Ticket Taker’s Mask Discussion II
I just now realized that TT’s mask is a full-head mask. I originally thought his mask was your typical theatrical face mask but what we’re likely seeing is instead a faceplate fused to some type of hood.
Job_Duck1015’s pic (on Twitter)
It honestly makes sense now. At first I was like, “Man, that mask strap is so big it covers his ears. We can’t even see their outline!” It felt odd. But once I saw this post containing this screenshot with the brightness turned up, it clicked and it honestly fits his character really well.
If TT’s mask is full-headed, that means it isn’t something he can easily take off, which makes it feel far more permanent. It’s not just a mask or a disguise—it’s something solid, it’s like an identity.
In another post where I analyzed his mask, I talked about how limited its expressions are compared to Pierrot, Harlequin, and Jester’s.
With Ticket Taker, we just see that smile. Even in the scene where he’s clearly hostile towards Pierrot (to the point that we even see him bare his teeth), he doesn’t break that smile of his.
It’s controlled and can be seen as a symbol of his control. Control of not simply how he portrays himself but of how he lets us see him.
It provides an extra barrier to his identity.
He’s meant to be the observer, never the observed. It isn’t just “I don’t break character,” it’s also “you will never see me.”
It also makes me wonder about the mask’s construction. Is it made of a heavier material compared to the others? Ceramic or resin? Both? The hood might be a combination of fabric and leather.
If we want to see this as a symbol of Columbina’s death, we could see the heaviness of his mask (compared to Pierrot, Harlequin, and Jester’s) as a symbol of the grief he carries in relation to the other’s. We can also interpret his head/mind being trapped (because of how it’s a full-head mask).
Also notice how Doctor’s mask is also different from the other three too. But his doesn’t resemble a theater mask at all. He’s the outlier. It’s close to his monster form, so to speak.
But yeah the darkness in TT’s tent made me believe it was just a strap lol