Snowman: Difference between revisions
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{{Kaiju Infobox | {{Kaiju Infobox | ||
|type1 = Steel | |type1 = Steel | ||
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|caption =The Snowman in Half Human | |caption =The Snowman in Half Human | ||
|name =Snowman | |name =Snowman | ||
|subtitle =Beastman {{Nihongo|獣人|Jūjin}}<ref name="TSEAMEncyclopedia">{{cite book|title=[[Toho Special Effects All Monster Encyclopedia]]|date=23 July | |subtitle =Beastman {{Nihongo|獣人|Jūjin}}<ref name="TSEAMEncyclopedia">{{cite book|title=[[Toho Special Effects All Monster Encyclopedia]]|date=23 July 2014|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|page=13|isbn=4-096-82090-3}}</ref><ref name="TSEMCWorks">{{cite book|title=[[Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works]]|date=28 September 2012|publisher=[[villagebooks]]|page=18|isbn=9784864910132}}</ref> | ||
|species =Yeti | |species =[[Yeti]] | ||
|nicknames =Yeti, Abominable Snowman,<br>Half Human<ref name="EoGMGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Godzilla (Mechagodzilla Edition)]]|date=10 December [[ | |nicknames =[[Yeti]], Abominable Snowman,<br>Half Human<ref name="EoGMGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Godzilla (Mechagodzilla Edition)]]|date=10 December 1993|publisher=Gakken|page=99|isbn=405600174X}}</ref><ref name="PBoG&AM">{{cite book|title=[[Picture Book of Godzilla & All Monsters]]|date=2 July 2021|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|page=256|isbn=4065234913}}</ref> | ||
|height =3.5 meters<ref name="EoGMGE"/><ref name="TSEMCWorks"/> | |height =3.5 meters<ref name="EoGMGE"/><ref name="TSEMCWorks"/> | ||
|weight =200 kilograms<ref name="EoGMGE"/><ref name="TSEMCWorks"/><ref name="GMSEncyclopedia">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Giant Monsters Super Encyclopedia|Godzilla Giant Monsters Super Encyclopedia (TV Magazine Deluxe 20)]]|page=65}}</ref> | |weight =200 kilograms<ref name="EoGMGE"/><ref name="TSEMCWorks"/><ref name="GMSEncyclopedia">{{cite book|title=[[Godzilla Giant Monsters Super Encyclopedia|Godzilla Giant Monsters Super Encyclopedia (TV Magazine Deluxe 20)]]|page=65}}</ref> | ||
|relationships =[[Snowman's | |relationships =[[Snowman's child]] | ||
|modeled =[[Fuminori Ohashi]], [[Teizo Toshimitsu]],<br>[[Kanju Yagi and Yasuei Yagi|Kanju Yagi, Yasuei Yagi]] | |modeled =[[Fuminori Ohashi]], [[Teizo Toshimitsu]],<br>[[Kanju Yagi and Yasuei Yagi|Kanju Yagi, Yasuei Yagi]] | ||
|portrayed ={{tt|Sanshiro Sagara|It is disuputed whether Sanshiro Sagara was Fuminori Ohashi using his pseudonym or a different person entirely.}} | |portrayed =[[Fuminori Ohashi|{{tt|Sanshiro Sagara|It is disuputed whether Sanshiro Sagara was Fuminori Ohashi using his pseudonym or a different person entirely.}}]] | ||
|firstappearance =''[[Half Human]]'' | |firstappearance =''[[Half Human]]'' | ||
|roar =[[File:Snowman Roar.ogg|center|180px|noicon]] | |roar =[[File:Snowman Roar.ogg|center|180px|noicon]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Snowman''' {{Nihongo|雪男|Yuki Otoko}} is a yeti [[ | The '''Snowman''' {{Nihongo|雪男|Yuki Otoko}} is a [[yeti]] [[kaijin]] who appeared in the [[1955]] [[Toho]] [[:Category:Films|film]] ''[[Half Human]]''. | ||
{{TOC}} | {{TOC}} | ||
==Name== | ==Name== | ||
This creature's Japanese name translates to "Snowman," which is his official English name. Snowman is also referred to as a '''Yeti''' or the '''Abominable Snowman''', while | This creature's Japanese name translates to "Snowman," which is his official English name. The Snowman is also referred to as a '''[[Yeti]]''' or the '''Abominable Snowman''', while ''[[Encyclopedia of Godzilla (Mechagodzilla Edition)]]'' and ''[[Picture Book of Godzilla & All Monsters]]'' give him the name '''Half Human''', the English title of the film in which he appeared.<ref name="EoGMGE"/><ref name="PBoG&AM"/> | ||
==Development== | ==Development== | ||
[[File:Half_human_01.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A publicity photo of Snowman with [[Fuminori Ohashi]]'s more ferocious head design | [[File:Half_human_01.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A publicity photo of the Snowman with [[Fuminori Ohashi]]'s more ferocious head design (note the visible fangs)]] | ||
