The Hige Hige Bandits (translated as "Hige Hige Gang" in Japanese), also known as the Meanie Gang, are the group of cute robotic underlings that serve Mujoe in the Bomberman series. They are most often seen in the Bomberman Jetters anime, as well as several Bomberman games. According to the story of the anime, they were designed and built by Bagura, who assigned Mujoe to be their leader. In most of the games, they're just Bagura's minions.
Appearance[]
They wear black costumes and have two antennae on their head. They have large eyes and a large mouth, but they lack a visible nose. The only word they are ever heard speaking is "Hige" or some variation of it. In the Jetters anime, certain Bandits have other physical traits, such as a mustache or clothes, to denote their special status. Hige Hige that appear as enemies in the Bomberman video games will also wear different costumes and carry objects to denote different abilities. Almost all of the Hige Hige are male, with a small number of female Bandits in non-combat roles (such as a nurse) briefly seen in the anime.
Personality[]
A Hige Hige Bandit doing a Hige Pose
No. 156's robot parts shown
The word Hige means "mustache" or "beard" in Japanese, in reference to the facial hair of their military leader, Mujoe. But surprisingly, the word Hige also means "humility". The emblem of the Hige Hige Bandits even incorporates a mustache into the design. The Bandits often run around being clueless and make many careless mistakes because of their simple-minded nature. In many cases, they are the reason that Mujoe loses to the Jetters when they confront one another. Nevertheless, they always make an earnest effort to fight together, in spite of their own poor abilities.
Episode 14 of the Jetters anime contains many details about the daily lives and personalities of the Hige Hige Bandits. They are shown to all live, work and train together in a sort of military barracks. While they are loyal to each other, most of them are portrayed as not being very loyal to Mujoe, who often shows them propaganda films that portray him in an unrealistically positive light while diminishing their efforts. The Bandits are not easily fooled by these videos, and act annoyed at them, throwing food at the TV. It is also shown that the Bandits receive knowledge through a CD drive in the back of their heads, though this is prone to malfunctioning and deleting all of their data.
As revealed later on in the anime, the characteristic antennae of the Hige Hige Bandits are actually transmitters continuously sending out a Hige Hige identification signal, which allows the Bandits to be remotely detected and tracked by anyone who possesses the equipment to do so.
The Hige Hige Bandits also have a special identifying pose that they like to assume together, perhaps to show their spirit and unity. Both arms are held horizontally to the right side, while the right foot points to the right side, and the left leg is lifted, with its knee pointing right.
Chige Chige Bandits[]
In Bomberman Jetters, there is a group of Bandits that resemble and behave very similarly to the Higes. They are known as the Chige Chige Bandits, and are led by a man named Achoe, who resembles Mujoe. The Chiges have a reddish-brown costume and are always seen wearing gold pots over their heads. When they take off their pot helmets, their antennas are pure red, similar to the Hige Hige antennas.
They like cooking foods/meals, considering cooking them from the pots. They are shown generously sharing the foods to the Jetters. Whenever they went far away and felt tired, they will set up the camp and stay there temporarily overnight. But unlike the Higes, the Chiges are allies to the Jetters (though the Higes did become allies to the Jetters after Mechado betrayed Mujoe and Bagura).
The Chige Chige pose consist of the Chiges' helmets being removed from above their heads and move them on the bottom right. Then, they take a step forward as they move their helmets near or above their heads. Lastly, they say "Chige Chige!".
The Chiges are also allied with the small unnamed group of Chiges from the anime, who are also seen wearing yellow helmets (construction hard hats, instead of pots). They use their yellow helmets to block the fire from the Charabom Fire Police's attacks, but then, the meats inside of their helmets are cooked, so the Charabom Fire Police became distracted as they eat the meat. Unlike the rest of the Higes and like the rest of the Chiges, these Bandits are shown to be very strongly loyal and dedicated to Achoe.
Video game appearances[]
Saturn Bomberman[]
In Saturn Bomberman, the Hige Hige Bandits are introduced (as the "Meanie Gang" in the English version) and are known as Battle Grunts (戦闘尉, Battle Trap in Japan), each with different capabilities. They are common enemies that also appear as comical background elements. The Battle Grunts A, B and D and Final Z will harm the player on collision, while collision with the Battle Grunt C causes no harm to the player. In the first phase of the final boss battle against Dr. Mechado, twenty of them must be fought (See: Dr. Mechado).
