THE GRIZZCO TAPES - Vol. 4

[@Blahydra]

My attempt at creating a nice cohesive story for all of us, it's a massive comment so sorry for forcing everyone to read half a novel. On the day before her 15th birthday, 11-06-13xx+14, Kaia Shirui has gone missing during an overtime shift working at Grizz co industries under unusual circumstances. The crew she should have come back with did state that she was with them upon return, but this could not be verified as her leave slip was never signed off. Her parents reported her missing three days later, on 14-06-13xx+14. She presumably lived in the Calamari County, as they are mentioned in a context implying that they should be involved but weren’t. Most likely due to Grizz co’s meddling. Part of the Chinook unit based in the Inkopolis outlet of Grizz co, Kaia’s colleagues should have reported her missing and may very well have. To Grizz co. Who is very insistent on letting skeletons sitting in their closet, evidenced by them terminating the phone call, oppressive training tape messages telling employees to not contact the police directly, but through Grizz co and intimidating/blackmailing a worker into picking up harder shifts for no extra pay to recoup losses of missing teammates, among who at least one male who “fell into the water”. The worker being interrogated is seemingly distressed at least, perhaps traumatised at worst. And let’s go for the worst considering he’s probably our second named character: Ren. Ren was part of the same shift as Kaia, the cursed 349.12 Polaris. One of the 24 surviving workers, he has seen not only Kaia disappear, but also while travelling back seeing another coworker be washed overboard in a storm surge. Presumably in a typhoon forming over their route back to Inkopolis on the barge. He is my most likely pick for the worker that we see getting blackmailed by Grizz co. in VOL 2 with either a forced promotion or being fired. This leads him to obtain his recordings from the cursed shift and give them to his friend Warabi, who delivers them to the Nantai police force. As to why I think Ren is the lynchpin here: We have two recordings, seemingly one where a worker is split from the group who gets overwhelmed and is dragged into the water, which I believe to be Kaia. However, there is a second recording in VOL 4 that is of an inkling trying to raise Kaia over the radio and failing, while the barge needs to leave. Kaia is left behind with everyone in shock and all officers from Grizz co on deck worried, in a panic even. The reason I believe they had to leave was a perhaps unexpected typhoon forming due to unnatural reasons we’ll get to later. For now we see in the rest of the video that the crew is depressed, with an inkling voice mentioning wanting to go home. Considering how Ren is described as mopey, panicked and seems to have experienced some mental stressors, I think we can assume this is him. Due to the picture show, I believe this is taking place on deck during the storm surge/waves Grizz warned the crew about, with the worker that is with Ren being washed away or taken by salmonid attack (there are odd sounds and screams heard before the baller section). This worker is then seen in a baller near the surface of the water before going under, trying to raise the ship on the transceiver and praying (with a nice verse from the book of Madai, which we’ll also get back to later) that they are saved. They are not. Last we see, the recorder is transceiver crackling and hearing the weather outside again, which indicates to me that the baller has been broken open (as no more rain is heard on the baller material) and the worker is taken somewhere. This happening leads to VOL 2, where a worker is interrogated by Grizz co about what happened, mentioning a he that fell overboard and threatened with either being fired or being promoted without pay. Considering Ren was fired for “efraction of employment terms” and the earlier instruction video giving pointer on how nobody is to be left behind and teammates are to be saved from the water, plus him being panicked while being threatened to be watched by Grizz co would make for a reasonable timeline. Which leaves us with the two missing workers, Kaia and a male coworker, Ren being blackmailed into silence and sneaking some damning evidence to Grizz co via Warabi. There is however more going on behind the scenes. Namely, the conversation at the end of the long live kaia video and the almost supernatural text seen everywhere, with strange sentences that Ill also come back to later. Going back to the end of the long live kaia video, we see someone getting a phone call from what is very likely mister Grizz. And Grizz is far from happy. He was promised an increased yield but instead Marooners is now a wasteland and this person is responsible. They’re also going to either fix it, or take the fall. Now, what else would be of interest to Grizz co., increase golden egg yield, leave things a wasteland and has ties to the book of Madai (which is an odd detail to include that the prayer verse came from there)? A big run. Grizz co commissioned a team of scientists to find a way to create an artificial big run. Except in this case, it worked too well, causing Marooners to be left a wasteland after the salmonids had their fun. But it doesn’t stop there, I also propose whatever they did to go so horribly wrong that either a typhoon is formed, or the salmonids are so agitated that they form a storm surge. A massive wave that the barge carrying the crew to the shift has to sail through. And while a big run is a common phenomenon, such a destructive and possibly unnatural one has drawn a lot of media attention. That’s not the end of it however. There are so many other phrases sprinkled throughout the tapes, such as: - “There is something in the water.” - The title of VOL 2: “From water comes freedom.” - “I’m feeling every part of it.” - VOL 3’s title card reading as the motto of Paris: “She is tossed by the waves, but does not sink.” - In VOL 3, just after Rens footage there are frames with “Love you, Hate you”, “I can’t stop breathing”,- “Im feeling every part of it” (again) and “Something is in the water” (again) - VOL 3’s stinger with “Even a fake sky would suffice” - Long live Kaia Shirui having in the description a code that seems to spell out "Hidden in darkness always. Decay return, decay return" The sentences from the beginning of VOL 4. Thanks to @dappnapp for translating them. Which hint at something more sinister. Far more sinister. And I think there is proof enough that we can say what it is: Experimentation and implantation of something on live squidkids, possibly Kaia and the other lost coworker. The images in the beginning of VOL 4, together with the text seem to spell out an operating procedure to do something. It has to do with gill covers, certain organs, splitting of the throat, rupturing the stomach for space, dysfunction of inkfishs’ colour changing ability, incisions and mutations. Also in the images is something that looks like some form of parasite. What I believe is show here is the medical procedure/butchering happening to these squidkids to make them more salmonid like. It would match all the odd phrases seen before and most chilling, several images seem to show Kaia’s portrait with a half melted/stitched together face. Another image (in green, around 0:27) seems to show some form of splatter and a hurt cry. “I’m feeling every part of it” why would a phrase be popping up often? Salmonids would also be able to breathe underwater, matching “Something is in the water”, “I can’t stop breathing” and “Even a fake sky would suffice.” These mutated squidkids are held in some underwater/hidden facility. And I think this is how our mystery person and his team are repaying Grizz for royally screwing up. Either by creating some form of an inkling golden egg incubator or creating some mutated form of inkling/salmonid hybrid. Both with the help of parasites implanted in the stomach/throat. Perhaps even to try to create a new kind of salmonid. One who can keep better control of the ravenous horde during a big run. A new kind of king salmonid. Kaia is alive, she is tossed by the waves but does not sink, she has been given freedom by the water (salmonids) and above all, she has gone missing and will never return. And in return for doing this, Grizz will reward our team of pretty despicable scientists with something. Maybe access to alterna? Maybe something else. “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” as our title card on VOL 4 says. There are some loose threads (and probably gaping holes) in this theory of course, but I think this might be on track. I will be revisiting my own notes later to check everything again, but this should have a consistent timeline of events and reasons why things happen that we have seen. Though perhaps one dangling thread is the other coworker. Well, I do think he has fallen victim to whatever experimentation has been happening as well. He even says hi in VOL 4. Just have a good look after his recording footage or the flashing footage of the recording from VOL 2 repeated here. He’ll be watching from the dark. And with that, I’m going to try to scrub the picture of what I assume to be a mutated Kaia and those eyes out of my mind. Jerm, I have come to love this series dearly and hope this is on track. It’s been a legitimately awesome and scary ride with the sound design, hidden details and implied story telling. Can’t wait for the next VOL if there is one, and I’ll be sure to be there to pick it apart. Hopefully proving, but probably disproving my theory here.

