Oruchuban Ebichu
Oruchuban Ebichu is a Japanese manga series by Risa Itō that was published by Futabasha Publishers. It first ran through Shufutoseikatsusha magazine Giga&chan beginning in the 1990s, before moving to the Action Pizazz publication by Futabasha.
It was later adapted into an anime television series produced by Gainax, but animated by Group TAC. It first aired six eight-minute episodes in 1999 as one-third of the show Modern Love's Silliness. Oruchuban ''Ebichu is very adult in nature, and its comedy, explicit violence, innuendos, and sexual intercourse scenes could only be shown on DirecTV Japan. The uncut version of the series can only be found on DVD. The show is drawn in a simplistic art style.
A sequel series called Oruchuban Ebichu Chu~ started serialization in the magazine Manga Action'' in 2018. It concluded on October 4, 2022.
Plot
Each adventure chronicles the housekeeper female hamster Ebichu, devoted to her oft-indifferent owner, who she calls Goshujin-sama and is only identified as OL ("Office Lady"), a single 28-year-old who doles out cynical commentary and the occasional beating on the rodent. Such abuse is usually caused by Ebichu's almost disturbing lack of tact or propriety, which often embarrasses OL in front of other people. Ebichu is a faithful housekeeper but occasionally carries out a practical joke and also hurts OL's feelings.Ebichu tends to take this in stride with endless praise and compliments of her master. Ebichu often attempts to correct OL's bad decisions, such as her berating of OL's obnoxious, immature and untrustworthy boyfriend that Ebichu nicknamed Kaishounachi. Maa-kun and Lady Hanabataki are friends of OL. Some surrounding characters also appear.
Characters
; Ebichu; Goshujin-chama
; Kaishonachi
; Maakun
; Hanabatake
; Mother of Goshujin-chama
; Neighbors
Other characters
Characters that do not appear on the TV and animated versions.; Dobukichi
; Tanukio
Development
The origin of the anime came about during voice recording sessions for Neon Genesis Evangelion. Kotono Mitsuishi, the voice actress for the character of Misato Katsuragi, would read the Ebichu manga in between takes and laugh at the humor. She would show others what she was reading and eventually it was decided that the series was worth animating. As a result, she was selected to voice the title character Ebichu. Also, in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Misato drinks cans of Ebisu-brand beer. In one episode, though, the beer cans are labeled "Ebichu Ichiban" across the top with a small picture of a hamster with one white ear and one brown ear, although the colors of its ears are on opposite sides.Ebichu is sometimes joked by fans to be the complete polar opposite of Hamtaro, a popular children's anime featuring a hamster in more wholesome adventures.
An Ebichu plush toy was available in UFO catchers.
The opening theme of the series is "Nande Kana", performed by Kotono Mitsuishi. The ending theme, shared with the other shows in the Modern Love's Silliness block, is "Kumokumo Gake ni Konma Takeyafu" by Minami Karasuyama 6th Street Production.