Talk:Laughing Man (Ghost in the Shell)

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Contents 1 Cyberbrain Schlerosis 2 "Phonies" 3 Salinger and Japan 4 Logo - who designed it? 5 "logo is retooled for the fictional Starchild Coffee" 6 His name as the "Chief" 7 Merge 8 Request for a link to the image moving 9 Logo Origin - Laughing man logo = Cyber brain interface?

[edit] Cyberbrain Schlerosis

Should it be mentioned that the Laughing Man has CS? I remember that he said that he did in the last episode, and it seems important pertaining towards the plotline (since he originally kidnapped Serrano to get him to reveal the truth about the Murai vaccine and how the nanomachines were ineffective against CS). --M45k3d N1Nj4 G4R0 04:39, 4 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Phonies"

In the article, it states that the laughing man references "phonies." Although I did notice this myself, subtitles and dubs are not always representational of the original Japanese script. Can someone clarify that the original Japanese text matches the Japanese translation of The Catcher in the Rye?

[edit] Salinger and Japan

It really kills me, that Japan loves Salinger so much. I mean Ghost in the shell has the Laughing man, and Kare no Kano has Miyazawa pretending to read 'Nine Stories' (I think, I know it's one of his books.). I wonder if it's a weird fad or fan worship of one of America's greatest writers. OR maybe they're just a bunch of phonies racking in the dough. If anybody finds some more references, I'd like to know. Anyway, I'm just a J.D. fan who likes anime and all.

You don't really think that it's so important that Japan supposedly loves Salinger, right? It's their choice if they want to do it, and I, personally, can't think of any author they could have chosen who deserved the honour more. After all, in certain places, Salinger is considered a danger, a crime, and something to be hid and read under the cover of night. Now, that's a crime, isn't it?

Of course, I'm rambling, so, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr(S?). Fan. Welcome to Wikipedia! ~Upton

Aren't both animes made by Production IG? It may be a case of the same team working on both so obviously similar motifs appear

I personally think it is because of the sort of angst that is a common thread in Salinger's stuff (I mean, look at the Laughing Man's catch-phrase!), and Salinger himself- how could his seclusion have made him any less fascinating to them? --Maru (talk) Contribs 18:37, 22 December 2005 (UTC)

Alright, first off, Kare No Kano was made by GAINAX. Angst and all could very well be the reason. Another Salinger reference is in the Ghost in the Shell episode: ESCAPE FROM. Where the story, "The Secret Goldfish" is mentioned. "The Secret Goldfish" is a short story also mentioned in "The Catcher in The Rye" written by Holden's big brother, Buddy. But- I'm just a J.D. fan who likes anime and all.

Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You’ll learn from them — if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It’s a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn’t education. It’s history. It’s poetry.

I think that the reason JD Salinger was an inspiration for the people who worked on Ghost in the Shell, was because Masamune Shirow, the creator, doesn't want to be in the public at all, not unlike JD Salinger. Masamune Shirow isn't even his real name.

[edit] Logo - who designed it?

I remember reading in a issue of NEO an interview with the man who designed the Laughing Man logo. I think it was the man behind Terratag but I can't remember for certain, does anyone else know? --GracieLizzie 10:01, 7 February 2006 (UTC)

Yep - it was Paul Nicholson of Terratag. http://www.otakunews.com/article.php?story=201 --Crispy 11:03, 25 February 2006 (UTC)

He also designed a lot of other logos throughout the show, and the logo for the individual eleven/particulist eleven of the 2nd gig, if anyone wants to add that as well.

Gives hope for us weeaboos!

[edit] "logo is retooled for the fictional Starchild Coffee"

i thought he got his logo from the starchild coffee, would anyone comfirm which existed 1st? -Q

Well, isn't that the entire point of the series? Something without an origine, a Stand Alone Complex. It would make sense if the phonies used the Laughing Man to sell overpriced coffee though, haha.

err, my question was did Laughing Man used an overpriced coffee logo instead of the other way around as suggested in the article... the comment doesn't appear to address the question at all because in the discussed case, the coffee is the original... -Q

[edit] His name as the "Chief"

In Japanese Aoi does not mean Hollyhock, it means Blue, as in the colour of the paint he used, the colour of his hoodie (or at least the hoodie the Major wore when she impersonated him),and the colour of his Laughing Man logo.

I've only seen the Japanese version of GitS, so apologies beforehand. In the last episode, Motoko hinted that the Laughing Man might be a female. As she picked up the red hunting cap, she said something that roughly translates to "Indeed, not a Laughing MAN". Also, the Japanese name Aoi, is a lot more common as a girl's name, though, one might argue that it is a unisex name (along the lines of names like "Makoto" or "Kaoru"). --Kimon wataru 17:20, 3 November 2006 (UTC)

I just took it as referring to how he was so young and more a boy than a man. --Gwern (contribs) 20:02, 3 November 2006 (UTC)

Another possible hint would be during a scene at Episode 22. When The Laughing Man synchronizes his memories with Motoko. The body shape from the x-ray camera pan of the Laughing Man (in blue) and Motoko (in red) are distinguishable from one another. And if you freeze frame the scene, you might notice that The Laughing Man has a small bulge around the chest and a more feminine built. I have a screen capture of that. How do I link image here? Sorry, I am a wikipedia newbie... Kimon wataru 13:01, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Merge

Consensus was do not merge, removing {{mergeto}} template. --Lowg 04:14, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

I don't think a "consensus" was found to not merge this article, but it is fairly large, and for the time being we didn't merge the larger character articles. So it was just a simple decision, not really a consensus. -- Ned Scott 04:18, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

Well, in any case, I just wanted to notify the editors why I removed the tag. Thanks. Lowg 04:25, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Request for a link to the image moving

I am in dire need of this link and I know a few people who would appreciate the help. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.45.26.39 (talk • contribs) .

You do realize that what you wrote made absolutely no sense, right? --Gwern (contribs) 01:13, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

You mean link to the moving logo? Check out the Australian site here http://www.ghostintheshell.com.au it's in flash but at least you can see it. --Ethikos 15:09, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Logo Origin - Laughing man logo = Cyber brain interface?

Episode 9 which is set in the chat room features interface consoles on the table for each user which closely resemble the laughing-man logo itself; which is in the background. These 'cyber-brain interfaces' also appear in other episodes and are similar in shape and have a blue circle inside the white border.

In the Tachikoma follow up to this episode the Tachikoma holds up a RED interface and says "You know, the round shape of this interface reminds me of something".

Since the Tachkoma shorts always address the episode it seems this supports the theory that the design of the cyber brain interface is related to the design of the laughing man logo and this is being hinted by the producers. --Ethikos 15:29, 5 November 2006 (UTC)