Whale Blimp

The Whale Blimp (クジラの飛行船 Kujira no Hikōsen), also known as the Yokai Blimp: Giant Whale (妖怪飛行船巨鯨号 Yōkai Hikōksen Kyogei Gō) or simply Yōkai Blimp, is a magical airship which uses the skins of deceased whales as its envelope, filling it with the same type of gas contained within the Tamatebako.
==Description==
The Whale Blimp has a peculiar design, the most notable feature is that the envelope is replaced with a whale, resembling a Right whale, and is tied to the gondola with two ropes with a third ring in between the two. The gondola itself is a small metallic platform split into two parts, the front resembling a bird's head with a beak that curves upward and the back having a running wheel that powers the propeller through an assortment of gears. A Tsurube-Bi provides both upward current and light while Nezumi-Otoko cycles the running wheel for the food he is chasing.
In the 1985 anime, The Whale Blimp is an invention of Yagyō-san. The whale resembles a black Rorqual whale with gray ventral grooves and white patches by the lips. It is tied to the gondola with two ropes and a third ring in the middle. The gondola's front has a white "beak" and the back has a running wheel and propeller. The whale can open mouth. The whale is also capable of spraying a column of water which can create a rainbow bridge to the Dream World.GeGeGe no Kitarō (1985): Episode 86
In the 2007 anime, the Yōkai Blimp has a different design. The whale is instead made of blue and yellow fabric. It is connected to the gondola by two large brown bands and tied with rope. The gondola is a brown boat with a long bowsprit and a set of orange propellers. Additionally, there is a small furnace where a Tsurube-Bi stays to keep the blimp afloat and a set of wooden fish that acts as a ladder of sorts.GeGeGe no Kitarō (2007): Episode 96
==History==
===1985 Anime===
The Whale Blimp is used by the Kitarō Family to go into the Dream World.
===2007 Anime===
The Yōkai Blimp is used by the Kitarō Family to find the source of the Yōka.
==Features==
Rainbow Bridge Creation: By spraying water out of its blowhole, the whale blimp is able to create a rainbow that grants access to the Dream World.
==Other Media==
===Yuru-i GeGeGe no Kitarō: Yōkai Dotabata Daisensō===
The Whale Blimp appears as a character in the mobile game Yuru-i GeGeGe no Kitarō: Yōkai Dotabata Daisensō. It features Kitarō, Nezumi-Otoko, Konaki-Jijii, Yobuko, and a Bake-Bi.
==Trivia==
*The Whale blimp is possibly inspired by Whale Bus, an illustration made in the early 20th century that is part of the collection En L'An 2000 ("In the Year 2000"), a series of illustrations made by various artists, such as Jean-Marc Cote, about the year 2000.
*A sculpture of the Whale Blimp is among the many attractions located at Yonago-Kitaro Airport, Japan.
==References==
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