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Bubu Chacha (ぶぶチャチャ, Bubu Chacha) is a Japanese slice of lifeanime series created by Akira Okeya (writer of Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team and Transformers: Armada), Iku, Takeshi Anzai and Tetsuro Amino (director of Blue Comet SPT Layzner). Produced by Daume and Japan Digital Entertainment, the series was directed and written by Akira Okeya and produced by Katsuhiko Nozawa, the animation producer of Please Twins!. Character designs were done by Shinji Ochi, who did the character designs later on in Ichigeki Sacchu!! HoiHoi-san. The series first premiered on NHK from April 8, 1999, to November 25, 1999, with a total of 26 episodes.
A second season titled I Love Bubu Chacha! (だいすき! ぶぶチャチャ, Daisuki! Bubu Chacha) premiered two years later on NHK from April 3, 2001, to November 29, 2001, with a total run of 25 episodes. The first and/or the second season was also broadcast internationally on Disney Channel Asia (Asia Pacific), GMTV2 (United Kingdom), Raidue (Italy), TRT (Turkey), ABS-CBN (Philippines), Trans TV and Spacetoon (Indonesia), TVOKids (Canada) and Hero TV (Philippines). The animation studio itself later worked with Takeshi Anzai to produce the anime adaptation of Strawberry Marshmallow.
Plotedit
Randy Rand is a curious 3-year-old boy who loves his pet dog named Chacha. One day, Randy is about to get hit by a car, when Chacha protects him and ends up dying. In a strange miracle the night after the accident, Chacha's spirit is reincarnated into a living yellow toy car so he can be with him all the time. The two became inseparable afterwards and have many adventures in which they learn valuable things in life. The story is set in Greenhill Town, which is loosely based on Los Angeles, California.
Charactersedit
Randy Rand (Buddy) (ランディ・ランド (ボク), Randi Rando (Boku))
Randy is a highly curious 3-year-old boy who matures through his experiences and friendship with Chacha. Everything he sees interests him and learning about anything excites him. Though he never calls himself by his name, his parents sometimes call him by his real name.
Chacha is once Randy's pet dog and best friend, guardian and teacher, who reincarnates as a yellow toy car. He is very supportive and also looks after Randy's safety. Chacha and Randy love each other and like to go out.
Forest Rand is Randy's father and also Connie's husband. Being a journalist, Forest has a lot of information that gets Randy all excited. Forest loves toys and is very imaginative.
Mary is Randy's neighbor. 4-year-old.She always behaves like a mature individual and thinks Randy is a little kid. She tries to teach him to grow up with much avail.
Catherine is Randy's 14-year-old cousin who is occasionally asked to baby-sit Randy. She is part of a running gag in the series where she accidentally hits a post with her bike.
Uncle Daa is a man who works for the pest control. He appears in every episode and shouts "daaaaaaaa!!" at kids. The children think he simply loves to scare them off, but he actually shouts at them when he feels they are in danger.
Tau Dinton is an intelligent 5-year-old loner, who loves to read books. He moves to Greenhill Town, right across Buddy's house, and gradually opens up to Buddy and his friends.
Chip
Voiced by: Kôichi Sakaguchi
Chip is Tau's pet dog who just likes to run around wildly and bark. At first, Tau is not so fond of him, but as Chip improves his behavior, they get closer. Chip loves ChaCha and Buddy as well.
Sarah is a 12-year-old ghost living in the Ghost-apartment, who stands as sister-like figure for Randy. She is the same age as Catherine and is one of the two people who knows Chacha is a dog.
Forest's mother who lives in Cleverland. She is very close to Randy, close enough to almost understand that Chacha is a dog. She looks at nature as one of mankind's best friend, just like Randy.
Bubu Pyoko is another of Chacha's friends. He is a frog who met Randy's grandmother. His spirit has been reincarnated into Forest's old toy car that he played with when he was a child.
Bull Robo is a bulldog and one of Chacha's friends. He has been Chacha's friend since before Randy was born. He first appears as a ghost, then reincarnates inside a toy robot.
Appearing in the second season, Cindy is a circus elephant, whose spirit has been reincarnated into a Shovel Car. She is physically strong, yet a little shy but ready to help people build anything.
Papa Rat is the father of a family of rats, who reincarnated into Tau's toy car. Papa Rat and his family lives in Tau's former house in Greenhill Town.
Musicedit
The series's music in both seasons was composed by Gori Tsuno, who did the soundtrack for Bakusō Kyōdai Let's & Go!!. Sound production of the anime was handled by Half HP Studio.
Theme Songsedit
Bubu Chacha
Opening theme: "Bubu Chacha is unavoidable?" (ぶぶチャチャ仕方ない?, Bubuchacha shikatanai?)