Chibita first appeared in Fujio Akatsuka's manga *Osomatsu-kun* as a nameless or nicknamed child, called "Chibi" for his short stature. Early portrayals showed inconsistent family backgrounds, but he became a recurring character who later replaced the sextuplets as the protagonist in spin-offs like *$-chan and Chibita*, *Chibita Banzai*, and *Chibita-kun*. His core traits of perseverance and adaptability were inspired by Akatsuka's resilient, poor childhood acquaintance nicknamed "John-John".

Physically diminutive, childhood Chibita stands 60-80 cm tall. He has a bald head featuring a single protruding hair and a horizontal scalp crease, noted for its durability against impacts or bullets. His design includes round eyes, a pointed nose, and distinctive cheek markings described as hardened mucus residue. He typically wears a buttoned shirt, pants, and shoes, with shirt colors varying—red in modern art, yellow in the 1988 anime and pachinko games.

Chibita exhibits a complex personality: resilient and tenacious, refusing defeat, yet mischievously instigating pranks against rivals like the sextuplets. Kind-hearted, he forms deep bonds with animals like cats and frogs, finding solace in them. His trademark laugh is "Keke!". He frequently carries a skewer of oden—his favorite food layered with konjac, ganmodoki, and narutomaki—and despises carrots. Possessing exceptional visual acuity and speed, he is often portrayed sympathetically as a victim of the sextuplets' bullying but occasionally adopts antagonistic roles like a manipulative landlord or feudal lord. His living situation is frequently ambiguous, though 1980s narratives commonly depict him residing in clay pipes within scrapyards.

Relationships define Chibita. His multifaceted partnership with Iyami ranges from collaborative scams against the sextuplets to mentor-student dynamics or antagonism, often rooted in shared poverty with Chibita relying on Iyami for stability. Interactions with the sextuplets oscillate between rivalry—where he seeks revenge for mistreatment—and rare neutrality or camaraderie. He harbors a recurring crush on Totoko, though their interactions often end in dysfunction or mutual sabotage. Other connections include a sporadic father-figure relationship with Dekapan (alternating neglectful and attentive) and a dominant dynamic where he often bullies Hatabō.

In later media like *Osomatsu-san*, Chibita ages into adulthood, growing to approximately 140 cm tall. He runs an oden stall, retaining his single hair and cheek markings. His attire shifts to a yellow shirt, blue shorts, red bow tie, or an apron during work. Responsible but perpetually exasperated by the sextuplets' unpaid tab, this leads to extreme actions like abducting Karamatsu for ransom in "The Karamatsu Incident". His obsession with perfecting oden defines his life, manifesting in eccentric behaviors like bathing in oden broth. In "Chibita's Revenge", the sextuplets' accidental removal of his lone hair triggers a violent rampage, though reconciliation follows. Flashbacks in *Osomatsu-san: The Movie* reveal teenage struggles: briefly donning a wig and working as a French chef apprentice to distance himself from oden, leading to suicidal depression. The sextuplets' intervention helps him embrace his passion, solidifying his career.

Across all eras, Chibita's speech remains consistent: he uses a rough dialect, laughs with "Kekeke," and exclaims phrases like "Teyande barou chikusho!". In *Osomatsu-san*, he develops compulsive verbal tics and repetitive movements.