[@jermgoated]

holy mother of god.

[@Iminagony2]

@@jermgoatedOop- we both surprised by this AMAZING Comment?

[@williambush3494]

Holy cow that is some insane theorizing. Bro respect

[@Fiery.Pisces]

Mother of cod, what a good theory!

[@comedycrusher8987]

@@jermgoated ofc u cant confirm anything said since u still cooking up a story

[@strangeworld9376]

the "Mom" at 8:57 got me right in the heart man, i keep forgetting these are just kids

[@Anomaly1534]

imagine if it said "tell my grandma I love her" I would cry my fucking eyes out

[@stevenmorris6780]

Oh, and are we really just gonna overlook the fact that the poor lass has recited inklinese bible verses in some of her final moments even? *CUZ CHRIST I AM SHOOKETH.*

[@theonlymintyelf]

If you listen closely it kinda sounds like their saying "I want my mom" which is heartbreaking

[@feefington]

The fact the employee started straight up reciting the Splatlandian equivalent of the Bible while drifting on sea is genuinely horrifying. Really shows how terrified and desperate someone would be in that situation, hundreds of miles away from any help I myself have experienced what it's like being inside an inflatable ball on water years ago, and you *pretty much can barely move an inch* no matter how hard you try, so just imagine being that isolated and hopeless. That genuinely gave me *chills*

[@fluffywhompus]

8:49 I got really sad when they started calling out for their mom 😢, gave me the same feeling as “tomorrow was her birthday, she was going to be 15”

[@FloorBeastie]

Translations/Hidden Text Flashing Text in Beginning Operculum (gill cover) Olfactory Chest Cecum (organ) Manual Pharynctal Splitting (pharynx is part of your throat) Rupture the stomach for space (wtf???) Chromatophoric Dysfunction (chromatophores are what makes inkfish able to change color) Incision Mutate Japanese below "Tape 4" Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours

[@hudsonkilbury3416]

What does it say?

