kanekocribs

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LXV: SEVEN SEAS OF CRIBS

Halloween is on the approach, and what could this mean? Tricks, treats? Skeletons, witches, draculae? A child's laughter sounding lightly through the autumn leaves? No, it doesn't mean any of that GARBAGE- it's time for the annual outing of KANEKO'S CRIB NOTES! Please enjoy this smattering of delirious cribs that will make you think "damn, that's the thing that the other thing is based on".

NEZHA: The modern pop sensibility of Soul Hackers is on display in Nezha's Astro Boy inspired design, drawing a parallel between the two "rebuilt" child heroes. It's evident from the twin spikes and whatever the fuck that is, you know, his metallic underwear I suppose.

CHERUB: Following the probably erroneously designated 'Ophanim' from SMTII, and playing on Kaneko's documented fascination with angelkind as spacecraft, this Devil Summoner take on Cherub pushes the concept even further, borrowing a look from the cover of ancient alien classic The Spaceships of Ezekiel by Joseph F. Blumrich. Compare the cover to the Japanese edition that Kaneko was more likely familiar with!

SERAPH: The composition of Seraph's four heads and crossed arms is a likely homage to the iconic cover of 1974's Queen II. Slap that shit on your dorm room wall for a change!

TITANIA: Titania's appearance in SMTII is a slightly embellished take on this Brian Froud illustration of the ghostly Glaistig of Scotland. Thanks to Psiguy for originally sharing this ID from @yen_den, based on a post uploaded to the @theavalonians twitter account!

FIONN MAC CUMHAILL: In the spirit of equanimity, a last addition to the DOI'S CRIB NOTES series: Fionn Mac Cumhaill appears to be inspired by the dress of legendary illustrator J.C. Leyendecker's 'Cu Chulainn Riding His Chariot Into Battle' (1911), from the rectangular pattern of his mail-coat down to the telltale 'X' meander that runs along the fringe of either cloak.

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #nezha #fionn mac cumhaill #cherub #seraph #titania #astro boy #j.c. leyendecker #queen #brian froud #smt #megaten #devil summoner #persona #doi's crib notes #masayuki doi

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LXIV: KANEKO’S BIZARRE CRIBS

Our most monochromatic volume yet! Hirohiko Araki and his magnum opus Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure have achieved critical levels of popularity and cultural cachet worldwide and the demand is only going to get frothier thanks to the smooth animation of David Production and seamless distribution from Netflix. Kazuma Kaneko? Obviously a hip cat like him was into Jojo before it was cool. So like how David Production and Netflix keep killing it, you could say the same for Megaten; only Kaneko drew all these before Doi murdered him with an ORA ORA ORA from Amon’s horrible arms.

OCELOTL: Also known just as Ocelot, this is one of the jaguars that ate the giants of the First World in Aztec myth; being a cat, Kaneko molded the design around a then more contemporary former feline (who loves Yoshikage Kira): Stray Cat.

BS RECONSTRUCTION SOLDIER VULCAN: These ne’er-do-wells from Maken X’s London stage don’t just borrow Stroheim’s chest-gun: when they fire it in the game, they pose like him, too!

ACHERI: This obscure Indian ghost of a little girl follows quite literally in the footsteps of Alessi and his shadowy Stand, Sethan!

IXTAB (PROTOTYPE): Seen in Devil Summoner World Guidance, this male design for Maya suicide goddess Ixtab went unused for being too blunt a depiction of the subject, despite wearing the Stone Mask of vampiric immortality. The latter artifact was likely chosen as an accessory because of its origin from the proximate Aztec culture.

+PLUS: Our previous Jojo crib featuring Thanatos and Okuyasu’s father! & Special thanks to @dijeh for assistance with this volume!

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #jojo's bizarre adventure #hirohiko araki #devil summoner #soul hackers #maken x #phantom blood #battle tendency #stardust crusaders #diamond is unbreakable #megaten

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LXIII: 2K FOLLOWERS SPECIAL!

When Kaneko’s Crib Notes began 20 years ago, we never imagined that one day 2,000 people would care about the work and influences of a man forced into exile by his own massive talents. In that time span, an entire generation has been born, matured, married, reproduced, and passed on. Here are some fun behind-the-scenes factoids from KCN’s storied history:

Total number of cribs: 173

Total notes: 27,935

Total nice pickups and gifts: 11

Total views: 112,737

Total Papa Johns "Papa Rewards Points": 136,531

What a thrilling thrill ride it’s been!

JANUS: Adapted from Leonardo da Vinci’s “Allegory of Pleasure and Pain.”

OSE: Wears Sting’s Feyd-Rautha codpiece from Lynch’s DUNE.

TAOTIE: The gluttonous monster found its modern counterpart and thematic inspiration in Dr. Slump’s Gatchan, who eats almost anything.

THRONE: Kaneko described Throne as being inspired by American comics; his wardrobe and even skin color reference Marvel’s Cloak. 

CHERUB: SMT2′s statue Cherub is designed after ANE depictions of winged human-animal hybrids, such as sphinxes and lamassu, that likely inspired the Bible’s own descriptions.

Here’s to 20 more amazing years!

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #smt #megaten #devil summoner #persona #atlus #janus #da vinci #ose #dune #sting #taotie #dr. slump #gatchan #throne #marvel's cloak #cherub

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LXII: HEARTFELT EROTICISM

It’s Halloween. No, it’s the Halloween before Shin Megami Tensei V. That means it’s time to remember Kazuma Kaneko. He was a good artist before he was KILLED. Yes, that’s right. He was MURDERED. If you’ve seen him recently it was just a body double. Once Kaneko became old and worthless, Masayuki Doi touched the barrel of a gun to the back of his head execution style, said, “Move over for a new generation, motherfucker,” and pulled the trigger. Kaneko’s brains splattered all over his PC. Doi fucking blew his brains out. Brains. That’s a Halloween thing. Like zombies. Spooky.

Have fun this holiday season comparing details of the above images!

MOTHMAN: According to Kaneko, not only is Mothman intentionally furry and fuzzy like a moth, he’s influenced by Obake no Q-Taro’s cylindrical Doronpa, an American obake in the manga/anime. It’s mainly in the head. If you don’t know Q-Taro, he’s the inspiration for SMT2′s Ghost Q! Kaneko also described Mothman’s silhouette as heart-shaped, so no wonder he’s so beloved!

KHONSU: Damn, this fun Halloween mummy is doing a “Vogue” (ヴォーギング) move as popularized by Madonna! Kaneko cites the famous ‘Vogue Dance’ as inspiring Khonsu’s fabulous pose here, illustrated by this model working it in approximate fashion. Man, mummies are scary, like Halloween! This crib is a fucking slam dunk!

GIRIMEKHALA: 32-bit-era Giri is influenced by the 1969 Toei animation The Wonderful World of Puss in Boots and its Lucifer’s brief appearance as an elephant. Evil elephant, evil source influence I suppose. Giri builds upon details like Lucifer’s spiky crown and skull pendant! 

LHAM DEARG: This supremely Scottish ghost is based on supremely French actor Christopher Lambert in his iconic role as THE HIGHLANDER (1986)! Lham Dearg has clearly met a grisly end on the battlefield, but Connor MacLeod is eternal except in the cartoon where he dies almost instantly.

ARTEMIS/DIANA: De-nippled for your protection! It's common knowledge that these two are take-offs of the Artemis of Ephesus statues. However, it's no longer believed that those statues' multitudinous prominences are breasts but rather ornaments such as bull testicles or gourds. So honestly, the de-nippled Artemis and Diana are more accurate... if you're thinking bull testicles.

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #brains #mothman #khonsu #girimekhala #lham dearg #artemis #diana #shin megami tensei #smt #megaten #doi lied kaneko died

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LXI: DEAD MAN’S UNREST

Things I love in October: Jesus Christ, Hot Dogs, Chevy Trucks, Yankees Eliminated from Postseason, Kazuma Kaneko. And since we are nominally involved with the art of Kazuma Kaneko, certified Dead Guy, here’s some new material, i.e., stuff you WILL reblog over and over again so we can finally both crack 1000 notes on a post and surpass 2000 total followers. You’ll never read this text either so GO TO HELL; if you do read, you will GO TO HEAVEN

ANGEL: Before he died, Kaneko loved French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier, who provided costume design work for 1997′s The Fifth Element, like Jovovich’s Leeloo here, whose costume Kaneko 100% stole for Angel’s Nocturne update. It’s a cycle.

XUANWU: The turtle-snake’s alt names are tagged but we’re gonna pretend they don’t exist. Anyway, during his alive days, Kaneko was totally into this Xuanwu art. I really miss that dude.

EMPUSA: This scaly nightmare is actually “Lamia” from the bestiary History of Four-Footed Beasts, yadda, yadda, Kaneko then used it for Empusa, though it’s better for her anyway.

SURT: Kaneko’s life can be divided into two periods: I. He watched Clive Barker’s 1990 film Nightbreed; II. He passed away. Thus, here’s a Midianite who appears for like three frames and has the same volcanic conehead as the two Surts.

BELOBOG: Yes, it’s fan-favorite Belobog, now compared to Golden Bat, the kamishibai superhero. This is the cover of a magazine tie-in to the '60s movie, but Golden Bat generally looks the same wherever, with that cloak & collar and scepter that suspiciously also belong to Belobog. Thanks to that one Golden Bat video, via @caligulasterrarium.

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #rip #empusa #lamia #xuanwu #genbu #gui xian #atlus fix this shit #goddammit #surt #nightbreed #jean paul gaultier #angel #golden bat #belobog #smt #megaten #atlus #art #pre-halloween

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KANEKO'S CRIB NOTES LX: KISS FROM A NIGHT ROSE

That dark and unsettling time of year is once again upon us. With a flash of lightning and a peal of thunder, Kaneko's Crib Notes once again rises from its grave! Kaneko himself, though: still dead. Blame the moe boom.

Anyway, you'll be SHOCKED to the marrow as you discover what we have in store for you this season. Five CHILLING selections so brazen, so unexpected that you'll wish this blog was active more than once a year. So before more CLICHES of TERROR give you the cold sweats, do have a good and HAPPY HALLOWEEN this year. We mean it.

LILITH: From the 1990 film Night Angel. Submitted by @cryomancer199x. SMT1's Lilith is a composite of various elements of Night Angel's Lilith: three fingers, stripes of scaly skin (makeup in the movie's context), rings and jewelry, long, dark hair, and of course the classic snake. For more, check this gallery.

ALRAUNE: From the 1973 Japanese book World Yokai Picture Book. We don't know of an earlier appearance of Japan's now-ubiquitous "naked girl emerging from a large flower" Alraune interpretation, so it's likely this illustration influenced SMT's, Castlevania's, and the slew of horny mobile games to follow.

JUEYUAN: From Gene Simmons' "The Demon" Kiss character makeup. Kaneko gave this Chinese monkey and kidnapper of women a counterfeit of Simmons' iconic makeup. Jueyuan also has a penis-shaped tail, so it's likely an intentional pairing with the frontman's licentious escapades.

APSU: The arms are from a type of clay Astarte (less likely Asherah) figurine. Submitted by @doctorchevlong. Why the Mesopotamian fresh water deity has Canaanite Astarte arms, we couldn't tell you. Just don't let it ruin your day.

MAGATAMA: From Alien Metallinome of Captain Ultra. Submitted by anonymous. The Magatama's open configuration looks a lot like this thing’s head. Rest assured, we here at KCN care deeply about tokusatsu matters.

We’re now up to 120+ unique cribs! Thank you for reading this. Garbage.

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #shin megami tensei #smt #megaten #atlus #lilith #alraune #apsu #jueyuan #magatama #night angel #astarte #kiss #gene simmons #captain ultra #halloween #garbage

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LIX: NOW WE HAVE DEVIL SUMMONER WORLD GUIDANCE, HO-HO-HO

It’s the 2018 holiday season, which means Tumblr is about to become a smoldering crater. Until then, we've got some amazing new cribs for you courtesy of Devil Summoner World Guidance. DSWG is a solid demon art book with Kaneko comments for each of DS’s demons (a total of 275). Our gifts to you are the best five out of those mostly easily translated:

Cu Chulainn: Finally on KCN! Kaneko’s is inspired by the Cu Chulainn in the obscure manga/anime Fairy King / Yousei-ou (妖精王). Technically the comments are about the Devil Summoner version but the SMT1 Cu Chulainn above makes for a better comparison to the manga art.

Thor: DS’s “boring” Thor cribs mightily from Schwarzenegger's Conan from Conan the Barbarian. Compare the beefy body, the fur-lined clothing, and especially the totally cribbed helmet. Just do it quickly, before Kratos savagely butchers him in God of War 2!

Thanatos:  This diseased dwarf is as unusual as they come, but Kaneko claims inspiration from two distinct sources: Okuyasu’s deformed father in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure and Baron Harkonnen of Dune, presumably Kenneth McMillan’s pustulating portrayal from the 1984 film.

Virtue: Virtue’s translucent body, while striking, has always been difficult to pin down but at last we know that it was intended as an homage to Claire, the glass/machine waitress of Galaxy Express 999: an odd but strangely appropriate visual for the angelic archetype.

Rahu: Not merely an allusion to the idiomatic expression, Rahu's craneal wang can apparently be traced back to the phallic pineal gland sported by Dr. Pretorius in Stuart Gordon's cult classic From Beyond.

#kaneko's crib notes #megami tensei #megaten #shin megami tensei #smt #devil summoner #persona #atlus #cu chulainn #thor #virtue #thanatos #rahu #jojo's bizarre adventure #conan the barbarian #dune #galaxy express 999 #from beyond #kazuma kaneko

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LVIII: GREATEST HITTITE OF THE ‘70s

There’s little rhyme or reason to Kaneko’s influences sometimes, not that it’s a bad thing. Case in point: Shin Megami Tensei’s version of the Hittite serpent Illuyanka appears to be wearing the mask of Phantom of the Paradise’s eponymous Phantom. We know what you’re thinking: what the hell is Phantom of the Paradise? A 1974 flop directed by noted filmmaker Brian De Palma (The Untouchables, Scarface), Phantom channels the same musical camp as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, only its relative obscurity means your friends won’t ruin it for you. Pardon the personal anecdote.

Anyway, The Phantom’s beaked mask is quite distinct and Illuyanka’s shares its shape and details right down to the ridges and stylized eyelashes. The Phantom’s mask seems to have made a splash in Japan overall, as its appearance can also potentially be seen in the helmet worn by Berserk’s Griffith/Femto; however, there’s no question that Kaneko was copying Phantom’s original, as Berserk’s differs in some key ways.

Many thanks to doctorchevlong for this crib!

Speaking of masks and phantoms, HAPPY HALLOWEEN and enjoy KCN’s very best selections from Samhain seasons past:

‘14: (1) Betelgeuse (2) Baphomet

‘15: (1) Season of the Crib, (2) Arachne

‘16: Spoo*y Skeletons

‘17: David’s Halloween Ghoul-a-ganza

#kaneko's crib notes #illuyanka #kazuma kaneko #megami tensei #megaten #shin megami tensei #smt #devil summoner #shin megami tensei liberation dx2 #atlus #smtiv #phantom of the paradise #berserk #griffith #halloween

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LVII: HENSHIN-A-NO-NO, BABY!

More than three weeks have passed since the publication of our titanic exposé on all things pertaining to Odin, Doi, and demon design past and present. But if you haven’t had an opportunity to check her out, or if you’re already rearing for another go, then now’s your chance! You can jump in here, but if you’d like a sneak-peak first, check out just some of the good stuff that handily conforms to this blog’s purview below:

ODIN: A less than appropriate appropriation of one of the least Germanic Tokusatsu icons in existence. 

ASHERAH: The dadaist patterns of another Ultra alumni make the transition to Semitic mother goddess. 

MAITREYA: All of those Matsuko Deluxe jokes have borne out something fierce, but the aspect and mudra of the future Buddha are at the ready.

LOKI: Shocking parity achieved with the very, very nude illustrations of 19th century Danish illustrator Lorenz Frølich. 

AMON: The Le Breton Dictionnaire Infernal print injected with the PEDs of Devilman's very red Amon.

Those are the CliffsNotes, but you can find them discussed at length with a boatload of context by following this link!

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #not kazuma kaneko #masayuki doi #shin megami tensei #smt #megaten #smtiva #atlus #odin #asherah #miroku #loki #amon

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Masayuki Doi has the unfortunate distinction of being the black sheep of Atlus' main art designers, no doubt due to the fact that some of his best work is hidden within a dead series and that his rise to prominence came at a tumultuous time in the company's history. However, we think his surprisingly expansive oeuvre is definitely worthy of a comprehensive reevaluation and deserving of wider recognition, even if some of it is tarnished by lamentable choices and circumstances. Join Kaneko's Crib Notes editors Soren and Eirikr once more as they break down Doi's entire career, from Trauma Center to Shin Megami Tensei and much more!

READ MORE!

#kaneko's crib notes #masayuki doi #trauma center #trauma team #shin megami tensei #megaten #smt #atlus #shin megami tensei iv #shin megami tensei iv apocalypse #shin megami tensei v

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LV: LENNY KRAVITZ’S FESTIVAL OF INFERNAL LIGHTS

Lenny Kravitz once declared “Rock and Roll Is Dead,” but we’re pretty sure he didn’t light a candle over its grave...until now.

With Christmas upon us at last, we never expected that the incredibly belated (on multiple occasions) releases of the 4th and 5th volumes of the Kazuma Kaneko Works series would be as the Star of Bethlehem and lead us to one of the most astonishing cribs of all. As with the preceding three volumes, Kaneko Works 4 and 5 contain profile appendices for each of the featured demons, including what were assumed to be new descriptive notes and sources on designs from the 32-bit era. Unfortunately, many of these notes suggested design inspirations that seemed spurious at best, including one that noted that Bifrons’ design as seen in Devil Summoner and Soul Hackers (but Devil Summoner in particular) was based on musician Lenny Kravitz.

Though this connection seemed too good to be true and likely the mere conjecture of a new author with a surprisingly deep bed of pop culture references at hand, it turned out the design source mentions in particular originated not from Kaneko Works 4 and 5 but from the old Devil Summoner World Guidance book, in Kaneko’s own words! Straight from the horse’s mouth: the Kravitz inspiration was real! (Click here to view the Bifrons blurbs from KW5 and DS World Guidance.)

As seen in the gallery, Bifrons clearly resembles a costume Kravitz wore in promotion for his 1995 album Circus. Both wear a “puffy shirt” under a jacket and while Bifrons’ skull doesn’t seem to be that of a mouse’s to match Kravitz’s mask (but does in a way carry over his monstrous grin from the Dictionnaire Infernal), the demon retains the musician’s flowing dreadlocks. With the addition of a blazing candelabrum in reference to Bifrons’ spirited role, it’s yet another classic Kaneko pop culture crib to add to the pantheon!

Very special thanks to @poltergeist0002 for confirming for us that the design comments originated in Devil Summoner World Guidance!

GHOSTS OF KCN PAST:

They the Four Kings of the cardinal directions are

The X Days of Stolasmas

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #lenny kravitz #bifrons #shin megami tensei #smt #megami tensei #devil summoner #soul hackers #devil survivor #strange journey #atlus #occult #christmas #wardrobe malfunction

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LIV: DAVID’S HALLOWEEN GHOUL-A-GANZA + CASTLEVANIA...!?!