- Battle Grunt A (戦闘尉A) - Moves aimlessly. Periodically stops and poses. 100 points.
- Battle Grunt B (戦闘尉B) - Moves aimlessly. Periodically stops and transforms into an inanimate object (invincible if it turns into a rock). 200 points.
- Battle Grunt C (戦闘尉C) - Stationary in a cannon; periodically fires a 4 tile bomb ahead of itself. The cannon can be used after being defeated. 100 points.
- Battle Grunt D (戦闘尉D) - Moves aimlessly; stops at random intervals to greet. If it finds a bomb in its plane, it will hide in its helmet, protecting it until the bomb has detonated. 400 points.
- Final Z (ファイナル Z) - Moves aimlessly, stopping periodically to fire a missile that can destroy Soft Blocks. Requires 2 hits to defeat, dumping a regular Battle Grunt A out of the robot. 500 points.
Bomberman Fantasy Race[]
In Bomberman Fantasy Race, a Hige Hige Bandit is playable. He goes by the name Sentouin No. 15 (せんとういん15号) or Mechbomber No. 15.
Saturn Bomberman Fight!![]
In Saturn Bomberman Fight!!, a different Hige Hige Bandit appears as a playable character. He is identified as Sentouin No. 12 (戦闘員12号) or Combatant #12.
Bomberman Tournament[]
In Bomberman Tournament, they appeared in almost all Bases (except Plasma Base) as standard enemies and appeared to be under the servitude of the Five Dastardly Bombers, along with many other enemies. They were among the easiest enemies in the game, with simple movement patterns and would only walk in Bomberman's direction when he was nearby. They had the habit of "dancing" every so often, which left them vulnerable to attack.
A special variant of the Hige Hige Bandit appeared in Fantasy. They wield a gun and as soon as they spot the player, they uses it to fire up to 3 bullets in succession. The bullets they shoot move slowly in straight line until they collide with an obstacle such as Soft Blocks, Hard Blocks or bombs (without detonating them), and can also be blocked with Ceedrun's Shield ability and be easily avoided. The Bandits themselves are still vulnerable when "dancing". They just require 1 hit to defeat, and could potentially drop Gold or Small Medicine.
Hige Hige Bandits also appeared in the game three times where they were not directly fought; the first time was a minigame where one must utilize Bombs to set off cannons to free Tough Guy, using Tough Guy's ability to throw bombs across a ravine to defeat three Hige Hige Bandits to cause an avalanche to cross it, and finally traversing a track consisting entirely of Hige Hige Bandits to free Pommy Animal.
Bomberman Land 1[]
It appears in Special Mode. It takes 2 hits to defeat and gives 1 Exp.
Bomberman 64 (2001)[]
Hige Hige Bandits appears here as a normal enemy in the Classic Mode, where they takes 2 hits to defeat.
Bomberman Max 2[]
In this game, the Hige Hige Bandits are part of the plot lead by Mujoe to conquer the world, they are shown in the intro sequence, but don't appear physically in the game, although there are multiple instances where they are seen as a trap, either trying to crush the player, or in the Lab Zone, where they can be briefly seen on giant televisions shooting bolts at the player.
Bomberman Generation[]
The Hige Hige Bandits appear as the primary antagonists, alongside Mujoe. They were the ones responsible for destroying the freighter carrying the Bomb Elements and made haste towards the planet Tentacalls upon their descent.
Though they are, in story, meant to be searching for the Elements, most Hige Hige Bandits are basic enemy types that, early on, don't actively attack Bomberman and simply wander about. They can be felled like any other regular enemy with proper bomb blast attacks and, on occasion, drop Hearts.
One unique feature is that they will have certain World-specific perks that will change either their appearance or level of threat (e.g. in Tentasia, they will wear flippers and snorkels in the underwater sections, and ice skates in the ice levels; they will don Sombreros in the desert heat of Tako Desert; they have hard hats on in Nekki Moon, which will protect them from being stunned with a thrown bomb; and are armed with a laser gun in the Megadeth Bypass level).
Hige Hige Bandits also appear as a minor threat in the game's Coin Battle multiplayer mode, who drop coins when attacked with a bomb blast.
Bomberman Jetters[]
The Bandits appear again as the main antagonists in Jetters, occupying the Dark Star as it flies towards Planet Bomber.
