Why the Eldar are the Biggest Weebs in Warhammer 40,000! (feat. Pancreasnowork)

[@GaijinGoombah]

Yeah I had NO idea that Eldar could be connected to shintai but here we are! Be sure to check out Warhammer 40,000 Tacticus too! I unironically love the goofy ork squad that I've been building up! play.google.com/store/apps/details?hl=&id=com.snowprintstudios.tacticus

[@alexandrudorries3307]

Kinda surprised you didn’t at least touch on Aeldari Exodite world spirits when talking about parallels to mitama. Might not be enough for a full video, but the way that world spirits can switch between at least two aspects of nature (beneficence and ferocity) to meet the needs of the planet’s pointy-eared inhabitants is another delightful little coincidence. Plus, Mr. Pancreas just did an extended video on why power rangers riding dinosaurs are neat for a fun little crossover tie-in. Personally though, as a fan of the Yakuza-like denizens of the Dark City of Commoragh, I think that the Drukhari can also be looked to as a wonderful showcase of some of the less savory aspects of Japanese culture. Specifically the stereotypes relating to seeking distraction as an escape from toxic work culture, a rich history of crime bosses with connections to industrial production, and far too many tentacles…

[@Maxislithium]

WHAAAGH!! That's all I got to say.

[@Dracobyte]

Thank you for another great video!

[@pancreasnowork9939]

RAAAAHHHHH ELDAR RAAHHHHH IYANDEN RAHHHHHHH IM IN THIS ONE Eldar are nice because I like them though

[@GaijinGoombah]

And that's the only reason?

[@pancreasnowork9939]

@@GaijinGoombah The factions I like are cool and nice and lovely and everyone else is mean and rude and dumb

[@DetectiveLance]

As we have seen on your channel, and when you argue on LoreCrimes, y'all are just a major simp for elves! Except Sun Elves in Elder Scrolls.

[@cobbil]

@@pancreasnowork9939 I agree. Morathi-Mommy, err, Mommy-Khaine, uuum, Morathi-Khaine is one of my favorites.

[@BeaglzRok1]

Average Eldar enjoyer.

[@vustvaleo8068]

"my brother is a giant robot and I have to pilot him"

[@TheXell]

"Get in the Wraithguard, Shinjael!"

[@carlzerris6566]

Isnt that literally Gundam Aerial in a nutshell?

[@Bob-bs9ok]

​@@carlzerris6566yes

[@joo-hwanjun1684]

“A dying race” … I have no idea why Japan’s declining birthrate was the first thing that came to mind 😅

[@powerist209]

Well, not in 80's when Eldar appeared in 40k. Like it was "Japan will take over the world" (with tinge of yellow-peril that either appropriated as good thing or unaware of it in second-hand transfer).

[@dsedh23]

Brother in Christ, Korea is dying faster in this term😂

[@sharzinlalebazri5673]

If we were gonna make the most accurately Japanese faction in a fantasy setting, it'd just be a bunch of overworked salarymen and office ladies who spend 90% of their lives in office cubicles.

[@manticore6963]

So the imperial Administratum.

[@seand.g423]

​@@manticore6963 I mean... 🤷‍♂️

[@DetectiveLance]

​@@manticore6963 Fuuuuuuuxk, that hits hard. Overly emphasis on cowtowing to seniority, a thousand tin pot dictators that run their divisions with every intention of sticking to tradition.

[@patrickmcginty3234]

In Fantasy terms, probably Bretonnia ironically enough.

[@dretchlord873]

@@DetectiveLance A tradition that has proven to work. Unless you would rather the diversity hires that have no record, waste company money, and can get you fired with bogus allegations. The Japanese work themselves to death but at least they work

[@Masamune84]

I personally never thought seeing the Eldar from a Shinto side of things. Good video Gajin, great food for thought

[@arquentur6226]

I'm not into Warhammer, but I am a Tolkien nerd, and I love pointing out to my Warhammer player friends that the name "Eldar" comes from the Tolkien Legendarium. It was the elves name for their own race and means "People of the Stars". Fitting for literal space-elves. 😂

[@Astronometric]

Oh, old school warhammer fans know this very well. GW tried to copyright eldar and another bunch of Tolkien vocabularies and obviously failed in doing so. That is why a few year ago GW changed them into Aeldari and renamed all Age of Sigmar races to avoid using words like elves, dwarfs and orcs.

