Ink Theory
Ink Theory
| Species | Yoko & Zuzu:Inkling Karen: Nautilus Oonie & Kitamura: Sea urchin Maya: Sea anemone |
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| Pronouns | |
| Relations | Yoko: Unnamed younger sister Oonie: Unnamed parents |
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| Members | (Non-virtual) Trumpet:Atsuki Yumoto (湯本篤希) Piano:Ai Kuwabara (桑原 あい) Drums:MIZUKI (植田瑞季) |
| Other forms |
| “ | This classically trained, all-female 6-piece band creates jazz and samba-inspired battle music. They owe their unique sound to a blend of academic music theory and modern sensibilities. Ink Theory's eclectic approach makes them quite popular with young Inklings and middle-aged Inklings alike. | ” |
Ink Theory is an all-female six-piece jazz band. The band has a history of classical training, with the members learning music since their childhood long before making their debut. Their songs were added in version2.0.0 ofSplatoon 2.
Songs
| In-game artist | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Origin | Title | Music by |
 | Broken Coral | Ryo Nagamatsu |
| Riptide Rupture | ||
Members
Yoko
- Main article:Yoko
Yoko is the band's trumpet player and frontwoman, though sometimes she is overshadowed by the other members' personalities.[1] She is anInkling with a mutation that allows her tentacles to have multiple colors, but it rarely proves useful. She is described as often getting nervous before large productions. She also has a weakness to atmospheric pressure; on rainy days she is said to have a dead face and while she struggles in sunny weather as well, she is a hard worker and always gives a solid performance. She has a sister in high school.[2]
InSplatoon 3, Yoko is a member of a new band calledYoko & the Gold Bazookas.
Karen
Karen, the band's pianist, is anautilus who graduated at the top of her class from a famous musical university. She has participated in overseas competitions and has won many awards, as well as offering emotional support to the band. She provides the band with a crisp atmosphere, and looks self-assured, though she worries that she is not loved by fans. She formed Ink Theory after being amazed byHightide Era's music,[2] specifically by Taka, who was a senior at the same school.[3]
Zuzu
Zuzu, the kazoo player, is an Inkling who enrolled in a college of music just because she could. Compared to the talented women comprising the rest of the band, she's the closest to your average squid. However, she has an languid allure and an endless abundance of pluck to her that draws the camera's gaze extremely often. In the blink of an eye, she's become known as the band's "flower", and is seen as a queenly presence by fans, who address her with the Japanese honorific "-sama," which is used to address those one considers to be on a higher rank than oneself. She is a large spender but has never struggled much financially.[1][2]
Oonie
- Main article:Oonie
Oonie, the band's bassist, is a sea urchin, specificallyHemicentrotus pulcherrimus. She grew up in a strict household with parents who are fairly famous musicians. For a short while, she favored bands with a different musical style from her parents, but lately, she has been observing classical music in a new light. In a relationship, she is the passive type yet she often falls for slovenly people.[1][2][1]
InSplatoon 3, Oonie is a member of a new band calledYoko & the Gold Bazookas.
Maya
Maya is the band's percussionist. She is asea anemone who joined Ink Theory after graduating from a music academy. While her professor recommended she become a music instructor herself, she decided she would rather get experience creating her own music first. She mainly plays with Ink Theory but occasionally freelances percussion for other bands.[2]
Kitamura
- Main article:Kitamura
Kitamura is the band's drummer and a sea urchin, specificallyDiadema setosum. She acts as the band's mascot. She has a high singing voice and regularly follows new fads. She lives alone but pays close attention to her curfew.[2]
InSplatoon 3, Kitamura is a member of a new band calledYoko & the Gold Bazookas.
Artists
Atsuki Yumoto (trumpet)
Ai Kuwabara (piano)
MIZUKI (drums)
Gallery
Album art fromSplatoon 2.
Early album art
Ink Theory performing
Artwork of Ink Theory for Valentine's Day 2019, showing them in casual clothing (withDiss-Pair in the background).
Ink Theory logo from theSplatoon Base website.
Trivia
- According to aSplatoon 2 anniversary Famitsu interview with the developers, in-universe, Ink Theory was inspired byHightide Era.[4] This connection can be seen in the outfits worn by both bands: Hightide Era wears mainly black with red neckties, and Ink Theory wears mainly black with gold ties.
- Strangely, in the Valentine's Day artwork, Yoko's hat appears to have actual Japanese kanji, rather than wording in theInkling language. Specifically, it reads "可憐," which translates to "pretty", while coincidentally also being pronounced "Karen".
- In-universe, they have a rivalry with theBottom Feeders, since both bands debuted simultaneously and utilize classical instruments, but have conflicting styles.
- Their rivalry fueled a performance of the ages when Ink Theory participated in a battle of the bands where they faced off againstBottom Feeders at a popular venue situated inInkadia called ZAPP square.[5] The venue's name is a parody of theZepp brand of music venues in Japan.
- Ink Theory's name on the album art has what looks like a bass clef in the left, connected 8th notes in the middle, and a piano dynamic in the end.
- An Ink Theory album can be seen in the background ofNaut Couture, alongside aHightide Era album.
Etymology
- Ink Theory's name seems to come from jazz theory ormusic theory.
- Zuzu's name comes from the instrument she plays, thekazoo.
- Oonie's name is a phonetic rendering of the Japanese word forurchin, "ウニ".
- Karen's name is from "可憐", meaning "pretty". The name is also from the Danish-originated name "Karen". The word "可憐" is also used in the Japanese name forBroken Coral, as well as part of Ink Theory's Japanese name,カレントリップ.
- Kitamura's name comes from "キタムラサキウニ"kitamurasakiuni, the Japanese name forMesocentrotus nudus, a species of sea urchin.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 Japanese | カレントリップ Karento rippu | Current Rip |
 Chinese | 流裂 liú liè | Current Rip |
 Korean | 커런트립 Keoreonteurip | Current Rip |
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ヨーコ | Yōko |
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | カレン | Karen. Possibly a play on the band's Japanese name,karento rippu |
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ビビ | Bibi |
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | あーちん Āchin | A rendering of the English word "urchin", Oonie's taxonomic class. |
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | マヤヤ | Mayaya |
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | きたむら | Kitamura. Fromkitamurasakiuni(Mesocentrotus nudus) |
References
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