The diversity of creators in attendance was nothing short of inspiring: seasoned masters debuting jaw-dropping builds, first-time cosplayers stepping boldly into the spotlight, and international artists bringing cultural depth and fresh perspectives to beloved characters. Every hallway, panel, and photoshoot told a story of courage, craftsmanship, and connection. ECCC 2025 wasn’t just an event you attended, it was an experience that reminded everyone why cosplay is art, identity, and community all woven into one unforgettable gathering.

The post The Incredible Cosplays of Emerald City 2025 Gallery Two appeared first on Project-Nerd.

From meticulously crafted armor and couture-level builds to intimate, character-driven interpretations, the convention floor became a living gallery of imagination and dedication. Artists, fans, and storytellers converged in a shared love of pop culture, transforming Seattle into a hub of color, passion, and self-expression. ECCC 2025 didn’t just showcase cosplay. It honored the heart, skill, and global community behind it, reminding us that fandom knows no borders.

The post The Incredible Cosplays of Emerald City 2025 Gallery One appeared first on Project-Nerd.

These are some of our favorite cosplays from the show this year.

The post The Cosplays of Sakura Con 2025 appeared first on Project-Nerd.

Tucked away in Balboa Park, just minutes from the chaos and color of the Convention Center, the Museum is like a time machine, teleporter, and dimensional portal rolled into one. Each exhibit isn’t just a display: it’s a gateway.

First stop and the current shining jewel at the museum: The Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder.

The moment I stepped through the Tardis, I swear I heard the hum of the TARDIS in my bones. I felt transported to a dimension far away and yet still close! Sonic screwdrivers used by Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant sat gleaming under glass like relics from another universe. This exhibition wove through most of the first floor, taking you on a grand adventure through all of the decades of Doctor Who. When I turned one of the corners I found myself face-to-face with a life-size Weeping Angel, eternally mid-lunge, and my inner Whovian screamed “Don’t blink!”.

Then a moment later I hear behind me in child voices, “Mommy?” I turned, thinking they were talking to me and found myself looking at two amazing Weeping Angel cosplayers! They were so fun and so sweet. Everyone loved seeing them with the life-sized adult Weeping Angel.

The Doctor Who exhibit masterfully blends screen-used props with the science behind the show, making you feel like you’re standing in the thin space between fiction and possibility. It is a must-see for any Doctor Who fan of any generation.

From time travel to top ropes: Sanger, Tudor Y Mito: The Art and Tradition of Mexican Lucha Libre on the second floor of the museum. I could feel the heat and history of the ring here. Authentic masks, some dulled by time and sweat, stared back at me like warriors who had stepped away only for a breath. Costumes worn by AEW’s Thunder Rosa shimmered under spotlights, radiating the grit and glamour of a sport that is equal parts artistry, athleticism, and cultural heartbeat. Everything was dazzling and vibrant.

Then I hopped back on the elevator and went to the “basement” level of the Museum and color continued to explode to life all around me when I stepped off.

The tokidoki 20th anniversary exhibit is pure chaos and cuteness, a kaleidoscope of kawaii that stretches from floor to ceiling. Giant characters became instant photo ops, limited-edition collectibles whispered to my inner collector, and collaborations with icons like Hello Kitty and Marvel reminded me that pop culture is truly a universal language. Did anyone else collect Unicornos?

Also complementing the same level was the LUANN exhibit.

Forty years of comics lined the walls like a time-lapse of creativity. Original strips revealed the delicate linework behind the laughter and the quiet humanity Greg Evans and Karen Evans have poured into every panel. It felt like leafing through the diary of an old friend.

I wandered into the Comic-Con Masquerade Costumes section, where cosplay dreams live on long after the lights go down. Poison Ivy’s vines and Doctor Strange’s cloak seemed almost ready to spring into motion. The costumes were different from last year and I loved seeing more cosplayers’ work and statements getting featured. I highly recommend stopping in here no matter when you are visiting, especially if you love cosplay!

