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Japanese Ness vs. American Ness
Analyzing what the differences between the Japanese and American clay models for Ness tell us about culture and perceptions of the world. Yes, the Japanese version of our all-American boy.
Inspired by this video: • Japanese Sonic vs. Ame...
Music:
The Metropolis of Fourside - EarthBound
Smiles and Tears - EarthBound
Home Sweet Home / Pollyanna - EarthBound
Good Friends, Bad Friends - EarthBound
Twitter: / primateness
Second Channel: / @primateninten
Backup Channel: / @monkeynessshorts
Пікірлер: 221
us ness looks like he’d call you a slur
@CEORabbid
2 ай бұрын
"PK fire!" "PK FUC-"
Ness: "I like baggy shorts! They're comfy and easy to wear!"
I think it also has something to do with changing Ness's age from 12 to 13 and the American "redesign" wanted to reflect that. You know, a boy entering puberty.
@polishcow4013
2 жыл бұрын
OKAY- Ness smash bros
@gecfes
Жыл бұрын
Yeah. I remember when my neck sprouted at the tender age of 14.
Ness being chubbier could also help him relate to Porky at the beginning of the game.
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Totally agree with this! The ending even serves as a contrast to this, with Ness being thinner!
Original Ness: Okay American Localization Ness: *Something cool and edgy that all the 90's kid would relate to*
@poweroffriendship2.0
Жыл бұрын
Both. Both is good.
@giygasthedevilalien5995
10 ай бұрын
@@poweroffriendship2.0american style is better
The shoes are because kids in the early 90s were freaking obsessed with shoes. It was a whole thing, and a lot of companies tried to capitalize on it with weird gimmicks. Remember like LA Lights, or the shoes with that squishy goo in them? And when characters had distinctive shoes, like Sonic and Tails, they would talk about it a lot. NoA was probably trying to tap into that here.
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Good explanation! Makes sense, and I'd guess at least partially true.
@moosesues8887
2 жыл бұрын
Nah jit still obsessed with shoes lmao
@polishcow4013
2 жыл бұрын
@@MonkeyNess also Japan ness is ninten
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
@@polishcow4013 Not necessarily, Itoi leaves that purely to the interpretation of the player!
@MadameSomnambule
Жыл бұрын
I think people were still obsessed with shoes in the 2000s. I should know because I was one of those shoe fanatics. I liked flip flops in particular but I can remember a time as a kid when I wanted Sonic's shoes. lol
Here’s the real question: Why were Jeff and Poos American clay models stay unchanged unlike Ness and Paula
@marsybarz
2 жыл бұрын
Since Jeff and Poo don't come from America-like locations they probably thought they didn't really need to change them. Jeff is practically the same minus some minor changes, but Poo is a little different in terms of position, I can't really show images (KZread let us show images in comments grrrr) but just google up the differences and you'll see it
@ThatMemePerson
Жыл бұрын
Jeff is british and Poo is chinese.
@notmizzo
Жыл бұрын
@@ThatMemePerson i think dalaam is more like india
@waffleboywonder8868
Жыл бұрын
@@ThatMemePerson poo is based on a monk so most probably Nepal or possibly india
@ThatMemePerson
Жыл бұрын
@@waffleboywonder8868 I think Poo is based on Shaolin monk which is originated from China.
I like both the designs but I feel the Japanese model is way more iconic. And that’s definitely due to smash brothers. And I also think the concept of Ness starting as this chubby kid is a very cute and good concept.
@PhantomOfficial07
2 жыл бұрын
I never actually thought of Ness as a chubby kid I thought it was just the art style
@guy-sl3kr
2 жыл бұрын
@@PhantomOfficial07 Same. I just thought that everyone in earthbound was short and wide, kinda like in early animal crossing.
@minixlemonade2335
2 жыл бұрын
I don’t like either render personally. The chubby one is weird and the American one is derpy. I prefer their ingame look the best.
@PhantomOfficial07
2 жыл бұрын
@@minixlemonade2335 I'm pretty sure the Japanese one is supposed to be a clay model version of the ingame look, not a new take on Ness's design
@mintpanda1
Жыл бұрын
@@PhantomOfficial07 several characters in-game call him chubby
Only Monkey The Ness could make a "JP Ness V.S US Ness" video. While it's ultimately more like a funny fact than something to seriously debate over, I feel like I get what US Ness was going for, I like how he looks but for me he's still no more than an extension of the Ness we know. Both are Ness, I like Ness.
@reformedorthodoxmunmanquara
2 жыл бұрын
When I read “JP Ness”, I pronounced it like “Japyness” for some reason.
