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If been re-watching some Gintama episodes and noticed the parasitic mushrooms
in some episode. Which started to grow on their head and slowly take them
over.

I also came across the pokemon Paras to which something pretty similar
happens:

> While Paras' symbiotic relationship with the mushrooms on its back isn't
> exactly normal, it is beneficial for both; Paras feeds the mushrooms with
> its body, and the fungus provides additional means of defense. Exactly how
> much control the mushrooms can exert over the Pokemon isn't clear, but odd
> goes to disturbing when Paras evolves into Parasect.
>
> It's hard to say exactly what change takes place at Level 24, but for some
> reason, the mushrooms take their chance and merge into a single organism,
> taking over the Paras in the process. With heightened aggression and a pair
> of zombified milky eyes, anything cute or endearing about Paras is replaced
> by a demonic drone known as Parasect.

So now my question: where does the parasitic mushroom come from? Is this made
up in anime, or like allot of other anime components based on some kind of
folk lore?


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2014-04-16T01:43:35.740
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tropes
Where does the shroom on the head come from?


I don't think that Gintama, Pokemon and trope head mushrooms are related.

The reasons for each seem to be entirely different. Parasitic mushrooms exist
in real world and that's where most of Pokemon character design inspiration
comes from. Gintama is an adventure where a "parasite infection" would be a
nice plot point for a story to evolve around, and the "sad mushroom" trope
doesn't seem to be involved in either.


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2014-04-16T14:36:17.930
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2014-04-16T14:36:17.930
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The parasitic mushroom comes from real life.
[Cordyceps](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordyceps)

![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/51Eqs.jpg)

From <http://i.guim.co.uk/static/w-620/h--/q-95/sys-
images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/5/3/1336047375506/Zombie-ant-infected-with--
001.jpg>

This fungus infects insect and uses them to breed. This is where Game Freak
got its inspiration for Parasect.


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