[@arquentur6226]

@@Astronometric I had no idea! Thanks for the cool info. 🙏 I'm definitely gonna look more into that. Sounds interesting!

[@mushputato]

Despite it officially now being the legally-distinct 'Aeldari', most of the community I've encountered still uses Eldar as the go-to term. Which is a credit to Tolkien and his awesome works, which pretty much founded... All of fantasy as a genre. You really can't oversell the weight of that kind of influence, I can't think of any writer that comes close.

[@arquentur6226]

@@mushputato facts

[@mosesborras3221]

13:30 the kami is having little too much fun

[@parkermaisterra8532]

Does anyone else think that the concept of Shintai can also apply to the Adeptus Mechanicus? Cause when Gaijin was explaining the concept I could help but think about Machine spirits. Meanwhile the tech-priest is someone who is suppose to appease the machine spirits housed in the machines then it’s possible after they die they achieve a limited form of immortality via becoming a machine after their deaths as shown in the game Mechanicus

[@milanmarkovic2721]

Wonder if Gaijin Goombah will see this comment because it is a great idea.

[@cegesh1459]

Less so, shintai aren ai (machine spirits are ai).

[@willkuehler8918]

I painted up the Avatar of Khaine as Fierce Deity Link so either I was halfway to thinking of this video or I’m just a massive nerd.

[@everettcolby8976]

I need a picture of this asap

[@willkuehler8918]

@@everettcolby8976 Well I say I painted the Avatar. What I meant is I started painting it and then got distracted like with most of my models (Guilliman took me almost eight months to finish). I have it about half way done and have painted the face with the Fierce Deity markings already.

[@ElGordoBandito]

There’s also a lot of neopagan influence in Aeldari culture, the most on-the-nose example being their depiction of triple goddess. The life cycle of the maiden, mother, and crone is very important to their culture and even the basis of naming the planets from their fallen empire.

[@Loron20]

Excellent video. And a connection I would never have seen myself. But Spirit Seer = Shinto Priest fits so well.

[@TheFatalcrest]

10:35 😂 "im sorry Inya we need this mech *clicks pistol*"

[@digunder14]

is kind of funny cuz orks and eldar from my understanding were created as part of the same army in that event called the world in heaven, the orks ancestors being the rank and file soldiers, and the eldar being the elite

[@milanmarkovic2721]

Yeap, both created to fight Necrons and C'tan.

[@zeroakira584]

I think the fact that most Eldars spend their time meditating to calm their emotions also relates to real life bhuddism where monks will also do the same to abbandon all mortal 's sinful needs. Eldars need to do this in order to not to fall to Chaos and prevent themselves from a being noticed by Warp's creatures.

[@hauntorthegiraffebiscuit]

As a Pancreas fan who was a casual Aeldar enjoyer that had their Iyanden Apreciation Gene activated, the Tori gate they have as their symbol was about as subtle an influence as I’d expect from GW, especially for Aeldar. Also, always love the obligatory FTL ost usage when establishing what your Warhammer lore video essay is going to be about lol.

[@leoechoirl9412]

I'd love to see one of these videos covering my favourite robot skeletons, the necrons. They obviously wear their egyptian influences on their sleeve but I feel like their empire trying to regain its footing in a totally new galaxy after a long period of sleep is very reminiscent of Japan adjusting to the open world after ending their isolation. Plus, the ongoing feud between the Silent King and Imotekh feels very much like an inversion of the Boshin War, with a respected military leader rebelling against the leader by birthright as opposed to the other way around in Bakumatsu period Japan. It'd be nice to see someone with more knowledge give their thoughts

[@IridiumSnake]

"Some Eldar units are inanimate objects possessed by the spirits of dead Eldar." Necrons: "Are we a joke to you?"

[@Astronometric]

Necrons don’t have souls. Their souls all got devoured by the C’tan when they became robots. They are just digital copies of the original personalities and memories.

[@drow_Lilith9940]

always fun to see Pancreasnowork around

[@KamikazeMedias]

5:38 - he finished the ad. you are welcome

[@draco84oz]

“When was the last time you saw an elf with a big-a** sniper rifle?” Ghost Sniper of the Retribution of Scyrah …and now I’ve just introduced him to the Iron Kingdom and Warmahordes. (Who would be the Japanese in that setting?)

