Jibanyan is a cat Yo-kai born from the death of a red cat named Rudy, beloved pet of a teenage girl named Amy. Rudy perished after pushing Amy out of a truck's path, saving her life but losing his own. This sacrifice transformed him into an earthbound spirit, lingering vengefully at the fatal intersection due to a misunderstanding; he believed Amy called him "lame," though her words were actually self-reproach. After befriending a young boy named Nate, Rudy became known as Jibanyan and moved into Nate's home, developing a love for chocolate bars and the idol group Next HarMEOWny. Thirty years later, in the Shadowside timeline, Jibanyan exists as a wandering spirit with fragmented memories. His everyday "Lightside" appearance is taller and less saturated, featuring shorter tails, shaggier fur, visible paw digits, and thin vertical pupils. His combat "Shadowside" form is more imposing: taller, muscular, and slender, with fierce expressions, glowing yellow eyes, and intensified fiery wisps on his tails. This form is classified as a Rank SS Mononoke tribe Yo-kai with fire attributes. His Shadowside personality is standoffish and tough, contrasting his earlier affection. He exhibits a gruff exterior, often refusing cooperation unless motivated, and displays a strong aversion to water. Yet, he softens around high school girls, particularly Miho, Amy's daughter. Miho triggers the recovery of his lost memories, revealing his lingering connection to Amy and explaining his instinctual protectiveness. This memory restoration partially reverts him to his original form temporarily, emphasizing his emotional ties. In the Shadowside film "Oni-ō no Fukkatsu," Nate's daughter, Summer (Natsume Amano), summons Jibanyan using the Yo-kai Watch Arcane to fight the Oni King Rasen. He initially refuses, smashing objects to intimidate her. However, witnessing Summer rescue a cat from danger—mirroring his own sacrifice for Amy—compels him to join her fight. This highlights a pivotal development: beneath his aloofness lies a core sense of justice tied to protecting others. Throughout the Shadowside anime, Jibanyan serves as Summer's primary battle Yo-kai. He confronts threats like the Shinigami and Voidera, though his fear of water causes comedic failures against foes like Gesodrill. His combat relies on fiery paw strikes, with his signature "Paws of Fury" Soultimate move capable of critical hits. Fragments of his past resurface when pieces dislodged during battles form a separate entity, Yo-kai Junior. In later media, Jibanyan is reincarnated as Jinpei Jiba, a human teenager in "Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y." As Jinpei, he retains Jibanyan's excitable personality and sense of justice, using a YSP Watch to transform into a tokusatsu-style hero fighting evil spirits alongside classmates, underscoring his enduring role as a protector.