Reaction Guys / Gaijin 4Koma
Added 14 years ago by Captain Blubber • Updated 17 days ago by shevyrolet
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Tags: ign reaction 4pane photoshop video games 2003 multi pane e3 2channel unimpressed
Additional References: Encyclopedia Dramatica Meme Generator Urban Dictionary Wikipedia
About
Gaijin 4koma (Japanese: 外人四こま, "4-frame foreigners") is a series of four-paned comics based on two photographs of IGN reporters reacting to Nintendo's announcement of new titles at the E3 conference in 2003 and 2004 respectively. The multi-pane set up is typically used to express one's disappointment and excitement over two separate things, in similar vein to the "at first I was like X, but then I was like Y" snowclone.
Origin
The photograph of four IGN reporters (Matt Casamassina, Craig Harris, Chadd Chamers, Peer Schneider) looking rather disinterested was originally taken during Nintendo's conference at E3 2003 Expo[1], where Nintendo's CEO introduced "Pacman vs." for GameCube.
The photograph of the same men looking excited was taken one year later during Nintendo's conference at E3 2004 Expo[2], where they announced the release of a new Zelda title.
Originally posted on IGN board[3], these two photographs were incorporated into the Yonkoma comic-strip format on /ghard/ (Game Hardware) board in 2channel[4], where it was dubbed "Gaijin 4koma" or "4-frame foreigners" in Japanese. According to the archived threads, the comic strips became popular on 2channel as early as in June 2004.
Yonkoma (4-pane Comics)
Yonkoma (4コマ漫画) manga refers to vertically-oriented comic strips featuring four panels of equal size. The format has been used across various Japanese publications including manga magazines, newspaper comics and more recently in web comics. First introduced in 1902 by the Japanese artist Rakuten Kitazawa, Yonkoma strips typically follow a structure known as Kishotenketsu:
Ki: The first panel forms the basis of the story; it sets the scene.
Shō: The second panel develops upon the foundation of the story laid down in the first panel.
Ten: The third panel is the climax, in which an unforeseen development occurs.
Ketsu: The fourth panel is the conclusion, in which the effects of the third panel are seen.
Spread
The multi-pane series was soon picked up by English-speaking visitors on 2channel and brought into 4chan[5] and other Japanese-affiliated communities, where it became known as the "Reaction Guys" series. The photographs are usually set up in the following way:
Panel one: Something fair or lame
Panel two: Disappointment
Panel three: Something awesome
Panel four: Euphoria
Occasionally, the colours can be inverted to denote super awesomeness as a result of zero division. There are thousands of Gaijin 4koma instances in circulation, fueled by 4pane comic generators[9] as well as the single serving site Gaijin4koma.com.[10] On December 4th, 2009, four IGN.com editors depicted in the image appeared on NHK's Japanese TV show The Net Star[11] to speak about their internet fame.
Notable Examples
Derivatives
Search Interest
External References
[1] IGN – Nintendo's History at E3: 2003
[2] IGN – Nintendo's History at E3: 2004
[3] IGN – Confessions of a Reaction Guy
[4] Futaba Channel Archives – Gaijin 4koma Threads
[5] 4chan – Gaijin 4koma (nsfw)
[6] IGN – The IGN Editors (Peer/Matt) Doctored Pic 2chan Frenzy
[7] SecChan – 4koma Thread
[8] Google Image – Search Results for Gaijin 4koma
[9] Tribute Site – Gaijin4koma.com
[10] Gaijin 4koma Generator – 外人4コマジェネレーター
[11] NeoGAF – Japanese TV goes to IGN, recreates Reaction Guys/Gaijin 4koma photos
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Comments ( 56 )
this looks like it could be a meme. looks hilarious lol.
So many possibilities! Need more pics. Awesome meme, though. Wasn't aware of this before. :)
I like the Eric Conveys an Emotion ones. So random.
epic sixtaz pic dump is epic
Probably my most favorite meme out there. So many things you can do with this!
i lol'd lots
I lol'd buckets.
COULD be a meme? I've been seeing this one for years!
I knew this one had a name. I love this meme. XD
Mods, please delete this photo. I wasn't aware blatanly NSFW pics weren't allowed on the site until it was too late. Thanks.
Mods, please delete my contribution to this meme. I wasn’t aware blatanly NSFW pics weren’t allowed on the site until it was too late. Sorry.
Dun wurry bro.
It's been deleted.
I first saw one of these after Matrix:Revolution hit cinemas, but the order is reversed;
Excitement over the Matrix,
Boredom over Matrix Reloaded,
followed by a picture of 4 empty seats for Matrix Revolution
Every version I've seen since then used that order, including the shot of the empty seats.
Commencing epic pic dump…
lol Blah
Haruhi normul.
:/
Naked.
>:D
i would do the same thing x3
@Blah
Delete the NSFW ones
I don't know how long it will stay but here's one you missed. http://i47.tinypic.com/28vzvbt.jpg
I can't remember the anime it's from. Something about a guy who wears a white, porcelain mask.
It's from the anime series Darker Than Black
the weegee and sparta versions made me lol so hard!
Can we please edit out all of the anime/manga out of here. I'm pretty sure its just supposed to be the original photos with their edits.
They have maybe a legitimate place here because they are "edits" of the initial photo ?
Love the Persona 4 one. xD
Someone must also mention that the panel's order can go the other way around (e.g. Panel 1:Euphoria. Panel 4: Disappointment, etc.)
Wait, I thought the inverted colors meant something along the lines of OH CRAP? I could be wrong though… that's just how it seems on Comixed.
Such a fantastic meme!
Finding webpages that link to KYM. http://omaketheater.com/comic/3/
URUBOOOOOOCHIIIIIII!!!!!
+ Confirm
Still my favorite, good times. good times.
Probably one of the best memes of all time.
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/otaku_no_musume_san/v09/c056/30.html
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/mission_school/v01/c005/15.html
Not sure if this counts..
I read that as "meganfox manga" and I was like:
Then I was like
Soo girls like to see two guys kissing? Reaction Face never lie!
new fav meme <3
Very similar to the other way the Xzibit pics are used. Funny though!
Seems really similar to Xzibit reaction meme. Funny though!
Still, don't make these guys furr--, oh, I mean, "bronies"! c'mon.
I… am legitimately amused by this
Haha, this is a funny mem–
HNNNNNNG
Psst, that gardevoir is male.
The best E3 meme ever
Going through the image gallery I wondered why does this not have a NSFW badge.
Blitz…
That is just…wrong.
This has to be fake. IGN wouldn't react to anything like that unless it was a new Call of Duty.
yeah because they're biased b8tches
Bakemonogatari pls
So no one's done greninja?
I read that as "meganfox manga" and I was like:
Then I was like
Have you ever got so excited that your shirt changes colour?
You'd wear the same shirt for a year?
Eeewwwww.
You'd wear the same shirt for a year?
Eeewwwww.
Psst, that gardevoir is male.
yeah because they're biased b8tches
Since this is trending anyway, may I suggest adding a section for TV show summaries? I've seen fans of several shows use these guys to showcase episode highlights. The most recent example I'm aware of is Samurai Jack:
I've seen it for a few other shows. What do you think, important enough to add or nah?
The legacy continues
I firmly believe that this will be one of the few Eternal Memes, one that is timeless in its use and will be around for a long time.
I hope so, as this is honestly one of my favorite memes on the web.
I hope so, as this is honestly one of my favorite memes on the web.
the original version of this meme
2003 was 16 years ago. Damn…
can we go back to this instead of the shitty drake format
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