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The Aura Video-Analyzer is a piece of equipment that can be used to tell the emotional state of the person hooked up to it (and if they are lying), as well as display their self-image. The name of this device and the details of its function are taken from the Ghostbusters Role-Playing Game. It is not named nor its function explicitly stated during the movie.

Canonicity[]

The Aura Video-Analyzer in the Primary Canon is developed from Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters: Afterlife. In Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions), a Secondary Canon, Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II pre-date the game, Ghostbusters: Afterlife conflicts with the game. The Aura Video-Analyzer (prime) appears in the IDW Comic Series, a Secondary Canon, which follows Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II, also includes some elements from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) and Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Stylized Versions); as well as being canon to Tobin's Spirit Guide (Insight Editions). The Aura Video-Analyzer appears in NOW Comics, deemed a Tertiary Canon, which follows The Real Ghostbusters.

History[]

Primary Canon History[]

Ghostbusters (1984)[]

In 1984, the Ghostbusters hooked Dana Barrett up to the Analyzer and had her relay her story about the encounter with Zuul. Weeks later, the Analyzer was used on Louis Tully, while he was possessed by Vinz Clortho. He wore the colander helmet. The machine projected an image of Vinz's head instead of Louis's. Egon Spengler promptly turned the screen off.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife[]

In June 2021, Podcast found the Aura Video-Analyzer's colander helmet in Egon Spengler's underground laboratory in Summerville and immediately put it on. He wore it for the duration of the meeting with Phoebe Spengler, Trevor Spengler and Lucky Domingo.

Secondary Canon History[]

Ghostbusters: The Video Game[]

During the Thanksgiving 1991 weekend, the Aura Video-Analyzer was used on Ilyssa Selwyn after the Ghostbusters took her to the Firehouse following an encounter with the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Times Square.

IDW Comics[]

It is used on Ray Stantz after his precognitive dream. The data indicated Ray's brain was not quite in sync and behaved like a seismograph during an earthquake. Over a year later, Janine Melnitz was hooked up to the analyzer while she was encased in Yellow Slime. Egon Spengler used it on himself for a self-analysis following Janine's rescue on the mental plane. In December, Egon used the analyzer on Kylie Griffin to collect data on the Red Lightning strikes and its affect on certain individuals. A couple weeks after the Ghostbusters' battle with Tiamat, Dana Barrett and Louis Tully were brought into the Firehouse for a standard examination. Dana wore the Aura Video-Analyzer. After Ray came back from Hart Island, he was subjected to the Aura Video-Analyzer to study his time engaging in direct mental contact with Gozer. However, the equipment overloaded and partially severed when Ray became possessed and levitated into mid-air.

During the Chi-You incident, Donatello happily subjected himself to the Aura-Video Analyzer. With more data to work with, Egon examined the readings taken at the Emmanuel Baptist Church, and concluded the energy emitted from the Turtles, April O'Neil and Casey Jones were degrading and after 72 hours, they would not be able to return home to their dimension. During the Proteus incident, the parallel Ray Stantz submitted himself but the parallel Peter Venkman "declined." After Egon was restored to life by Aibell, he was submitted to the Aura Video-Analyzer the next day and questioned about his experience being dead. After two dimensions entered a state of overlap, Jillian Holtzmann was subjected to the Aura-Video Analyzer and Egon identified her dimension's frequency as was done with previous encounters with the Turtles and other Ghostbusters. During the dimensional bleed incident, Zoe Zawadzki wore the analyzer's colander helmet while her and the rest of the team were scanned and interviewed.

Tertiary Canon History[]

NOW Comics[]

The Aura Video-Analyzer was used to analyze Shannon Phillips.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed[]

The Aura Video-Analyzer was used on Winston Zeddemore when he was possessed by Nameless.

Description[]

If possessed by an entity like a ghost, it will display an image of that entity. For example, when it was used on Dana Barrett, the device's monitor showed a spectrographic image of her face, as she had not been possessed by Zuul at that point. However, when it was hooked up to Louis Tully after he had been possessed by Vinz Clortho, the device's monitor showed an image of a Terror Dog.

Trivia[]

Ghostbusters (1984) Trivia[]

  • During Dana's interview, a device was attached to Sigourney Weaver in order to produce the effect seen on the monitor.[1]
  • The colander outfitted with many wires was simply added as a funny gag.[2]
  • When Egon and Janine interview possessed Louis, they simply had Rick Moranis duck out and used a one of the rubber heads of a Terror Dog during the parts where the screen shows Vinz Clortho.[3]

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Trivia[]

  • The Aura Video-Analyzer helmet used for Ghostbusters: Afterlife was a replica. After Paul Healy commissioned the replica, he found the right colander for the prop.[4]

IDW Comics Trivia[]

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Trivia[]

  • In Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed:
    • The colander helmet can be seen upon entering the second floor lab next to the computer where the research contract list can be accessed.
    • Unlocking the tenure system at level 100 also unlocks the colander helmet in the head wear section of character customization.

Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord Trivia[]

  • The Full Containment Edition and first Buster Bundle included a Keymaster costume based on when he possessed Louis in the first movie.

Appearances[]

Primary Canon Appearances[]

Secondary Canon[]

Tertiary Canon Appearances[]



References[]

  1. Ivan Reitman (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 22:43-22:54). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "We did all this live, as well. There really was something attached to her that caused this solarization effect. It's kind of a cheapo effect, but it kinda worked."
  2. Ivan Reitman (1999). Ghostbusters- Commentary (1999) (DVD ts. 01:00:50-01:00:55). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "It's a colander with a lot of fancy wires on top. We figured the sillier, the better."
  3. Joe Medjuck (2005). Ghostbusters- Commentary (2005) (DVD ts. 1:01:24-1:01:44). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Joe Medjuck says: "We used that same um machinery we saw on Sigourney and as the camera moves across Rick ducked out and we put the head of one of those rubber dummies of the Terror Dog in so it would appear like that's what was inside of him. "
  4. Inguanzo, Ozzy (2021). Ghostbusters: Afterlife The Art and Making of the Movie, p. 80. Titan Books, London UK, ISBN 1789096529. Line reads: "Among the list of other items he dressed into the lab: an IM-179 gamma rate meter used by Egon briefly in the first movie, a few items from Ghostbusters II, and precise replica of the Aura Video-Analyzer worn by Louis Tully, which was commissioned after Healy found the right colander."
  5. Peter Venkman (2018). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #2" (2018) (Comic p.17). Peter Venkman says: "I am not wearing that colander thing when I inevitably wake up."

Gallery[]

Primary Canon Images[]

Secondary Canon Images[]

Tertiary Canon Images[]

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