It Was So Cute, But... The True Identity of Chikabu in the Anime "Chiikawa" Is Too Shocking, Making Chiikawa Cry Bitterly

In episode 92 of the anime "Chiikawa," there is a scene where Chikabu (voiced by Shio Muto) entertains Chiikawa (voiced by Haruka Aoki) and the Armor of Labor (voiced by Hiroki Tochi). In episode 93, Chikabu, who was once deemed "friendly" by the Armor, reveals its true form as a "mimic type."

Chikabu, who had been cute until then, transformed into a gigantic, hefty form. The Armor, carrying the frightened Chiikawa and friends, managed to escape, while Chikabu flew away into the sky. This scene drew reactions like "The pursuing beetle was incredible" and "The weight was overwhelming," along with comments like "It's heartbreaking to see Chiikawa, who cherished Chikabu, so sad."

Furthermore, regarding the Armor, who helped Chiikawa, Hachiwari (voiced by Makoto Tanaka), and Usagi (voiced by Ari Ozawa) escape, there were reactions such as "We were saved thanks to the Armor" and "The Armor is amazing!" Additionally, fans expressed that "Absurd developments are exactly what 'Chiikawa' is about" and "I'm glad I could see this scene in the anime."

"Chiikawa" is a popular manga series started by illustrator Nagano in 2020, posted on X (formerly Twitter). It won the Grand Prix at the 'Japan Character Award 2022' and the 'Japan Character Award 2024' announced in July 2024.

The contrast between the small, cute characters and the harsh world setting has gained widespread popularity among both adults and children, with followers exceeding 3.67 million to date. The anime version of "Chiikawa" is currently airing on Fuji TV's "Mezamashi TV" every Tuesday and Friday around 7:40 AM.

Episode 93: "A New Friend (8)"
Synopsis: The Armor of Labor judges Chikabu to be of the friendly type, but...

(C)ナガノ / ちいかわ製作委員会