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"Pipokupipo!"
— Gatchan

Gadzilla Norimaki (則巻ガジラ Norimaki Gajira) more commonly known as Gatchan is one of the main characters of the Dr. Slump series. Gatchan is a cherub that was adopted into the Norimaki family after hatching from an egg and often follows Arale Norimaki around. Later in the series, Gatchan splits into a pair of identical twins from a chrysalis, with them now being referred to as Gatchan #1 and Gatchan #2.

Appearance[]

Gatchan is a green-haired, cherub-like creature with wings. They have a small body similar to a baby, along with two antennae on their head. They lack any genitals. Although Gatchan has no defined gender, the manga and anime refers to them as both he and she.

Name[]

Gatchan's full name is a combination of the names of Gamera and Gojira, who is known as Godzilla in the West. Arale came up with the name, likely out of her love of monsters.

Personality[]

Gatchan speaks in their own language consisting primarily of gibberish sounds that Arale somehow seems to understand and it has been named Gatchanism in the manga. They have a large appetite that makes them eat almost anything, except for rubber as seen in Gatchan Goes for a Walk. They particularly like to eat metal. They can also shoot rays from their antennae, mostly used as a retaliation mechanism. They are like Arale in terms of interests and personality, being similarly innocent and playful, as well as the character who understands Arale the most. Gatchan follows Arale often and plays with her almost all the time.

History[]

Dr. Slump[]

The Birth of Arale[]

Main article: Volume 1: The Birth of Arale

Gatchan born

Gatchan is born!

Gatchan is born at the end of The Mysterious Egg when they hatch fully clothed from an egg that Senbei Norimaki brought back from the prehistoric ages, thinking a dinosaur was going to hatch from it.

Norimakibath

Gatchan's wings were discovered during the bath.

In Is It a Girl? Is It a Boy!?, Gatchan is adopted into the Norimaki family and their name is given by Arale Norimaki. Arale finds out that Gatchan can eat everything, and that they can survive to fall from a very high height. While in the bath, it is shown that Gatchan has wings and no genitals.

Due to the anime having Gatchan's birth happen much earlier, Gatchan is present during the adaptations of chapters that they originally weren't part of because in the manga they happened before their birth.

Arale Petting Bear

Gatchan accompanying Arale to rescue Mr. Bear.

In The Mysterious Dr. Monster?!, Gatchan is seen at the beginning of the episode sleeping on top of Senbei's head.

In My Friend, Mr. Bear!!, Gatchan accompanies Arale on the night she frees Mr. Bear out of the cage. Gatchan is present when Senbei and Arale train the bear before going back into the wild but was shot by the Hunter. Then Senbei transforms Mr. Bear into a cyborg using the machinery from Arale's body.

Gatchan Getting Big Small Gun

Gatchan retrieving the Big-Small Ray Gun.

In New Invention! The Big-Small Ray Gun, Gatchan is with Arale when Senbei shows her the Big-Small Ray Gun and somehow Arale fetches it before Senbei goes grocery shopping forgetting it. Gatchan gets turned huge along with Arale using it and eats part of a mountain and a cloud.

In Arale is Akane!?, Gatchan is part of Arale and Akane Kimidori's war game they have around the house dressed as a ninja. When Arale and Akane switch appearances, Gatchan remains at the Norimaki house with Akane.

Gatchan Unseen Future Picture

Arale finding out that Gatchan will age.

In Living for Tomorrow!, Gatchan is with Arale when Senbei shows Arale the Future Camera and follows her around when showing it to Akane, Taro Soramame, and Peasuke Soramame. Arale takes a picture of Gatchan when she walks home disappointed that she won't grow up (while the picture isn't shown on screen), Arale says that at least Gatchan will grow up. An elder version of Gatchan is shown at the end when Arale takes a picture of the TV showing the beginning of the episode.

Arale on the Loose[]

Main article: Volume 2: Arale on the Loose

Arale Asking to Fly

Gatchan inspiring Arale to want to fly.

In Arale Flies the Skies!, Arale is inspired to ask Senbei to make her fly since she saw Gatchan fly. When Senbei is readying to launch the Cola Plane, Akane first meets Gatchan (she already met Gatchan earlier in the anime) and remains with Senbei, Akane, and Peasuke while Arale and Taro are up in Thunder Ogre Goronbo's cloud.

Gatchan Glasses

Gatchan wearing Arale's glasses.

