Leaf Hats

Today’s podcast is all about leaf hats!

Okay, so they’re not really “hats,” but I didn’t know what to call them. I’m talking about when an anime character wears a leaf on their head.

Like so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aww!  Hamtaro is so cute!  But, wait.  Haven’t we seen this somewhere before?

 

Oh, yeah! I knew that looked familiar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe it’s a trend to wear a leaf on one’s head…  Right, Naruto?

Believe it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, what’s this all about?

Remember our friend and neighbour, Totoro?  Well, he’s got relatives.

 

These are tanuki.  Maybe they can explain what the leaves are all about.

And here is a tanuki, drawn in another style (by someone named vantid).

 

Squishable Tanuki!

And again!

 

The resemblance is certainly there.

 

Leaves can imply magical transformation abilities.

 

Leaves can mean a character is sly and sneaky…

…or cute and naive. Ve~

 

Finally! It is explained how a leaf makes Mario fly.