[@FloorBeastie]

@@hudsonkilbury3416check now

[@theminiyosshi2901]

I think this implies that the salmonid aren’t as simple-life and one-sided goal of being eaten as they are. As rudimentary as their technology is, they know how to fillet a fish and they know how to do it well

[@user-vd9sf2gr2f]

Well, at least Kaia might still be alive, in some form

[@leochaichana7649]

@user-vd9sf2gr2f mutate..... I think what this message tries to say is that she is turned into some god help me thing to her which she is far recognized by mutate...... Dear god....

[@Huskie297]

I have to preserve that one person in the premiere chat that said "everyone start licking we can save her" Boost the algorithm by casting Lick to save Kaia 👍👍

[@infinitikokomorich]

I-

[@Unknown_Nexus535]

I cast lick spell! (Iykyk)

[@genericzr]

8:30 me taking the most diabolical dookie of human history after eating taco bell

[@Bandikit]

Gotta say, jerm, your sound design skills are incredible! Those inkling and octoling vocals are convincing every time!

[@jermgoated]

Glad to hear that bc it’s a pain to do it lmao

[@jujmajuj13]

Dude you should make a tutorial cause it's really good

[@user-vd9sf2gr2f]

Alright, so. Tape 2 told us there are multiple missing teammates from a group, presumably 2’s. I do think we see some of Kaia in the beginning, but she isn’t whoever fell off the ship. Whoever fell off saved themself using the baller to stay out of the water, and either we were seeing the recording in real time, or their transceiver was already retrieved. That’s all I can piece together

[@leochaichana7649]

Or someone are trying to cover the scere by getting rid of her by throwing into the sea ( they may put her into the baller and throw her away in sea ) if you hear closely on 7:41 you can that it is like she was attacked by someone whom i believe it was her co-worker, and throw her alone to be lefted by died by water, or worst, salmoid. can you see what i mean?!

[@user-vd9sf2gr2f]

@@leochaichana7649That makes a lot of sense, but now the question is, why isn’t there anyone looking for them? Did the attacker think that no one would look for them? Did the attacker accept the same deal 2 was given to do it?

[@leochaichana7649]

@user-vd9sf2gr2f I don't know, but they just throw her into the sea. It would make sense if someone noticed one of the co-workers was missing beside kaia, but it was silent by those workers. Anyone was forced on kaia missing, but this inkling girl does know something, and she will probably tell everyone in the city, and so, that why they did that to her, so they can hide their dark secrets. Imagine if it isn't the salmonid who did this, but you own co-workers, that's mess up.

[@psyball1282]

damn bro they put a mafia style execution in my squid game

[@leochaichana7649]

@psyball1282 What ?? 🤨

[@psyball1282]

So, at about 6:13, when the inklings are talking about Kaia, the name Ren gets mentioned. We know that 2 was there on the shift Kaia went missing and Warabi says during the questioning to police, "I'm Re- 2's friend". So I think it's safe to say that 2's real name is Ren. Not really that important for the lore, but it is fun to pick apart at it and see what you can piece together. Edit: I think I might have found out something that could explain how Ren got the audio recording of Kaia's perspective. At 9:30, you can hear the worker's transceiver crackling, meaning that she must be using it for something. My theory is that when the employee was pushed into the water, she was able to get a signal from Kaia and receive her recording before having said recording transmitted to Ren.

[@Blahydra]

Nice, I had a feeling it would be connected to that because of nantai station featuring again, and this just shortcuts that process by confirming my suspicion. Thanks a bunch!

[@Crystal-ku2bl]

I am genuinely surprised from how good the work is on this. I personally think this should be an actual splatoon event one day.

[@ari638]

I think it would scare 90% of the playerbase out of playing (myself included)

[@galacticp1]

@@ari638let’s go the 10 percent into the optional horror area!

[@Squid_Salad]

splatoon is a kids game so no chance, it would have to be adapted in some way

[@Reg1_SW1TCH]

Would be awesome tho for horror fans, maybe it could had been a splatoween themed big run or something

[@shark_girl]

Perhaps outside of the game, but Splatoon isn't the type of game to have stuff like that (telephones blending people aside) in the actual game. It would be cool tho! It could be like a whole interactive thing where fans have to work together to figure out what happend to Kaia.

[@comedycrusher8987]

Nahhh, sneaking "mom" into that inkling's cries is EVIL! Rlly good stuff

[@RainbowToons_]

at the beginning i just teared up a little because i imagine Kaia is in a LOT of pain whilst the images are shown while you hear the noise in the background, which to me sounds like short screams that Kaia is making while she's in unbearable pain. i really hope she gets found at the end of all this, and if not i hope we get to know what happened to her! i really love the segments where you can hear and see footage of the inklings that are left that saw Kaia enter the water, i think they're traumatized since in one of the other volumes they stayed really silent when employees asked what happened, along with 2 being so paranoid that he can only shortly call the investigators about who he's sending. I'm REALLLYY invested in this i can't wait to see more, and i'm so happy this is continueing!!! i was afraid volume 3 was the last entry :] this is the BEST analog horror with splatoon in it that i've seen, and the mysteries surrounding it only makes me more excited about what you'll do with this story, it's really incredible!!! the only theory i have is that Kaia strayed from the group at the end of the run, near the water, and got sucked/knocked in by a salmonid which was retreating, or they took her and are now experimenting on her because they think she's immortal?? (because inklings and octolings simply respawn when they are 'killed' by any of the salmonids) i took some inspiration of the other comment's theories though since a lot of them sound like they make sense, but i hope i'll be surprised with what actually is happening to her. great work!! this is dope as hell!!!

