The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was no consensus. There is no support for deletion here but there are some strong arguments for merging. However a few possible sources have been provided by those arguing for keeping the article suggesting some notability. Given this, am closing as no consensus to allow further discussion on the talk page on whether a separate article is appropriate or a merge instead as an editorial decision not requiring any admin tools - if kept the article will need references added to the article. Davewild (talk) 10:21, 8 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Catbus[edit]

(Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL)

An article with two sources: a Craigslist post used as a source for the fact that a fan once dressed up a VW bus to look like one, and the Wikipedia article on Avatar. Both are used as primary sources and neither is reliable. So I asked Professor Google, and he told me that Catbus is usually a reference to one of three bus lines that use the acronym. The good Professor did not hand me any reliable independent secondary sources about the fictional concept. Guy (Help!) 10:13, 1 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Merge with My Neighbor Totoro

If you do a 'what links here' for the article you will find a plot exposition for the Japanese movie that the cat bus comes from. Rather than delete this article, I'd suggest merging the content with that page. The catbus page could then be left as a disambiguation page for the real and fictional busses.

My own search of Professor Gooogle concentrated on the image search, and it is clear that the catbus character has had a big cultural influence on some people, but it is part of the film rather than having an independent existence.

The idea is obviously notable, if only because so many people have reacted to the idea. But it does not sit well as the first place someone searching for a real bus line might end up. There are, it seems, several bus services in the USA called 'Citizens Area Transit' which could also lay claim to the acronym.

The fans could buy A sticky tape dispenser as compensation.--Brunnian (talk) 11:35, 1 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Merge with My Neighbor Totoro, unless it appears in more than just the one film and short? It's a shame because Catbus is awesome. Artw (talk) 14:17, 1 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I've added the Rescue tag in case anyone can make me change my mind by expansion/sourcing. Artw (talk) 14:20, 1 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

If you are happy to perform a merge then please feel free to close this afterwards. I'd suggest a dab page at Catbus, though, given the numerous other meanings. Guy (Help!) 14:40, 1 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Probably there should be a merge discussion, which I'd be happy to add the relevant templates for and cast a tentative "for" vote. I'm probably not the one to perform a merge for this artilce - there are wikipedians for whom Anime or even just Ghibiliare a speciality who would no doubt do a much better job of it, and liek I say if anyone did serious work onthe article I could be persuaded into wanting to keep it. Artw (talk) 14:49, 1 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Merge with totoro, though i am a big fan of both, and i had a plush toy (ostensibly owned by a tiny friend, but i got to play with it too). not notable beyond the movies its in, though popular. ancillary items are not inherently notable.Mercurywoodrose (talk) 16:27, 1 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Keep The Google news search shows plenty of results. I found a newspaper[1] saying Tortoro and the Catbus have become anime icons since the film's debut in 1988. They also figure prominently in the Children's Museum's "Jump to Japan" exhibit at the Con Foster Building on Grandview Parkway. So, they figure highly in a notable museum, and are anime icons. I heard of the Catbus before, and knew what it was before coming here. So have a lot of people. A rather recognizable term. Dream Focus 02:41, 2 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Google Book search shows 81 results [2]. The museum piece seems quite notable. http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/welcome/004539.html Dream Focus
Note: This debate has been included in the list of Anime and manga-related deletion discussions. --Calathan (talk) 05:51, 2 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Merge to Totoro, with WP:FICT in mind. Notability and impact entirely subsumed by those of the film. - 2/0 (cont.) 18:59, 2 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Keep There was also a short called: Mei and the Kittenbus, the catbus is a notable character and has been used by others in the design and concept. Has anyone looked at the external links, talked about notability in the chat, and found references, or was this just sent straight to AfD? - Knowledgekid87 (talk) 22:31, 2 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Comment: I think that the issue of disambiguation will need to be dealt with before this discussion is closed. -- allen四names 06:56, 4 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Note: This debate has been included in the list of Anime and manga-related deletion discussions. Thryduulf (talk) 11:48, 4 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Keep Looking through the google news sources, there seems to be many that are about the catbus from the anime. I'm not sure why the nominator is saying he didn't see any sources in a Google search. This article calls the catbus an anime icon [3], and it was featured in a meuseum exhibit [4]. Also, almost all the reviews I've read of My Neighbor Totoro specifically mention the catbus, usually enthusiastically. Calathan (talk) 05:16, 5 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Keep This article is in the scope of three wikiprojects. It may have only primary sources at this time, but with all the news and newspaper articles on the topic, it could easily be edited to a more professional level. There should at least be an extension in the deletion to see if someone can fix up the article. I am willing to help out if it comes down to it. It is a decent article if you overlook the sources problem. Mìthrandir 19:55, 5 November 2009 (UTC)

Keep The article needs a little TLC, but having first seem Totoro in in the early 90's, I have to say it is a real thing. Granted, not as popular in English speaking areas when compared to Japanese. Perhaps we can have someone who is fluent in Japanese pull over some relevant citations? Neuromancer (talk) 06:10, 6 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Merge to My Neighbor Totoro. Not notable apart from the article, and has received no significant coverage from reliable, third-party sources about this character, despite some of the claims above. -- AnmaFinotera (talk · contribs) 06:24, 6 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Keep Catbus is a unique and fascinating character. This article will need a bit of time and development to come into focus, and an image would be nice, but please don't be mean to the Catbus, that would not be polite. Zenexp (talk) 19:17, 7 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The article has been around for a while and flagged for rescue for a few days and nobody's fixed it yet. Sources are what's needed. Notability is not achieved by WP:ILIKEIT but by sourcing. Guy (Help!) 22:17, 7 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Guy, have you heard of tagging and discussion first then Afd? Afd is a big step to go and just because you may not agree with some things does not mean everyone sees through your eyes. - Knowledgekid87 (talk) 01:38, 8 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.