mysteriousthingsinthedark

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Inspiration for ‘Der Große Knochenmann’, known in English as: The Big Bone Man -

Pictured above is a Japanese Yōkai being known as a Gashadokuro (がしゃどくろ / 餓者髑髏) They are depicted as 

“spirits that take the form of giant skeletons and are fifteen times larger than an average person, said to be created from the amassed bones of people who died of starvation or in battle, without being buried.“

People are drawn to a Gashadokuro’s presence when they hear a ringing sound in their ears. Gashadokuro are also said to have the powers of invisibility and are indestructable, however Japanese Shinto charms can deter them.

The image depicted is a ukiyo-e woodblock print by artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1799-1861)

Source for both information and image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gashadokuro (12.11.2020)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takiyasha_the_Witch_and_the_Skeleton_Spectre

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Research Material: 

https://hyakumonogatari.com/

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Inspirations: Takashi Shimizu

Takashi Shimizu is a Japanese horror film director responsible for creating the infamous Ju-On franchise. Shimizu began the Ju-On films with Katasumi and 4444444444 (1998) before then creating Ju-On: The Curse (2000), Ju-On: The Curse 2 (2000), along with the two Grudge films, Ju-On: The Grudge (2002), and Ju-On: The Grudge 2 (2003). 

I only recently got into Shimizu’s works, and his use of suspense is spectacular. His works are more psychological than your standard slasher or thriller horror, something which I’m not usually as interested in watching. 

But why am I mentioning Shimizu’s works? His usage of the 

Sources:

1st Image: https://alchetron.com/Takashi-Shimizu

2nd Image: http://projectdeadpost.com/ju-curse-ju-curse-2-2000-including-katasumi-4444444444-1998.html

3rd Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ju-On:_The_Grudge#/media/File:Juonthegrudgeposter.jpg

4th Image: https://tenor.com/view/juon-grudge-horror-head-japanese-gif-5508426

All sources accessed (04.11.2020)

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Inspirations: Junji Ito

Junji Ito is Japanese manga artist known for expertise with horror manga, with works like Tomie, Gyo, Uzumaki and various other short stories. I love Ito’s work as his linework really adds depth and makes some of his work gives you that cringing feeling with how disgusting it looks. Like the 3rd image above, It triggers a sense of Trypophobia, especially when I see many holes in something like skin it does make my skin crawl. 

BUT THAT’S GOOD! Ito’s work, with the panel layouts and camera angles really does make his drawings stand out.

Sources:

1st Image: https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3594685/uzumaki-creator-junji-ito-talks-forthcoming-black-white-adaptation-video/

2nd and 3rd Image: https://japanobjects.com/features/junji-ito

All sources accessed (04.11.2020)

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Project Wikia work has begun! c:

Work has begun on the wikia page for my project! I created a customized template for future characters, to make the process of adding things in easier. I’ve also added pages with hyperlinks so that I can edit them in the coming days. For know I’ve uploaded a placeholder image so that once the work is complete I can pop it in place. (31.10.2020) Happy Halloween!

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Name: - Abkhazian Abomination -

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Name: - The Dartmoor Death Herald -

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Name: - The Nightcrawler -

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Name: - Rot -

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Proposal?

Chosen mediums: Instagram or other image hosting service, short physical/webcomic with origin story for character.

My work would consist of 15-20 different characters / creatures / yokai / monsters / cryptids, worked and displayed in a manner of ‘evidence’ collected by amateur detectives. For example, a creature sighted in recent times could also have a newspaper article from 1964 also describing similar events. This could also be linked like a murder board. But the priority would be the creatures themselves, drawn in a gory, ‘body-horror’ fashion, whilst still utilising traits from my simplistic style.

The end result?

15-20 torso / bust shots of the various creatures.

A 2 page comic to go along with this, briefly covering the origin story of the chosen creature.

A social media account acting as if it were documenting or interviewing the creatures, done in the style of amateur cryptids hunters.

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Inspiration for the Umigumo - Sea Spider

Image 1 Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_spider_crab#/media/File:Japanese_spider_crab.jpg (29.10.2020)

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Inspiration for ‘Der Große Knochenmann’, known in English as: The Big Bone Man -

The woodcut pictured is known as ‘Der Ritter’. Produced sometime between 1497 and 1543 during Hans Holbein the Younger’s lifetime.

The Inspiration for ‘The Big Bone Man’ came from works like this, depicting this fiendish, undead being the slayer of man. I drew the Bone Man with the intent of creating a similar being but with mine having the incorporation of some forms of mechanical aid, being supported by a metal chest frame and ribs to hold the vitals together.

Source for both information and image: https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.48241.html (28.10.2020)

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Name: Der Bamberger Blutsager - The Bamberg Bloodsucker -

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[mysteriousthingsinthedark]

Name: Der Große Knochenmann - The Big Bone Man -

Weight: 250kg

Gender: Unknown, most likely male

Timespan: 1400s-1940s 

Habitat: Forests, known to wander into Hamlets and Villages in the dead of night, also is seen after large battles have occured.

Abilities: Large size and incredible strength, long distance jumping and can run at speeds of 20mph given it’s stature.

Bio: Standing at a whopping 460cm (15ft & 1 inch), Der Große Knochenmann has secured it’s place in the folklore and mythology of German-speaking ethnic groups. First mentioned by the Siebenbürger Sachsen in the 1430s, (a German-speaking ethnic group known in English as Translyvanian Saxons), The ‘Big Bone Man’ is an interesting and mysterious being who would appear at the aftermath of a large and gruesome battle, and the sight of the gigantic grim, skeletal creature would shake the most hardy of soldiers.

During the years of the Holy Roman Empire, many Landsknecht would  document sighting the Bone Man following them on their trips as mercenaries to foreign nations. It wasn’t properly observed until the Franco-Prussian War, where a small team of historians, scholars and academics made notes about it’s general features. 

The Bone Man was last seen in 1945 following the fall of the Axis, with both Soviet and German soldiers who were present claiming to have caught a glimpse of the elusive being. After this, there are a few hoax sightings, and much speculation to the Bone Man’s authenticity, but given the evidence via sketches and woodcuts over the years, it’s difficult to conclude whether ‘he’ exists or not.

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Name: - The Holy Man - 

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Name: ウミグモ (Umigumo) - Sea Spider - 

Weight: 20-30kg (The Heaviest specimen is 57kg)

Gender: Varies

Timespan: Currently active

Habitat: Japanese countryside, particularly the prefectures of Nigata, Ishikawa and Toyama.

Abilities: Extremely venemous, fast and able to camoflague itself very quickly.

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Name: 首の長い放浪者 (Kubinonagai hōrō-sha) - Long-Necked Wanderer - 

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