Thanks to matteste for this one! Originally spotted on the cover of the Swedish book Sällsamheter i Bohuslän och Dalsland, we were able to trace this death image’s presence to none other than the Dictionnaire Infernal (though not its actual origins; we’ll get into that). Featured in the dictionary’s entry for the "dance of death” (danse des morts), this skeletal musician looks as if it is delighting in fiddling away some macabre tune. Kaneko’s David adapts exactly the posture of raised left leg, the placement of the violin on the left shoulder, and especially the feathered beret.

A perplexing issue is the exact provenance of the Dictionnaire’s "David.” Louis Le Breton is famously credited for the book’s demon illustrations, but the skeleton violinist is unattributed; moreover, it just doesn’t look like it is in Le Breton’s style. No other artist is officially credited in the Dictionnaire, but a couple of the other illustrations in the “dance of death” entry are signed by that of Jean-Baptiste Victor Loutrel and E. Kretzschmar; we can find no confirmation that the work is theirs. It would also be tempting to credit Hans Holbein the Younger and his own Dance of Death woodcut series, but the illustration isn’t present there, either. Even more puzzling is the colorized version as seen on the Swedish book, as its crimson hue is an uncanny match for Kaneko’s Fiend--so where exactly did he see this? Certainly not on this book’s cover, unless he’s been a secret Suecophile all along! Unfortunately, all of these questions must remain unanswered for the time being.

While obviously meant to evoke the Danse Macabre of his Dictionnaire heritage, the appellation “David” is another matter altogether. Luckily avoiding confusion with the later Macabre, David’s likely namesake is instead one of the creations of the legendary Antonio Stradivari: the violin Davidoff Stradivarius, as evidenced by the weapon left behind following his defeat in the original SMT (’Stradivari”). Otherwise, looking for any connection between the name David and the genuine Danse Macabre tradition turned out to be a fool’s errand.

Lastly, since October is the month when we reflect on the dead, it’s the perfect time to include some Castlevania! Morbid, but you know it’s true. Anyway, while browsing the Dictionnaire Infernal we happened upon its entry for Amalaric, the Visigoth king, and found the general silhouette of his sniper assassin to be curiously familiar in both pose and the degree of the bow’s tilt to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night’s Sniper of Goth (or Amalaric Sniper). While its angelic embellishments define the sprite, we figure this illustration has to be the inspiration for it as it’s such a bizarrely specific enemy otherwise!

Halloween ‘14: (1) Betelgeuse (2) Baphomet

Halloween ‘15: (1) Season of the Crib, (2) Arachne

Halloween ‘16: (1) Spoo*y Skeletons

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #louis le breton #megami tensei #shin megami tensei #smt #strange journey #devil summoner #atlus #david #skeleton #danse macabre #halloween #Dictionnaire Infernal #castlevania #symphony of the night

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We here at Kaneko’s Crib Notes have been researching the true identities and origins of certain demons for the better part of a decade, along with many other like-minded collaborators. The diversity of source and reference at play in the series compendium is a sight to behold, but that same variety includes origins of the utmost obscurity, particularly for an English-speaking audience; many of these figures and sources of inspiration have only the most paper-thin presence even in Japanese media. World Mythology is a field of nearly immeasurable depth, so adding clumsy renderings to and from katakana to the mix tends to complicate matters even further. But by turning our attention to the oeuvre of one of Kaneko’s known influences, celebrated artist and folklorist Shigeru Mizuki, we’ve stumbled upon a motherlode of cribs and sources the likes of which we aren’t likely to see again. And so we’ve decided to catalogue it all in one place: not just the mountain of Mizuki cribwork, but the results of many years of hunting for the identities and sources of the most mystifying figures to ever grace the compendium.

This Crib has been years in the making, and for once that actually means something. We’ve publicly discussed these endeavors before, at least in microcosm, but this is where the pieces really fall together. Read on and be acquainted with some of the most persistent secrets the series has to offer!

CLICK HERE TO UNVEIL SMT’S GREATEST MYSTERIES!

OR, MOBILE USERS: A NEW MOBILE EDITION TAILORED JUST FOR YOU!

