Bikkuriman

Bikkuriman is a chocolate and peanut wafer snack made by Lotte that sold for 30 yen at the time of its introduction. Originally, the pack-in stickers were called “Dokkiri Seal” (どっきりシール, “Shocking Seal). Each Seal featured a realistic image on a clear background, with the intention of using them for pranks or gags (broken glass, clothing tears, fake wall switches, etc.) By the 1980s, the Seals began featuring individual gag-based characters with a theme that united a particular set of Seals. These style of stickers would remain for the first 9 sets of Seal releases.

In August of 1985, Lotte released the first of the Akuma vs Tenshi Seal series. While maintaining the same humorous art style of the earlier series, the Akuma vs Tenshi Seals featured characters based on assorted mythological, folklore, and even metaphorical sources engaging in an overarching story-line. Akin to the Mars Attacks trading card series from America, the battle between the Tenshi and Akuma is told on the back of each sticker, with the plot progressing with each new set. Each set was divided into several themed tiers featuring a Tenshi, Akuma, and an Omamori (お守り, "Protector"), with an ultra-rare "Head" Seal that serves as the main character of its particular set. The Head Seals were typically printed with a prism or holographic holofoil to set them apart from the Tenshi's metallic silver or gold backing, the clear backgrounds of the Omamori and the multi-colored backgrounds of the Akuma. The rarity of the early Akuma vs Tenshi Seals were, in order: Head, Tenshi, Omamori, Akuma.

Unfortunately, the popularity of the stickers led to trouble for the series. The zeal to try to obtain Head Seals would lead children to buy Bikkuriman in mass quantities, retrieve the stickers inside, and simply throw away the snack. This, along with the fact that children and collectors were willing to pay high amounts of money for the rarer cards, led to parent groups expressing concern of possible gambling implications for the stickers. This led to action by the Japanese Fair Trade Commission, and the number of Head Seals per pack was increased from the average 4 to 24 individual Seals.

Various media properties have run collaboration seal series with Bikkuriman, including Monster Hunter,[1] Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,[2],Dragon Ball Super,[3] GeGeGe no Kitaro[4],Jujutsu Kaisen,[5]Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken,[6] Hatsune Miku,[7] Star Wars,[8] One Piece, Mobile Suit Gundam[9],and Persona 3.[10]

Some have featured celebrities, such as AKB48 members[11] and Vtubers including Hikakin.[12]

There have also been figurine collaborations, featuring properties including Neon Genesis Evangelion.[13]

There was even a Bikkuriman edition of the Game of Life.[14]

These stickers were a huge success, leading to a multitude of media tie-ins. The original Bikkuriman anime series, created by Toei Animation, aired from October 11, 1987, to April 2, 1989.[15] Sequels include Shin Bikkuriman, Super Bikkuriman, Bikkuriman 2000 and Happy Lucky Bikkuriman.

A new anime project featuring original character designs by Hiroyuki Takei was announced on April 1, 2023.[16] The project was later revealed to be a television series produced by Shin-Ei Animation, animated by Lesprit, and directed by Tomohiro Yamanashi, with Yuniko Ayana in charge of series composition, Ayano Owada adapting Takei's original character designs for animation, and Yasuhiro Misawa composing the music. It will premiere in Q4 2023.[17]

• Super Bikkuriman, a series published by Shōgakukan

Two Bikkuriman video games were made for the PC Engine console in Japan. One of which is a reskin of Wonder Boy in Monster Land. Other games were also made for the Famicom, Game Boy, Super Famicom, Dreamcast, Neo Geo Pocket, Game Boy Color, Nintendo DS, mobile phones and Nintendo 3DS.

• Bikkuriman World (1987, PC Engine) - Hudson Soft
• Bikkuriman World ~Gekitō hijiri senshi~ (ビックリマンワールド～激闘聖戦士～)(1990, Famicom) - an RPG by Hudson Soft
• Super Bikkuriman ~Densetsu no Sekiban~ (スーパービックリマン～伝説の石板～）(Game Boy) - by Yutaka
• Super Bikkuriman (スーパービックリマン）(Super Famicom) - Interbec
• Bikkuriman Daijikai (ビックリマン大事界) (PC CD-ROM)
• Bikkuriman 2000 Charging Card GB (ビックリマン２０００チャージングカードGB) (2000, Game Boy Color)
• Bikkuriman 2000 Viva! Festiva! (ビックリマン2000 ビバ!フェスチバァ!) (Sega Dreamcast)
• Bikkuriman (April 18, 2011 GREE/mixi, December 17, 2012 Android) - Drecom
• Bikkuriman Collectors' Battle (DeNA)
• Bikkuriman Daijiten (ビックリマン大事典) (2007, Nintendo DS)

• 1st Dan Head - Super Zeus
• 2nd Dan Head - Shaman Kahn
• 3rd Dan Head - Super Devil
• 4th Dan Head - Satan Maria
• 5th Dan Head - St. Phoenix
• 6th Dan Head - Shiso Jura, Black Zues
• 7th Dan Head - Herachrist
• 8th Dan Head - Masho Nero
• 9th Dan Head - Headrococo
• 10th Dan Head - Mataiden Noa
• 11th Dan Head - Wander Maria, Ghost Alibaba
• 12th Dan Head - Yasei Erusa M, Master P, St. Bon Miroku
• 13th Dan Head - Yamato Bakushin
• 14th Dan Head - Seishin Nadia
• 15th Dan Head - St. Bon Indust
• 16th Dan Head - Andrococo

• Official Website
• Complete Akuma vs Tensi list
• Bikkuriman (2nd) - Toei Animation
• Super Bikkuriman - Toei Animation
• Bikkuri-Man (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia