Walking Poo-Chi

Walking Poo-Chi (ウオーキングプーチ) is a walking version of Poo-Chi that was released in 2001, as a member of the Kokorobo Series. It was sold only in Japan by Sega Toys, and it was the last version of Poo-Chi (resembling the original toy) that got released.

IMPORTANT: In Japan, Wappy Dog was officially released as the most recent version of Poo-Chi in 2011, but by "last version of Poo-Chi" in the above paragraph, I mean "the last version of Poo-Chi that resembles the original Poo-Chi toy". Wappy Dog has a very unique look from the original Poo-Chi toy.

Backstory

There is very little information on the backstory of Walking Poo-Chi. Keep in mind: Sega Toys created the original Poo-Chi toy and sold it in Japan, but Tiger Electronics distributed it outside of Japan. According to an ASCII article, the president and chief operating officer of Tiger Electronics (David Medhurst) stated that Tiger Electronics was developing its own walking version of Poo-Chi.

The article was published on the 8th of November, 2000 (Autumn in the U.S. and Japan). In the article, David stated that Tiger was developing a walking version of Poo-Chi at the time and intended releasing it next spring. This means that Walking Poo-Chi was supposed to have been released by Tiger Electronics in 2001.

The article also mentions Sega Toys was considering selling it in Japan. Sega's release date for Walking Poo-Chi is unknown, but the boxes Sega released Walking Poo-Chi in, state "© SEGA TOYS 2001".

Tiger's Prototype

While Tiger doesn't appear to have launched Walking Poo-Chi, they did display a prototype of it at the New York Toy Fair in February, 2001.

The prototype's appearance is identical to that of the original Poo-Chi toy, however, the front feet appear to have a more blocky appearance. The only footage of it known to exist is shown in a video archived by the AP Archive, showing it making noise and walking.

Appearance

In contrast to the prototype, the released product has more differences that easily distinguish itself from the original toy's look. Walking Poo-Chi has a differently-shaped muzzle (including the lower jaw) that looks more rounder and less blocky. Its ears are elliptically-shaped, and the top part of its paws is covered in translucent, colored plastic. Its leg caps, made of translucent plastic, are shaped like hexagons instead of circles, and have "ten" written on them. Walking Poo-Chi has a rectangular collar made of translucent plastic around its neck, unlike Poo-Chi, which had no collar. Walking Poo-Chi has a hook on its chest, allowing you to tie something to it (like a bow, for example).

Walking Poo-Chi's ears, leg caps, collar, and the translucent plastic covering the top of its paws are the same color as each other. Walking Poo-Chi was sold in a silver/blue variation and a white/red variation, despite Sega's official website referring to the white/red variation as "pink".

Functionality

Unfortunately, there isn't much information on Walking Poo-Chi. The toy retailed for 3,480 yen and requires three AAA batteries. As it walks, its ears will flap and its mouth will open and close. Walking Poo-Chi can express happiness (heart-shaped eyes) and sadness (crescent-shaped eyes). Walking Poo-Chi can also show the same eye expressions as Poo-Chi. Walking Poo-Chi can also say "Hello!" and speak Japanese.

Interaction

You can press the button on Walking Poo-Chi's head to pet it, and you can feed it by holding its bone in front of its mouth. Walking Poo-Chi has a sound sensor and a light sensor. According to a review on game.watch.impress, Walking Poo-Chi plays 13 types of songs and does fortune telling. When doing fortune telling, Walking Poo-Chi will say, "スロットワン!" (Slot wan! / Surotto wan!"). "Wan" is a Japanese onomatopoeia for a dog barking. Walking Poo-Chi's eyes will change constantly, and as this happens, you should push the button on top of its head.

Walking Poo-Chi can be in a happy mood or in a bad mood. If you offer Walking Poo-Chi its bone, it may back away and growl if it is in a bad mood, or feed on the bone with heart-shaped eyes if it is in a good mood. When asking to be fed, Walking Poo-Chi might say "エサくれワン!" (Feed me wan! / esakure wan!).

I don't have the manual to provide more information on how to play with Walking Poo-Chi, unfortunately.

Kokoro (Heart) Link

Walking Poo-Chi can communicate via infrared with another Walking Poo-Chi, a Japanese Dino-Chi, or a Japanese Bot-Ster. Sega Toys stated that members of the Kokorobo Series that can communicate with another member via infrared have a "Heart Link Circuit" (ココロリンク回路). I don't know if Walking Poo-Chi can communicate with English bots.

To get Walking Poo-Chi to communicate with another Kokorobo friend, press the "Heart button" on Walking Poo-Chi (under its right ear) and the other robot at the same time.