#tonkaraton

[missypanther]

I'm still processing this week's chapter. It has nourished my soul and cleared my skin.

But for now, I'll tell you that this creature is Tonkaraton, and it's based on a yokai/urban legend. Its name comes from the onomatopoeic sound of a rusty bicycle. The story is about a boy trapped on a cursed bicycle. The mummy and the sword are also part of this story.

(I'll recap this week, I promise. Tomorrow I have a project that's been keeping me busy >_<)

[briefbestiary]

A shocking sight to come upon when walking near the end of the day, one only has to stay calm and remember to speak only when asked. Alternatively, some say gauze wrapped around the left hand will cause Tonkaraton to believe you are his friend and carry on.

[eirikrjs]

I remember trying Kaneko's game and while I found its premise interesting, its use of AI assets was terrible. I'm not talking about the AI Kaneko cards, which were meant to be a fake imitation in multiple aspects (story, theming, aesthetic) but about common enemies (which are also common cards), backgrounds and minor NPCs, which are all generic, cheap AI pictures. They make the game look cheap and take out so much of its visual identity, especially since they compete with Kaneko's art.

You're completely right. The style of the AI assets is just so, uh, ugly. But I do appreciate them for one reason: introducing me to Tonkaraton:

Tsukuyomi version:

Look at how ridiculous this thing is, in concept; a "katana-wielding mummy riding a bike" is cheesy even by Home Depot Halloween decorations standards--but I dig it. I dare say this is even one of the better AI generic enemy assets, but there's still no reason why it couldn't have been made by a person instead. Like these many examples:

トンカラトンのTwitterイラスト検索結果(古い順)。

トンカラトンのイラストが80件ヒットしました。Twitterからイラストだけ探せる検索サイトBuhitter。人工知能がキャラクターを判別し、キーワードがないツイートのイラストも検索できます。

[themesozoicsperm]

Tonkaraton

A japanese urban legend about the ghost of a man wrapped in bandages who goes in his bicycle while carrying his sword and saying “Ton, Ton, Tonkaraton”.

If you happen to meet him, he will tell you to say “Tonkaraton”, if you do it he will leave you alone, but if not, he will slice you into pieces, and them you will become a Tonkaraton too.

DO NOT SAY “Tonkaraton” UNTIL HE TELLS YOU TO, or else he will kill you for using his name without permission!

[benjaminwiddowson-blog]

#inktober #inktober2017 day 20, Tonkaraton #tonkaraton #urbanlegend #obake #yokai #youkai (at The Artisan Laguna Beach)