Walking out, I realized this wasn’t just a museum visit. It continues to be a pilgrimage of pop-culture. A celebration of every world I’ve ever dreamed of, every story that shaped me, and every fandom family I’ve ever belonged to.

No badge required (just a ticket), a heart open to wonder, and maybe… a little extra room in your bag for something from the gift shop.

If you ever find yourself in San Diego (during Comic-Con or not) go. Lose yourself. Remember why you fell in love with stories in the first place.

The Comic-Con Museum isn’t just for fans. It’s for believers.

The post Through the Looking Glass of Fandom: My Day at the Comic-Con Museum appeared first on Project-Nerd.

About thirty minutes into Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men, we are in a car with the film’s protagonist, Theo (Clive Owen); his love interest, Julian (Julianne Moore); the film’s centerpiece, Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey); and key players Luke (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Miriam (Pam Ferris). Instead of the standard various camera angles often used in films, Cuarón does something magical to immerse us, the audience, in the vehicle with these five characters.

Instead of using multiple takes focusing on individual characters, Cuarón employs a special rig built into the middle of the car, engulfing us in the activities within the vehicle in a single continuous take. As we ride along with these individuals, we experience everything without interruption, including a sequence where Theo and Julian pass a ping pong ball back and forth, requiring the actors to perform a kind of magic in their acting. This long car ride culminates in Julian’s shocking death and an intense car chase sequence, a sequence from which we never leave the car.

Cuarón’s long take serves a purpose: it builds tension in a powerful and unexpected way. This custom rig places us in the middle of the car, making us part of the jokes, the game, and ultimately the action as it unfolds.

This take is over six minutes long. By the time the first motorcycle approaches the vehicle, we, as an audience, are so entrenched in the scene that we feel as if it is our vehicle. We are essentially sitting in the middle seat, unable to take a breath without stepping outside.

This is just one of the many ways Children of Men (2006) establishes its greatness. It also offers a glimpse into why Children of Men is acclaimed filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón’s masterpiece. Why this is Cuarón’s magnum opus.

A magnum opus is, by definition, a large and important work of art, music, or literature, specifically one regarded as the most significant work of an artist or writer.

In addition to Children of Men, Cuarón has written and directed many films, including 2013’s Gravity and 2018’s Roma—both highly acclaimed films that often earn praise from casual film fans.

So my claim that Children of Men is not just the best film he has made to date, but likely the best film he’ll ever make, is significant.

The aforementioned car scene is just one of many masterful moments in this dystopian dramatic action-thriller that didn’t even earn an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.

Based on the novel of the same name, Children of Men takes place in 2027. It’s been approximately two decades since the last human child was born in the world. This human infertility is just one factor driving society to the brink of collapse. With many of the world’s most powerful nations having crumbled, people from across the globe seek refuge in the United Kingdom, where they are subjected to detention and refoulement by the government. Theo (Owen) is an obedient civil servant who finds himself pulled back into the activist underworld by his ex, Julian (Moore), who needs his help getting Kee (Ashitey) out of the UK and to the Human Project.

Much like the scene we just analyzed, and many others we will explore, both Cuarón and P.D. James (the author of the book) make decisions that pull the audience in as characters ourselves. Why Kee seeks refuge, who we can and can’t trust, the government’s role in everyone’s day-to-day lives, and even what has happened to the fallen nations are either slowly uncovered as Theo or others figure these key plot points out, or are kept from us, leaving us in the dark throughout much of the film.

Leaving us in the dark through key plot points—either through significant moments or throughout the film—is done with incredible intent. If Theo doesn’t know, why should the audience? Theo’s discoveries, or lack thereof, become our discoveries.

For the sake of this article, it’s important to know that Kee is with child, becoming the first pregnant person in twenty years—a fact Theo doesn’t learn until each character’s role in the film is well established.

While Cuarón’s decisions are deliberate, not everything that works in this movie is intentional.

