History Main / EerieAnatomyModel

Eerie anatomy models are predominantly an East Asian trope. There is no particular reason these things aren't used all that much in Western media, but the high popularity in Japan can be traced back to ''Franchise/GakkouNoKaidan'' and in particular the [[Film/GakkouNoKaidan 1995 film]] in which the anatomy model was one of the more memorable {{youkai}}. The urban legend itself -- that the model walks around school at night -- goes back at least as far as the 1950s. Anatomy models have since become a common pick for one of TheSevenMysteries - haunting the science room, the biology lab, or rarely the infirmary - but just as easily show up as part of a full-blown BigBoosHaunt. Sometimes, it's a two-for-one deal featuring an anatomy model ("jintai mokei") and a skeleton model ("kokkaku mokei") as a RedOniBlueOni-style duo. A step further they're joined by the [[RaisingTheSteaks science room specimens of cut-open animals preserved in formaldehyde]]. The typical model seen in East Asian media is a [[BarbieDollAnatomy full-bodied]] [[AlwaysMale male figure]] [[TwoFaced that looks normal on right side and flayed on the left side]]. Comedic works might make use of this by showing the model's normal side en profile first, then [[UncannyValley startling the audience or the cast]] [[TheReveal by its turning]].

When it comes to skeleton models, those being actual human remains is still TruthInTelevision. Up until the early 20th Century it was not uncommon to preserve an actual skeleton instead of going through the trouble of reproducing one. Every so often there's another story of another school that either realizes their skeleton model is real or decides to investigate whom their skeleton model belonged to. And that's in regards to places that have principally switched over to artificial models; there's countries where digging up actual bones is ongoing.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''VideoGame/LostJudgment'': a sidequest at Seiryo High School involves a rumor that the biology department's anatomy model is cursed and comes to life at night. Yagami investigates and finds that [[spoiler: it's actually a student in makeup trying a very roundabout way to cheat on his upcoming exams]].

* An anatomical model named Jinta appears in Episode 5 of ''Anime/YokaiWatchShadowside''. [[BeastAndBeauty He's in love with the student Minami]]. So is Koji, who uses Jinta as the canvas of his love confession because he knows Minami likes the model. It angers both her and Jinta and when Jinta is shot (twice!) by Fukurou his negative feelings get the better of him. His shadowside Jingeki, a giant who uses his organs as bludgeoning tools, comes out. Fortunately for all, Minami manages to calm him down. Upon his subsequent LoveConfession, she replies that he's already spoken for by her grandmother Machiko, who went to the same school 50 years ago and whose resemblance to her triggered Jinta's new feelings. He melancholically remembers Machiko and needs time alone upon learning that she's no more but thought of him until her end.

* Jinta from ''Anime/YokaiWatchShadowside'' is a yokai that resembles a human anatomical model and that is his lightside. His shadowside is a bigger and scarier verier version of him.

* ''Gakkou no Kaidan (Anime Video Joukan)'':

* There's a lower level in Omega Ranch in ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'' where many muscle models are on display, continuously cycling through several poses. [[NobodyHereButUsStatues Hiding as one of them]] is Jaron Namir, who attacks Adam Jensen on Zhao Yun Ru's command. Once he's beaten, all models will come to stand still doing a salute. It's not explained why they do or, for that matter, what they are, but the facility houses plenty of [[UnwittingTestSubject Unwitting Test Subjects]] and their remains. The developers have stated the area was inspired by the ''Body Worlds'' exhibition.

* Subverted in ''VisualNovel/DeathMark''. There's an anatomy model in the preparation room in an abandoned and haunted school building. It is filled with snakes, but otherwise it is a regular plastic model. This is despite the fact that the building is home to Miss Zoo, a one-woman {{Cult}} MadScientist, who slaughters and dismembers humans and animals (except snakes) alike as offerings and ForScience. The anatomy model itself stands right next to a cabinet displaying preserved human body parts. But the model is just a model. Go figure!