Like in Generation, they are a basic enemy that can be felled with a single bomb blast. However, this time around, their threat level is considerably higher; if Bomberman or Max enters their line of sight, they will notice and actively attack them in a method based on the level/world type (charging towards them with a jet pack, throwing mattocks and pick axes, using farming sickles, tossing ninja stars, channeling elemental spells, etc.). This is made far worse than before as being attacked by them, or even just touching them, will reduce a power up perk (Bomb-Up, Fire-Up and Speed-Up), by one, which is lost forever and can only be replenished by way of additional item pickups.
Each jet/world features a different world environment type that the Hige Hige Bandits will conform to, changing their appearance and attack patterns. Though combat against them is still the same, dealing with them is never truly the same thing twice.
Four Hige Hige Bandits also appear as playable characters in the Battle Mode of Bomberman Jetters. Their numbers are #1 through #4. #1 is unlocked from the start, but #2-4 must be respectively unlocked by collecting the 3 Red, 3 Green and 3 Blue Hige Hige Cards in the Story Mode. Their Killer Shot freezes all characters into a Hige Hige Pose for a second, no matter what they are doing.
Bomberman Jetters Vol. 1[]
In this game, they are the main enemies. There are approximately 3 versions of them (names are unofficial):
- Hige Hige: The standard one that just moves left and right (sometimes they fall from the sky in parachute before reaching the ground). Take 1 hit to defeat.
- Laser Hige Hige: The Laser Hige Hige Bandit that stays on a fixed spot and just jumps on that spot, occasionally shooting a laser beam from his pistol. Take 1 hit to defeat.
- Flying Hige Hige: The one that are shot from canons, they fly in straight line to the other side of the screen. Take 1 hit to defeat.
Note: Those are the only enemies of the game who hasn't been changed (except graphic update), and kept their same appearances in Bomberman Planet.
Bomberman Jetters: Game Collection[]
Appears as a playable character in Battle Mode. Its ability is Kick.
Bomberman Land Portable[]
The Hige Hige Bandits, known in-game as Guards, act as the subjects of Dark Bomber, Dark Piece, Dark Rose, Dark Doll and Dark Witch in Bomberman Land Portable.
Guards also appeared in Minigames such as Whack-an-Orge and RoboBomber.
Bomberman Land Wii[]
Hige Hige Bandits makes an appearance in the Catch the Coins and Space Tube minigames.
Bomberman: Panic Bomber (PSP)[]
In Bomberman: Panic Bomber, a Hige Hige Bandit appeared in the game as final boss after you beaten Black, Red, Blue and Green Bombers.
Bomberman Kart DX[]
In Bomberman Kart DX, a Hige Hige Bandit appeared as a playable character in Special Race mode and as an enemy in Survival Bomberman mode.
Super Bomberman R[]
In Super Bomberman R, they appear to serve the main antagonist, Buggler.
- Blue Hige Hige Combatant - Walks both directions. Can change directions. Only appears in World 1.
- Green Hige Hige Combatant - Walks both directions, but avoids bombs. Only appears in World 2 and World 3.
- Pink Hige Hige Combatant - Walks both directions, but goes to you once you are in a 2-to-3 tile range near it. Only appears in World 4.
- Purple Hige Hige Combatant - Walks both directions, but avoids bombs and follows you. Only appears in World 5.
Super Bomberman R 2[]
Hige Hige Bandits don't appear in Super Bomberman R 2, but they make a cameo appearance in the audience along with the Civilians when a Grand-Prix Mode round starts.
Notable Hige Hige Bandits[]
No. 156 (Satoshi)[]
- See No. 156
No. 156, despite looking almost identical to any other generic Hige Hige, is the most notable Hige Hige Bandit. His name debuts in episode 14, where the entire episode focuses on him and his daily life. He appears in other episodes, however, and he seems to be very loyal to Mujoe.
No. 398[]
- See No. 398
No. 398 is also one of the most notable Hige Hige Bandits; his initial role was to go undercover and live out a normal life, getting a job and raising a family on Planet Jetters so he could spy on the Jetters HQ. Since he appears to have raised a family, however, his undercover work may now be in question, which is acknowledged by other characters in the anime, including Mujoe. His job role is the "Department Chief Hige".
Sam[]
Sam is unique among the Hige Hige Bandits as he's mostly seen wearing a cowboy hat. He is only seen twice in the anime.
Cafeteria Lady[]
This Hige Hige member is the most distinct one in the anime, not only for being the only prominent female of the entire crew, but for also being the largest in comparison to the others and is able to speak normally instead of speaking like a typical Hige Hige.
Gallery[]
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