Zenless Zone Zero Komano Manato: A Courageous Hot-Blooded Hero

With the launch of Zenless Zone ZeroVersion 2.3, we have welcomed the long-awaited goat girl, and along with her comes a Dog Thiren - he is Komano Manato. Before Komano Manato's release, many Proxies were highly anticipating this character, who has a burly physique yet appears very gentle. Today, let's appreciate Komano Manato together!

1. Zenless Zone Zero Komano Manato - Cultural Prototype

Komano Manato's primary prototype is likely the German Shepherd. This breed is known for its agility, intelligence, and loyalty, which is why they are often selected as police dogs.

Furthermore, the character "狛" (Koma) in his name is frequently associated with the term "Koma-inu" in Japanese culture. Koma-inu are essentially "stone lions" that were introduced to Japan from China during the Tang Dynasty via the Korean Peninsula (ancient Goguryeo), where they were initially mistaken for "Goryeo dogs." Consequently, the Japanese pronunciations for "Goryeo dog" and "Koma-inu" became the same, and over time, "Koma-inu" became the name for the guardian lion-dog statues found at the gates of Japanese shrines and temples.

It is precisely because of these two elements that we often see Komano Manato's actions of protecting others in the storyline and animations. Since we're talking about the Koma-inu, let's also explain the meaning of "荒魂/Araburu-mitama" (Wild Spirit) on Komano Manato's waist. In Japanese Shinto, it is believed that a deity's soul is composed of four parts: the Ara-mitama (Wild Soul), Nigi-mitama (Gentle Soul), Sachi-mitama (Happy Soul), and Kushi-mitama (Wondrous Soul). Each soul has a different function and they cooperate with each other; this is the concept of "one spirit, four souls".

The four souls respectively represent the four spiritual aspects of "Courage", "Heart" (Harmony), "Love", and "Wisdom". This means the "Ara-mitama" symbolizes the spiritual aspect of being courageous, decisive, chivalrous, and resilient. When a deity manifests before humans for the first time, or appears under conditions of famine and war, it always takes the form of the "Ara-mitama". Therefore, the "荒魂/Araburu-mitama" plaque on Komano Manato's person hints at his courage.

2. Zenless Zone Zero Komano Manato - Design Prototype

After discussing the cultural aspects, let's talk about some of the design prototypes for Komano Manato. Explosive muscles, a biker jacket, a giant sword whose blade suggests it's used for smashing rather than slicing, and the Fire attribute. In the gaming world, there happens to be a character that fits these criteria perfectly: Sol Badguy from Guilty Gear.

However, by comparison, Komano Manato's clothing has more of a Japanese bosozoku (biker gang) "tokkō-fuku" (special attack uniform) style. The artists intentionally elongated the back of his leather jacket into a coat-tail design. Besides making him look more dynamic, it also enhances his resemblance to a "delinquent", creating a contrast with his inherently honest and good-natured personality. Furthermore, the motorcycle he rides bears a strong resemblance to an electric scooter, adding another layer of humorous contrast to Komano Manato's character .

Although some of the artistic elements are similar to Sol's, there isn't a strong connection in terms of his actual moveset. Instead, the move used after a successful block is very similar to Nero from Devil May Cry, which can be considered a perfect homage, much like how Lighter pays tribute to "K" with his moves.

Finally, there's a very interesting point: the animation after the third hit of Komano Manato's normal attack sequence looks like a homage to the classic pose of "Jotaro Kujo" from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Furthermore, Komano Manato's Japanese voice actor is Kazuyuki Okitsu, who voiced "Jonathan Joestar". So, if there's ever a collaboration with JoJo's Bizarre Adventurein the future, Komano Manato is sure to get an exclusive skin, right?

That concludes all the content regarding the character analysis of Komano Manato. I wonder if you've come to like this detail-rich A-rank character even more after reading it? From what I know, Komano Manato's combat prowess should not be underestimated either! Don't forget to keep following us for more articles and in-site merchandises. See you next time!