* The villains of ''Film/{{Anatomy}}'' are the [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Anti-Hippocratic Society]], who [[ForScience pursue knowledge]] through the bodies of people they deem undesirable. [[MadDoctor Their preferred murder weapon]] is the poison promidal and some of their victims are plastinated for future use. Ambitious new member Hein defies the society's controlled MO by poisoning his love interest and stabbing her boyfriend out of [[GreenEyedMonster jealousy]]. He disposes of the boy, but plastinates the girl (after decapitating her to avoid her being recognized). He then goes after the protagonist, Paula, and her boyfriend for the same reason and with the same plan of preservation of Paula's corpse. They kill him before he kills them, though, and escape. While they are now safe, the ending makes clear that the Anti-Hippocratic Society and their practices continue unopposed.

* ''VideoGame/LostJudgment'': a sidequest at Seiryo High School involves a rumor that the biology department's anatomy model is cursed and comes to life at night. Yagami investigate and finds that [[spoiler: it's actually a student in makeup trying a very roundabout way to cheat on his upcoming exams]].

* In Episode 112 of ''Manga/DetectiveConan'', the anatomy model of the infirmary is witnessed running around at night, but this turns out to be a misinterpretation of a teacher moving it.

** The ending credits depict a Hyakki Yagyou in which an anatomy figure participates. It is drawn to resemble one of the human muscle figures in the ''De humani corporis fabrica''.

* Tesshou from ''Manga/WildLife'' threatens the [[CoolOldGuy proud principal of an orphanage]] in Chapter 2 with killing him and turning his corpse into an anatomy model.
* ''Manga/TheWallflower'':
** Sunako considers herself a creature of the dark ever since the boy she liked called her ugly. She's basically a {{hikikomori}} whose most important friend is an incomplete anatomy model she's named Hiroshi. As per Chapter 44 (or Episode 20), after she was called ugly she found it among the trash of a school and took it home, which was the start of her macabre collection. Her other friends, in order of importance are the skeleton model Josephine, the limbless anatomy model Akira, and the skull model John. They are joined in Chapter 50 (Episode 18) by another skeleton, George Maximilian du Veloce, who is Josephine's brand new husband. She interacts with them as if they are alive, [[ConsultingMisterPuppet presenting her inner ponderings as their words to her]], and most people close to Sunako join in on that kind of projection. In the anime, Hiroshi is alive as the episode's presentator. He also dances during both outros, and is joined by Akira and Josephine in the second one.
** Sunako visits an abandoned school building in Chapter 25 in the hopes of meeting ghosts, including a walking anatomy model, but to her dismay there aren't any.

Eerie anatomy models are predominantly an East Asian trope. There is no particular reason these things aren't used all that much in Western media, but the high popularity in Japan can be traced back to ''Franchise/GakkouNoKaidan'' and in particular the [[Film/GakkouNoKaidan 1995 film]] in which the anatomy model was one of the more memorable {{youkai}}. The urban legend itself -- that the model walks around school at night -- goes back at least as far as the 1950s. Anatomy models have since become a common pick for one of TheSevenMysteries - haunting the science room, the biology lab, or rarely the infirmary - but just as easily show up as part of a full-blown BigBoosHaunt. Sometimes, it's a two-for-one deal featuring an anatomy model ("jintai mokei") and a skeleton model ("kokkaku mokei") as a RedOniBlueOni-style duo. A step further they're joined by the science room specimens of cut-open animals preserved in formaldehyde. The typical model seen in East Asian media is a [[BarbieDollAnatomy full-bodied]] [[AlwaysMale male figure]] [[TwoFaced that looks normal on right side and flayed on the left side]]. Comedic works might make use of this by showing the model's normal side en profile first, then [[UncannyValley startling the audience or the cast]] [[TheReveal by its turning]].

