![[flava flava]](takotop.jpg)
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This layout is none other than Takoyama, AKA Hairdresser Octopus (Takoyama is his name in the Japanese version; it's basically a pun, since 'tako' means octopus and 'takoyama' is a very common last name in Japan). Or to be more precise, this layout is Level 5 of Parappa the Rapper 2. The mood of this level can be summed up in one word--insane. Takoyamasan, Parappa Town's best hairdresser and beauty artist, goes insane thanks to music supplied by the Noodle Syndicate. He turns from his normal cheerful blue to a brilliant red, grows a few inches taller (oddly enough), and starts giving everyone afros. His customers, held hostage, have no choice but to sit and let him have his way. Parappa, enlisted by the army, bursts in with PJ. Lammy and Katy cry for help, saying that Sunny will be there any minute. Takoyama leaps up on the round table he works behind and challenges Parappa--if the pup wins, Takoyama will fix everyone's hair. With great reluctance, Parappa accepts, and the two go into mortal combat. Er, okay, they start cutting hair. Introducing the new flava! Cutting hair can be fabulous, So don't just stand there, Come on inside, have a seat, and relax! I promise you everything will be alright, Ok baby, let's go, we're gonna go like this... Snip snip Trim trim Cut cut Shave shave Snip trim cut Shave cut snip Trim shave dye Cut snip trim Simple, simple, just like that! I do braids and afros, crew cuts and more, Always energetic, smooth with a kick, Listen to the music and keep up the mix! Snip snip snip, snip snip Cut cut cut, cut cut Trim trim trim, trim trim Shave shave shave Check it out! Cut the cut, snip the snip Trim the trim, shave the shave Trim the cut, shave the snip Cut the snip, shave the trim You see now, I don't have time to lose, My customers keep coming in and out. Many demands for people alike, I know what cutting hair is all about! Trim trim cut, cut trim trim Perm perm cut, cut perm perm Cut cut perm, perm cut cut Snip snip dye, dye snip snip Dye dye snip, snip cut cut Trim trim dye, dye snip snip Give it my best shot to keep myself red hot, 'Cos I'm the one to bring out the original Flava flava for my people people, Come on my kids, last shot for the final! With the shampoo, I'll give it to you all Rinse ya good, I made you look tall Dry your hair, blow up and down, Come on son, it's time to get down! Keep the line, keep the line moving, 'Cause I'm non-stop, my body's just groovin' Cut your hair, flat back and up front, Give you a perm now, and we're done! Now, for my personal views of Takoyama. When red, he's obviously rather... psychotic and sadistic, if you watch his actions during his level. He dances with his scissors (which seem to be actually garden clippers with different handles) right in front of his eyes. When cutting hair, he makes grand ass sweeps with the shears, a movement that could easily stab someone in the head. He straps his customers down (as seen above with poor Lammy) like some weird torture chamber. Before the song starts, he ducks from the purple shark things that move along the ceiling, allowing customers to be haplessly nailed in the head. He strikes weird JTHM-esque poses. And when mad he has a look that says I CAN AND WILL GLADLY EAT YOUR SOUL. However, we don't see much of him when he's blue, but we can tell he obviously does love cutting hair. He seems very, very sweet and mostly happy, having a good word for everyone. In the Parappa 2 music video, we see him watching Sunny give her concert with a sweet, admiring smile, and a face that says "This is me swooning from how pretty the song is!". In the intro, he has the biggest, cheesiest grin ever, as if it was the best thing in the world to be there. Also in the music video, his red ego makes another appearance, when he's trying with all his might to pull off Parappa's hat. I can't help but wonder how many times his red self has manifested, besides that level? Does it happen when he's mad? Or do certain things trigger it, like the music did? Does he just have to feel really passionate to turn red? Since I don't wanna bother Rodney Greenblat with weird questions, I guess we'll never know... Oh, yeah, and he owns a sports car in the anime. Any octopus who owns a sports car deserves his own blog layout. |
