The appeal and evaluation of "Pochitto Invention Pikachin Kit": Experience the fun of inventing

Pikachin Kit - A world of dreams and creativity

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Broadcast period

January 6, 2018 - March 28, 2020
9:30～

■Broadcasting station

TV Tokyo

■Frequencies

10 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 115

■Original Story

・ Original story/Bandai

■ Director

Ryuichi Kimura

■ Production

Animation production: OLM, Shinei Animation

■Works

©2017 PIKACHINKIT

■ Story

One day, Tomatsu Eiji, a fifth grader who could be found in any school, gets his hands on the mysterious "Pikachin Encyclopedia." It's a dream catalog that captures your wish of "I wish I could do this" and creates a plastic model that will make that wish come true! The name of the plastic model is "Pikachin Kit"! Once you click on it, it will arrive at the speed of light. However, when you start assembling it, there is one part missing! Eiji searches for the remaining 1% and finally displays his talent for small inspiration = "Pirameki"! Today again, from that 1% of Pirameki, a great invention that will make every day more interesting is about to be born!

■Explanation

This is a TV program linked to the plastic model series released by Bandai. The first half is an anime, and the second half is a variety show called "Pikachins." The anime features items that are almost identical to the "Pikachin Kits" that are actually on sale. "Pikachin Kit: A Little Bit of Invention" is a work that depicts children's creativity and the joy of inventing, and is designed to allow viewers to experience the fun of creating their own original inventions. The connection between the anime and the actual products is very appealing to viewers, and stimulates children's imaginations.

■Cast

・Tomatsu Eiji/Sawashiro Miyuki・Pochiro/Yamazaki Vanilla・Hina-chan/Suzuki Eri・Giba-san/Kotobuki Minako・Gakkun/Yoshino Hiroyuki・Ataru/Tadokoro Azusa・Umejun/Hanae Natsuki

・Dr. Pikachin/Munenori Nagano ・Jimmy/Yoshifumi Sakai ・Hinano/Hinano Ishigami ・Narrator/Happy Danbara

■ Main staff

・Original story/Bandai・Director/Ryuichi Kimura・Series composition/Yoichi Kato・Character design/Satoshi Koike・Sonomi Aramaki・Art director/Hiroki Matsumoto・Color design/Miho Kobayashi・Director of photography/Shinichiro Nagano・Editor/Kazuhiro Arai・Sound director/Hiromi Kikuta・Music/Noriyuki Asakura

■ Main Characters

・Tomatsu Eiji He's a normal fifth grader, but he has a lot of desires and fantasies about what he wishes existed, and when the time comes, he shows off his amazing wit!
・The first Pikachin Kit made by Pochiro Age. Its body is made of cardboard. Its role is to navigate Pirameki and inventions.
Hina-chan is Eiji's classmate. She is a lively and cheerful girl who is popular in the class. She is very particular about seasonal events and festivals. Eiji has a secret crush on her, but she doesn't realize it.
Giba-san/Minami Kotobuki Eiji's classmate. She is very close friends with Hina-chan and admires her. She always keeps an eye on the boys who try to get close to her.
Gakkun is a classmate of Eiji. He has a muscular build but is cute inside. He has big reactions and has a habit of saying "Oh my gyaaa!" when surprised.
Ataru is a classmate of Eiji. He has a knack for winning anything, including sweepstakes and reader presents. The whole family loves sweepstakes, and the house is filled with prizes they've won.
A new idol who transferred to Ume Jun-Eiji's class. A born idol, she has very particular opinions. She owns the Pikachin Encyclopedia.

■ Main robot items

・Pikachin Encyclopedia: Get the invention you want right away! You can create countless inventions.