[@Arcavi0us]

Horrifying. Being trapped in a bubbler at/under the sea as water which dissolves/melts you slowly leaks in and nobody to come save you...

[@elitely6748]

Recently discovered Splatoon lore after thinking it was a happy innocent game with multiplayer pvp, and oh boy I gotta say its quite amazing. Then I saw Sunflower's video covering this and it is genuinely impressive how you've created this series I personally think that Kaia and perhaps some of the others are still alive but kidnapped! But We're looking forward to this!

[@jermgoated]

I’m so glad to hear you’ve gotten into splatoon! It’s a seriously awesome game that deserves attention even if it’s already pretty big lol

[@misterfister5810]

The baller… it kinda reminds me of that one animation from John sandwich where salmon run workers where coming back from a shift and the boat ran into some bumpy waves, resulting in 2 workers going over board, but being saved from the baller special

[@m1zuk1_]

That’s exactly what I was thinking

[@m1zuk1_]

words cannot express how excited I am for this, i know it’s gonna be amazing

[@AstroJordan06]

I agree

[@jermgoated]

I hope lol

[@m1zuk1_]

@@jermgoated *i know

[@GlaziolaNacht]

Woah… ok… that was an intense episode… the chills and feelings of absolute terror I got during this were unmatched..! Nicely done yet again Jerm..! I’m impressed and disturbed yet again!

[@magiccoco122]

THE NOISE Of the rain against the bubbler sent CHILLS Down my spine. And the VOCALS. In conclusion… Cool videos, Man!

[@hidkjdklvjkv]

hear me out on this theory, 5:43 is abt where we get the people looking for Kaia, there are two possibalites for the people looking for her either the people on the leaveship OR her teammates. the problem is, it couldn't have been the teammates because they went straight back to grizzco so i think its the people on the leave ship. they must have seen kaia fall off and from tape 1 or 2 ( i forgot) was the intrrigation, the one where that person saw kaia fall into the water BUT IN I THINK TAPE 3 WE GOT TOLD THE NAME "2" i dont think that is there real name though because "2" s friend had said "re-" before but cut themself off. the closest thing we get to that is, Ren and because it is mentioned in this tape. i have a feeling Ren saw this and didn't tell anyone till later because of how panicked they were. whatever happened at 7:55, i think that could've been someone trying to STOP them from looking and could've beaten them to death, explaining where the "other lost teammates" went. at 8:03, i think that could've been Kaia because it looks like they could be in water and the screen and sound do not work properly. it also sounds like her actual voice (might be hard to tell) thats why she's asking if anyone can hear her, because she heard the others call out and tried to respond back but did not get saved. also, when she starts to panic, that could've been the ship go over her, causing her to "drown" because she doesn't know how to swim EVEN THOUGH I THINK SHE IS ALIVE. ANOTHER THING, something could've been in that water because she starts to pray and the sound gets even worse, this could've caused to drag her down and it could have been salmons, salmonoids, etc. after it could've been when she gave up but a little detail, the image on 10:01 DOES look like a salmon, meaning it could have been a salmon to drag her down due to their aggressive nature. but thats just a theory... AN ANALOG SPLATOON THEORY!!! 😝

[@nickrevalee5218]

OH GOD MY HEART, these kids don't DESERVE THIS FATE! also almost got me in a full panic attack in the second half when a worker gets stranded in the water. (I changed squids to kids because Octolings also take part in Salmon Runs so...yeah.)

[@TreeBranchStudios]

Okay the scariest part is the inkling reciting the splatoon bible and calling out to their mom in their final moments

[@chips627]

so as far as I can tell, Kaia got stuck in a baller at sea, the boat left, and water is leaking in. She will die if enough leaks in. edit, forgot there were multiple missing crew members, I think one may have wanted to go back, which grizzle couldn't risk. so that's the person in the baller

[@imadesmond]

8:56 inkling “I’m bout to cuu-“

[@Eltrine_scal]

Bro😭

[@SnoFitzroy]

Dude she's 15 stfu

[@xdkawaiimermaid4309]

oh my god I’m not the only one hearing it 😭😭😭

[@supernovero]

Thanks so much for this series! I really enjoy stories of corporate malfeasance and investigations. The dialogue is great and every voice you write feels distinct! I like to rewatch and think about these videos every so often, and I love the atmosphere you've created in them

[@jermgoated]

Comments like this is exactly what got my lazy ass to stop sitting around and continue this series

[@Jm-ki4su]

SPOILERS: at 1:10 for almost a split-milisecond, we get a glimpse at what i can best describe as a mutated Kaia. Notice how the scar on her right ear is missing. What the hell happened to her? The mystery of this series is so intense, yet so amazing. Can't wait to see what you come up with next, Jerm!