@aerth6946
2 жыл бұрын
@@reformedorthodoxmunmanquara Japaness
@psychic_digit
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah I like both designs equally
The idea that you mentioned of the Japanese design of Ness representing his design in the beginning of the game and the American design representing him towards the end of the game is my new headcanon now. Love this.
I'm always skeptical about newer MOTHER-tubers. Sometimes it feels like the series has been deconstructed and analyzed to death. I've watched a handful of your videos and your insights feel fresh and new, like you is contributing new perspectives to the discourse. Good job. Thanks for doing this.
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
I really appreciate that, I try to make that a priority for my videos.
As someone who is much more familiar with Ness’s Japanese model, it’s so weird to look at the American model because, in my mind, it’s wildly different than the one I’m used to. I do enjoy it’s whole aggressive 90s charm, but the redesign makes him look too much like Ninten for my taste. I wish whoever was translating Ness’s design for a Western audience had just kept the original Japanese model from the get-go. I feel that Ness’s whole “American boy from the lens of someone who is not American” aesthetic oozes more charm than “American boy made by average Americans”. That all aside, awesome video!! I just discovered your channel and really like it. :)
This guy is the Cybershell of Mother/Earthbound content
My guess as to why it was changed to EarthBound is because it could be seen as a similar title to Mother, being Mother Earth.
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Ooh, interesting theory!
@marsybarz
2 жыл бұрын
i swear i remember hearing somewhere that it was to pay homage to the planned english release of MOTHER
@TheRedCap
2 жыл бұрын
@@marsybarz I remember they did an interview with the dude that made the MOTHER 1 translation, and he named it "Earth Bound" to highlight the game's alien invasion plot and "otherworldly nature". Then they reused that name in the MOTHER 2 translation to, yes, pay homage to the (then still unreleased) translation of the first game.
@amelialonelyfart8848
2 жыл бұрын
I always assumed it was because Earthbound's setting as a fictionalized Earth was relatively rare for gaming back then. Most games, esp RPGs were often set in fantasy worlds and the like
@doodlehobbo8697
Жыл бұрын
My theory is Mother 1 didn't got an official localization at that time so if it's title Mother 2 the players might wonder why they didn't see Mother 1 if this is a sequel game. And also TheRedCap's reply made definitely sense, when I heard EarthBound for the first time I also thought about planet earth being under alien invasion since it's sounds like it came from a sci-fi movie.
As somebody who designs characters (although in a bit of a mediocre way) I really like both designs, they focus on different things yes but they still look charming and lovable in their own ways
this video is giving me Cybershell American vs Japanese Sonic vibes
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Very much inspired by it! Even credited it in the description!
Appreciate little bros like you still talking about this game. I tried getting my 10 year old (he is 14 now) we got past Belch factory and he just couldn’t do it anymore. I wanted to ground him but I just finished the game myself with the wife watching and asking me wtf am I playing
(0:15) The American localization name for MOTHER 2 comes from the name of the cancelled localization of MOTHER 1. After MOTHER 1 released in Japan in 1989 with huge success, Nintendo decided to localize the game for the western audience. Phil Sandhop the man who previously worked on Final Fantasy's US Localization helped worked on MOTHER 1's as well. Phil knew no American would buy a game called "MOTHER" as the name sounded too girly and cheesy, so they decided to rename the game something that sounds more mature and masculine. They came up with name "EARTH BOUND" (2 separate words) as there is an Earth in MOTHER's logo and you are literally bounded to earth in game, so put 2 and 2 together then *BOOM!* You get the name "EARTH BOUND" Unfortunately, even though MOTHER 1 was already completely translated into English and ready for a June 16th, 1991 American release, the localization got canned as the SNES was already out at the time and Nintendo of America didn't want to spend loads of money trying to market a 8 bit game in the 16 bit era of gaming, not to mention at the time JRPGs didn't sell that well in America to begin with so why bother marketing a game that will probably only sell decently at best in the US.
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Was familiar with this story actually! Sad to hear it was changed (like I speculated) because it sounded "stupid," or whatever.
@flippant_foe
2 жыл бұрын
@@MonkeyNess I mean to be fair, they had to rename the game anyways as America didn't get MOTHER 1 like it was supposed to and renaming MOTHER 2: Gyiyg Strikes Back into simply "MOTHER" in America would of caused loads of confusion within players and the fanbase. (Not like there isn't already confusion in the naming scheme of all the MOTHER games to begin with lmao, this is why I just refer to all the games by their Japanese names to try to cause less confusion)
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
@@flippant_foe I’m with you!