Snowman was designed with inspiration from various types of ape in order to give his design an aspect of realism. [[Eiji Tsuburaya]] prided himself on Snowman's design being "not just to be scary." Snowman was initially modeled by [[Fuminori Ohashi]],<ref name="Ohashi">{{cite book|author=Tomoi, Kento|title=Kaijin of the Special Effects World: Fuminori Ohashi|publisher=Yosensha|date=11 May 2011|pages=86-87|isbn=978-4-86248-805-3}}</ref> who designed the suit's feet to be set on large clogs to increase its height, though this was scrapped due to the potential danger. Snowman's face was remodeled several times, but after about six months the face modeled by chief modeler [[Teizo Toshimitsu]] was adopted and the torso was remodeled by the [[Kanju Yagi and Yasuei Yagi|Yagi brothers Kanju and Yasuei]]. Ohashi's face for Snowman was characterized by its ferocious look with its fangs exposed, whereas Toshimitsu's opted for a more gentle look. In addition, a suit consisting only of Snowman's lower body was also made.<ref name="Nakajima">{{cite book|author=[[Haruo Nakajima|Nakajima, Haruo]]|title=Monster Life: Original Godzilla Actor Haruo Nakajima|publisher=Yosensha|date=2010|page=347|isbn=978-4-86248-589-2}}</ref> | The Snowman was designed with inspiration from various types of ape in order to give his design an aspect of realism. [[Eiji Tsuburaya]] prided himself on the Snowman's design being "not just to be scary." The Snowman was initially modeled by [[Fuminori Ohashi]],<ref name="Ohashi">{{cite book|author=Tomoi, Kento|title=Kaijin of the Special Effects World: Fuminori Ohashi|publisher=Yosensha|date=11 May 2011|pages=86-87|isbn=978-4-86248-805-3}}</ref> who designed the suit's feet to be set on large clogs to increase its height, though this was scrapped due to the potential danger. The Snowman's face was remodeled several times, but after about six months the face modeled by chief modeler [[Teizo Toshimitsu]] was adopted and the torso was remodeled by the [[Kanju Yagi and Yasuei Yagi|Yagi brothers Kanju and Yasuei]]. Ohashi's face for the Snowman was characterized by its ferocious look with its fangs exposed, whereas Toshimitsu's opted for a more gentle look. In addition, a suit consisting only of the Snowman's lower body was also made.<ref name="Nakajima">{{cite book|author=[[Haruo Nakajima|Nakajima, Haruo]]|title=Monster Life: Original Godzilla Actor Haruo Nakajima|publisher=Yosensha|date=2010|page=347|isbn=978-4-86248-589-2}}</ref> | ||
<gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small"> | <gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small"> | ||
Dc365ca06f08471feba070f1e130ba41.jpg|The finished Snowman suit, with [[Teizo Toshimitsu]]'s more gentle head design | Dc365ca06f08471feba070f1e130ba41.jpg|The finished Snowman suit, with [[Teizo Toshimitsu]]'s more gentle head design | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
[[File:195508s-006.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Snowman suit on set]] | [[File:195508s-006.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Snowman suit on set]] | ||
The suit's body was covered in goat hair. The face was a life mask of suit actor Sanshiro Sagara. There are conflicting reports as to whether Sagara was simply modeler Fuminori Ohashi, as this was a pseudonym of his, or a different person entirely. [[Toho]] advertised that Sagara was chosen from a nationwide contest to provide the face for Snowman,<ref name="Honda">{{cite web|url=http://www.ishirohonda.com/works/195508-yuki/195508-yuki.shtml|title=''Half Human'' (1955)|work=IshiroHonda.com}}</ref> while fellow modeler [[Eizo Kaimai]] attested that Ohashi was the suit actor for Snowman in addition to his original modeler.<ref name="Ohashi"/> Additionaly, a photograph exists of Ohashi in the Snowman suit with the mask off. | The suit's body was covered in goat hair. The face was a life mask of suit actor Sanshiro Sagara. There are conflicting reports as to whether Sagara was simply modeler Fuminori Ohashi, as this was a pseudonym of his, or a different person entirely. [[Toho]] advertised that Sagara was chosen from a nationwide contest to provide the face for the Snowman,<ref name="Honda">{{cite web|url=http://www.ishirohonda.com/works/195508-yuki/195508-yuki.shtml|title=''Half Human'' (1955)|work=IshiroHonda.com}}</ref> while fellow modeler [[Eizo Kaimai]] attested that Ohashi was the suit actor for the Snowman in addition to his original modeler.<ref name="Ohashi"/> Additionaly, a photograph exists of Ohashi in the Snowman suit with the mask off. | ||
<gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small"> | <gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small"> | ||
Fuminori_Ohashi_as_Snowman.jpg|[[Fuminori Ohashi]] in the Snowman suit | Fuminori_Ohashi_as_Snowman.jpg|[[Fuminori Ohashi]] in the Snowman suit | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
''[[Half Human]]'' was shot on location in the Japanese Alps.<ref name="Honda"/> Initially, a child was used as a stand-in for actress [[Momoko Kochi]] when the Snowman was holding her character in order to make the monster appear larger, but the difference between the physique of Kochi and the stand-in was too obvious and this was scrapped. Tsuburaya also experimented with stop-motion animation for the Snowman using outdoor time-lapse photography, though this too went unused as the moving shadows of surrounding trees were not accounted for. | |||
''[[Half Human]]'' was shot on location in the Japanese Alps.<ref name="Honda"/> Initially, a child was used as a stand-in for actress [[Momoko Kochi]] when the Snowman was holding her character in order to make the monster appear larger, but the difference between the physique of Kochi and the stand-in was too obvious and this was scrapped. Tsuburaya also experimented with stop-motion animation for Snowman using outdoor time-lapse photography, though this too went unused as the moving shadows of surrounding trees were not accounted for. | |||
<gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small"> | <gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small"> | ||
29f4fbd22d83a2d572ec240628b3a1df.jpg|Snowman with lead actress [[Momoko Kochi]] | 29f4fbd22d83a2d572ec240628b3a1df.jpg|The Snowman with lead actress [[Momoko Kochi]] | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
At the time the film was released, publicity photos were taken of the Snowman with the [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] [[GyakushuGoji|suit]] from ''[[Godzilla Raids Again]]'', with the caption "Snowman is stronger than Godzilla."<ref name="TSEMCW">{{cite book|title=[[Toho Special Effects Movie Complete Works]]|date=28 September 2012|publisher=[[villagebooks]]|page=19|isbn=9784864910132}}</ref> | |||
At the time the film was released, publicity photos were taken of Snowman with the [[Godzilla | |||
<gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small"> | <gallery widths="120" position="center" captionalign="center" spacing="small"> | ||
Oh_My_God!_Godzilla_-ShodaiGoji-_and_Snowman_in_1955!.jpg|The Snowman suit with the [[Godzilla | Oh_My_God!_Godzilla_-ShodaiGoji-_and_Snowman_in_1955!.jpg|The Snowman suit with the [[Godzilla (Second Generation)|Godzilla]] [[GyakushuGoji|suit]] from ''[[Godzilla Raids Again]]'' | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==Design== | ==Design== | ||
Snowman has an extremely muscular body and is able to lift a woman and run extremely fast without trouble. The creature has a humanoid face along with human body features, such as opposable thumbs. Snowman is significantly taller than humans, and has shaggy fur all over its body. | The Snowman has an extremely muscular body and is able to both lift a woman and run extremely fast without any trouble. The creature has a humanoid face along with human body features, such as opposable thumbs. The Snowman is significantly taller than humans, and has shaggy fur all over its body. | ||
==Origins== | ==Origins== | ||
The Snowman's exact origins are unknown, but it is presumed to be a type of large ape that has lived for centuries high in the Japanese Alps. Though only a single adult Snowman and its [[Snowman's | The Snowman's exact origins are unknown, but it is presumed to be a type of large ape that has lived for centuries high in the Japanese Alps. Though only a single adult Snowman and its [[Snowman's child|offspring]] are living during the events of the film, the skeletal remains of several other members of their kind are found in a cave. The characters speculate that the entire Snowman population was killed by consuming a type of poisonous mushroom found in their habitat, leaving only two individuals alive. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
===[[Showa era | ===[[Showa era]]=== | ||
====''[[Half Human]]''==== | ====''[[Half Human]]''==== | ||