[@leochaichana7649]

7:41: at this moment i don't know if it's kaia friends or some random inklings or octolings or something whatever it is, in this scene we heard that she was being punched someone, and put her into the baller then throw it into the sea and flow away. I don't know, but if you had heard this scene, here is my theory, the theory is that she knows what's going on about kaia's missing, but someone that could her co-worker, shut her down and throw her into the sea, it's like they are trying to cover the case, by throwing her into the sea and pretend that nothing is going on, they are trying to cover it, and they knew what are they doing, by throwing her into the sea alone, they are the part of the crime scene of grizzco industries and it is mess up!! So how you think about my theory?

[@DuelingSteel]

These videos are the most bone-chilling surreal nightmares I have ever seen. Along with how great the grainy video and distorted audio is,- the sheer terror this series brings out of Splatoon's already dark lore and just puts in out on display- it's unreal.

[@jermgoated]

Thank yoiu so much WWAUUGHHHH

[@cryp86]

FOR SOME REASON MY YT COUNTS THIS AS MUSIC, I WAS LISTENING TO MY MIX, AND SUDDENLY I START HEARING NOT VERY PLEASING SOUNDS, I GOT SCARED TO THE POINT I JUMPED SO HIGH I WAS ABLE TO TOUCH THE ROOF WITH MY HEAD

[@MUZUKUN-YT]

💀💀💀💀💅💅💅✨️

[@absolutetrashpanda9429]

God those fucking surgery instructions in the beginning are horrifying to think about, and I have a feeling Kaia isn’t just gonna float in the baller forever

[@sussybaka3648]

1. Hyped af for this 2. This is a certified Nakarkos moment

[@servantofwrath7370]

MONSTER HUNTER MENTIONED !!

[@sussybaka3648]

@@servantofwrath7370 WE LOVE MH

[@anabominationagainstman3597]

How does this relate to a nakarkos

[@NightmareInSilver]

I feel like the image at 9:25 isn't being talked about enough. From what I can see in the image, it looks like the camera on the inkling may have come off of their uniform. It looks like we see them floating on their back, with their chest being at the bottom of the frame, and their head at the lower left. I can't quite make it out well, but it looks like their face is deformed or melted, like what they said at 8:23, even at 8:29 it looks like we're seeing them hold the camera over their head, with it already looking like their melting. The whole scene with this idea in mind makes it more horrific. An innocent inkling, probably the same age as Kaia, gets stuck in their baller that gets cracked. Then, they start seeing the water seep in, screaming for help as they eventually melt from the water. All while we hear and see a few glimpses of their death, before landing on their half melted remains. Only for it to end with the baller showing up as empty.

[@MUZUKUN-YT]

Another thing I noticed is the transceiver receiving something on the other end. It seems that as soon as this person drowns into the water, it seems she's getting in contact from someone with a bad connection which I'm willing to believe is Kaia's transceiver underwater which leads me to believe that she's been taken away somewhere.

[@ShortBanjos]

The sound design is genius as it is heartbreaking. I can’t tell if you got actors and distorted their vocals because these things sound convincing and have a lot of emotion behind them. I literally was brought to tears dude, this was really well made and written and makes me immersed in their situation and have empathy towards them. Also hypothesis: With the inkling that fell in, I think she was shoved into the ocean by someone on the boat. There’s no solid evidence for this but it would be up grizco’s ally to use a storm as cover for eliminating a potential rat. And I think the voice that wanted to go home was the one who talked and said to call him 2. Two maybe was threatened after the inkling fell in, that’s why he’s afraid to share his identity because someone would do something about it. I could be misinterpreting the video tho, just a thought.

[@paigespen7455]

just this afternoon, i watched all 3 volumes in Sunflower's video and after watching it i was thinking, "I'm gonna go Jerm's Vol. 3 vid, and comment, 'VOL. 4 PLZZZZZZZZZZZZ!'" And now here we are. Its a miracle.

[@Skipchipsdip]

I've played salmon run non stop but man these tapes feel so other wordly. And yeah these are just kids... Well done Jerm! Please get some rest!

[@da_pwo]

Man, if I was splatted like that, I would definitely smack the radio upon respawning

[@xdkawaiimermaid4309]

I’m probably many months late, but I have a strange theory: -Based on my experience in the Splatoon community, there are people who made a fan made species called “salmonlings”. -Based on the comments helping me understand what’s going on in the tape, this implies the Salmonids are possibly experimenting on Kaia as an attempt to create the so called “salmonlings ”

[@lilaniloxi]

Jesus those screams and then silence were terrifying. Great job! loved this volume! Sound design's amazing

[@Optimus97]

My god. You made my heart sink once again. That poor, poor thing... it's heartbreaking to hear them call out for mom while being stuck in a baller in the middle of nowhere

[@pugbam1112]

I think "Ren" who is in this tape is both 2 and 2's friend, Warabi. In tape 3 he stutters, almost saying his real name. He pretended to be someone else in fear of Mr. Grizz finding him and... doing something to him. What he does to employees if they reveal info is unknown. However it may be death, as we saw in a previous tape, seeing the receptionist when on a call with the investigator. Kaia very well may still be alive, as in the "LONG LIVE KAIA SHIRUI" video, one of the commenters said somewhere in the video, it showed an image of kaia, with the text "I'm not done yet." Kaia likely is alive, but is in serious pain. So I just think that Ren is lying to protect himself. The inkling who was threatened is, I'm assuming, Ren, aka 2. The one threatened was obviously a male inkling, and so that further proves this.

