Pokémon

When Shuppet evolves into Banette, the doll theme continues, but this time it is based not on a teru teru bōzu weather charm, but on a marionette – with elements of a voodoo doll thrown in for good measure (its name = bane + marionette). Pokémon lore states that Banette was originally a pitiful old plush doll that was thrown away, and that it was driven to life (of sorts) by the dark force of its grudge (although this origin story seems to disregard the fact that Banette evolves from Shuppet). It keeps its life force safely within its body by means of its zipped-up mouth. If unzipped, it would quickly lose its dark energy.

Banette puts curses on others by using its body as a voodoo doll and sticking pins into itself. It lives in garbage dumps and dark alleyways, where it searches for the person who threw it away before it became a Pokémon so that it can exact its revenge. It is said that treating Banette with enough care will satisfy its grudge, and it will turn back into a stuffed, lifeless toy.

This backstory of an ordinary doll coming to life is similar to that of a mythological being called a tsukumogami (which I’ve briefly mentioned before in an article about the hat-like Bonneters in Super Mario Odyssey). Tsukumogami account for some of the stranger examples in the already strange world of Japanese monsters, or yōkai. Put simply, tsukumogami are inanimate objects that have come to life. Usually, this is because the object is 100 years old. However, objects may also take on a life of their own as a result of being thrown away. The idea that inanimate objects can have souls is called animism, and it is a central belief of Shintoism.

In principle, there are as many kinds of tsukumogami as there are objects, but some of the types more commonly depicted in folklore and fiction include the kasa-obake – an umbrella with one eye, whose handle has been transformed into a single leg – and the bakezori, a discarded sandal. Modern objects are less likely to become tsukumogami, partly because devices like computers and electrical appliances are unlikely to survive for the 100 years required to acquire life.

A tsukumogami’s appearance and nature depend greatly on how it has been treated. A treasured and well-cared-for object may take on a friendly appearance and behave with benevolence towards its owner, while a damaged or discarded object will likely harbour more negative feelings and have a more fearsome appearance.

Sometimes in Japan, unwanted dolls are given funerals of sorts. Many of us, during our younger years, will have cherished a doll or other toy that we anthropomorphised to some degree. As children, and even as adults, we impose human characteristics upon human-like objects. So, rather than simply throwing the doll, teddy bear, or collectable figure away, some owners acknowledge these very human feelings of attachment and give them a send-off in a way that seems appropriate to them.

However, Banette represents the darker side of tsukumogami. It shows what might become of a doll that is not given a proper memorial, but is simply thrown away. When carelessly discarded, a doll may come to life, filled with feelings of vengeance toward its former owner.

Things don’t end there, though. Banette may not evolve in the traditional sense, but it does have a Mega Evolution – a brief, temporary form of evolution that uses a massive burst of energy that quickly dissipates. With Mega Banette, the process increases its vindictiveness, and the cursing power that was held back by its zippers spills out. Now that some of the zippers are undone, parts of Mega Banette’s pink body, including some demonic claws, can be seen emerging from under the doll’s fabric. The extraordinary energy of Mega Evolution amplifies its power to such an extent that it can’t help but curse its own Trainer.