The Snowman is first seen looking into a tent window while explorers are sleeping in it, and he caresses a female explorer's face. His curiosity is cut short when she wakes up and screams, causing him to run into the forest. It is revealed that villagers worship the Snowman as a deity. The next scene with him in it shows him carrying a deer carcass, when he hears a scream, and goes to help a human, also a member of that explorer party, that almost fell off a cliff. Later, an animal broker, thanks to information from a village girl, discovers the location of the monster's cave and figures that he can catch the monster by using its [[Snowman's | The Snowman is first seen looking into a tent window while explorers are sleeping in it, and he caresses a female explorer's face. His curiosity is cut short when she wakes up and screams, causing him to run into the forest. It is revealed that villagers worship the Snowman as a deity. The next scene with him in it shows him carrying a deer carcass, when he hears a scream, and goes to help a human, also a member of that explorer party, that almost fell off a cliff. Later, an animal broker, thanks to information from a village girl, discovers the location of the monster's cave and figures that he can catch the monster by using its [[Snowman's child|offspring]] as bait. The hunter captures the Snowman, but accidentally lets the child escape. He ends up killing the baby and the adult Snowman breaks out of its cage. He kills the hunter and returns to his cave. Later, he captures the same female explorer he saw earlier and brings her to his mountain cave, where he is shot by the explorers and falls into a bubbling pit of sulfuric acid along with the village girl. | ||
==Abilities== | ==Abilities== | ||
Snowman's only ability is superhuman strength, it can lift humans and smash down structures with ease. After its young was killed by a circus attempting to capture the creature, Snowman goes berserk and attacks everything in sight, killing many people and destroying the entire circus | ===Physical abilities=== | ||
The Snowman's only ability is superhuman strength, it can lift humans and smash down structures with ease. After its young was killed by a circus attempting to capture the creature, the Snowman goes berserk and attacks everything in sight, killing many people and destroying the entire circus grounds. It then kidnapped the female lead and escaped into the mountains, carrying her with one hand. | |||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
==Comics== | ==Comics== | ||
===''[[Godzilla: Rage Across Time]]''=== | *''[[4-Panel Land: Godzilla World]]'' (1993) | ||
[[File:Snowman Rage Across Time.jpg|thumb|right|Snowman in ''[[Godzilla: Rage Across Time]]'' [[Godzilla: Rage Across Time | *''[[Godzilla: Rage Across Time]]'' [[Godzilla: Rage Across Time issue 1|#1]] (2016) | ||
Snowman makes a brief appearance looking out from a cave in the [[Godzilla: Rage Across Time | ===''[[Godzilla: Rage Across Time]]'' [[Godzilla: Rage Across Time issue 1|#1]]=== | ||
[[File:Snowman Rage Across Time.jpg|thumb|right|The Snowman in ''[[Godzilla: Rage Across Time]]'' [[Godzilla: Rage Across Time issue 1|#1]]]] | |||
The Snowman makes a brief appearance looking out from a cave in the [[Godzilla: Rage Across Time issue 1|first issue]] of ''[[Godzilla: Rage Across Time]]'' as Akio and Gorou Suda approach the [[Shobijin]] temple. | |||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
{{Main|Snowman/Gallery}} | {{Main|Snowman/Gallery}} | ||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*Snowman is most likely based on the Japanese | *The Snowman is most likely based on the Japanese Bigfoot, ''Hibagon'', which is said to live in the mountains of [[Japan]]. | ||
*In ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'', [[Kyohei Yamane|Dr. Yamane]] at one point mentions the discovery of "snowman footprints" in the Himalayas when discussing the presence of unknown creatures like [[Godzilla]] in the world. | *In ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'', [[Kyohei Yamane|Dr. Yamane]] at one point mentions the discovery of "snowman footprints" in the Himalayas when discussing the presence of unknown creatures like [[Godzilla]] in the world. | ||
==See also== | |||
*[[Anthropoid]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} |
Latest revision as of 07:35, 27 December 2023
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The Snowman (雪男 is a Yuki Otoko)yeti kaijin who appeared in the 1955 Toho film Half Human.