■Subtitle

・Episode 1/Pikachin! Pyra-like!, Cunninglass (2018/01/06)
Episode 2: James the Spy Owl and the Disappearance of Pochiro (2018/01/13)
・Episode 3: Furikake maker, Giba-san, attacks! (2018/01/20)
・Episode 4: Gourmet Raccoon Patty, the secret behind Atsuru's winning! (2018/01/27)
・Episode 5: Chatty YouTuber, Eiji, becomes a demon! (2018/02/03)
・Episode 6/Moles V, Pirameki Chocolate Class (2018/02/10)
・Episode 7/Poppy Sweeper 10, Let's make a cardboard vending machine! (2018/02/17)
・Episode 8/Duke the Cleaning Crow and Giba's Secret Birthday Party (2018/02/24)
・Episode 9: Only I rock, rock rock! Everything rock! (2018/03/03)
・Episode 10: The Mysterious Detective Sherlock the Armadillo and His Secret Detective Notebook! (2018/03/10)
・Episode 11/Zero Zero Marker, Oversleeping in Trick Pajamas (2018/03/17)
・Episode 12: Cats Agent Eye's Prank with Stickers! (2018/03/24)
・Episode 13/Golden Pochiro Appears! (2018/03/31)
・Episode 14/The transfer student is a sparkling idol! (2018/04/07)
Episode 15: Tissue Box Camera, Man vs Man Eraser Battle (2018/04/14)
・Episode 16: The Burning Chameleon (2018/04/21)
・Episode 17/Golden Week! Pikachin Kits assemble! (2018/04/28)
・Episode 18: Air Odorter and the Great Eiji Rescue Mission (2018/05/05)
・Episode 19: Blast Skunk Kankuro, Surprise! Surprise Burger (2018/05/12)
・Episode 20: Surprise! Heart-pounding! The clam-digging battle of love (2018/05/19)
・Episode 21: Colonel Snake Cracker, Secret Canned Food Survival (2018/05/26)
・Episode 22: Paper Airplane Launcher, Wolf vs. Pochiro: Air Race Showdown! (2018/06/02)
・Episode 23: Mussa, the flying squirrel, Pochiro, and the bride (2018/06/09)
・Episode 24: Hand-cranked generator, the legend of the calculator king (2018/06/16)
・Episode 25: Elebo the Electric Catfish, Dark Pochiro Appears (2018/06/23)
・Episode 26/Chase the Pikachin Robo! (2018/06/30)
・Episode 27: Come, treasure detector! It's Pikabo!! (2018/07/07)
・Episode 28: Treasure Hunter Buu, Mr. Giba's Secret (2018/07/14)
・Episode 29: Umejun's Only I Rock, Pochiro, and Umejun become buddies (2018/07/21)
・Episode 30/Lie Detector, Agent Age 2 (2018/07/28)
・Episode 31/Michael J, the lie-judgement fox, tests his nerves with the Pikachin Kit! (2018/08/04)
・Episode 32: Dark Pochiro Returns, a man vs man candy shop battle (2018/08/11)
・Episode 33: Midsummer Adventure King Eiji, Aim for the Golden Picademy Award! (2018/08/18)
・Episode 34: The misheard voice changer, Umbrella King, comes to Japan! (2018/08/25)
・Episode 35: Monomane Um's Misheard Parody, Homework Roborobo Mission! (2018/09/01)
・Episode 36/Gumi Gumi Maker, the Real Pirameki (2018/09/08)
・Episode 37: Gummi the Raccoon, Potato Chips (2018/09/15)
・Episode 38: Umejun's treasure detector, Picabo's mid-term evaluation (2018/09/22)
・Episode 39: Garbage Can Sensor, Space War of Obsessions! (2018/09/29)
・Episode 40: Gomibacoman the Hero Bat, Gomibacoman Returns (2018/10/06)
・Episode 41/Shabekuro Watch, Cut Anything! Cut! (2018/10/13)
・Episode 42: The Apollo Brothers Go to the Moon, The Stolen Pikachin Encyclopedia (2018/10/20)
Episode 43: Pirameki Halloween, Midnight Pikachin Pro Wrestling! Round 1 (2018/10/27)
・Episode 44/Reverse Spypass, Midnight Pikachin Pro Wrestling! Round 2 (2018/11/03)
・Episode 45/Ikasu P, the lucky squid, evaluates Pikabo's game (2018/11/10)
・Episode 46: Super Pirameki! Pikachin Drone? (2018/11/17)
