassy personality fans in Japan love. She and the show's loudmouthed crow, Kyoe, have become an iconic family-friendly comedy duo. They appear in Medicom Toy's "BE@BRICK Chico Will Scold You! Chiko-chan & Kyoe 100% 2-Pack" figure set with all their mischief intact.
Chico Will Scold You! and BE@RBRICK Collaboration Background
NHK and Medicom Toy have released two types of Chico Will Scold You! figures since partnering in 2019.
Collaboration Planning and Launch
The first Chico Will Scold You! figure released by Medicom Toy was the Chiko-chan and Kyoe 2-pack figure set. The figure set was announced and released in November 2019. A 400% size figure of Chiko-chan alone went on presale during summer 2020. In December 2020, the figure went on sale through licensed Medicom Toy partners.
BE@RBRICK Chico Will Scold You! Chiko-chan & Kyoe 100% 2-Pack
This set of figures from Medicom Toy brings the antics from NHK's Chico Will Scold You! to life. The show's cheeky star, Chico, is accompanied by the equally sassy animal cast member, Kyoe the crow. Chico wears her bright magenta dress with knee-high socks and matching shoes. Her snarky personality comes through with her mischievous smirking expression. A single, small fang is visible above her tongue. As seen in her regular CG appearance, her narrowed eyes feature three highlights each. Her bob-style haircut frames her face, extending up the height of the BE@RBRICK ears. The shaved underside of her hair peeks through on the back of the head.
Kyoe's head and body are painted a charcoal gray, matching the color of his on-screen puppet appearance. His legs are yellow, each featuring two lines on the feet to denote his talons. Like Chico, Kyoe makes a somewhat devious face. His eyebrows are drawn together on his forehead above heavily lidded eyes. His beak has been drawn slightly open, giving the impression he is calling out his trademark "baka" cry. The three feathers on the top of his head come across as the three lines on the figure's right ear.
- Product Name: BE@RBRICK Chico Will Scold You! Chiko-chan & Kyoe 100% 2-Pack
- Series: Chico Will Scold You!
- Manufacturer: Medicom Toy
- Specifications: Set of 2 painted & articulated plastic figures
- Height (Approx.): 70mm | 2.8"
About Chico Will Scold You!
Chico Will Scold You!, also known as "Don't Sleep Through Life!" in English, is a family variety show airing in Japan. The show features a quiz format with adult panelists answering questions about the origin of everyday practices. Questions include examples like "Why do we wave goodbye?" and "What does the 'sepia' in 'sepia tone' mean?" If contestants answer wrong, they receive the playful wrath of Chico. Chico, a giant five-year-old, cutely scolds them with her catchphrase, "boutto ikiten ja ne yo." The phrase, roughly meaning "don't sleep through life,' is often accompanied by Chico's wild facial transformations. The show proved to be a hit with children and adults alike after its debut in 2018. Chico Will Scold You! airs on NHK TV on Friday and Saturday nights.
About Chico-chan
Chico-chan is a giant five-year-old girl and the mascot character of Chico Will Scold You! Chico is portrayed through a combination of stage costuming and CGI. The costume consists of a full-body suit wearing a pink dress and exaggerated limbs to mimic a child's proportions. Her head is computer-generated, allowing her to make extreme facial expressions for comedic effect. Chico is played by comedian Yuuichi Kimura. Kimura's voice goes through computer remastering to create a product that is neither an adult's voice nor a child's. This middle ground between child and adult allows audiences to accept the gimmick of a scolding child more easily than if portrayed by an actual child.
About Kyoe
Kyoe is "a black crow from Edogawa" and a regular member on Chico Will Scold You! They sit on the front porch set and deliver mail from the audience to Chico and Okamura. Originally, Kyoe's cries were limited to "baka," meaning idiot in Japanese. Since 2019, Kyoe has expanded their vocabulary through songs performed with the rest of the cast. In 2019 and 2020, Kyoe received two special episodes in which they acted as the host. These episodes featured a different show title, "Kyoe-chan Will Scold You!" instead of the original. Kyoe is portrayed by a stage puppet and an unconfirmed voice actor.
Other Important Chico Will Scold You! Characters
As a variety show, Chico Will Scold You! features a largely rotating cast of guests rather than show regulars. The show's MC, Takashi Okamura, is the only show regular outside of Chico and Kyoe that appears on screen. NHK announcers Miyuki Morita and Ai Tsukahara provide narration and introduce show segments.
Takashi Okamura
Takashi Okamura is a famous Japanese comedian from Osaka, Japan. He is part of the Yoshimoto Kogyo comedy duo Ninety-Nine alongside Hiroyuki Yabe. Okamura plays the comedic stooge to Yabe's straight man. The duo was formed in 1990 and rose to prominence in 1993. That year they started their segment on the radio program All Night Nippon which Okamura has hosted alone since 2015. Okamura has been a large draw on Japanese television for his wild antics. His presence on the show balances audience interests by appealing to the adult viewer population. In April 2020, Okamura caused controversy for the show by making inappropriate comments related to the coronavirus pandemic. NHK released a statement that Okamura reflected on his actions and would continue to perform on Chico Will Scold You!
Links
BE@RBRICK Chico Will Scold You! Chiko-chan & Kyoe 100% 2-Pack
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