Name
This creature's Japanese name translates to "Snowman," which is his official English name. The Snowman is also referred to as a Yeti or the Abominable Snowman, while Encyclopedia of Godzilla (Mechagodzilla Edition) and Picture Book of Godzilla & All Monsters give him the name Half Human, the English title of the film in which he appeared.[1][2]
Development
The Snowman was designed with inspiration from various types of ape in order to give his design an aspect of realism. Eiji Tsuburaya prided himself on the Snowman's design being "not just to be scary." The Snowman was initially modeled by Fuminori Ohashi,[6] who designed the suit's feet to be set on large clogs to increase its height, though this was scrapped due to the potential danger. The Snowman's face was remodeled several times, but after about six months the face modeled by chief modeler Teizo Toshimitsu was adopted and the torso was remodeled by the Yagi brothers Kanju and Yasuei. Ohashi's face for the Snowman was characterized by its ferocious look with its fangs exposed, whereas Toshimitsu's opted for a more gentle look. In addition, a suit consisting only of the Snowman's lower body was also made.[7]
The finished Snowman suit, with Teizo Toshimitsu's more gentle head design
The suit's body was covered in goat hair. The face was a life mask of suit actor Sanshiro Sagara. There are conflicting reports as to whether Sagara was simply modeler Fuminori Ohashi, as this was a pseudonym of his, or a different person entirely. Toho advertised that Sagara was chosen from a nationwide contest to provide the face for the Snowman,[8] while fellow modeler Eizo Kaimai attested that Ohashi was the suit actor for the Snowman in addition to his original modeler.[6] Additionaly, a photograph exists of Ohashi in the Snowman suit with the mask off.
Fuminori Ohashi in the Snowman suit
Half Human was shot on location in the Japanese Alps.[8] Initially, a child was used as a stand-in for actress Momoko Kochi when the Snowman was holding her character in order to make the monster appear larger, but the difference between the physique of Kochi and the stand-in was too obvious and this was scrapped. Tsuburaya also experimented with stop-motion animation for the Snowman using outdoor time-lapse photography, though this too went unused as the moving shadows of surrounding trees were not accounted for.
The Snowman with lead actress Momoko Kochi
At the time the film was released, publicity photos were taken of the Snowman with the Godzilla suit from Godzilla Raids Again, with the caption "Snowman is stronger than Godzilla."[9]
The Snowman suit with the Godzilla suit from Godzilla Raids Again
Design
The Snowman has an extremely muscular body and is able to both lift a woman and run extremely fast without any trouble. The creature has a humanoid face along with human body features, such as opposable thumbs. The Snowman is significantly taller than humans, and has shaggy fur all over its body.
Origins
The Snowman's exact origins are unknown, but it is presumed to be a type of large ape that has lived for centuries high in the Japanese Alps. Though only a single adult Snowman and its offspring are living during the events of the film, the skeletal remains of several other members of their kind are found in a cave. The characters speculate that the entire Snowman population was killed by consuming a type of poisonous mushroom found in their habitat, leaving only two individuals alive.
History
Showa era
Half Human
The Snowman is first seen looking into a tent window while explorers are sleeping in it, and he caresses a female explorer's face. His curiosity is cut short when she wakes up and screams, causing him to run into the forest. It is revealed that villagers worship the Snowman as a deity. The next scene with him in it shows him carrying a deer carcass, when he hears a scream, and goes to help a human, also a member of that explorer party, that almost fell off a cliff. Later, an animal broker, thanks to information from a village girl, discovers the location of the monster's cave and figures that he can catch the monster by using its offspring as bait. The hunter captures the Snowman, but accidentally lets the child escape. He ends up killing the baby and the adult Snowman breaks out of its cage. He kills the hunter and returns to his cave. Later, he captures the same female explorer he saw earlier and brings her to his mountain cave, where he is shot by the explorers and falls into a bubbling pit of sulfuric acid along with the village girl.
Abilities
Physical abilities
The Snowman's only ability is superhuman strength, it can lift humans and smash down structures with ease. After its young was killed by a circus attempting to capture the creature, the Snowman goes berserk and attacks everything in sight, killing many people and destroying the entire circus grounds. It then kidnapped the female lead and escaped into the mountains, carrying her with one hand.
Comics
- 4-Panel Land: Godzilla World (1993)
- Godzilla: Rage Across Time #1 (2016)
Godzilla: Rage Across Time #1
The Snowman makes a brief appearance looking out from a cave in the first issue of Godzilla: Rage Across Time as Akio and Gorou Suda approach the Shobijin temple.
Gallery
- Main article: Snowman/Gallery.
Trivia
- The Snowman is most likely based on the Japanese Bigfoot, Hibagon, which is said to live in the mountains of Japan.
- In Godzilla, Dr. Yamane at one point mentions the discovery of "snowman footprints" in the Himalayas when discussing the presence of unknown creatures like Godzilla in the world.
See also
References
This is a list of references for Snowman. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
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