[@carloss3499]

12:00 That music in the background thats insaneintherainmusic neon dynasty.

[@Dracobyte]

Thanks a lot for this amazing video collaboration! You two are awesome.

[@KhoaTran-md5ou]

One funny thing about the tao... that is litterally what we call Chinese in Vietnamese the "tàu" aka ship since they came to VietNam in a big migration using 3 ships, we call them 3 ship ("ba tàu") or just ship ("tàu").

[@MorePower8679]

Not at all surprised you did a “did somebody say elves” like joke for PancreasNoWork

[@MattCaliber]

While watching the video, I couldn't help but look back at the Yu Yu Hakusho anime. More specifically, the two main sources of power Yusuke uses. Both his spirit power and later on demon power. Maybe there is a connection to Nigimitama and Aramitma.

[@ChaseDaOrk3767]

A cultural/irl historical analysis of the Forces of Chaos (both 40k and AoS/Fantasy) would be cool to see in the next video

[@2Potates]

I misread the title as "The BIGGEST dweebs in Warhammer 40,000!"

[@JMObyx]

Heh

[@TheXell]

Nah that's the Thousand Sons.

[@TheLordofMetroids]

Also accurate for Eldar.

[@augustuslunasol10thapostle]

@@TheLordofMetroids no that would be the readers and players

[@TheLordofMetroids]

@@augustuslunasol10thapostle Also accurate, I am a massive dweeb.

[@wolfdeltanine]

Kind of saw the Japanese inspiration back when I started playing them in 3rd Ed and use Japanese naming conventions for mine. Love seeing it confirmed and glad you both had fun doing this. Can't wait for part 2.

[@dejaypage1575]

Cool and educational about the part of this series that really showed the “Nippon” aspects. Honestly I don’t think I can *afford* the Warhammer sets and I don’t got a place to put all of the bought pieces but glad this series is making you happy, Gaijin ^^

[@boyanpenev9822]

Tau are influenced more by imperial China than by Japan, I'd say. Of course, Japan took more than a few ideas from China during its time.

[@NoahFan114]

10:40 - Anyone else think that shield-like thing the mech has looks like a Duel Disk?

[@daltonloges99]

The Shintai transport that had what looked like the result of Lorena Bobbitt's wrath honestly caught me off guard.😂

[@Scarletraven87]

Imagine working for a 24 minute video and making a typo in the thumbnail

[@MythrilZenith]

Thought this was a Glitzdakka video for so long, but this still works out. Love ya GG!

[@chrisdiokno5600]

Speaking of, the Scythes of the Emperor are ninja as hell Space Marines

[@heartheater8315]

10:53 wait so the than elder CAN make new spirit stones?! I genuinely thought that they all had a finite amount.

[@kevinschaude6592]

The Lumineth Realm Lords from Age of Sigmar, the fantasy elf equivalent of the eldar, might have an even stronger cultural connection to Japan than the space elf version. Might be worth looking at.

[@nickpanther8833]

No joke I just re-watched the year old cross over episode of yall on pancreas channel

[@blackvial]

That shrine where all those soldiers are enshrined just gave me an idea for an anime with a necromancer MC

[@driftingswordsmanzer]

Eshin clan mentioned wooooo!!!! Man 40k lore is so metal.

[@squeethemog213]

This was a fantastic video guys. Thanks for making it and in turn making me like Eldar a bit more. On a different note you've triggered my curiosity on sumo. Would love to see a vid on them some day 🤩

[@Moderhead]

what I love the most about warhammer and also 40 k is that you can see more than one direct cultural influence, and I believe craftworld are the most interesting. I mean, we have the shinto stuff shown here, but also ancient egypt (the Symbol of Ulthwe is literally the eye of horus) and most subtly Ireland of the early middle ages (the craftworld name of Samm-hainn and, well, where in shinto and egypt do you see elves). It's just literally three cultural ends of the planet together and it just works beautifully.

[@qwefg3]

Nice to see the Shinto Eldar brought up more as a bigger concept than a coincidence.

[@tavernburner3066]

I'm disappointed you didn't talk about Elder culture in this.

