TV-Series
Description
Pyon-Kichi is a frog who begins the story in a vacant lot near Shakujii Park in Tokyo's Nerima district. When the middle school student Hiroshi trips over a stone and falls on him, Pyon-Kichi is crushed but does not die. Instead, he survives by adhering to the front of Hiroshi's shirt as a flat imprint, a state referred to in the series as a flat surface frog, and he gains the ability to speak human language. Because that shirt is Hiroshi's only good shirt, Hiroshi continues to wear it, and Pyon-Kichi is therefore carried along wherever Hiroshi goes, becoming a constant presence in his everyday life, his school days, and his various misadventures.
In personality, Pyon-Kichi is stubborn, big-eating, cheerful, and a little cheeky. He and Hiroshi often argue with each other in a way that resembles sibling quarrels, yet they remain inseparable and generally understand each other well. Pyon-Kichi is energetic and unyielding, and his repeated acts of persistence are what earn him his reputation as a gutsy frog. He is also easily drawn to females of any kind, including cats, frogs, and humans.
His central motivation is a refusal to give in to circumstances. After being flattened, he chooses to keep living through sheer persistence, and he brings the same tenacity to the challenges he and Hiroshi encounter. He acts as a companion and commentator on Hiroshi's life, offering advice and observations while also stirring up much of the trouble the pair find themselves in. His bold and forceful nature contrasts with Hiroshi's own impulsive behavior, and the friction between them drives much of the comedy and the progress of the story.
His most important relationship is with Hiroshi, who is his partner and at times his rescuer; Hiroshi's mother also treats Pyon-Kichi almost like another child. Around the wider cast, Pyon-Kichi takes part in the adventures of Hiroshi's friends and classmates, joining their fights, games, and schemes. Over the course of the series, the bond between him and Hiroshi deepens, and he consistently shows the same gutsy spirit when helping Hiroshi face difficulties, supporting him through conflicts, friendships, and romantic situations.
Despite his flattened form, Pyon-Kichi is very strong for his size. He can leap around, pull Hiroshi along with him, and has performed feats such as moving a car by pulling a rope held in his mouth and even catching up with a moving train. He is also a capable swimmer. His flat shape allows him to stay attached to clothing and travel with Hiroshi anywhere, and his ability to talk makes him an active participant in conversations and plans rather than a passive observer.
In personality, Pyon-Kichi is stubborn, big-eating, cheerful, and a little cheeky. He and Hiroshi often argue with each other in a way that resembles sibling quarrels, yet they remain inseparable and generally understand each other well. Pyon-Kichi is energetic and unyielding, and his repeated acts of persistence are what earn him his reputation as a gutsy frog. He is also easily drawn to females of any kind, including cats, frogs, and humans.
His central motivation is a refusal to give in to circumstances. After being flattened, he chooses to keep living through sheer persistence, and he brings the same tenacity to the challenges he and Hiroshi encounter. He acts as a companion and commentator on Hiroshi's life, offering advice and observations while also stirring up much of the trouble the pair find themselves in. His bold and forceful nature contrasts with Hiroshi's own impulsive behavior, and the friction between them drives much of the comedy and the progress of the story.
His most important relationship is with Hiroshi, who is his partner and at times his rescuer; Hiroshi's mother also treats Pyon-Kichi almost like another child. Around the wider cast, Pyon-Kichi takes part in the adventures of Hiroshi's friends and classmates, joining their fights, games, and schemes. Over the course of the series, the bond between him and Hiroshi deepens, and he consistently shows the same gutsy spirit when helping Hiroshi face difficulties, supporting him through conflicts, friendships, and romantic situations.
Despite his flattened form, Pyon-Kichi is very strong for his size. He can leap around, pull Hiroshi along with him, and has performed feats such as moving a car by pulling a rope held in his mouth and even catching up with a moving train. He is also a capable swimmer. His flat shape allows him to stay attached to clothing and travel with Hiroshi anywhere, and his ability to talk makes him an active participant in conversations and plans rather than a passive observer.