#kanekos crib notes

KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES LXII: HEARTFELT EROTICISM

It’s Halloween. No, it’s the Halloween beforeShin 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!

1. 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!
   
2. 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!
   
3. GIRIMEKHALA: 32-bit-era Giri is influenced by the 1969 Toei animation The Wonderful World of Puss in Bootsandits 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! 
   
4. 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.
   
5. 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 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

1. 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.
   
2. 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.
   
3. 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.
   
4. 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.
   
5. 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 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 CLICHESofTERRORgive you the cold sweats, do have a good and HAPPY HALLOWEEN this year. We mean it.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 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.DSWGis 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:

1. 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.
   
2. 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!
   
3. 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.
   
4. 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.
5. 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 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 Illuyankaappears to be wearing the mask of Phantom of the Paradise’seponymous 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 (TheUntouchables,Scarface),Phantomchannels 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’sGriffith/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 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 inhere, 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:

1. ODIN: A less than appropriate appropriation of one of the least Germanic Tokusatsu icons in existence. 
2. ASHERAH: The dadaist patterns of another Ultra alumni make the transition to Semitic mother goddess. 
3. 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.
4. LOKI: Shocking parity achieved with the very, very nude illustrations of 19th century Danish illustrator Lorenz Frølich. 
5. 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 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 Worksseries 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 4and5 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 4and5 but from the old Devil Summoner World Guidancebook, in Kaneko’s own words! Straight from the horse’s mouth: the Kravitz inspiration was real! (Click here to view the Bifrons blurbs from KW5andDS 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 @poltergeist0002for 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 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 violinDavidoff 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’sSniper of Goth(orAmalaric 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 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 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 Dzolobhere.

*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 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, Dijehfoundtantalizing 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 XLVIII: LITTLE GUYS

This one is for the little guy(s). The compendium isn’t all statuesque deities and that one yakuza guy: there’s plenty of room for the diminutive spirit or the dwarfish god, though many sit at the bottom of the food-chain in terms of level or are otherwise relegated to extreme obscurity. Such is the case with our slate for this month, but I’m sure you’ll find they’re inspired all the same!

1. OTOGO-DOUJI:Our pal Douji has been a particular no-show following his debut in the Saturn era. His design is a fairly direct interpretation of classical depictions of the Gohou-Douji, a class of child-like protector deities in Japanese Buddhism. Kaneko’s rendition is decked out with the dharma-wheel and sword-garb sported by both the more common young boy variety pictured above and the hilarious child-man incarnation.
   
2. BES:The perhaps equally obscure Bes is uniformly depicted as a pot-bellied dwarf with lolling tongue, so you can hardly hold it against Kaneko for playing a close game here. In a somewhat surprising move, he forgoes the opportunity to depict a certain appendage in favor a more modest combination of primate tail and stylish shorts, with an Eye of Horus medallion thrown in for flavor.
3. CAIT SITH:It was only a matter of a time before Gustave Doré showed his face here, but not through his austere renderings of Dante and Milton, as luck would have it. No, Kaneko instead made the excellent choice of seeking inspiration from Doré’s depiction of the gallant Puss in Boots for his take on the Celtic Cait SIth (understandable, considering the dearth of traditional imagery for the latter). His lacks some of the more endearing qualities of the original, such as the accruement of bird skulls and dead mice, but the comparison otherwise speaks for itself. 

KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES XLVII: ISIS

As we explored only recently, Kaneko swoons over the eclectic and often bizarre fashions of haute couture. The latest example to be brought to our attention is the “boléro perroquet” (parrot bolero) of French designer Jean-Paul Gaultier for its striking, nay, conspicuoussimilarities to Kaneko’s Isis design from 2002′s Shin Megami Tensei: NINE.Gaultier’s bolero was designed in 1997, five years before NINE; some additional pictures and information about its plumassière,Nelly Saunier, can be found here.

And adorning Isis with a feathered garment is no fabrication on Kaneko’s part, as she is sometimes depicted winged in Egyptian art, as shown above. While Gaultier’s bolero has a palette of Psittaciform plumage, Isis’ is golden, likely meant to evoke her son Horus’ design from Shin Megami Tensei II. That’s the type of continuity that’s right up our alley.

