A Scouter is a character now

[batistabus]

I'm a big fan of Granolla's design, and Oatmil is a big part of that. The eyepatch enhances Granolla and is a character on its own. It's Steampunk with a slight emphasis toward the futuristic aspect. Whether Oatmil is an AI, radio transmission, or something else, they feel at home in the world of Dragon Ball. Is Oatmil a variation of Freeza's scouter? A prototype? Or is the voice just Granolla's imagination (not likely)? Like Merus' watch, you just want to know more about it (but more so).

Oatmil accomplishes Toriyama's way of introducing new characters in pairs while still allowing Granolla to feel like a loner.

Technologically, Oatmil has a mind of its own. They can scan and analyze. Assuming Oatmil is AI, the technology seems to surpass that of Freeza's scientists (but not Dr. Gero). Is that a clue about the Cearealians? Just because they have a retro aesthetic, that doesn't mean they can't be advanced. The Kaioshin browse the web with a crystal ball attached to a typewriter.

What can we really say about Oatmil's character point? They treat Granolla like a caretaker; always asking how he's doing and what's on his mind. They encourage Granolla to get a snack when he's feeling down. They're not cowardly like C3PO, but they don't talk at all in front of Heata. Granolla is disappointed when he misses one of Soshiru's allies, but Oatmil thinks it's no big deal. I'm sure more comes through in native Japanese, so maybe someone provide insight there.

Could Oatmil be a Wilson-style delusion? While they definitely appear to talk to Soshiru, the scene does work if you remove Oatmil's speech from the equation. There is a Scouter effect in Chapter 67, as well as Oatmil's analysis of the OGs, but I suppose the former could be the ship's systems, and the latter could be Granolla's own analysis. Ultimately, I don't think this will be the case, and I'm sure we'll learn more about Oatmil soon, but that'd be a twist...

Thoughts?

[Magnificent Ponta]

Oatmil accomplishes Toriyama's way of introducing new characters in pairs while still allowing Granolla to feel like a loner.

That's something I hadn't considered. I like that thought; good observation.

I guess right now we'd lean more towards Oatmil being more like HAL than like Wilson, but if you wanted to make an argument for the latter, it is perhaps a little unusual that Soshiru mistakes Oatmil's voice for Granola's. If Oatmil ends up being confirmed as artificial, then perhaps he's directly patterned on Granola in some way, including his voice?

[batistabus]

it is perhaps a little unusual that Soshiru mistakes Oatmil's voice for Granola's.

You really have to bend your interpretation of the manga to make it work, but let me break it down.

Oatmil says "Come inside and I'll give it to you", but the door is already open. Soshiru could have observed that without hearing the voice. Also worth noting, the speech bubble is angular like Granolla's rather than spiky like Oatmil's, but he's mimicking his voice, so nothing definitive there.

Next, Oatmil/Granola says "Up here, in the cockpit". Again, Soshiru could've noticed the cockpit as the next logical place to search without the help of any voice.

Soshiru turns the chair around, but Granolla isn't there. Oatmil says "Too bad! That was my voice." and Soshiru says "Huh?!" Again, works without Oatmil saying anything.

After sniping, Soshiru observes "He...can snipe without his goggles?!" and then looks at Oatmil, who explains the Cerealian trait. This one seems like pretty clear confirmation that Oatmil is indeed talking, as he looks back at the eye piece he already noticed, but it leaves the tiniest leeway.

Finally, Oatmil says "No stun gun for you. His next shot will pierce your heart. Get it?" while Soshiru is glancing backward out of the side of his eye. It's hard definitively say where Granolla is positioned in relation to Soshiru and Oatmil, but it's possible he's glancing back at him rather than Granolla.

"G-got it! I give up!" Soshiru appears to be straight-forwardly responding to Oatmil's "Get it?", but again, this is something he could say without comment from Oatmil. He understands the situation and doesn't want to get shot.

I know that's a lot of explaining for something I don't really believe is the case, but considering Granolla has been through a lot of tragedy, I'm just trying to be thorough...

[Magnificent Ponta]

I guess I meant it more in the sense that, if you wanted to make the case that Oatmil isn't a real person or an independent AI (or anything that actually exists, but is rather a figment of Granolah's imagination), you could advance the idea that Granolah could be 'Tyler Durden-ing' it by talking over the intercom as "Oatmil" without even realising it, making a mental separation of this sort to himself, even as he speaks to Soshiru - because, one might argue, why would Soshiru mistake the voice of someone who he claims to know pretty well?

