Is John inspired by Rin-Tin-Tin?

[AkatoraofKai]

Do you think John’s character in GNG was influenced by Rin Tin Tin in this scene? Or do you think it was just a coincidence? Let’s talk about it!

Video clips here : https://youtu.be/VH5-FUcxoV0
https://youtu.be/VH5-FUcxoV0

[Spirit Tree]

Whoa, this is really interesting. It really does look similar. To be fair, I'm not quite certain if John was inspired by that scene. Although it is more likely that Yoshi doesn't know about this scene, unless there is some sort of evidence that he did get inspiration for John on that. So I think it could be just a coincidence because it's unknown if Yoshi has ever seen that movie before he debuted the Ginga series, starting with GNG.

[Digsu]

imho those scenes aren't that similar. The only thing they have in common is a clever German shepherd and a trick involving a rope, neither of which are that unique.

That said, Yoshi has stated in the past that he's been inspired by works like the old Lassie TV show and Jack London's books, so it's not impossible for Rin-Tin-Tin to have been a source of inspiration for him as well.

[Jinto]

I don't think it was

[AkatoraofKai]

Found a new clip that further supports my theory
https://youtu.be/TnKQ5-NNlgw

[Spirit Tree]

That clip is very similar.

[Findog]

I think it's just a coincidence.

[Griffin]

While it's technically possible Takahashi could've seen this clip, I believe it's more the trope from which both these scenes stem, the "loyal dog" trope, that causes the similarities. While the ropes might "tie" these two together more (pun intended), I think that's just a coincidence (one master being a cowboy and the other a hunter, it makes sense that they'd have rope). I'm personally interested by the influence Westerns, like "The Law of the Wild," might have had on Ginga. GNG does touch a few troupes found in Westerns: a focus on the frontier/frontiersmen, the centering of physical freedom (that of the dogs from their human masters), questions about what is just/lawful (the dog eaters, Sniper, Oliver, so on), and the clashing of cultures (essentially any pack they encounter). Then again, a lot of this is a natural consequence of having wild dogs are your cast.

[Noroi]

The clips look very similar so I could say both but it could've been some sort of "accident" maybe

[Gingaddict]

I heard somewhere John was inspired by a neighbour's dog, so I think that debunks this theory

[Digsu]

I heard somewhere John was inspired by a neighbour's dog, so I think that debunks this theory

Yoshi's interview in Meteor Gin says that John was name after a neighbor's dog, who was an elderly Akita Inu he'd walk sometimes. So it's unclear how much John was inspired by the irl dog beyond his name.

Although I do find it interesting that Yoshi also used the name John for two other German shepherds, when the irl John wasn't one.

[Justarandomfan1]

Maybe.