Blog Post # 6: Grim Reaper Enters the Idiot Box

             Nobody can never guess the new image of the Grim Reaper. He is indeed the sinister guy wearing a black cloak and wielding an incredibly large scythe. No matter how hard I try, I cannot imagine him in a really good image, not scary but friendly. Did you know that the Grim Reaper also enters the show business? In fact, he also has Children-Friendly programs, Romantic Dramas and Prank shows.

              I have never seen Death this funny. In some programs, he made friends with kids or become their over-protective school principal. In an article by Mark Bozon, posted last OCTOBER 18, 2006, he revealed here that in a famous cartoon show produced by Cartoon Network, Death here appears really friendly and is tricked by Billy and Mandy (show's main protagonists). This article is entitled " The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy ".

"If you like random hilarity, lots of violence, and Weird Al, you might want to check this out."
    -Mark Bozon

                In this cartoon show, Grim met Billy and Mandy tries to take the soul of Billy's hamster, Mr. Snuggles. Knowing his purpose, Mandy challenged Grim in a deal. If she and Billy lose then Grim can take Mr. Snuggles and if they win, Mr. Snuggles will live and Grim will be their best friend forever. The challenge was Limbo, which Grim's choice, in the Limbo Realm. But Mandy cheated by using Mr. Snuggles' unusual trick. Well, to cut the story short, Mandy and her brother win and become "FRIENDS FOREVER" with Grim.

               I also found another cartoon, I mean Japanese anime that features the Grim Reaper. In an article, "Enter the World of Soul Eater" by David Smith, produced last June 13, 2008, he exposed here a new image of the Reaper. Imagine Grim Reaper has a son. And, yes, here he is a School Principal of Death Weapon Meister Academy, located in the fictional Death City. It acts as a training facility for humans with the ability to transform into weapons, as well as the wielders of those weapons, called meisters. He plays here a really big role. Not only as a principal, but also a very powerful figure. Shinigami sealed the first Kishin Asura (His first son, created from the Fear he took out of his soul) under Shibusen and rooted his own soul to Death City to keep him sealed, which is why he cannot leave Death City.

“	If you don't shut up I'm going to use my Reaper Chop to split your head open!	”
—Shinigami, Episode1

Lord Death in Soul Eater

              In most cases, Shinigami comes off as a bit of a joker with a cheerful demeanor. He also prefers to be optimistic and treats every situation as such. He also has a great sense of humor. Shinigami also seems to be a understanding & lenient individual, contrasting to the the general people thinking of him as a strict person who is bound by rules. 

              Okay, Let us move further. As what I have said earlier, I also discover a new character of a Grim Reaper. In this Korean Drama, he is not called neither as the Grim Reaper nor as the Angel of Death. He has an more complicated figure here, he is called the Scheduler. Of course, just like before, his job is to take the souls of the mortals who need to leave. But there is a more great purpose why he is chosen as the Scheduler, it is because he has a mission to accomplish before he leave together with the souls with him. By the way, the Korean Drama that I am talking about is 49 Days.

Jung Il-Woo as Scheduler

               In this show, you will not see a skull in a black cloak wielding a large scythe because everything is modernized. Scheduler is a good-looking young man, and he takes the souls using an "Elevator-like" chamber, where the souls enter. He thought that his only mission is to fetch the dead mortals' souls, but as the story goes on, it is revealed that he is a mortal too, and he needs to find his beloved girlfriend which he left alone without any formal goodbye.

             Have you ever watch a prank show like " Just for Laughs "? This is well-know pranks show. It is a silent comedy/hidden camera reality television show. This series' format is a hidden camera comedy show, playing silly pranks on unsuspecting subjects while hidden cameras capture peoples' responses. This show uses the Grim Reaper as one of their Halloween pranks and that is really funny that is why people love the show. I will show you one of the Grim Reaper pranks.

               If you want news about how effective a Grim Reaper prank can be, visit this article " Watch hilarious floating grim reaper prank that scared the life out of park joggers." by Ben Burrows.