In another long take, approximately four and a half minutes, the camera gets splattered with fake blood while following an army through a brutalized refugee camp. This was not by design. When this happened, director Alfonso Cuarón yelled “cut,” only to have his command drowned out by yelling, gunfire, and tanks. Yes, actual tanks.

This unexpected mishap ended up being a blessing, however, as the blood-splattered lens captivated critics and audiences alike, generating conversation and articles for years after Children of Men’s initial release. This accidental splatter added an extra dimension to the film, bringing the audience closer to the action depicted in that take.

While the long scenes are meant to immerse us in the moments of Children of Men, it’s the masterful editing, timing, and these key little happy accidents that make those moments feel real.

But in nearly a thousand words, I have yet to specify a reason that makes Children of Men Alfonso Cuarón’s magnum opus. And that’s because a masterpiece cannot be created due to a single reason.

Throughout its one hour and forty-nine-minute runtime, Children of Men offers sequence after sequence and moment after moment of well-thought-out perfection, accidental beauty, and riveting performances. The two scenes we’ve dissected are just examples of what this nearly two-hour journey is filled with.

Kee doesn’t reach the Human Project pregnant. She has her baby during the film while she and Theo are hiding in a refugee camp building that is heavily under attack.

This moment becomes one of the most impactful not just in Children of Men, but in film history. The rolling tanks stop. The echoing gunfire ceases. The loud bangs give way to silent stares. Enemies stand side by side in awe. Activists and the military are struck dumb as we walk with Kee past countless shocked, inspired, confused, and excited individuals.

The scene is perfect. And it immediately follows the perfect blood-splattered scene, which came after another amazing moment, and so on, and so forth.

Cuarón does nothing wrong in making this film.

As noted, although Children of Men received some award recognition, it didn’t earn nods for the biggest categories. There were no Oscar nominations for acting or directing, and the film did not receive any Best Picture nominations throughout awards season. It earned three Oscar nominations—one each for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing—all well-deserved, as the writing, cinematography, and editing make Children of Men brilliant. However, it only received one of those awards, with four of its six trophies given for cinematography alone.

This is important to note because it underscores that the industry doesn’t always get it right when it comes to recognition. Following 2005, the guilds and associations clearly missed the mark.

Children of Men is a depressing tale crafted in an extraordinary package. Although Alfonso Cuarón’s filmography is still young and he has a long career ahead of him, Children of Men made it abundantly clear that he is a masterful filmmaker. Every decision he made was carefully considered and curated, creating a movie I can watch repeatedly, always discovering more to praise and respect each time.

The post Children of Men: A Magnum Opus appeared first on Project-Nerd.

Sarah: How have you seen fandom culture shift over the past few years, especially with the rise of platforms like Wattpad and the normalization of stan culture?

Alessandra: Over the past few years we have seen stan culture and fandom migrate from a niche, fringe culture, to far more mainstream. People are much more willing to engage with, publicize, and lean into their fandoms in ways that they never used to. A lot of this has to do with how the growth of digital spaces have provided easier accessibility to communities where fans can come together to celebrate their interests freely. Online platforms like Wattpad have been encouraging this kind of community building for years because we’ve seen and can understand the raw power of fan engagement. Now everyone else is catching up! Everyone can find kinship through their chosen fan communities online which has, and will continue to, normalize (and keep encouraging!) more participation in fandom as a key connection point in our social lives.

Sarah: In your experience, what key elements make a story take off and gain a passionate, almost cult-like following on Wattpad?

Alessandra: Wattpad is all about storytelling and nothing beats a good story. But taste is subjective and what works for one reader may not work for others. That’s the beauty of putting creativity in the hands of the creators and their fans. Wattpad readers often come to the platform to seek out their favourite tropes or character archetypes, and using our user-generated tagging function, creators can tell you exactly what to expect in their story so that readers can find anything they’re looking for. While this freedom can yield a million different kinds of stories, we do see some patterns in our most popular stories: archetypal characters you love (or love to hate), a wish-fulfilling premise that lets us escape reality for a while, and quick, conversational prose that lends itself to mobile reading. Stories that also inspire strong comments and engagement from readers also do really well for us. Writers want readers to get in on the story and, in a way, become part of the creative process with real-time reactions and commentary. That’s what makes a Wattpad story unique and extra engaging; it can start planting the seeds for a potential fandom right from the first chapter.

