The Otaku Culture

The rising popularity of anime and manga has given birth to a fervent devotion to the media formats: the otaku (オタク – which is Japanese slang for an obsessive person, or geek). Covered within are different aspects of the otaku culture, from figures and toys to odd promotional items and cosplay.

The Otaku Culture

Adidas to release Kakashi-themed sneaker

August 2, 2019 • • Post a commment

Back in June, it was revealed that Adidas would be working on a new footwear line based on the Naruto manga series. A pair designed using Sakura Haruno’s colour theme was shown first; now it’s time for the legendary Copy Ninja Kakashi Hatake.

Photos of the prototype shoe are detailed using colours based off Kakashi’s hair and outfit: grey with olive green and navy. The tongue features a red mangekyou sharingan, and a Leaf Village headband adorns the laces. On the heel, there’s a red ANBU emblem with the Leaf Village emblem above it. Adidas is using the Copa Ultra Boost model as the base, and with Kakashi’s name in Japanese on the iconic styrofoam support.

No release date for when these Naruto-themed sneakers go on sale was mentioned.

Source: SneakerNews.com

The Otaku Culture

Adidas working on Naruto sneaker collaboration

June 30, 2019 • • Post a commment

Fresh off the heels with their Dragon Ball Z footwear collaboration, Adidas is moving on to the next Shonen Jump series: Naruto Shippuden. While not too many details are available at the moment, there are a few images of the first pair which is themed on Sakura Haruno.

Naruto x Adidas T-7 Sakura Sneaker

Naruto x Adidas T-7 Sakura Sneaker

Using the familiar styrofoam-like Boost sole, Adidas based the T-7 design on Sakura’s red outfit and pink hair without anything overly announcing that this pair is styled off an anime character. The only real giveaway is that there’s an image of Sakura from Naruto Shippuden on the left insole.

No date for release or information on any other pairs was made available.

Source: SneakerNews.com

The Otaku Culture

Uniqlo releases for manga themed t-shirts just in time for Summer

June 10, 2019 • • Post a commment
Uniqlo My Hero Academia t-shirt

Uniqlo My Hero Academia t-shirt with All Might, Bakugo, Deku and Todoroki.

Calling all anime and manga fans! Uniqlo has released a new round of manga themed t-shirts as part of their UT line.

This year, shonen series including Gintama, Naruto, Bleach, My Hero Academia, Haikyuu!!, Kuroko’s Basketball, Hunter x Hunter, Yu Yu Hakusho and Prince of Tennis are given the t-shirt treatment in a variety of colour and styles. Each shirt retails at $14.90 CAD.

Last year, Uniqlo also had a line of shirts to celebrate Weekly Shonen Jump’s 50th anniversary.

These shirts are available in-store and online.

The Otaku Culture

Goku makes first appearance in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

November 22, 2018 • • Post a commment

Among the American Thanksgiving traditions of turkey, pie, and football is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. For 2018, the parade welcomed a newcomer — Super Saiyan Blue Goku from Dragon Ball.

At 56 feet tall, 70 feet long and 36 feet wide, this massive Saiyan required 90 people to handle and selected to promote the upcoming film Dragon Ball Super: Broly, which premieres later this year in Japan.

It’s the first time a manga character has appeared in this 92 year-old parade.

Source: Macy’s

The Otaku Culture

Uniqlo to release t-shirt collaboration with Weekly Shonen Jump

April 15, 2018 • • Post a commment

As part of Weekly Shonen Jump’s 50th anniversary, Japanese clothing giant Uniqlo has unveiled a line up of t-shirts to celebrate this milestone.

Tops will feature artwork from popular manga including Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, Dragon Ball, Haikyuu!!, Gintama, and Hunter x Hunter.

UT X Jump 50th

Coming Soon: In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Weekly Shonen Jump, wear your favourite manga characters with the all new UT x Jump 50th Graphic T-shirt collection! #UT2018 #WearYourWorld

Posted by Uniqlo Canada on Friday, April 6, 2018

These shirts are expected to go on sale later this month.

Uniqlo has in the past run campaigns with Weekly Shonen Jump manga, including Naruto, One Piece and Dragon Ball.