* There's 7x7 mysteries to deal with in one of the challenges in ''Manga/KamisamaNoIutoori'' Arc II. The anatomy model debuts in Chapter 26 and is one of the traditional inclusions, although a peculiarity is that its normal half-face is a ''[[Film/ThePhantomOfTheOpera2004 The Phantom of the Opera]]''-like mask. It seeks out humans to turn them into art, which doesn't require them dead but sure makes them more cooperative. Fortunately, its only victim before being blown up is a wannabe-rapist.

* ''Anime/AfterSchoolMidnighters'' stars the St. Claire Elementary School duo of Louis Thomas Jerome Kunstlijk[[note]]"Louis Thomas Jerome" comes from the French inventor of papier-mache models, while "Kunstlijk" is Dutch for "artificial corpse".[[/note]] and Goth. Kunstlijk, an anatomy model, is a MadScientist and Goth, a skeleton model, is somewhere between his BeleagueredAssistant and his BestFriend. They are set to be disposed off when the science room will be demolished the next day, a prospect that terrifies Goth but doesn't bother Kunstlijk because he's convinced they'll just go to another school. When a trio of girls vandalize Kunstlijk, he has them brought back at night by a gangster trio of dead half-skinned rabbits preserved in formaldehyde that he revived. Goth saves them from Kunstlijk on the argument that the girls should partake in the After School Midnight Party, a challenge of which the prize is one wish. The wish could be used to prevent the science room's destruction, but Kunstlijk is more interested in sabotaging their efforts with all the inventions he's spread around the school. His tricks backfire, of course, and one launches him all the way into the town where he hides in a fashion mannequin depot. It's upon seeing the mountain of mannequin limbs that he realizes there won't be another school for him and Goth; they're over 40 years old and replaceable by the dozen. Setting aside his hatred, he goes back to ensure the girls ace the ASMP. They do and wish "to play again". Because this can only happen if the science room is spared, it, along with Kunstlijk and Goth, are restored to prime condition and the plans for demolition erased.

* In Chapter 50 of ''Manga/ZekkyouGakkyuu'', there's a skeleton model that stands abandoned in the preparation room. It has only one desire: to be free to leave and have friends and for all that it has to be human. It kills two notorious bullies [[ReplicantSnatching for their flesh]], but can't use their heads because those'd not make getting friends easy. Then Asato, a fallen once-bully who thinks the model killed her former friends for her sake, comes to ask the model not to harm Chiba. Chiba used to be the trio's main victim, but has since befriended Asato. Knowing enough, the model kills Asato and takes her head so it can go hang out with Chiba.

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''Literature/CreatureOfHavoc'', the [[DemBones skeletal]] MadDoctor Quimmel Bone [[HiddenInPlainSight hides in plain sight]] by impersonating an anatomical skeleton on a stand.
[[/folder]]

* The school nurse Yujin of ''VisualNovel/{{Nameless}}'' has a thing for bones. Fortunately, his tastes are satisfied by artificial bones as well, and so he is in a relationship with Beatrice, one of the skeleton models in the infirmary. He is, however, not on good terms with Beatrice's [[{{Pun}} "half"-brother]] Christopher, a limbless anatomy model. But Beatrice adores him so he does his best to be nice to Christopher.

* The school nurse Yujin of ''VisualNovel/{{Nameless}}'' has a thing for bones. Fortunately, his tastes are satisfied by artificial bones as well, and so he is in a relationship with Beatrice, one of the skeleton models in the infirmary. He is, however, not on good terms with Beatrice's half-brother Christopher, another skeleton model.

* Late at night, Isumi is banishing evil spirits from the old school building of Hakuou Academy in Episode 9 of ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler''. Then Hayate and Hinagiku wander in and so Isumi possesses an anatomy model to scare them away. They, however, fight back. Isumi concludes that giving the duo a sense of victory will coax them to leave, so she triples the model's [MultiArmedAndDangerous amount of arms]] and [[BadWithTheBone sticks out its ribs]] as if she's handling an Iberian ribbed newt. Then she makes it explode.

There's an [[Analysis/OddAnatomyModel analysis page]] that looks further into the why of a few of the above trends. It also gives context to several of the references mentioned in the examples.