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Post by thwhtguardian on Apr 22, 2021 8:55:04 GMT -5
In the latest issue I was pretty surprised to see Usagi have to defend himself from a swarm of snakes and it really got me thinking of not only what other animals are just animals in Usagi's world but also have we ever seen another instance like this one(Lord Hebi is a snake)where an animal was not only portrayed as a person but also an animal?
For the first part I know there have been fish, crabs, turtles, horses and birds as being just what they'd seem but have there been others?
And the second, I'm really scratching my brain but I can't think of another instance other than here where an animal has been both an person and an animal.
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Apr 22, 2021 9:04:50 GMT -5
And the second, I'm really scratching my brain but I can't think of another instance other than here where an animal has been both an person and an animal. Yes, I'm pretty sure this is a first. I know the original plan had been for tokage to take the place of all lower life forms in an anthropomorphic world, but then you still needed horses, right? And there was an early story about fishing, so you needed fish. And then the true legend of Grasscutter involved crabs. So I guess things slowly slid in across four decades. But yes, I'm a little surprised to hear of snakes when we have Lord Hebi. then again, I think he's the only anthropomorphic reptile in usagi's world, right? So maybe he's a unique exception. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Apr 22, 2021 9:25:59 GMT -5
And the second, I'm really scratching my brain but I can't think of another instance other than here where an animal has been both an person and an animal. Yes, I'm pretty sure this is a first. I know the original plan had been for tokage to take the place of all lower life forms in an anthropomorphic world, but then you still needed horses, right? And there was an early story about fishing, so you needed fish. And then the true legend of Grasscutter involved crabs. So I guess things slowly slid in across four decades. But yes, I'm a little surprised to hear of snakes when we have Lord Hebi. then again, I think he's the only anthropomorphic reptile in usagi's world, right? So maybe he's a unique exception. It was certainly surprising, but not a deal breaker by any means and yeah I don't think we've seen any other reptiles other than the Turtles but they're a special case. |
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shaxper
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Post by shaxper on Apr 22, 2021 9:28:21 GMT -5
Yes, I'm pretty sure this is a first. I know the original plan had been for tokage to take the place of all lower life forms in an anthropomorphic world, but then you still needed horses, right? And there was an early story about fishing, so you needed fish. And then the true legend of Grasscutter involved crabs. So I guess things slowly slid in across four decades. But yes, I'm a little surprised to hear of snakes when we have Lord Hebi. then again, I think he's the only anthropomorphic reptile in usagi's world, right? So maybe he's a unique exception. It was certainly surprising, but not a deal breaker by any means and yeah I don't think we've seen any other reptiles other than the Turtles but they're a special case. Turtles are amphibians  |
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Post by usagigoya on Apr 22, 2021 11:35:28 GMT -5
You also have birds, and bird tengu.....
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Post by thwhtguardian on Apr 22, 2021 13:21:49 GMT -5
You also have birds, and bird tengu..... I kind of gave the crow tengu from the last story a pass because they're tengu which tend to mash up birds and people by their very nature. |
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Post by usagiguy on Apr 26, 2021 17:35:53 GMT -5
There have also been foxes. We have Kitsune the thief, but I have also drawn foxes as the kitsune of legend, the tricksters of Japanese folklore who, when they turn 1,000 years old, gain great wisdom and grow nine tails.
I have drawn snakes before. Gen kills one while taking one of his shortcuts and he and Usagi are attacked by the snakes mate who took on the form of a nun.
For the most part, I tend not to draw animals as animals if they are "people". However, exceptions have to be made if the story calls for it, especially when dealing with Japanese mythology and folklore because animals are common in those stories.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Apr 27, 2021 16:46:51 GMT -5
There have also been foxes. We have Kitsune the thief, but I have also drawn foxes as the kitsune of legend, the tricksters of Japanese folklore who, when they turn 1,000 years old, gain great wisdom and grow nine tails. I have drawn snakes before. Gen kills one while taking one of his shortcuts and he and Usagi are attacked by the snakes mate who took on the form of a nun. For the most part, I tend not to draw animals as animals if they are "people". However, exceptions have to be made if the story calls for it, especially when dealing with Japanese mythology and folklore because animals are common in those stories. I had forgotten the foxes, and I love them! |
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Post by maichan on May 10, 2021 9:31:00 GMT -5
Do not forget Lord Noriyuki's dog. Have there been any cats?
While I love the Tokage, I always felt the story telling was limited by using them over other animals. For me, strangely missing are Tanuki.
I've been more intrigued by the animals chosen to represent people. Early on there was more variety, including a lion (besides Katsuichi), a bull/water buffalo, and I think an alligator, as well as others, if my memory serves correctly. These days most "people" tend to be animal neutral, in the sense it's hard to say exactly what species they are representative of.
Which brings up a whole 'nother bowl of noodles. I've always enjoyed Gen, but he's always seemed out of place to me. The same goes for Katsuichi, and Noriyuki. The reason being is... the animals representing them are not native to Japan. Which is one reason I am glad Stan didn't continue that route, as is what was happening in the examples above. Personally, in many ways I'm glad we haven't had giraffe or elephant samurai, although if they were incorporated I'm sure I'd still enjoy Usagi Yojimbo.
Oh, and BTW, turtles ARE reptiles. Although many do live an 'amphibious' life (in & out of the water).
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