@cowboyluigi5275
2 жыл бұрын
i kinda prefer the name EarthBound for Mother 2, I’m indifferent with Mother 1/EarthBound Beginnings, but EarthBound 2 will NEVER be an acceptable name for Mother 3.
@flippant_foe
2 жыл бұрын
@@cowboyluigi5275 I'd say a good name for a localized MOTHER 3 would be something like "EarthBound: Rise of the Pig Tyrant"
i never actually thought about how it's implied ness is thinner and taller by the end of the game. it obviously isn't the intent, but it's definitely a cool headcanon to consider US ness as a "post-game" ness.
I mean, every single game except EarthBound is Unplayable. Why? Beacause the protagonists don't have baggy shorts. Does Mario have baggy shorts? I don't think so
Hey MonkeyNess, are you familiar with the EarthBound Handbook by Fangamer? They use a handmade Ness model based on the Japanese clay figure and take some amazing photographs with it, recreating all of the "Your Sanctuary" locations! The book takes the official Nintendo guide's charm and expands on it tenfold, from mock-up Mr. Saturm movie posters to retro-styled advertisements for restaurants & stores from the game. Having just watched your Player's Guide video too, I think this would be a fun one for you to explore; there's so much love and detail in every page!
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
I'm familiar with it, though I'm yet to experience it myself. I'd love to make a video on it a some point!
@frederickthegamer3044
Жыл бұрын
@@MonkeyNess it's pretty good The art for the " your sanctuary " locations is amazing because to me look it the clay models and the handbook looks like a brochure for a vacation
ive always seen ness as that one kid who everyone talks about as being cool and chill but when you actually get to know him you realize hes kinda weird and goofy. not in a bad way, it suits him well and hes still a good friend but it isnt what you were expecting yknow? if anything too that vibe adds to his relatability, im sure plenty of people know at least 1 person like that
Honestly American Paula always confused me more than American Ness. Like they straight-up just removed her bow even though she's very clearly still wearing it in-game. (Although, I guess you never see Ness with a flipped hat and they still did that for some reason.) Unless the models were prevalent in marketing it just seems kind of pointless.
Its gonna be so cool when your channel becomes huge and I can say that I have been here since 1k. Keep up the great content!
@aerth6946
2 жыл бұрын
He's already on his way to 2K. In just a little more than a weekend! My boy is growing and I'm so fucking happy
*Fun Fact:* From Smash 64 to Smash Brawl, Ness' designs was actually a mix of his Japanese and American designs put into 1. He had the more short chubby statured body structure of his Japanese design mixed with his American design color scheme which his blues where replaced with more of a violet color. Smash 4 and Ultimate made his appearance more 1:1 with just his Japanese design by making his color scheme contain light blue instead of a more violet color of his American design. Smash Melee even has an alternate trophy that gives Ness his more Japanese design with his bright blue color scheme: *Main Ness Smash Melee Trophy:* oyster.ignimgs.com/mediawiki/apis.ign.com/super-smash-bros-melee/e/ee/Ness_trophy.jpg *Alternate Ness Smash Melee Trophy:* gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/screen/full/1/9/8/1474198.jpg
You’re like the Cybershell of Earthbound! Love the commentary and the occasional sarcastic remark, always lookin forward to new content❤️
Wasn't expecting a body positivity speech in my EarthBound video. It was nice And we all know "Bad Boy Ness" is Ninten's son and "Chubby Ness" isn't. Obviously Mother 2 and EarthBound exist in a multiverse
i hope someday they make a 3d version of the mother games using the claymation style
@thewindthatblows
2 жыл бұрын
Legend of Earthbound: Ness' Awakening
MonkeyNess I really like your videos. They are always entertaining and I’m glad there’s still a thriving KZread community for EarthBound. Keep up the good work!
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much, a lot of work goes into these videos and it's nice to know it pays off!
@ApertureKora
2 жыл бұрын
@@MonkeyNess I can tell a lot of work goes into these! I can’t wait for the next upload!
I like to think that ness does that pose because he saw the starman jr doing a similar one, and he wants to look strong and intimidating like it
Almost at 2k subs! Keep it up!
IMO Ness looks like he's about to do some dance with these arms
I'm glad to see your channel is starting to gain traction! Your subscribers are going up significantly!
Man, congrats on the 1k subscribers, i've been watching you since that "Earthbound is cancelled" video. Keep up!
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for following for so long, glad to have you here!
@supermaster1325
2 жыл бұрын
No problem man!
cool. however, consider the third option. p ness
American Ness for the win because I love a good neck
Both are great, Japanese Ness is iconic and what I think of generally when I think of just Ness but American Ness is so tied to Earthbound itself in my eyes, he’s the Ness I picture when thinking of Earthbound specifically.
