Professor Banzo (ばんぞー博士 Banzo Hakase) is a professor who studies the Tamagotchi species of aliens at the Strange Biology Institute at Taitō, Tokyo with his assistant, Mikachu.
He and Mikachu were the main characters for presenting the Tamagotchi franchise in Japan during the 90s, being featured in the video games, on packaging, in guide books, and more. However, since the 2004 reboot, he has been completely absent aside from a few special appearances.
Despite being a prominent character for the franchise at the time, he was seldom used outside of Japan aside from in specific guidebooks and instruction manuals. His most prominent US appearance was in the Tamagotchi Game Boy game, where he gave in-game instructions include how to play. Curiously, he also appeared on the bags for US McDonald’s Tamagotchi Toyz Happy Meals alongside the international artwork.
History[]
One day, Banzo was sulking on a bridge over Sumida River after suffering a broken heart. As Mikachu attempted to cheer him up, a UFO crashed into the river. Realizing the creatures inside would drown, the two humans salvaged the ship, only to find the creatures inside could not survive in Earth's atmosphere. He built a small, egg-shaped device that allowed the creatures to live comfortably on Earth. He named the device the "Tamagotchi HOUSE" (たまごっちＨＯＵＳＥ) due to its function as both a clock and a home for the creature, and resembled an egg.
Now dubbing the entire race of aliens "Tamagotchi", Banzo and Mikachu began to research them to the best of their ability. They have even left Earth, visiting the Tamagotchi Planet itself and studying the life there.
On Virtual Pets[]
Tamagotchi iD L[]
On the 15th Anniversary Version of the Tamagotchi iD L, it's revealed that after 15 years, Banzo and Mikachu continue to research Tamagotchi. Visiting them enough times earns the Research Report item.
Tamagotchi m!x[]
Professor Banzo can be encountered at his laboratory with Mikachu as one of the locations on the 20th Anniversary version of the Tamagotchi m!x.
Tamagotchi Smart[]
Professor Banzo appears as a NPC on the 1996 Friends TamaSma Card with Mikachu. They greet the user's Tamagotchi when the card is linked with the Smart. There is also a glasses accessory based of Professor Banzo's glasses that the Tamagotchi can wear.
In the Anime[]
Tamagotchi Honto no Hanashi[]
Professor Banzo appears with Mikachu in the short film Tamagotchi Honto no Hanashi, the first ever animated Tamagotchi media. They both recount how they discovered Tamagotchis and why they traveled from Tamagotchi Planet to Earth.
In Video Games[]
Hoshi de Hakken!! Tamagotchi[]
Professor Banzo is a NPC in Hoshi de Hakken!! Tamagotchi. He travels with Mikachu to Tamagotchi Planet, but their ship ends up crash landing and marooning them on an island. The two decide to research the tamagotchi species on the island and Banzo acts a guide to Mikachu, explaining how the mechanics of the game work. He can be accessed on the care screen by selecting the icon with his face on it.
Sega Saturn de Hakken!! Tamagotchi Park[]
Professor Banzo appears as a NPC in the beginning of the game when the player selects an egg to hatch. There is also a building in the park resembling him that players can visit to view records of raised Tamagotchi.
Gallery[]
Modern Artwork[]
Vintage Artwork[]
Anime[]
Video Games[]
Trading Cards[]
Sprites[]
Miscellaneous[]
External links[]
- BanzoHakase's Page (Tamagotch Channel, Japanese Only)
- Mystic Forest: Who are Bonzo and Mikachu?