In Arale on the Loose: Part 1, Gatchan sleeps on Senbei's head when he wakes up to brush his teeth, then wears Arale's Glasses when Senbei is waking Arale up, and then eats a plate when Arale leaves for school. In Arale on the Loose: Part 2, Arale holds Gatchan in her hand saying that she has a handheld Gatchan after she got home. Gatchan watches Senbei fix Arale after she ate actual food and Gatchan wears her glasses again.

Bubibinman Gatchan Reaction

Bubibinman, scared of Gatchan's ability to fly.

In The Invader from Space, Bubibinman becomes intimidated by Earthlings after losing some contests of strength against Arale but then holds onto the idea that they can't fly which he heard from Suppaman but then Gatchan shows up flying over to Senbei's head to sit on him and it shocks Bubibinman making it hard to prove that he's an alien.

Reality Machine Space

Gatchan floating in space created by the Reality Machine.

In The Reality Machine, Gatchan hides in a roach motel when playing hide and seek with Arale and Akane. Gatchan watches Senbei's new invention the Reality Machine with them and then a copy of them appears alongside in the space created after Arale and Akane throw a picture of the universe and the manga page into it.

Gatchan Pig

Gatchan turned into a pig.

In The Ponpoko Morph Gun, Gatchan briefly gets turned into a pig by Senbei's new invention the Ponpoko Morph Gun.

Earth S.O.S.![]

Main article: Volume 3: Earth S.O.S.!

Hip Arale

Gatchan and Arale's hip makeover.

In Kids Gone Wild, Gatchan and Arale meet Kinoko Sarada, and Kinoko makes both of them makeovers to look hip.

God Gets Even![]

Main article: Volume 17: God Gets Even!
In Volume 17, it is revealed that Gatchan is actually an angel sent by the lord of the galaxy, Kami (despite their shared name, Kami in Dr. Slump is a different god from Kami, the Guardian of Earth in Dragon Ball) to prevent further development of the human civilization. After seeing that other civilizations eventually destroyed themselves and the planets they lived on, Kami placed an angel's egg on Earth. Gatchan's ability to replicate as well as their fondness of metal should have ensured that humanity would remain primitive and innocent. Seeing that Gatchan failed in the mission (due to Senbei's time-traveling intervention), Kami was about to destroy humanity. However, after seeing the life of Penguin Village and how happy Gatchan was with their family, he changed his mind and leave the Earth as it is.

Future[]

Future Gatchans

Gatchan's in the future.

In the future, Gatchan again multiplied several times until they were eight total (and most likely will continue to multiply).

Other Media[]

Doctor Slump[]

Gatchan1997

Gatchan in Doctor Slump.

In the remake, Gatchan came out of a strange-looking machine instead of an egg. Gatchan's hair is blonde instead of green.

Live-action commercial[]

Dr

Gatchan flying in the commercial.

Gatchan appears in a Dr. Slump themed commercial for G.U. fashion retail, flying next to Akane Kimidori and above Kinoko Sarada.

Video Games[]

The Gatchan's appear in a 1982 handheld games Dr. Slump Arale, Dr. Slump for PlayStation based on the remake in 1999, and Dr. Slump: Arale-Chan for Nintendo DS in 2008.

Gatchan appears in Dragon Ball video games as well like Dragon Ball: Daimaō Fukkatsu, Dragon Ball 3: Gokuden, Dragon Ball Z: Super Gokuden: Totsugeki-Hen, and Dragon Ball: Origins 2. Gatchan 1 & 2 are featured in Arale's ultimate in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, shooting the opponent with their Antenna Beam after Arale says "The Gatchan are really strong too". Gatchan is a supporting character in Dragon Ball Heroes.

Gatchan also appears in Jump Ultimate Stars and J-Stars Victory Vs. where Gatchan uses their Antenna Beam to attack for Arale.

Trivia[]

  • According to a photo taken by the Future Camera, Gatchan will still look the same in the distant future, except they multiply instead.

Gallery[]

Norimaki Family
Members Arale NorimakiArale and Obotchaman's childGatchanJubei NorimakiMidori's MotherMidori NorimakiNitro NorimakiPrehistoric Norimaki AncestorRyotaSenbei NorimakiSenbei Taromonosuke NorimakiSenbei's FatherTurbo NorimakiSenbei and Midori's third child
Related articles Norimaki ResidenceMr. TimeReality MachineAlarm ClockFairy Tale MachineBarbermanThe Announcer
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