The adaptation of the Japanese Chiko’s Challenge format, from NHK, is this summer’s big novelty for the Spanish public broadcaster.

On 1st August, RTVE premieres ‘Mapi’, its new entertainment offer for prime time access, produced by Mediacrest and based on the format of the Japanese public broadcaster NHK’s “Chiko’s Challenge”, distributed in Europe by Lineup. 

This summer, RTVE will be showcasing a prime time access, fun-for-all game show hosted by the well-known magician, presenter and comedian Jandro and Mapi, a virtual little girl created using CGI technology, who will drive our celebrities crazy with the kind of challenging questions that children like to ask. As well as trying to avoid being ridiculed by the girl’s unusual questions, the guests have to try to get as many right answers as they can to accumulate mapis (points) on their scoreboards.

180 high-profile celebrities, ranging from actors and comedians to singers and sportspeople, will have their knowledge and imagination challenged through the mapi ‘test’ every night from 22:10. 

Who is Mapi?

Mapi is an insatiably curious little girl who comes up with questions on all kinds of subjects: Why is the sky blue? Why do we slip on ice? or Why are there only 28 days in February? And watch out because she has a very short temper! Her mission is to remind us of how important it is to keep learning every day. After every question she reveals the surprising answer, followed by an explanation from an expert in the field.

The childlike questions will have guests and viewers alike holding their heads as they realise they’ve never actually given the matter much thought. That is why ‘Mapi’ is more than a simple question and answer quiz show: it is an intellectual and cultural challenge that will have viewers hooked the moment they start watching.

How does she come to life?

Mapi is a 3D augmented reality character performed by actress Carla Pulpón and designed by Marcos Raya, which has been created by Iralta Virtual Production using multi-camera virtual production technology, in collaboration with Mediacrest. The technological challenge was to create a half human-half 3D hybrid that interacts with the other people on the show and real objects. 

This new virtual production allows the actress to give a glowing performance, which is transferred in real time to a 3D character. The integration of the 3D image with the real-life actress is virtually seamless. This new method for producing audiovisual content radically transforms the long-established production model, in which post-production is undertaken after filming. Now post-production and animation take place in real time and in parallel to the filming, thereby allowing live interaction between the other participants and the stage props and characters.