Mahōtsukai Chappy

Plot

Chappy's story is much like Sally's of Sally the Witch. Chappy, becoming sick of the old customs of her people, left the Land of Magic for the human world. Her family soon sees how much she has in the other realm and decides to join her there. Chappy is known for being the first witch to use a wand (actually a magical baton, given to her by her grandfather).

Her special chant is "Abura Mahariku Maharita Kabura". Chappy's closest human friends are the tomboy Michiko and the girly-girl Shizuko, much like her predecessor Sally's friends Yotchan and Sumire.

In a nod to the ecological concerns of the early 1970s, the series featured one noteworthy episode late in the show's run, written by Shukei Nagasaka, which dealt with issues like pollution and the use of natural resources. The show is also notable for featuring several Disney references, including a reference to the 1959 film Sleeping Beauty in one episode, and for the panda mascot character, Don-chan, introduced to cash in on a panda mini-craze in 1972 in Japan (which also informed Hayao Miyazaki's Panda! Go, Panda!).

Characters

Chappy is a little witch who becomes bored of the Magic World, and escapes to Earth. She uses magic with her grandfather's baton. Jun is Chappy's little brother who is able to transform into different animals. He always wants to ride Don-chan's magical car.

Don-chan is a talking red panda who rides around in a magical car. Mr. and Mrs. Hans Charles Grimm and Aesop Et Cetera are Chappy and Jun's parents, who decide to live in the human world. Grandpa is Chappy and Jun's grandfather, who is constantly yelling at his son and cares deeply for Chappy. Obaba is the oldest witch and is a type of guardian to Chappy's family, but has no blood relation to them.

Michiko is Chappy's first friend on Earth and a tomboy, who keeps her two little brothers in line. Her father owns a dry cleaning business. Ipei and Nihei are Michiko's two little brothers and they are both trouble makers and are close with Jun. Shizuko is the local girly-girl and is one of Chappy's classmates and close friends.

Did You Know?

• A manga adaptation was drawn by Hideo Azuma, who later created Nanako SOS in 1983.
• Chappy is a playable character in the 1999 Sony PlayStation game Majokko Daisakusen: Little Witching Mischiefs.