I personally love the eyebrows, something about them scream 90s tude
I like American ness design more then the official design.
WOW! im only now realizing you upload DAILY!!? DAILY EARTHBOUND IS A DREAM TO ME THANK YOU FOR EXISTING!!
this is probably the most baggy shorts video
I love ur vids pls keep going
The only time I have seen the American render for Ness was in a video game magazine showing the unlockable characters in Smash 64. I eventually found out what game he is from years later all because of Smash.
0:53 if ness wasn't wearing converse, he'd be the worst character in video game history.
God this channel is TOO underrated
I like both designs.
3:19 why did this make me laugh i genuinely wanna see what the hell MatPat has to say about Ninten just to laugh about it anyway yeah american ness imo is alright, but i think ill always have a place for japanese ness in my heart, even if he looks a little awkward
Thanks to Smash Bros., I feel the chubby Japanese version is far more well known these days. I feel the only people who even remember the American redesign are older fans who had the Player's Guide.
For those of us that played Earthbound when it was new, American Ness is our Ness.
There was a localization planned for Mother 1 (known as EarthBound Beginnings when it was ultimately released worldwide), titled "Earth Bound". I think that's where "EarthBound" came from. Still don't know where "Earthbound" came from, though. EDIT: Just realized that the tip of Ness' hat was changed from white to yellow.
2:27 DAMNIT HOW'D YOU KNOW I WAS ALWAYS DOING THAT SHIT IN ELEMENTARY
I think the name Earthbound was meant to convey the game's contemporary setting? Or something? Idunno, it sounds cool.
i will never understand why people hate this specific design, but i can understand that it takes off Itoi original ideia and kinda changes Ness as a character, even if in game his sprite stay the same lol, i personally love how cool Ness looks, like, it's not super over 90s cool thing like the American Sonic design, Ness just looks older and more "brave", i really like that, shame that the fandom sometimes just hate it.
Great video!
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
One thing you forgot to mention is that the American Ness stinks.
I always just though Ness had his hands on his hips
3:44 not my last name being Ness
Baby-shaped Ness will forever be the better Ness
3:52 Ik this is super nitpicky but Ness is an *anagram* of SNES, not an acronym. An anagram is a word made from rearranged letters, an acronym is a word where each letter is short for another word (SNES is an acronym for Super Nintendo Entertainment System)
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Appreciate it!
Im not sure if its just how its scanned , but ness in the us version seems to be much more purpley. Which matches up with the sprite a bit more.
How'd they manage to change it? Was it through Photoshop? For some reason, I can't imagine that being done so well in the 90s. I was genuinely convinced that they made a new model by hand.
1:34 Ness, hero mode
I've been Ness for halloween practically every year since I was 13... '_'
It’s me Ness
3:50 Actually, I was weirded out by Ness's name as well so I looked it up. Believe it or not, this is the answer I received: Ness is a real name people can give their children, and apparently it's a *gender neutral* name so a girl or boy can have it. The name "Ness" is of *Scottish origin* and means "From the headland". It could have been derived from the Ancient Greek name *Nestor* , meaning "Homecoming" or "to return safely". Its other origins: *German, Greek, Scandinavian* This is a pretty nice fun fact, I honestly didn't know that Ness was a real name, let alone was a name that can be given to a boy or girl 😅
@MonkeyNess
8 ай бұрын
Heard of it more commonly as a last name, didn't know this!
I like both designs. The Japanese is definitely more "early game" chubby Ness, and the US one is definitely cooler looking. When I draw Ness I generally combine the designs. With that said, if the US version was try to give Ness some 90s attitude, I personally find that funny because while he isn't a 'wimp' like Lucas, he never really seemed too "attitudey". He always seemed a little more dorky or oblivious when I played. Just my personal take.
didnt know they had beef
Why isn’t the title “JapaNess vs. American Ness”
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Had a couple ideas for titles. "American Ness" -- was one, as relating to this study in Americanization of a Japanese property.
Japanese ness' build kinda reminds me of Babe Ruth
Ness' pose only works if you have bony hips like me and you rest your hands on those pot handles just under your waist
og ness looks (thwomp urgh sound effect)
2000 subs :D
I thought Ness WAS a teen, though...(technically in the American version, he's thirteen, which is in the range of teen ages)
Wait, is the change only for promotion materials?
@MonkeyNess
5 ай бұрын
Yes, and the strategy guide.
@rawrdino7046
5 ай бұрын
@@MonkeyNess but is his sprite unchanged in game?