[@blanova9689]

we not gonna talk about how it sounds like one of the inklings just go up to the dude saying he wants to go home and beats the shit out of him

[@mc_hilow1156]

I have been playing splatoon since release! This is an awesome (and horrifying) way of showing lore for salmon run. I am excited for what’s coming next!

[@EndermanPierce]

I only just found this series after watching Sunflower's video on it, and I'm glad to see its still going. I just wanna say that its already hard enough to make realistic and frightening visuals with either enough or not enough complexity to make out how horrifying they are, but the sound design is just as good too! You're somehow able to replicate the Splatoon language and sound effects in a way that doesn't sound too recycled or off putting, yet it fills into that sense of dread of what's going on in the story that makes it off putting in an unsettling and good way, it genuinely feels like I'm watching a tape that should be prohibited and hidden from public to watch. I'm glad to see an analog horror of Splatoon, such a uniquely and challenging style to replicate done so right, and I hope to see even more in the future!

[@Bandikit]

Yooooo so hyped for this!! Your content is so well made and genuinely creepy instead of cheap cliche scary stuff.

[@jermgoated]

I really try >:P

[@SideOrderly]

8:22 I think what happened here is that she was in the ball special(forgot the name)to protect herself underwater but the ball broke and water started to leak in.

[@cindymata9430]

Same

[@Juice-l3RD]

Crab tank it only activates into a ball when you try to go into squid form

[@QueenLethargy]

​@@Juice-l3RD thats splatoon 3, the ball special was from splatoon 2.

[@StoryTeller796]

I would love to mix horror projects like these with the more lighthearted comics that people like that young lady who I forgot the name of, I remember her inkling avatar and I remember her video that Marina is gay for Pearl and her predictions. There's also Starlit Siren, I believe, who made a comic dub or maybe not a comic dub but a dub for another artist's fanmade version of Splatoon 3. But overall, I want to create a collective fanverse to see what The Squid Research team can do with these ideas. Also, the news section kind of reminds me of Dr. Nefarious looking over at the news screen in the intro of All 4 One, that's honestly what motivated me to want to do this.

[@lavenderwafer9303]

Ah, child labor, a Splatoon staple!

[@SnoFitzroy]

The baller mention is really interesting to me bc this whole time I've been assuming this takes place during Splatoon 3's time It's also extremely horrifying once you realize that means these kids have been missing for a long time, possibly years

[@krisheadley8688]

ive rewatched this series a few times now, and while i cant say ive put all the pieces together yet, i CAN say this is fucking amazingly done. each volume has been outstanding and the way you use audio and visuals are impressive as hell. and the story is extremely captivating, i find myself continuously coming back to these videos just to admire the work put into it and the story has been in my head for a few days now. very excited to see more.

[@happ3ist_chaos]

jerm, you have singlehandedly given me the chills in a way i cannot describe and i hope you are doing well for yourself and taking care of yourself while you continue making stuff for us to enjoy. absolutely bonechilling stuff that i love to see in salmon run and i cannot wait for more bro

[@oliverpalaciosacosta7367]

I love this analog series. Despite being an analog horror series of splatoon, I love the fact that there is NO monster, NO devil, NO entity. Just the darkened and twisted nature of the mankind, or well, better say “squidkind” trying desperately to hide a crime.

[@RambleyOfficialchannel]

ok ok, we all remember tape 3 right?.. and its ending. how it was terrorfying? like we legit hear and see a little bit of and unfortunate death of an inkling... geez, just thinking gives me the goose bumbs. surely the best horror series of splatoon.. where did you get the idea of this? and can i make a fan series of it?? please answer my questions! thanks!

[@A-splatoon-addict]

E

[@jermgoated]

My idea Initially came from the novel idea of making a series loosely based on Grizzco’s shady business, and so I came up with a death coverup. And yes, you can make a fan series if you wish!! You’re free to do whatever you like lol Also hold off on the questions, I will most likely do a QNA when the series is done

[@RambleyOfficialchannel]

@@jermgoated oh ok, also thanks! I was not expecting you to actually answer lol!

[@jermgoated]

@@RambleyOfficialchannel I dont see why I wouldn’t answer! I love every single Time any of you comment on my stuff

[@A-splatoon-addict]

​@@jermgoatedjerm I love da music

[@user-vd9sf2gr2f]

Man I’m hyped, so lucky that I watched a three month old video on this series at the right time to be around for the next episode

[@beepybopbap]

Im so glad theres no cheap jumpscares, its just horrifying. I wonder if kaias body is just there in the water and one day we'll see the after math image... like unlike regular water her body just didnt dissolve? Its a scary thought yet i cant wait to see what you do with this!