[@ringoutko9463]

Eldar are as stated by GeeDubz themselves based on no one specific culture or real world counterpart but are instead a pastiche of many ancient civilisations from China to the Greek City States to Rome to even the Celtic factions of ancient Briton. Eldar are weebs is a meme perpetuated by people who see such cursory similarities to Japan as “Uses sword and wears robe, lol! Must be a kimono” That said you may want to look closer at Aspect Warriors who are inspired by the Shaolin Monks and Incubi who are basically Samurai

[@firstofalllosers3615]

i remember the eldar fluff from 2nd ed being a mix of egyptian and japanese myths so ive youve got a 2nd ed codex on your shelf check out the bits in the grey boxes. note this was about 30 years ago so i may be wrong

[@richitunder7997]

Entirely unrelated to the video. Got inspired by your kenku arcane trickster. Made my own arcane trickster ninja. A kitsune ontop of that

[@Animogx]

Man, I am adoring all the Warhammer videos. This is really making me wanna get into it, with the best Boyz of course

[@EngageNow]

13:30 Should I ask why?

[@XxTheRealMusclemanxX]

I wouldn’t lol 💀

[@mushputato]

From what I've read in places, inspiration for the Craftworld Eldar stemmed originally from Celtic, Japanese, and (I think?) Egyptian culture and myths, in terms of aesthetic and lore. My memory is pretty terrible, so don't quote me on that, but if I'm correct the similarities likely aren't entirely coincidence. Also yes please do more, us Eldar players need something, GW's barely giving us anything and we're living off table scraps please help someone anyone.

[@mathieuleader8601]

that bony elf from Warhammer could be a ghost of one of the Patch Tribe in Shaman King

[@enovos3138]

Haven't watch it yet, but im better their will be zero mention of the Eldar's celtic influence, which is werid that no one gets considering their entire theme is being the fye in space.

[@crusixangel9513]

Did they ever make that second video? Can't seem to find it

[@ambershangout7226]

Craft world eldar are nice in the sense they won’t turn you into soup without killing you.

[@_NIKOS9_NIKOS]

Also, they wont kill you just by principle

[@legion4902]

Funnily enough, eldar warfare is (kind of) what americans fantasize samurai are.

[@walther_brock7214]

Hot take, but I think you were stretching a bit on the Wraithblade - Wraithguard duality approximating the 2 aspects of a kami. As far as I understand how the Eldar spirit stones work, it's one soul per stone. If you need 1 Wraithguard and 1 Wraithblade, you'll need 2 spirit stones - no filtering and splitting of the soul happens. I mean, that would be peak economy for Iyanden if they could do just that, allowing them to field an army of constructs twice the size of their dead population, at the cost of losing all their ancient, wise dead should a battle go badly for them.

[@davidblaising-wimmer9972]

Vulcans in Star Trek are very similar to Eldar. Vulcans DO feel emotions stronger than humans do but they are disciplined by Logic to not usually express them.

[@ducdantalion2317]

I find the Mourners to be the sadest part of the Paths of the Eldar. "Oh you can cry without being devoured your slanneshi tedency! Now, you will cry for our entier craftworld."

[@theeditor4054]

If changing this up for 40k, you wanna talk about the space Mongol Empire, look to the White Scar's Space Marines

[@starlightfree]

That was fun and informative. More collabs like this would be awesome!!

[@charliecole4430]

Huh a video giving and enhancing a thought that I had. Great video gim gam.

[@kingpin201]

This video just made me think of the dual sides of the force in Star Wars from the Clone Wars series. The Kami needs balance to make sure one doesn’t overcome the other, but to keep them in unity. I liked this video. To think that ideal was taken from the Shinto.

[@yoannbelleville7763]

The eldar give me big "ancient greece" vibes. - A war god who is almost universaly hated and keep getting stumpt while still being prayed to for strength. - A highly militaristic craftworld/city who are the only ones to truly love said war god. - A craftworld/ city filled with philosophers and diplomats who have somewhat of a rivalry with the previous one due to their drasticaly different way of lives. - An overreliance on prophetes and their visions for their day to day activities. - An highly artistic culture. - A rather contempteous attitude toward those they see as less sivilise than them, meening literally everyone.

[@BrunoMaricFromZagreb]

I've been watching you for a decade.Even with Culture Shock no longer a thing,I like that you still have a niche that catches the internet's attention.