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #shin megami tensei #shigeru mizuki #smt #megaten #atlus #yokai #malaysia #jah hut #水木 しげる #robert stack #unsolved mysteries

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LII: GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME JAPANESE-JEWISH COMMON ANCESTRY THEORY

The Fourth of July is upon us once again, and you know what that means? That’s right, Japanese Jewish Common Ancestry Theory. These fiercely loyal cribs are coming at you courtesy of a new article that deals extensively with the subject, along with a supplementary piece concerning the greatest patriot the series has ever known. Check those out for some crucial context and a glut of other series revelations, and don’t forget to honor our founding fathers by letting your Yamato Damashii burn brightly this holiday!

HEXAGRAM: “After the Atlus logo fades out, we see an encircled sigil--the famous Seal of Solomon, or, more precisely, the Hexagram of Solomon, used to control demons, though a slightly embellished, proprietary version for SMT's use. While the hexagram shape is important, it's the inlaid letters and words that are of chief interest, specifically the "TETRAGRAMMATON," "AGLA," and the alpha and omega.”

KURAMA TENGU: “Right off the bat, you can see that Kurama wears yamabushi attire but also distinctly Jewish accessories, both a tefillin and a kippah. Kaneko isn't even trying to obscure the distinct box shape of the tefillin, which is pretty amazing. Kurama is also seen blowing on a horagai conch, but one has to wonder if a prototype of the design wasn't using a shofar ram's horn instead, not that the difference matters to JJCAT enthusiasts.” 

On a non-JJCAT related note, Kurama’s human-like appearance is inspired by the eponymous “Kurama Tengu” of the novel series of the same name by Jirō Osaragi, later personified in film by Kanjūrō Arashi.*

MASAKADO (HEAD): “The earliest tales seem to be about Masakado's displayed head in Kyoto. For three months afterward, the head was said to never close its eyes and constantly moan, asking where its body was. When someone finally told him where, the head "grinned wistfully," closed its eyes, and ceased making noise. Not long afterward, the head flew off towards Shimosa.”

MASAKADO (KABUKI): “...But more interesting is his redesign, which evolves the "Lord" Masakado design from SMT2 into a full-fledged kabuki hero. He not only retains the red kumadori stripes on his face but gains a costume and wig to match. Compare the familiar Kaneko design to a portrayal of Masakado from an actual kabuki play... Kaneko's has some embellishments, but something like it is clearly the inspiration at play here.”

MASAKADO (PATRIOT): Masakado is back in action in SMTIV, this time with more prominent billing than ever. Interestingly, the inspiration for this gnarly take on Japan’s preeminent rebel jingoist seems to have been the dead American spirit that is Devil Summoner’s Patriot, a demon with such obvious love for his native country that even in the afterlife he’s willing to dispense swift American justice to anyone who insults Ronald Reagan’s jelly bean habit. SMTIV’s giant Masakado is an equally fierce nationalist and “patriotic warrior,” one who won’t think twice about wiping out any culture that dares try and intrude on his beloved Tokyo--except for McDonald’s apparently, since there’s a Mickey D’s on almost every Tokyo block. Dude must love that Filet-O-Fish.

*Special thanks to dnekrufi for bringing to this to our attention!

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #masakado #kurama tengu #hexagram of solomon #patriot #japanese jewish common ancestry theory #Shin Megami Tensei #Megaten #atlus

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LI: PIXIE

Can’t say we expected to be back in the game so soon, let alone with a whopper like this, but here we go! Turns out one of the most iconic Fairies this side of Jack Frost himself has had a source readily at hand all the while: Cham Huau of Yoshiyuki Tomino’s Aura Battler Dunbine, released roughly a decade prior to Pixie’s debut in the original Shin Megami Tensei. Of course, her more recognizable modern design maintains the template laid out above, but her earlier, longer haired appearance leaves little room for ambiguity.

This connection is thanks to an admission from Kaneko himself in the Digital Devil Story 10 Year Chronicle book, so it’s as 100% authentic as a Star Trek: The Next Generation Lieutenant Worf collector plate from The Franklin Mint:

Commenting on Pixie’s appearance in SMT1, Kaneko says in the second sentence, “自分の中にはやっぱり某ロボットアニメのフェリのイメージがあるんだよねえ（笑）,” “I've retained the mental image of a fairy from a certain robot anime (Laughs the guilty laugh of a serial plagiarizer).” As Cham is the only notable fairy from robot anime predating SMT1*, Kaneko was practically pulling a Dzolob here.