[LoganForkHands73]

I guess I meant it more in the sense that, if you wanted to make the case that Oatmil isn't a real person or an independent AI (or anything that actually exists, but is rather a figment of Granolah's imagination), you could advance the idea that Granolah could be 'Tyler Durden-ing' it by talking over the intercom as "Oatmil" without even realising it, making a mental separation of this sort to himself, even as he speaks to Soshiru - because, one might argue, why would Soshiru mistake the voice of someone who he claims to know pretty well?

Yeah, it could definitely work with Fight Club logic. I totally dig the theory, batistabus's point-by-point of the scene honestly makes it more convincing than less. I too noticed that there was something strange about that whole scene, how Oatmeal seems to speak on behalf of Granola like they have the same voice.

There's also the fact that Oatmeal somehow knows exactly what Granola is dreaming, though considering his dramatic bolting awakening, it seems to simply indicate that this is a common occurrence.

Oatmeal seems to generally act as Granola's superego, telling him the logical path, that it's pointless continuing this grudge against the Freeza Force. Even by the standards of Toriyama's usual method of introducing new characters in pairs to deliver exposition quickly, there's something especially internalised about their dialogue.

[Kinokima]

Oatmil is definitely one of the most interesting aspects of this arc for me. I loved the idea of him being an AI. But being a split personality of Granolah would be very interesting too.

I mean after losing everyone you know you may go a bit crazy ....Maybe Oatmil was a real person Granolah once knew. And that would explain why he has a name if it’s really just Granolah.

[Koitsukai]

It's funny that the scouter has a "food" name.

[DragonBallFoodie]

It's unusual and new, I have to admit.

Maybe he's an upgraded or new type of scouter with an AI added? I'd like to know more.

[ChronoTwigger]

Well, the delusion could explain why Otamil cover the best eye of Granolah.
A kind of identification.

There's a japanes term for people delusional about a supernatural power/a demon in their hand or eye: Chuunibyou.

[batistabus]

Oatmil doesn't talk with Monaito. If Oatmil were to speak to anyone besides Granolla, you'd think it would be Granolla's roommate.

Aside from that, he continues to seem to know very little about Granolla's backstory, for whatever that's worth.

[batistabus]

https://twitter.com/Cipher_db/status/13 ... 6102207488

Per an overview of Granolah after the chapter, Granolah communicates with the “mysterious entity” Oatmeel “through his goggle.”

So ... maybe Oatmeel isn’t the eyepiece. The arc’s greatest mystery.

[TheSaiyanGod]

Oatmeel the true mastermind of the arc, soon

But seriously, I believe that we will still see him later.
They seem to have a good friendship. When Granolah inevitably gets in danger, he can help, even though we have no idea what exactly he is yet. Perhaps we will see him team up with Granolah to defeat the Heeters? It would be interesting

[batistabus]

Nothing definitively moves this topic one way or another this chapter.

Oatmil speaks in front of Vegeta. Vegeta does not directly acknowledge Oatmil, which I thought he might. Granolla responds to Oatmil: "They're just trying to save their own skins." Vegeta responds "Think what you want...", but he could just be responding to what he thinks is Granolla speaking to himself.

On the other hand, Oatmil is a headset, so it's possible Vegeta wouldn't hear him even if he is an AI or radio communication.

Oatmil gives Granolla an aim-assist. Pretty cool, but kind of odd that Granolla would need that after his wish. It's unknown how advanced the technology of the Cerealians is. It's not spoken of highly like the Tsufurian technology was. Despite the steam-and-valves aesthetic, Granolla's ship is able to do advanced space things, and Oatmil's technology wouldn't seem a world apart from that. Still, the aim-assist could just be Granolla tapping into further concentration, similar to when he fought the gang of OGs.

[capsulecorp]

I love the aim-assist line. Granolah is a cheater, even before he made his wish.

If Oatmil is an AI, I'm expecting him to interact with 7-3 at some point... or is that too predictable?

[Kinokima]

It does seem that Oatmeel is an AI but at the same time if that is all he is why is he still a mystery. I like to still think there is more to it.

[batistabus]

In the new "How to Draw Granolah" video, Toyotaro explains that Oatmil is an AI that is stored in the earpiece:

https://en.dragon-ball-official.com/movie/02_363.html

[Xeogran]

In the new "How to Draw Granolah" video, Toyotaro explains that Oatmil is an AI that is stored in the earpiece:

https://en.dragon-ball-official.com/movie/02_363.html

And Oat is confirmed to be relevant in the future. Someone might be getting possessed by it.