Source: Uniqlo

Anime, Gaming, The Otaku Culture

Arby’s advertising wins over anime and gaming fans with their marketing

October 13, 2017 • • 1 Comment

Arby’s joins the ranks of fast food companies with awesome social media campaigns (including Wendy’s sassy Twitter posts). The sandwich chain uses their food and packaging to recreate various pop culture scenes from video games, anime, television shows and more. Here’s a selection of some of their most recent anime and video game posts from Facebook.

InuYasha

Sit boy!

Posted by Arby's on Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Read the rest of this article…

The Otaku Culture

New Yuri!!! on Ice Nendoroid designs announced

September 30, 2017 • • Post a commment

Figure manufacturer and distributor Good Smile Company unveiled the designs for three new Yuri!!! on Ice characters for its Nendoroid series. The concept art shows Victor Nikiforov in his coach outfit and the casual styles worn by Yuri Katsuki and Yuri Plisetsky.

No date for release was mentioned.

Yuri!!! on Ice Victor Nikiforov Coach Version Nendoroid Yuri!!! on Ice Yuri Plisetsky Casual Version Nendoroid Yuri!!! on Ice Yuri Katsuki Casual Version Nendoroid

 

Source: Good Smile Company

The Otaku Culture

Four Yuri!!! on Ice Pop! vinyl figures to arrive in October

September 22, 2017 • • Post a commment

The hit ice skating anime Yuri!!! on Ice is the latest series to join Funko’s Pop! vinyl figure line-up this October.

Four figures, each in their skating outfits, were unveiled: Yuri Katsuki (Yuri), Yuri Plisetsky (Yurio), and two of Victor Nikiforov (Victor and Young Victor). Yuri is dressed in his eros costume, with Yurio in his agape attire, the fanciful uniform Victor wears for his free skate, and in his younger form, donning a crown of blue roses, and a gold medal around his neck.

Unlike most Pop! figures, these will stand on rounded plastic bases to show the detail of their ice skates.

Yuri Pop! figure Yurio Pop! figure
Victor Pop! figure Young Victor Pop! figure

Source: Funko

The Otaku Culture

Yuri Plisetsky Nendoroid unveiled

July 24, 2017 • • Post a commment
Yuri Plisetsky Nendoroid

Yuri Plisetsky in Nendoroid format from Good Smile Company!

The Ice Tiger of Russia from ice skating anime Yuri!!! on Ice now comes as a miniature-format figure. Joining Yuri Katsuki and Victor Nikiforov is Yuri Plisetsky as part of the Good Smile Company’s Nendoroid line.

Yuri (or Yurio as he’s affectionately called to differentiate from the other Yuri) is dolled up in his silver outfit he wears during his Agape performance. Also included are three interchangeable facial expressions (agape, sour and shocked), katsudon piroshky, and a pair of cat ears from he obtained during scene at the Rostelecom Cup.

These final images of Yurio were posted on Good Smile’s Kahotan blog. Yuri Plisetsky, when purchased through the Good Smile Company web site, will ship with a special rubber strap. He goes on sale Tuesday, July 25th, 2017.

Yuri Plisetsky Nendoroid Yuri Plisetsky Nendoroid

Source: Good Smile Company

 

The Otaku Culture

Yuri Katsuki Nendoroid announced for pre-order

February 7, 2017 • • Post a commment
Yuri Katsuki Nendoroid

Yuri Katsuki is about to leap into our hearts with a triple lutz

It’s time to lace up your skates and hit the ice with the star of YURI!!! on Ice with Yuri Katsuki! He’s the latest in Good Smile Company’s line of collectible Nendoroid mini figures.

Yuri wears the black with silver trimmed outfit from his Eros performance, choreographed by his coach, Victor Nikiforov. This costume was also worn by Victor before on the ice.

Each Nendoroid comes with accessories and are interchangeable with other Nendoroid figures. Included are three different facial expressions: his seductive face from his Eros recital, a happy expression, and one of embarrassment. Yuri also comes with two hair styles — one that’s slicked back and the other tousled. Even he can’t stay away from his favourite food: a bowl of steaming hot katsudon (pork cutlet with egg over rice), complete with tiny chopsticks.

Plus, there’s a bonus — a small rubber charm featuring the likeness of Yuri, but only if purchased through Good Smile Company’s online shop.

Yuri Katsuki Nendoroid Yuri Katsuki Nendoroid

Pre-orders for this adorable representation of Yuri Katsuki close on March 16th, 2017 and is expected to ship later in July. Suggested retail price is ¥4,167 JPY (or about $48.91 CAD).

Source: Good Smile Company

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