・Episode 47: Super Training! Pikachin Drone? (2018/11/24)
・Episode 48: Super Showdown! Pikachin Drone!!, Ninja Pochiri-san (2018/12/01)
・Episode 49: Super Battle! Pikachin Drone!!, Umejun, Lip-syncing Strategy (2018/12/08)
・Episode 50/Custom Super Doctor P, Tomatsu Pikachin Drone Company (2018/12/15)
・Episode 51: Santa Sighting Mission! (2018/12/22)
・Episode 52/Game Piggy Bank, It's New Year's! Pikachin Sugoroku (2019/01/05)
・Episode 53: Pikachin Kit 3rd Battle!, Eiji vs. the Custom Four Heavenly Kings (2019/01/12)
・Episode 54: Solve it with a click! Pikachin Police 24 hours a day, wake up with a click! Invention quiz (2019/01/19)
・Episode 55: Exciting! Sprinkle Roulette, Pochiro loses his head (2019/01/26)
・Episode 56/Farewell Eiji, Patty, Dream Shopping (2019/02/02)
・Episode 57: Programming Strategy!, I want to join the Pikachin Robot Federation (2019/02/09)
・Episode 58: Spy Age Mission, Awakening with a Snap! Invention Quiz Question 2 (2019/02/16)
・Episode 59: Sleeping Hina-chan and Kamapikachin's Night (2019/02/23)
・Episode 60: Eiji's Pikachin Confession Strategy!, Pikachin Robo Pira Mekou no Kai (March 2, 2019)
・Episode 61: Let's Make Crystals!, The Daily Life of Pikachin Robo (2019/03/09)
・Episode 62/Age in Black, Awakens! Invention Quiz Question 3 (2019/03/16)
・Episode 63: Eiji's Pyramid Stops!, Ataru's Hitting Rhapsody (2019/03/23)
・Episode 64/Pikachin Robo Class Swap Battle!, Awakening with a Snap! Invention Quiz Question 4 (2019/03/30)
・Episode 65: Haro: Age's Swallow Stands on the Earth (2019/04/06)
・Episode 66: Pikachin Trigger Activated! (2019/04/13)
・Episode 67/Opening! Air Ride Shooter Battle!, Mix Mix Mixer (2019/04/20)
・Episode 68: Bell's Pirameki!, Trigger Combination! Mix Mix Mixer (2019/04/27)
・Episode 69: The Battle Above the Clouds! Skyland Airlines!, The Boy Who Loves Writing! Age! (May 4, 2019)
・Episode 70: Awakening! The Unbeatable Man!, Wafer My House (2019/05/11)
・Episode 71: The Flying Ninja Trio!, The Haunted Museum of Terror (2019/05/18)
・Episode 72: Fierce Attack! Air Hornet Team!, Awakens with a Snap! Invention Quiz Question 5 (2019/05/25)
・Episode 73/Final! The Wright Brothers Appear! The Great Ai-Ai Umbrella Mission (2019/06/01)
・Episode 74: The showdown! The Wright brothers? (2019/06/08)
・Episode 75/Opening! Rocket Wheel Shooter Battle!, Ore Dake Tunes (2019/06/15)
・Episode 76: I'll sell you the romance of a man who is full of energy, Mantic (2019/06/22)
Episode 77: Run! Illusion Bike! Blow away your sleepiness! (2019/06/29)
・Episode 78: Battle on the ice! Curling with wheels!?, Phantom Thief Pochiro (July 6, 2019)
・Episode 79: Finals! The Legendary Gunman!!, Eiji's Bus Recreation Strategy (2019/07/13)
・Episode 80/Unlocked! Level 3 Badge!! Custom Rice Balls at a Picnic!? (2019/07/20)
・Episode 81: The Strongest Water Gun! Water Custom Shooter (2019/07/27)
・Episode 82/Emergency! Pirameki is stolen, where are the screws? (2019/08/03)
・Episode 83: The Unknown Enemy, Bagman!, Secret Lock Driver (2019/08/10)
・Episode 84/Bagman Attacks Earth!, Secret Screw Box! (2019/08/17)
・Episode 85/Final Battle! King Bagman! Let's make a plastic bottle thermometer! (2019/08/24)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Pika☆Chin Time・Period/Episode 1 to 65, Episode 1 to 13 ED, Episode 66 ED
Lyrics, composition and editing: Kazuaki Yamashita Vocals: Akira Hajime and Tsukumo-chan