A cursory image search for Gaultier’s haute couture works results in a veritable hoard of Megami Tensei-like imagery, many of which are only a famous mythical name away from nestling comfortably into an existing demon or persona compendium. Gaultier as an influence was hinted in a 1996 interview/discussion between Kaneko and SaGa’s Tomomi Kobayashi, translated by Shmuplations; Kobayashi is the one to mention Gaultier by name (along with other proven Kaneko influences like Thierry Mugler), but it’s obvious they are both immersed in the world of haute couture. On that subject, the interview contains this pertinent quote of Kaneko’s:

Kaneko: In fashion and character design, first impressions are so important. It’s partly why I appear so sensitive about my work. It’s great to talk with someone 10 or 20 years later, who knows what life was like back then, and recognizes those influences—they’re the waymarkers of my own existence. I look back on them with a lot of affection.

Now 20 and 15 years on from Gaultier’s bolero and Kaneko’s Isis respectively, we can say that the affection’s all ours. 

KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES XLVI: JAPANESE “POP”

Kaneko is no stranger to swinging wide when it comes to contemporary popular culture, and while the man shares a particular fondness for the western variety, it should come as no surprise that some targets skew closer to home. Here are a few of the more relevant cases, in honor of the holiday season, or something.

1. TATTOOED MAN: Even when you have a roster of 400+ demons in an SMT game, fellows like Tattooed Man make you question if his spot couldn’t have been better represented. But you can’t say he’s not inspired: Kaneko admitted as much in a 1999 interview when he said he loves the image of Japanese actor Ken Takakura in yazuka flicks. Sure enough, Tattooed Man and his slick crew cut are a match for Takakura in the movie Brutal Tales of Chivalry 2: The Chinese Lion and Peony Tattoo, with or without a certain cool customer on his back.
   
2. GHOST Q: Not-so-subtle hints in artbooks confirm that SMTII’s Ghost Q is based on the incorporeal Q-tarō from the manga series Obake no Q-tarō, but, other than the comically large kissers, the only other clue is in the name itself. 
   
3. OKAMOTO: Aleph’s one-time trainer is pulling inspiration in both character and design from Danpei of Tomorrow’s Joe fame, another bummy but driven fight coach in the grand tradition of underdog boxing narratives. In fact, his design is practically just a sleek, nominally futuristic take on Tetsuya Chiba’s more beleaguered original - a Kaneko trademark!
4. RAIDOU KUZUNOHA XIV: Raidou is channeling a no less appropriate source for his iconic design: Yasunori Kato of Teito Monogatari, one of the more notable pieces of occult pulp to influence the series. Kaneko manages to bend Kato’s Lieutenant attire into that of a Taishou era school uniform, and with his cloak down he’s a dead ringer for Amano’s original design.

KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES XLV: HAUTE COIFFURE

It’s appropriate the Greek Moirae sisters deal in the thread business, as much of their look from Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne hails from the world of fashion. And particularly appropriate that we’re looking at this “punk and bondage” inspired collection courtesy of British fashion designer Antonio Berardi; though in this case the pertinent influence once again starts from the neck up, playing upon the work of stylist Nicholas Jurnjack. Its bouffant impressions are felt particularly with the coronal braids of middle sister Lachesis. 

Kaneko is no stranger to the influence of high-fashion, particularly apparent in the Persona designs of that era but not without a healthy presence in the regular compendium as well. Even compared to other demons from the modern catalogue, his three Fates do look especially like they appeared on a runway in Paris, London, or New York. Yet more evidence of the broad range of inspiration at work within the series design ethos!

Special thanks to “some furniture” for this submission!

KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES XLIV: SPOO*Y SKELETONS 

Today’s the day! Our third annual Halloween spookfest is here, with even fewer cumbersome fleshy bits than ever. Cuz they’re all skeletons and shit! And you better believe they’re aping other successful career skeletons! HAPPY HALLOWEEN

1. HELL BIKER: Hey. You know it. We know it. Hell Biker is just Ghost Rider. It’s shameless, but we don’t need to spend a minute more of our lives ruminating on it once we nod in its general direction with the acknowledgement that, yes, it is indeed something that happened over two decades ago now. There, that wasn’t so bad.
2. SPARTOI:Sown from dragon’s teeth in Greek myth, the Spartoi were known as fierce warriors. However, they tended to be of the fleshytype. So why is Kaneko’s a skeleton? One need look no further than what is probably the most famous appearance of the Spartoi in pop culture, the Ray Harryhausen stop-motion skeletons from 1963’s Jason and the Argonauts.
   
3. GASHADOKURO:He may be sporting a bit of a dye-job in his SH design, but otherwise we’re looking at some prime Gashadokuro here, right down to the obscured lower section. He’s even got a friendly reminder on his forehead in case he forgets!

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

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

KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES XLIII: HEADS-UP

As we explored in last month’s Crib, some demons are only repping hard from the neck-up. This happens to make for a nice middle-ground between inspiration and invention, so you won’t catch us complaining anytime soon! With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the other notable cases of this phenomenon, with some extra cranium thrown in for good measure.

1. HECATE:Hecate is no stranger to evocations that cash in on her tripartite nature, but these tend to skew on the human side of things. But as later depictions collected stronger associations with witchcraft and sorcery, a trio of animal-heads would sometimes make their way in, usually of the horse, dog, lion, and pig varieties. Pictured above is one such illustration from Natalis Comitis’s Mythologiae, just the sort that Kaneko seems to have channeled in this case.
2. SATAN:Satan’s noggin seems to come from none other than H.R. Giger and his creation of the titular xenomorph from Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic Alien. Apparent on that original costume is that its elongated cranium contains a visible skull that, with its sleek transparent dome removed (as seen above in a production photo), bears more than a passing resemblance to Satan’s own. Thanks to “Bead Man” for the original suggestion.
   
3. INTI:If you’ve ever seen the Sun of May, it may explain why Inti seems so familiar. The version of it from the Uruguayan flag, pictured above, seems in particular to have been Kaneko’s inspiration.
   

KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES XLII: MASK-TEMA

The inspiration for Mastema‘s mask is that of a boregheh,a style of women’s face covering found in the southern regions of Iran. His lacks the striking color with which they are typically adorned but the pinched fold at the mask’s center is unmistakable.

UPDATE:

We think it’s highly likely Kaneko encountered the boregheh in THE FALL, a film by Tarsem starring Lee Pace and Catinca Untaru, which premiered during the festival circuit in 2006 and released worldwide in 2008 (Japan included). It’s a film of great artistic merit that surely would have appealed to Kaneko, despite its general (and tragic) obscurity. The boregheh features both on the film’s poster and as a mask for Pace’s story-within-a-story bandit character, which is in turn adopted by Untaru’s.

So for Mastema, adversarial Satan analogue and generally shifty character, this “bandit” mask is an ideal fashion accessory and makes for an arresting visual, too.

KANEKO’S CRIB NOTES XLI: ACTIVECONTINUITY

Cribs can originate from anywhere…even Kaneko’s own designs! Here’s a handful of examples of preceding designs influencing subsequent ones, whether in full or just certain elements. It’s exactly this kind of internal continuity that makes Kaneko so missed!

1. NANDI/DEMI-NANDI:Shiva’s cheerful mount may not seem to have much in common with his mass-produced counterpart from Shin Megami Tensei II, but a closer look reveals a behavior passed on by the divine genes: A predilection for blowing raspberries.
2. CYCLOPS/MAMEDANUKI:Shin Megami Tensei′s Cyclops is about as forgotten as they come, but his head was to find greater fame as the shape-shifting display of Mamedanuki’s magic scrotum.
   
3. LAKSHMI: Kaneko often gave his SFC-era designs new palettes and shading in the Saturn era, but Lakshmi here is one of the few to be completely redrawn with a new pose, using the exact same wardrobe and likeness from her SMTI original. It’s especially apparent with the nigh-identical Devil Summoner version colors.
   
4. T-93/JUNK:This little guy’s a trooper, having apparently weathered the turbulent interval between SMTI and II in one piece, albeit acquiring the unfortunate moniker of “Junk” and an appearance to match in the process.