[@christianhighii9882]

I know you focus a lot on Japanese culture, but the Eldar are based on the look of Time Lords in the 80s Doctor Who and Time Lord Omega. Hell one piece of official GW art for the Eye of Terror is a rip off of the episode introducing Omega. The monitor showing the anomaly from the one Time Lord's monitors.

[@jackevans6829]

Love the video as always but when’s the imperium of man come on the Raven guard, or the Alpha legion? I’d love to see a video you’d do on them

[@Ryu_D]

Thank you for the video.

[@jonathanathor117]

11:35 so is a shintai like an avatar in hinduism? Or at the very least similar to one?

[@qualthos1]

日本人はエルフ娘が好きなのを納得できた。勉強になりました。

[@StigPrice]

Tau are Chinese not Japanese.. literally named after Taoism... that's an easy video to make lol. Eldari are a bit Japanese in terms of kind of looking like they were designed by Nintendo as characters for a Zelda game. But I do not know much more beyond that. I suppose I'll just have to watch the rest of this video to find out.

[@MyTomServo]

They have weapons that fire shiruken instead of bullets and they have those back banner things. I think GW referencing Japan is on purpose lol There's probably something there with the aspect warriors also and like... Japanese theater with their masks and stuff

[@darkwolfoflight6753]

My first thought regarding how the Wraith Blades, Seers, and Lords are seemingly defined by a single emotion or another, despite once being living beings with a complex myriad of emotion, might be caused by what their emotional state was when they died or how they viewed their deaths. The Wraith Blades might have been those who died while in a fury, or were enraged that they had died in the place or manner that they did. On the other hand, the Wraith Seers and Lords might have been been more calm because they were the ones who felt acceptance of their fate on the battlefield or felt regret for not being able to continue fighting for those they cared for, so being implanted into a mechanical body would give them another chance to defend their people. At least, that's my initial viewpoint. I also like the position you explained.

[@theskullboy8700]

"this is 40k there are no nice guys" me a salamander: and I took that personally

[@GaijinGoombah]

How's that Eldar child that Vulcan burnt to death?

[@theskullboy8700]

@@GaijinGoombah it was a drukari he had it coming

[@nikogarcia201]

@@theskullboy8700 It was an exodite. Vulkan himself realised it. The fact she was a psyker is a big giveaway that she ISN'T a drukhari.

[@TheCreepypro]

love when gaijin and his friends explain this lore to me!

[@jefrosiers8880]

love to see more people talk about the Eldar

[@dmsnotesadventuresofthethi779]

The craftworld Eldar kinda remind me of the soul society from Bleach.

[@Hero_of_Comedy]

A suggestion for a future Which Ninja video. Chiyome and Goemon, the Ninja Beastmen from Skeleton Knight in Another World.

[@Masonicon]

Anyone ever consider drawing any Aeldari in 2000s animated Teen Titans style?

[@vicnedel02]

You didn't even mention the Phoenix Lord Asurmen has a giant Ying Yang symbol in the middle of his chest.

[@JayJet53]

I wonder how shadow spectors and their relationship with wraith guard factors into this

[@ducdantalion2317]

I really really hope there is a link between the Way of the Aeldari and the strict social order of the sengoku era japan.

[@girl1213]

I learn more about Warhammer here then I do anywhere else

[@SKy_the_Thunder]