[@williambush3494]

This was scary. During the sequence leading to the baller, it looked like a giant creature was attacking the ship. Maybe it was kaia mutated. One of the teaser images said mutate so maybe it was her. Im not sure because it was hard to understand but thats my theory

[@MUZUKUN-YT]

Happy one year of this vid :D🎉🎉🎉

[@Fant_aa]

so the salmoniods are just camping her respawn buoy 😭

[@NickGaming1204]

Grizzco Executives After a Employee gets drowned:Womp womp.

[@W00FG]

Oh that squid kid was absolutely pushed off the ship by someone. That walking and then panicked voices with punching/fighting noises? She was absolutely pushed over by someone and tried to use her baller to save herself...

[@pogoknight428]

This is the best analog horror I’ve seen in ages. I am absolutely addicted

[@Tastyturkey56]

Another banger! Kept me on the edge of my seat! Can’t wait for the lore theorists to get their tentacles on this one!

[@blu_haloz]

Indeed a video worthy of being premiered. Glad to have started watching this series from when the first video came out

[@starcloudartz]

Truly chilling, another great addition to an amazing series. Can't wait to actually decipher what this means lol

[@Ohhekno10102]

I'm super excited for what's to come next! You did great on the new volume Jerm and just take your time, there's no need to rush!

[@viveillyvi]

THE HANDS DID YOU EDIT THEIR HEADS ON HUMANS

[@williambush3494]

This is going to be amazing. The grizzco tapes are really well done

[@SpringtimeBaboon]

Madai is called “the king of fish” and is well-known to the Japanese, who eat a large volume of fish. Marketable madai is usually 35-40 cm long, but a large-sized one may exceed 1 meter in length. With the longevity of 20-40 years, madai is said to live relatively long compared to other fish. Took this from google...hmmm. I'll leave it to the true theorists to figure this one out. Also, at 9:51 I believe that might be a face of some sort.

[@mcdardnalds]

Its also worth noting that while Madai is the Japanese word for red seabream, it is also a Hebrew name, and the name of one of Noah's grandsons in the Bible. Y'know, the Noah that survived the great flood? Idk if you've played Splatoon 2 or not, but in the regular story mode, one of the Sunken Scrolls you can collect (specifically the 17th one) is a clipping of a biblical style illustration of two Inklings walking away from a shore full of Salmonids under a cloudy sky with seven holes in the clouds. It's accompanied by the following text: "When smoke rises from the seven rings, The pinkfish will emerge from the sea, devouring all the creatures of the land." -The Book of Madai, chapter 10, verse 10" Fun fact: That same illustration made a split-second appearance in the Splatoon 3 Chill Season 2022 Announcement trailer during the Big Run teaser. And in certain maps during Big Run, you can see similar-looking holes in the clouds.

[@dinogames2606]

I have a feeling that Kaia is trapped in a baller deep beneath the ocean, thats what ive guessed since Vol.1

[@rocco_244]

i haven’t ever seen a series better than this, amazing work

[@JBH2192]

It makes me think even more about Splatoon. absolute masterpiece

[@polishraspberries]

Personally even if I am just not much of a theorist nor do I probably have enough knowledge to make a all-encompassing theory, I think what's happening to Kaia is simply some kind of genetic experimentation. Coupled with the translated text and if I am to give a wild shot at it - this might as well be an origin story of sorts for Salmonlings. A poor kid who got experimented on and their entire body changed into a form which can share the strenghts of both inklings and salmonids while minimasing the downsides. By that, I mean the inklings can use well, Ink weaponry, while Salmonids got the fact that they don't dissolve in water. So yeah. Kaia gonna become a Salmonling, that's what I think is going down Either way, love this series, I hope if the creator is reading this they will enjoy continuing it until it's finish as much as I enjoyed watching it

[@xdkawaiimermaid4309]

I’m many months late but my theory is coincidentally the same as yours before I read your comment. I’m closer to believing this might be what’s actually happening

[@cappypastel]

Absolutely incredible, your work is fantastic!❤

[@SillyGooberEnergy]

Alternate ending to this series: Kaia had a REAL gun and shot whatever was dragging them into the water

[@pugbam1112]

GRAB THE AK, KAIA.

[@ArtistDoesArt2020]

Imma have to go back to episode 3 and get a screencap from that and this one to redraw! I adore this series and I hope we can find out Kaia's fate definitively

[@Endercraft679]

Im not even imagining the vol 5

[@worldofmemes2919]

Same bro

[@worldofmemes2919]

Who knows how scary it’ll be

[@Endercraft679]

Yeah kike who knows,the one who got me a bit scared was the vol 3 because of like kaia's screams in the background and like she is being pulled to the water by the salmonids like bro☠️.

