Farewell Monk-chi, Hello Bunny-chi!
Thank you for all the comments on the Monk-chis! It’s always a great encouragement when a new design receives a very positive welcome. I think it so wonderful that we can post up our designs on our blogs and receive honest feedback on what we make. I really do value your input and opinions and I thank you for taking the time to let me know what you think.
Which leads me to 2 very interesting links left by Beth and Catharin on the previous post (and I must add that I am very thankful that they did leave those comments!)
Firstly, Beth left a link to the “Monchichis” - here’s an example below:
I’ve never heard of these characters before - apparently they were big in the late 1970s and 1980s. They are so adorable! However, I can’t believe how similar my Monk-Chis are to the Monchichi - they even have similar names! Now that’s really strange.
And secondly, Catharin left a link to a Russian character who was popular in Russia in the late 1960s and 1970s. He is currently very popular in Japan. Here’s a pic of him:
As in the case above, I’ve never heard of this little guy before. He’s called “Cheburashka” and you can see him in action here.
The similarities between my Monk-Chi and Cheburashka are simply unmistakable!
And I have to admit, after seeing these characters, the similarities don’t sit well with me. In fact, they make me extremely uncomfortable and the last thing I want is the creators of these 2 characters to think that I have somehow ripped off their designs, or for anyone to perceive that there was some relation between them and the Monk-chi.
So I decided that I won’t be making anymore Monk-chis. Instead, since I really love various features of the Monk-chi, I’ve kept what I can and turned it into a Bunny-chi. He’ll even have a little heart-shaped tail on the back :-) Here’s a super quick sketch of him I did last night before going to bed:
I actually have a few Monk-chis cut out from synthetic fur as they were going to participate in a toy show at the end of this month. All is not lost though - looks like they will now have very long ears and will be eating carrots instead of bananas! Hope to have them sewn up over the weekend.
And if anyone knows of any Bunny-chi-like creatures from the past, please let me know too!
I remember those! I had one named “Totte” (Baby language for thumb in Norwegian;-)) because they could put their thumb in their mouth.
I still think your would be nice as a monkey tough, I actually think yours would be cuter as i didnt like the hard plastic on the face, hands and feet ….made them not so cuddely! So keep up the monkey business ;-)
Aww.. I loved your monk-chi!!! But the bunny-chi looks quite cute too. :)
I can totally understand your concern, but if you have everything documented (and dated?) in your sketchbook, I wouldn’t be too worried about landing in copyright jail… your creations are all so cute and definitely your own style. But no long skinny tails on bunnies, though, so maybe it all worked out for the best! Can’t wait to get a peek at Bunny-chi’s little backside soon… ha! :0)
Oh, and you really should search around for the Monchichi *song* which, ever since I saw your Monk-chi, has been playing over and over in my head… “Mon-chi-chi Monchichi, oh so soft and cuddly…”
Don’t be so hard on yourself. There’s only so many different ways monkeys (and other animals and dolls) can look that aside from subtle differences, “designs” are not always totally unique. As for cute monkeys with big earsand I’ve seen them with big ears and eyes, well they are really all over the place. If you are worried about copyright infringement, you should just change the name so that you erase the idea that you are trying to pass off your “monk chi” as the mon chi chis. Really, you should continue to make the cute little monkeys. Good luck!
i second Sophie.
there are only so ways …
(hey if you think of ami-stuff - they ALL look the same)
i think you should do both monkeys and bunnies!
When I was a child I had the monkey from the first photo - she is still somewhere in the house I think, but I didn’t find think about her when I saw your monkey. And, even if they are similar, hey, you know this sentence: “great minds walks the sames paths” (I can’t translate it well but you know what I mean). I think that you should do your little monkeys! Have a nice day and greetings from Poland!
Hi, I had a Monchichi when I was little and I loved it to bits, my mum still has it. But, I think yours are quite different and you should continue to make them. I agree with the other comments, there are only so many ways to make a monkey and still have it look like a monkey. I design quilts and it is very easy to take inspiration from somewhere and not realise it. Document eveything and you should be OK.Keep up the wonderful work !!!
I think you are awesome to be concerned about taking someone else’s design. I don’t think yours is a copy of the other at all–yours is much cuter–I like your eyes better too–but it’s so cool to see someone worried about ethics when so many designs do get ripped-off, copied, etc all the time. Kudos to you!!!!!
Love this post! Adore Monchichhi and just discovered Cheburashka on an international phonecard the other day. (on my blog on http://www.ismoyo.com/2007/11/calling-cuteness.html) Just thought it was too cute, but didn’t know anything about him. So thank you for the info!
I really think your Monk-chi has your style written all over it — and you should keep it up :) You could make a creature of any species, and because it is from your hand and drawn from your own mind (without looking at anything) it is as much yours as the many cultures who all discovered weaving, baskets, carving etc… at many different times in history. Look up ‘parallel and concurrent evolution’ in the cultural sense ;)
Wonderful that you have a clever Chibi as your in-house advisor on all things Chibi. I thought it would be a terrible shame to see Monk-chis become extinct because of an accidental likeness. But Koa-chis sound like a brilliant idea. The world needs more big-headed, big-eared softies.
Oh, I am so sorry to rain on the Monk-chi parade!! He is so cute, and if it is any consolation, much cuter than the Monchichis with their plastic faces.
Bunny-chi is just as adorable!
Do you make your little Monkchis by request ?
I need one w/ red fur & bunny type ears.
please let me know if this is possible, price, etc.
thanx