*UPDATE: Friend of the site, “Ed,” informed me that Cham has a twin in Lillith Huau from Heavy Metal L-Gaim, released only a year after Dunbine and also directed by Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino. As you can see below, Lillith shares Cham’s general appearance; she also has the same voice actress! That said, we still feel Cham is the correct Crib subject, as she established the mold.

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #shin megami tensei #pixie #cham huau #aura battler dunbine #smt #megaten #atlus #lieutenant worf

[kanekocribs]

KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES, VOLUME 50: WIG OUT

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KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES XLIX: COMIC RELIEF

You wouldn’t think to consider American comics or action figures as potential influences for Kaneko’s designs. However, Kaneko’s frankness about American comic hobbies in this essential 1999 interview blew the doors to potential new Cribs wide open. That’s right, Kaneko isn’t above letting his comic book fancy shine through every now and then--and given that many consider super heroes and their ilk as the modern descendants of the mythological sort, let's call this a case of inspiration coming full circle.

ZAOU GONGEN: If you’ve been a KCN regular these past few years, you may be experiencing deja vu with this demon. Indeed, Zaou Gongen was already featured in our Volume XXXII entry that took a look at Buddhist influences. However, there’s another influence that comes from a most unpredictable source: Todd McFarlane’s Spawn. Yes, Kaneko was apparently a Spawn fan in the 90s and Zaou Gongen’s demonic undies and chains are pretty obviously lifted from Spawn himself. Thanks to ophiuchan for originally pointing this out to us way back in Volume XXXII! KCN never forgets!

IPPON-DATARA: More McFarlane? We still can’t believe Kaneko collected Spawn figures. It’s easy to see how the Spawn figure Grave Digger was the influence for Ippon-datara, with their thin frames and shared bits of metal bolted to their bodies. Grave Digger was released in June 1997 and Soul Hackers in November 1997, so there’s probably just enough of a window for this to be plausible; we think Kaneko was probably a savvy Spawn collector anyway, looking ahead to magazine or internet previews at the time, if it was even needed. Thanks to Zodar for originally championing this connection to us!

MELCHIZEDEK: Melchizedek has been on the KCN Most Wanted Cribs list for years, eluding a definitive source every step of the way. Then, somehow, Dijeh found tantalizing comments attributed to Kaneko in Japanese sources saying that Melchizedek was drawn in a “heroic,” “comic” (read: American) style, and with the Mercedes-Benz logo on his face because “Mercedes” and “Melchizedek” sound similar in Japanese. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find these comments in any of the books we own, but they are plausible enough! The tri-point star of the Mercedes logo is easy to see on Melchizedek’s helmet, and for an angelic American comic book influence, it’s gotta be Marvel’s Angel/Archangel; and since we know Kaneko was paying attention to comic book toys, we can’t find a better match than this particular Archangel II figure, with its angular, metallic wings conspicuously similar to Melchizedek’s panel-like ones. UPDATE: Kaneko’s Melchizedek also clearly resembles Todd McFarlane’s heavenly warrior Redeemer, whose figure also predates Soul Hackers. From a purple base color with white and gold trim to those excessive greaves, this had to be a figure Kaneko owned or saw at some point. Thanks to @ewzzy for pointing this out to us! This is also a good opportunity to address a common question about Melchizedek: Why is he an angel in SMT when he’s a noted Old Testament priest-king? Well, that’s because SMT’s Melchizedek is based instead on the figure from the the Gnostic text Pistis Sophia, where his role is an angel-like figure responsible for purifying the light of the archons as “the great Paralemptor of Light.”

#kaneko's crib notes #kazuma kaneko #shin megami tensei #megaten #atlus #zaou gongen #ippon-datara #melchizedek #smt #persona #spawn #todd mcfarlane #x-men