Big Man
Deep Cut, DJ
- Species
- Manta ray
- First seen
- Splatoon 3 (2022)
- Affiliation
- Deep Cut
Ay!Every Anarchy Splatcast, subtitled at length
The gentle giant of Deep Cut, a manta ray who speaks only in a single syllable and is beloved for it. The kindest character in the Splatlands, and its most reluctant bandit.
Big Man is a manta ray, and he is the sweetest person in the Splatlands. As the third member of Deep Cut he provides the beats, the backing vocals, and the group's conscience, and he does it all while saying nothing but "Ay." The game translates his every "Ay" into full sentences in subtitles, a running gag that turns into one of the warmest bits of characterization in the series.
Deep Cut
Where Shiver schemes and Frye charges, Big Man worries. He is the one who asks whether the treasure hunting is really a good idea, who apologizes when the trio picks a fight, and who steps in when Shiver and Frye's bickering goes too far. He is also an enormously talented musician; Deep Cut's sound is built on his production.
The gentle bandit
Big Man's boss battle in Return of the Mammalians is the trio's third and, fittingly, its most apologetic. He flattens himself into the arena floor and swims through the ink like a shadow, popping up to surprise Agent 3 while a subtitled "Ay" explains that he really does not want to do this. When Deep Cut switch sides, he is the first to offer help.
Character
Big Man is written as kind to the point of anxiety, loyal to a fault, and quietly the emotional center of the trio. His Splatfest record within Deep Cut is famously strong, giving him a reputation as the group's secret winner, and at the Grand Festival he stood with Shiver and Frye for Team Future. Fans embraced him instantly, and "Ay" became the most quoted line in Splatoon 3.
He is also a reminder of what the series thinks kindness looks like: not weakness, but the willingness to say sorry, help anyway, and keep the beat.