@MonkeyNess
5 ай бұрын
@@rawrdino7046 yes
I have never seen that model of Ness before, where did it came from?
I'm not sure how Poo is a passable name... I know there's the name Pooh, but the extra "H" gives it a different impression.
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Not necessarily as an actual “name” but more so understandable to an audience, like definitely as a joke, but is at least more than Ness, IMO.
@flippant_foe
2 жыл бұрын
Poo was a mistranslation (or more likely an intentional change to make his name look less foreign to the American audience while also going with the whole 90s gross-out thing) from the original Japanese version name of “Pú”
the title is inspired by Cybershell?
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Yes! Even acknowledge this in the description!
You sound exactly like cybershell
I like the chubby ness hhhhh It gives him more Character
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Literally
his north american artwork not as bad as it looks, but it does look fine to me, it's just not how ness is known to look like.
how come nobody calls the series Motherbound?
@looneyloaiza4419
2 жыл бұрын
Because it’s not called that..? Lol
4:52 this
6:20 i think ness and paula are more marketable in a cynical 90s buisness man sort of way. like theyre the main boy and girl, and marketers were really adimant on gender rolls at the time. have the main girl look pretty so the girls will wanna play it, and have the main boy be cool so the boys'll wanna play it. idk could be wrong, but its what i assumed.
@MonkeyNess
11 ай бұрын
Think you’re onto something but idk if I’d describe Paula as depicted in any of the promotional material as “pretty” lol, they all still look pretty weird haha
They gave him a neck?!
I wish we got a Ness mii swordfighter skin with his hat in Smash. His "sword" could just be a baseball bat. Would technically have the American redesign in the game
Ness is not abstract that's a real name!! Mitchel & Ness is a baseball cap brand!
1:57 Do you realise this graph is more depressing than anything
"Mothearthbound"
@MonkeyNess
Жыл бұрын
EarthBouther
Wait... ninten and ana got together gave birth to ness ness and Paula got together than.. gave birth to lucas
Listen, i love these videos but the THX theme killed me. I have a *huge* fear of that sound. I got jumpscared by it- I'm sorry for making it seem like hate-- it isn't just know i have a fear of loud sounds so like- yeah 😔
Ness is an actual Given and Sirname so its perfectly passable.
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
Maybe as a surname, especially if you’re a character in The Untouchables, but not really as a first name, whereas the name “Poo” is ostensively a joke.
To tell you the truth of it all... None of the 2 designs are good. They aren't TEDDY.
So is Mother Encore cancelled?
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
I wouldn’t know, I’m not working on the project!
@tohkayatogami3788
2 жыл бұрын
As far as I know, it's not cancelled. I think they have a discord server actually, you can find it at their twitter.
@supersonicstyleatsonicspeed
2 жыл бұрын
@@MonkeyNess Do you know anyone who is? Last I checked, on April 1st they announced it was cancelled in favor of Undertale Encore. On April 2nd, they announced that Mother Encore isn't cancelled and Undertale Encore was. I went into the Discord and some random person said that Mother Encore was cancelled and Undertale Encore was cancelled. I DON'T KNOW WHO OR WHAT TO BELIEVE!
@MonkeyNess
2 жыл бұрын
I believe that was an April Fools' Day prank...
@supersonicstyleatsonicspeed
2 жыл бұрын
@@MonkeyNess I confronted the people in the server about it. Some random person said that it is legitimately cancelled. I don't know if I should take their word in that but I just feel extremely confused by the entire situation.
Always preferred the American version, but at the same time.. I’m american lol so..
Giygas is pronounced like "Geek-gas".
Honestly it allways puzzled me as to why they opted to call the games Mother in the first place. I mean it does make some loose sense in the original because the twist in that game is that Giegue was raised by humans although not exclus6a mother and while Lucas's mom doesn't have much to do in mother 3 at least her death is one of the reasons the plot begins in the first place but mother 2 has no reason to be called mother. Ness's mom contributes almost nothing to the plot and she's really only useful as hospital at the very start of the game your sister is more helpful hell you never get to see what Ness's dad even looks like but at least he contributes to party
@MonkeyNess
Жыл бұрын
The title "Mother" is more thematic than it is literal across the games. Itoi selected it due to the game's (Mother 1's) sentimentality and more emotional nature than other contemporary RPGs.
Is it weird that I like Ness's american design way more lol
Somehow I luv da american Ness figure.
@RealMrSebas2005
3 ай бұрын
..OH SHIT NINTEN GET OUT OF THERE DATZ NOT UR GAME
Philipino Ness (P Ness)
Japanese Ness is waaay better imo.