・OP2
・Bring back
・Period/Episode 66~
・Lyrics, composition and editing: BACK-ON
・Song/lol

・ED1
・Dracaena ・Period/Episodes 14-65, Episode 1-DVD
・Lyrics and composition: aio
・Edited by aio×hiroo
・Song: Ai Otsuka

・Insert song・No.1
・Period: Episode 14, Episode 49 ・Lyrics, composition, and arrangement: Ryota Fukuoka ・Singer: Jun Umemoto (Natsuki Hanae)

■ Review

"Pikachin Kit" is an anime that depicts the creativity and joy of invention among children, and has been highly praised for its unique concept and entertainment value. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal and features of this work.

1. The joy of creativity and invention

The greatest appeal of this anime is its depiction of children's creativity and the joy of invention. The protagonist, Tomatsu Eiji, learns the importance of creativity as he obtains the "Pikachin Encyclopedia" and assembles the "Pikachin Kit," a plastic model kit to make his wish come true. Eiji's struggle to find the 1% of parts shows children that great inventions can come from "small inspirations." This theme also has educational value by stimulating children's imaginations and letting them experience the fun of creating their own inventions.

2. The appeal of the characters

The characters in "Pikachin Kit" are all unique and charming. The main character, Eiji Tomatsu, is an ordinary fifth grader, but his talent for Pirameki is impressive. His friends also have their own unique characters that entertain the viewers. Pochiro, in particular, was Eiji's first Pikachin Kit and was loved as a character with a body made of cardboard. The characters' personalities, such as Hina-chan's energetic and cheerful personality, Giba-san's admiration for Hina-chan, and Gakkun's adorable reactions, enrich the story.

3. Linking anime and products

Another feature of this anime is its connection to the "Pikachin Kit" plastic model series released by Bandai. The inventions that appear in the anime are almost identical in design to the actual products that are released, so viewers can create the same inventions while watching the anime. This connection is very appealing to viewers and stimulates children's imaginations. In addition, in the second half of the show, the variety show "Pikachins" introduces how to actually play with and assemble the Pikachin Kit, adding even more fun to viewers.

4. Story Development

The story of "Pikachin Kit" revolves around a new invention each time. The various episodes that occur in the process of Eiji getting his new Pikachin Kit and assembling it keep viewers entertained. Also, different themes and characters appear in each episode, adding depth to the story. In particular, the appearance of Umejun and the episodes featuring Dark Pochiro bring new developments to the story and keep viewers hooked.

5. Music and Theme Song

The music of this anime is also one of its charms. The opening theme "Pika☆Chin Time" features the bright singing voices of Akira Hajime and Tsukumo-chan, which livens up the atmosphere of the anime. The second opening "Bring Back" features the powerful sound of BACK-ON, creating a tension that matches the development of the story. The ending theme "Dracaena" features the gentle singing voice of Ai Otsuka, providing viewers with a relaxing time. The insert song "No.1" features the singing voice of Jun Umemoto (Natsuki Hanae), which symbolizes Eiji's growth and adds depth to the story.

■Recommendation

"Pikachin Kit" is an anime that depicts children's creativity and the joy of invention, and is recommended for a wide range of ages. In particular, it provides an opportunity for children from elementary school to junior high school to experience the fun of creating their own inventions. Also, watching it together with your child can be an opportunity to discuss the importance of creativity and invention. Furthermore, the link between the anime and the product means that you can actually purchase and assemble the Pikachin Kit. It is recommended not only for anime fans, but also for those who are interested in science and engineering. Please watch this anime and enjoy the world of creativity and invention.