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rennerei β The Red-legged Scissorman
Published: 2012-06-10 21:12:24 +0000 UTC; Views: 17422; Favourites: 422; Downloads: 227
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Description
The red-legged scissorman from "Struwwelpeter", a famous german children's book that is, while of undisputed literary value, just completely fucking terrifying. I think it was my granny who read it to me when I was like five years old, and the memory crept back... so, a drawing happened.It was fun thinking about how this dude that gave me nightmares back then would look and move and talk. I didn't want to make him obviously evil, rather have him appear like he's making an effort to appear pleasant.
Which just makes it worse.
If you're interested and if you don't know it already, you can read the story of the scissorman here (in english) --> Little Suck-a-Thumb
I don't have the book anymore, which is a shame : ( I assume my parents hid it in the darkest corner of the basement or gave it away ages ago, along with "Max und Moritz" and "Allerhand Kurzweil" and the original "Grimm's MΓ€rchen" and all the other cute books for kids.
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Comments: 59
There is nothing I actually like about this but godsdamn if I can't appreaciate great work
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Great job on the likeness and the style! You definitely captured the terrifying and creepy yet trying to be pleasant vibe with him. XD
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YES. I had this read to me too haha, I finally found out the title of the story recently even though it's been, what, thirteen years? Heh. Unforgettable figure, I had no problem with sucking my thumb though, so I guess it did the trick... awesome drawing!
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Those arched eyebrows are making him look evil. I love it.
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OMG. My childhood 
My grandfather is half-German (but I'm Italian) and so I grow up with "Struwwelpeter" *-*
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That is one creepy smile. Never read the tale this was inspired by, but it sounds interesting.
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I'm loving just how much of a smug magnificent bastard he looks. Excellent interpretation.
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Oh my God, you read Max und Mortiz?! I read that for my German class and I loved it.
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He's almost too creepy to fave! lol. 
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I just read that and no wonder you had nightmares as a child XD. It was entertaining to read though and you picture depicts him wonderfully
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Oh Himmel! Mich ΓΌberlaufen noch immer Schauer beim Gedanken an diese Geschichten!
Die Illustration ist wunderbar. Vor allem GefΓ€llt mir, wie sich der Stil dieser Arbeit an den der Original-Illustrationen der Heinrich-Hoffmann-Geschichten orientiert. Und nicht nur der Stil auch die Figur an sich ist super imitiert und in deinen eigenen Stil gebracht. Nur der Zylinder fehlt
Mehr davon!
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This book is called "JΓΆrΓΆjukka" in finnish. My grandma still has it. And yes, it is quite... disturbin.
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This tailor man may be truly kind, upon looking closer we might find,
a man of caliber a real fine gent, in aid of mothers his scissors he lent! 
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This has to be one of the more morbid children stories I've ever read. Still, it's not as bad as I imagined it to be after reading your words. I know what's in the bag now, at least.
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Those eyes are terrifying, but yes, I will read the story. Thanks for the link.
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i had that book as a child, freaked me the fuck out.
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I really like this! The "old look" of the colors in absolutely magnificent!
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It's like the Scissor guy from the Clock Tower games. Man, German kids must have god-tier nightmares.
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Sweet childhood, full of dark stories, fantasy and nightmares. I miss these books. But my parents have them at home, so I can read them over again. Even old fairytales from russia. X3
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I can't remember how I felt about him. I loved 'The Seven Ravens' where the girl cut her finger because she lost her key. I remember how I really liked that storry and didn't get tired of hearing it. 'Struwwelpeter' was a book my grandpa read to me and I think it was every time I visited him ^^. I didn't have any nightmares about the red-legged scissorman. My nightmares where weird (my dad became an ape and I was hunted in a forrest and stuff like that) but these storries never gave me the creeps ^^Β°.
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Ah, the magic of fairy tales...the original fairy tales whose function was to scare the little sods into obedience
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Seen from another point, it probably would be unbearable with all those children crying at night, because they think there are monsters under their beds. x)
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Ah, that is also true
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Oh the Struwwelpeter.
I loved it ...and I hated it @_@
I really think you nailed the look.
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I love those old European fairy-tales. My Dad read me a few from Holland and Germany when I was little and I only vaguely remember them at all. This seems familiar though 
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I read the original Blue Beard when I was oh-so-little, so I know your fear.
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He had a brief cameo in one of the Nursery Crime books, the Fourth Bear.
Apparently he cuts off the thumbs of children who suck their thumbs, play with matches, and refuse to eat their soup? That seems like an odd mixture of things, with a harsher punishment. People are messed up to have even thought of him.
[link]
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I always thought he was just a tailor... who spied on kids when they sucked their thumbs...
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Wow! That's some international love right there. I read Struwwelpeter in my university German courses. Thought that was a super creepy story (especially since I WAS a thumbsucker as a child). This picture is WAY creepier than others I've seen.
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lol omg the scissor man! I love this, the expression is excellent!
my psych teacher in high school played this song for us, I don't know if you've heard it: [link] and it was terrifying!
But the part at the end was so intense it made me laugh: "and conrad bleeds to DEATH! DEATH!" O_O
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the guy has a creepy face lol, looks like he's gonna put that giant scissor up my ass...
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Isn't it funny that 90% of our childhood stories are based off of what used to be HORROR stories or propaganda stories back before the turn of the last century. Kinda makes you wonder what stories people will read to kids to scare the to sleep in the generations to come!
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Why are all kids stories so disturbing what is wrong with humans jeez!
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once upon a time there was a little boy who liked to suck his thumbs. when his mother asked him to stop, he said no. so she cut off his thumbs. the end
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This reminds me something out of that comic by Darkhorse, called Fables.
Very nice.
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That is a pretty horrible story. I am surprised my parents didn't read it to my sister. She sucked her thumb till she was ten or so... That surely would have gotten her to stop.
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I love Struwwelpeter...and I love your take on the Schneider.
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If I had sucked my thumb as a child, that story would have soon put a stop to it! Great character interpretation in your drawing.
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Very cool and eerie. And the scissors remind me of the type of thing Kuchisake-onna would carry around.
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Oh! Hmmm... I've always wanted to do a drawing of her. Thanks for the reminder! Might have a go at that : D
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You're welcome. ^^ Go for it.
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Sooo creepy. I don't know if you watch the American version of The Office, but the character Dwight reads this story to some kids on Bring Your Child to Work Day in the one episode lol
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