Jibanyan, a red-and-white cat Yo-kai from the Yo-kai Watch franchise, began life as a living cat named Rudy owned by a girl named Amy. Rudy sacrificed himself to save Amy from an oncoming truck, pushing her to safety at an intersection before perishing. His death transformed him into a Yo-kai bound to the site of the accident, now fueled by a vendetta against trucks. This origin defines his Japanese name, merging "jibakurei" (a location-bound spirit) and "nyan" (a cat's meow). Laziness and occasional uncooperativeness mark his personality, especially for tasks he deems unimportant. Yet he displays fierce determination in battle and a powerful protective instinct toward his human companion, Nate. His passions include an intense love for Chocobars and an obsessive fandom for the music idol group Next HarMEOWny, driving him to collect their merchandise. Physically, he possesses a chipped left ear, yellow eyes with large pupils, pink inner ears, and two tails tipped with aquamarine flames. A yellow haramaki (belly wrap) encircles his waist, frequently used to stash items like Chocobars or magazines. In combat, Jibanyan primarily unleashes rapid paw strikes. His signature Soultimate Move, "Paws of Fury," is a flurry of paw-based assaults. While incapable of evolution, he undergoes fusion: combining with Roughraff transforms him into the rebellious Baddinyan, while fusing with Coughkoff creates Thornyan, characterized by spiky features and a sickly demeanor. His design draws inspiration from the nekomata, a two-tailed cat yokai of Japanese folklore. Key relationships define his interactions: Nate is his primary human companion, bonded early in their encounters. Whisper shares a light-hearted rivalry, often sparking bickering. Amy remains emotionally significant as his former owner, his actions sometimes reflecting lingering ties to their past. He also maintains a competitive dynamic with his American counterpart, Tomnyan, frequently debating cultural preferences like food or music. Beyond the main series, Jibanyan appears in crossovers like the ONA "40-Shūnen da yo! Coro Coro All-Star Shōgakkō," where he interacts with other CoroCoro Comics mascots in a fictional elementary school setting. His history includes temporal disruptions, such as being sent back in time by the Yo-kai Kin and Gin. Reliving moments with Amy, he corrected misconceptions about his death, learning she mourned him deeply rather than insulted him, achieving emotional closure. Memory loss occurs in certain continuities, like his Shadowside incarnation, though the causes remain unspecified.