Sarah: We’ve seen stories transition from fan fiction to published books, films, or shows. What patterns or factors seem to drive that kind of leap?

Alessandra: Many of the most popular Wattpad stories have devoted fanbases on the platform that leave hundreds of comments and share the reading experience with others. That is one of the key indicators we consider when deciding if a story would make for a good adaptation—does it have a fanbase already built in? You can’t beat that direct feedback and investment that’s built right into the platform. Readers are literally telling us what they love in a story, and that remains a unique factor for a Wattpad hit. Additionally, classic “Wattpad-coded” stories (ie; those that lean into themes around romantic escapism, wish fulfillment, and generally romanticizing life no matter how outrageous that may be) tend to do really well with our platform audience and beyond. Remember, Wattpad readers are often seeking out stories they can’t find anywhere else. Sometimes that means starting with fanfiction to explore familiar character and worlds while honing your craft. Those “what ifs” can be a great creative gateway for the next big story that evolves into something completely unique on its own.

Sarah: How are media companies and publishers starting to recognize and monetize the potential of fandom-driven storytelling?

Alessandra: We’ve definitely seen a shift in traditional industries starting to understand the benefits of fandom-driven storytelling. More decision-makers are recognizing that having a group of people already in love with the story, its characters, or its twists is a superpower when trying to anticipate or shape the next big thing.

Sarah: Wattpad has a massive international audience. How does global fan engagement shape the way stories are told and adapted?

Alessandra: Our global community gives us a huge advantage in understanding and advocating for a truly diverse range of content. It’s not just about what’s resonating with English-speaking creators or readers; we have access to hits that transcend borders. We’ve seen so many success stories emerge from our international communities, proving the universal appeal of community-driven storytelling. No matter the language, writers can engage directly with their fans, getting real-time feedback through comments as they create. This fosters passionate fanbases and creates an opportunity for authors and readers to build stories together, in real-time. Whether that means influencing plot developments or simply connecting like-minded people, audiences from all corners of the world have the power to rally together behind a story.

Sarah: As someone who grew up reading fanfics on Wattpad, I’m curious what you think has been the most successful story on the platform?

Alessandra: It depends on how you define success. There are infinite creative journeys for writers depending on their aspirations, so it’s hard to choose one specific example. After, of course, is one example of a massive hit that transcended its original fandom and became something entirely its own. The Kissing Booth, while not a fanfic, is another franchise that surpassed its platform popularity to become a successful film trilogy. Same with A Traves de Mi Ventana and Culpa Mia… We’ve also seen many authors who originated on Wattpad go on to publish hugely successful books, so there’s always a new type of success story. Incredible stories are posted on Wattpad every day which means there are so many possibilities for discovering the next big thing.

Sarah: Stan culture sometimes gets a bad rap. How do you see it as a positive force in shaping creative communities?

Alessandra: Stan culture is a facet of fandom that really comes down to passion. I think that for people to be able to come to Wattpad and connect with others who like to read and write about the same things as them is, ultimately, a positive thing. Fandom is rooted in community, so the fact that so many people find that connectivity and joy on the platform is great to see.

Sarah: How do you think Gen Z and Gen Alpha are going to change the way stories are created, consumed, and shared?

Alessandra: Wattpad’s audience right now is primarily Gen Z and these readers and writers are coming to the platform to find something specific, whether that’s creative freedom and expression, a sense of community, or a craving for a type of narrative. This is a generation who is used to being online and engaging with (or being) an online audience already, so the barrier to entry is even lower than it was a few years ago. They are able to try their hand at writing in a low stakes environment, directly on a social platform where others can interact with their content, which turns the creative process into something dynamic and active rather than a solitary activity. But that’s the norm. Gen Z are, largely, content creators already; they know how to engage their audiences and know what to expect from putting themselves out there. And this is leading to a new wave of collaborative creation that I think will continue to shape how we tell stories: as a more conversational and community-driven past-time.