[@redlenseglasses4111]

Good to know that analog horror about video games is finally entering its 'Last Dive of David Shaw' period. I like that song, and this is about the length of the actual music part.

[@imRATZZ]

Excited to watch this, will be watching later today. So happy you kept this going. :D

[@dannybeane2069]

4:32 ...so is the detective talking about, "couldn't imagine losing my own son" in the same way as Kaia's parents losing their daughter or that whomever is in the interrogation room lost a son; implying a second missing worker?

[@wilsere1048]

DUDE YOU HAVE TO FINISH THIS IM BEGGING YOU

[@D4k0t4_16]

VOLUME 4?! LESSGOO I CANT WAIT FOR THIS THE OTHERS WERE AMAZING

[@finphone7387]

these are insanely cool and well done hope to see many more

[@A-splatoon-addict]

I have watched all of grizzco tapes again and again

[@hudsonkilbury3416]

Vol 4 theory: kaia was kidnapped by salmonids or grizz or a human who has survived a mass extinction. Sacrificing kaia to a eel shark like creature which eats kaia and either is digesting kaia or absorbing kaia which explains the malformed face of kaia and the I'm feeling all part of you and I'm feeling all part of it.

[@infinitikokomorich]

B u t….is she alive 😀

[@hudsonkilbury3416]

Maybe or maybe not.

[@infinitikokomorich]

@@hudsonkilbury3416 a h h h.

[@ThePIZZADUD3]

I really hope there’s another part and that Kaia survived 😭

[@mrworldwide2870]

Without a shadow of a doubt the entire sequence of (supposedly) Kaia underwater looks like she’s stuck in a Baller. Even the audio sounds like she’s in some Zorb ball, which looks identical to a baller

[@pugbam1112]

This is just a gut feeling, but i feel like 2, Mr. chang, and ren could be the same person.

[@callie-flower3177]

i know i talked a Lot in chat but for real i loved every second of this!!! please take ur time with the next video, don't rush urself to get it out

[@apokalypse69]

NO WAY YOU JUST POSTED THIS! THIS MAKES MY LIFE SO MUCH BETTER, THANK YOU!

[@Sunflower41XD]

I can't wait to see where this goes 👀

[@jermgoated]

I wouldnt get too hyped lol

[@RambleyOfficialchannel]

why? @@jermgoated this is like, the best splatoon horror series!

[@Sunflower41XD]

@@RambleyOfficialchannel very true!

[@RambleyOfficialchannel]

​@@Sunflower41XDlol thanks

[@Automaticshows]

JERM IS BACK YALL 🗣️🔥🔥

[@tobywizardb]

Kaia's scream is my alarm clock

[@CR34T0R_]

WHAT HELEP

[@tobywizardb]

@@CR34T0R_ (loud squid screams)

[@Blahydra]

Welp, this'll be a nice way to spend my next week. Let's see what hidden curveballs will be thrown our way. Edit: God dammit, you have outdone yourself. The spectograph from VOL2 in the intro? Fine, take the two weeks of my spare time itll take me to do this :P

[@20-9_Twenty-Nine]

Throwing my theory out into the wind, the timeline of the story goes Disappearance of Kaia Investigation (We are here!) Grizzco shut down Investigation tapes made for archive purposes A large scale attack from Salmonids or a mutated Salmonid creature, that somehow affects electronics And then finally, the alarm from episode 1. Or… if we go by Blahydra’s theory, the alarm was for the *artificial big run.* A weather alert/storm warning/tornado warning. Can’t wait to see where this goes. Wonder if we’ll get confirmation on who - or what - is messing with the tapes, which should be finished products. It’s a minor pet peeve I have with most VHS tape stories… why would the FBI put in this camera recording of a man being hunted by a monster with no context or text explaining the events? Etc.

[@lisydwaxd101]

Comeback of Peak 💗💗

[@rayyannoor129]

My man needs to make more of these, it’s such an underrated splatoon horror series

[@Mr.poulpe]

I don't understand honestly, this is really Creepy and I really love this concept, I just hope she's okay... somewhere in the eternal abyss..

[@Horseman-of-war]

Did bro get jumped in 7:54😭

[@LunarTearRose]

You know, the more i watch these tapes, the more i heard about this cephalopod fact a while back swims around, something something evolutionary panic button that allows the animal to rapidly evolve something when thrown into an extreme condition, ex. A squid thrown into waters colder than they are used to developing some form of resistance to said cold... the details are spotty, its been so long. Gotta google that, regardless if it can connect to any theories for what is going on. But dang! This is a really fun, really emotional video! And it seems like grizzco is silencing a few workers... i wonder if the inkfish muttering abt how they're really ready to go home, and cant take anymore... did they push the poor baller gal into the water, or were they just witness to an unfortunate wave? Very interesting indeed. I cant wait to see more, and in the meantime i have some images to brighten and research to do! Awesome vid!

[@power_plushi_emperor97]

Why does this series remind me of the extinction mode from cod ghosts

[@sophie-the-skelly2480]

It feels like that Kaia has been mutated from the water? (Also welcome back!)