Dunno, this just reinforced the "space elves" stereotype for me. Specifically Tolien's elves. Their most defining feature is their immortality. And by that I don't just mean functional immortality with a theoretically infinite lifespan, but true immortality. They can "die" through outside forces, but then their souls end up traversing the Halls of Mandos to return to life in the Undying Lands, where their gods live. That's not some metaphysical realm outside reality either, but a physical continent to the west of Middle-Earth (until the path was obscured at the end of the Second Age anyway). And legendary fallen warriors have canonically returned from there, mystically changed and closer in abilities to the minor gods. Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower originally perished stalling one of the Balrogs in the Battle of Gondolin in the First Age, covering the escape of the remaining survivors. He later returned in the Second Age as an emissary of the Valar - similar to the later Istari (wise men like Gandalf and Saruman, who were literal minor deities). Tolkien's Elves also have a very close connection to gems, outright _creating_ them rather than just polishing natural minerals. The highest achievement of these were the Silmaril, three shining gems which are possibly the most powerful artifacts in the setting (outside the possessions of the Gods themselves). This also plays into the "accidentally empowering a God of Chaos and suffering the fallout of their overly emotional actions". The creator of the Silmaril, Fëanor, became so obsessed over their beauty that when they were stolen by Melkor (the god of extremes and change) he and his family swore a blood oath against everyone who dared to stand in their way of recovering them. In their blind rage they waged the first and only war in the Undying Lands, spilling the blood of their fellow elves when the harbor city refused to aid them in their quest for vengeance. For this they received the divine judgement to either "die" in violent combat and never allowed to leave the Halls of Mandos to reincarnate, or to wither away in eternity from the grief of their actions - their souls left to endless torment either way. They may seem cold and emotionless today, but that is merely a result of their own hubris, which stained their history and unleashed powers that would cause death and suffering for ages. (Without the blood oath Middle-Earth and its inhabitants may not have been dragged into the divine conflict nearly as much; Sauron may have never joined Melkor and become his successor; etc...) Created without a worry for survival, artistic self-indulgence is in their very nature. But in the end it led to their downfall - now leaving them to slowly decline and yield the world to younger races, largely hiding away or outright leaving the mortal realm for good.

[@zanielgaming4296]

Not sure if it matters or not, but I wonder if the Wraith Bone has any sort of cultural equivalent. Along with the Webway and the different paths the eldar take for things like Warpspiders (my personal favorite) Phoenix soldiers (which I'm guessing you've probably already taken a look at)

[@MicaiahBaron]

Am I missing something? I don't see the follow up video on Pacreas channel, and its not on their list of upcoming videos either.

[@adhambarbour]

I wasn't expecting this to go so hard but I should've known.😄

[@Kennyselman]

Also, kind of a weird theory that's out there, but one interpretation for the Eldar gods and Eldar souls, is that the Eldar souls are Tesseract fractals of the whole of all Eldar, that each Eldar soul reflects a specific point of all of the Eldar, including their gods. ...and, what happens when keys parts of that Fractal, their Gods, are eaten by Slaanesh?

[@SeanCrosser]

Crazy to me that Eldar: a) came first b) use shurikens c) have back banners d) have their warriors follow a Warrior's Path, i.e. Bushido and everyone says that Tau are more Japanese because they have mechs.

[@topcat59]

Cool vid bro.😺

[@tackwardsfongjump1800]

My favorite Eldar East Asian connection is the fact that Asurman literally has the Yin Yang symbol on his chest. Does that mean that humanity still created the symbol, or did we steal it from the eldar, or the other way around?

[@cesarsuarezrodriguez412]

Like cotangencial evolution both arrived to the same conclusion because it's obvious

[@gregbiory3909]

Hey Gaijin, I am wondering if you could do any lore on Shin Megami Tensei 5 with SMT V: Vengeance that's being released or has recently released.

[@theaychgee]

Looking forward to your take on the new assains creed game!!!!!!!

[@dolando5837]

Those samurai Ork models look sick

[@natalie6811]

I have been saying this for so long… Nobody would listen to me, thank you for spreading the truth of the matter. Edit: Wait there’s more reason than them using ghost mechs and shurikens being their default weapon?

[@bobalinx8762]

Would you say that the Oversoul object in Shaman King is similar to a shintai?

[@curiouswind9196]

So Pankreasnowork is going to make a which ninja episode?

[@Ukitsu2]

To add to the theory: Am I the only one that finds the battlesuits of the anime "Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross" (1984) VERY SIMILAR to the Eldar battlesuits from 1987? Could this be a little less of a concidence?

[@rashidabdul3215]

I would like to start an Aeldari army of my own because I like playing Final Fantasy. Seriously, have you seen the parallels between Materia and Sprit Stones? Sin from FFX to Slaanesh? More so, The Infinity Circuit and The Lifestream in FFVII?

[@benjaminbrockway5998]

So I guess we now know what Gaijin's next army is gonna be.

[@TheLordofMetroids]

God I love your Orks so much. This is how proxy 3d prints should be. You have the power to create anything, don't just make a spoof of GW's minis, get cool and unique with it. Make Samurai orks or Space Pirate Tao, or Rat Admech or something cool like that. Have fun with it, revel in the insanity.