One of our favourite actors of all time is back, and this time he’s playing a different character. After several years of teasing and keeping his whereabouts a secret, Robert Pattinson is back with a bang with his new movie, Cosplay premiering tonight on Netflix.
The movie is based on a popular Japanese manga, and focuses on the adventures of Otomo, a high school student who dresses up as Batman every Halloween. Otomo meets a number of interesting and colourful characters while posing as Batman, and even makes a few new friends along the way.
What is Cosplay?
If you’re unfamiliar, cosplay (short for costume play) is when an actor or actress wears costume to replicate another character. It started in Japan as a means of exploring the characters and stories that the audience would not normally get the chance to see on screen, but has since grown to be a worldwide phenomenon.
While it can be a really fun and creative hobby for adults, it’s mainly associated with role-playing games and anime fandom. The most well-known character to be portrayed through cosplay is undoubtedly Disney’s Aladdin, who first graced the big screen in 1992.
Since then, cosplay has taken over the geek community, with fans dressing up as their favourite characters from different properties or real-life superheroes such as Spiderman and Batman.
It should come as no surprise that Netflix’s latest offering fits perfectly into this category. After all, it’s based on a manga that has been popularising the form for years.
Check out these stylish ladies as they dress up as various anime characters. It’s like a mosh pit of costume changes!
Why is Cosplay Popular in Japan?
It probably has something to do with Japanese culture being the driving force behind many sci-fi and comic-based stories. There’s also a wide variety of costumes to choose from, which means that regardless of the character you might like, you’ll probably find a costume to suit you. It also helps that cosplay is a hobby that can be both fun and educational; you can learn about different cultures and costumes through research, and even make some new connections with other costume enthusiasts around the world.
What Will Netflix’s New Anime Series Teach Us?
According to Netflix’s official press release, this limited series will “teach viewers about the importance of family, friendship and following your heart” and will be “perfect for those seeking inspiration for their next Halloween costume change.”
Based on the press release, it seems that Netflix is banking on this new series to help us all get in the mood for Halloween, and encourage individuals to come together to celebrate Halloween in a whole new way. No matter if you’re a cosplay expert or simply love a good costume party, this might be just the inspiration you need.
This isn’t the first time that Robert Pattinson has lent his talents to a project related to Halloween. Remember a little film called Mortmori (2015)? The movie is a Japanese-American co-production that explores a number of dark themes including death, fear, and self-redefinition, and features cameo appearances from some of our favourite Hollywood stars, including Anna Kendrick, Donald Faison, and Jason Mewes. It’s a bold, beautiful and brave film that we are seriously proud to have helped fund through our very own Kickstarter campaign.
While Mortmori is a character-driven drama that explores the themes of loss and love, Cosplay is much lighter in tone, focusing on the young adult adventures of Otomo as he dives into the cosplay world.
How Does the Netflix Title Differ From the Manga?
Surprisingly, there are several distinct differences between the Netflix and manga incarnations of Cosplay. Let’s take a closer look.
Firstly, while both feature Batman as the main character, the manga is much darker in tone, centring more on Otomo’s experiences as a bullied high school student and his gradual descent into crime. In comparison, the Netflix series is a slice of life story about an ordinary teenager who finds himself drawn into the world of cosplay through a series of bizarre events that ultimately leads him to question his identity and who he is truly dedicated to serving.
Secondly, the Netflix series is much more polished and focused than its manga counterpart. It follows a tight narrative structure that keeps the viewer firmly gripped from the very beginning, and features a highly visual, stylish cinematic style that is a perfect compliment to the fast-paced story.
Finally, the Netflix series is far more ambitious and polished than its manga counterpart, incorporating several key differences in both theme and tone. While the manga is a thrilling rollercoaster of an adventure that will appeal to fans of the original, the Netflix series is a complete reimagining that steps away from its source material and establishes its own identity with a brand new story that incorporates the best elements of both series.
It’s worth noting that while the Netflix series is inspired by the manga, it isn’t directly based on it. The characters and setting belong to the Netflix series alone, and the original manga will serve as a distant inspiration for those seeking adventure and self-discovery in the form of a light-hearted coming-of-age story.
Did You Know That There’s An App For That?
Did you know that there’s an app for that? No, we don’t mean the one that you’re probably thinking of when we say “Did you know that there’s an app for that?”, but rather the other one. Did you know that there’s an app that can help you find the perfect Halloween costume?
Yes, Halloween is upon us, and with it comes the endless possibilities of Halloween costumes. While browsing through the internet for Halloween costumes can be fun, it’s not always the most efficient of methods. For those seeking inspiration for their next Halloween costume change, how about we suggest checking out what some of the biggest celebrities are wearing currently?
We scoured the internet for the biggest and the best Halloween costumes based on Instagram posts by famous individuals. From Jennifer Aniston’s iconic black and white dress from Office Christmas Party (2018) to Gal Gadot’s stunning Wonder Woman costume from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), these are the celebrities’ best Halloween looks to date. So, what are you waiting for? Get inspired and get clicking!
As we mentioned, the list is primarily comprised of celebrities’ Instagram posts, which means that it’s heavily leaning towards English-speaking countries and regions. However, you’ll still find a number of exciting and innovative costumes based on Japanese manga and anime, which is a great indication of how much this hobby is growing in popularity all over the world.
The Biggest Online Resources For Anime
If you’re looking for more information about anime, where do you turn? The biggest online resources for anime are probably Google and Wikipedia. If you type in “anime wikipedia” or “google anime” you’ll be presented with comprehensive articles about the Japanese animation form. If you’re seeking more specifics, either resource is probably a good place to start.
Anime is a hugely popular form of entertainment all over the world, with fans in regions like Australia, Europe, and North America. It’s no surprise that with the rise of the internet and social media, anime fans now have more ways than ever to connect and stay up to date with all the latest news and developments related to their favourite anime. As an exciting and innovative form of entertainment, it’s only natural that anime fans would want to follow the trends and styles of the stars and creators they admire so much. In other words, cosplay!