Sarah: Can you share an example of when the Wattpad community directly influenced the trajectory or success of a story?

Alessandra: Culpa Mía is a perfect example. It started as a Spanish story on Wattpad and blew up, grabbing millions of readers. All that buzz and feedback from the community really put it on the map and got our attention too. That massive platform support pushed it to become a film, hitting number one on Netflix in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. Then, the English version, My Fault, London, did really well in the US too, showing how a Wattpad hit can go global. Basically, the community found it, championed it, and turned it into an international success story. All because of the fans.

Sarah: Looking ahead, what innovations or trends do you think will redefine how fans interact with and expand on their favorite stories?

Alessandra: How fans engage with and leverage technology is going to be the driver in how they continue to explore and interact with the stories, characters, and worlds they love. If we didn’t have a platform like Wattpad or other social media or even streaming sites, the access to content would be entirely different. It’s because of these shifts that fandoms have evolved to be as prolific as they are. Before, you had to be home when your TV was airing to catch it. Before, you had to rely on word of mouth by your peers to get introduced to new music or a favorite book. Now, this access has exploded, which means our ability to curate our own interests have also expanded.  Online fandoms will continue to expand and give people a place to come together and nerd out over what they love. For us, at Wattpad, we do get a front row seat to how that innovation manifests.

So, I don’t know what the next iteration of online stan culture will look like exactly, but I am curious to find out.

Project-Nerd would love to thank Alessandra for the interview. Be sure to find your next read on Wattpad. 

The post A Conversation With Alessandra Ferreri, Wattpad’s Head of Content appeared first on Project-Nerd.

I was sitting in the front row, watching the magic unfold in a swirl of light, music, couture, and pure fandom joy. From my front-row seat, I didn’t just see fashion. I saw a movement. Her Universe has spent over a decade redefining geek style, making space for creativity, inclusivity, and self-expression. What started as a small spark eleven years ago is now, in Eckstein’s own words, “a supernova.”

The Her Universe Fashion Show isn’t just a Comic-Con event anymore. It’s an annual love letter to fandom, artistry, and the idea that you can be exactly who you are and look incredible doing it.

From the moment I stepped into the Seaport Ballroom at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, the energy was electric. The lobby had been transformed into a Wicked-themed wonderland, with immersive photo ops, costumes from the upcoming film Wicked: For Good, LEGO big builds, and product displays that had fans stopping every few feet for selfies. The KISS nail booth was buzzing, and the merch displays had more than a few attendees plotting their next cosplay upgrades.

But when the lights dimmed and the stage came alive, it was pure theater. Also, can we talk about the generous amount of swag each attendee received? Every guest left with exclusive swag, including the LUG Coupe XL Crossbody bag, Wicked KISS nails and lashes, and the brand-new Wicked: For Good Mattel small dolls—a perfect cherry on top of a night already overflowing with gifts. I’m very excited to take the LUG bag on my next trip!

Ashley Eckstein’s Most Magical Entrance Yet

Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein didn’t just walk onto the runway…she floated in on a remote-controlled moving platform inspired by Glinda herself. The stage transformed into the fantastical World of Oz, brought to life by ALTRD Projections and powered by state-of-the-art Barco projectors. It was a jaw-dropping moment that made the audience gasp and instantly set the tone for the evening.

Co-hosting alongside the magnetic Michael James Scott, Eckstein dazzled in six different Wicked-inspired looks by designer Andrew McLaine with help from assistant Hannah Kent. The hair and makeup artistry by Veronica Nunez and Leibi Carias tied the visual fantasy together flawlessly.

Then came one of the night’s most unexpected delights: Eckstein and Scott performing a live Wicked musical medley. Their chemistry was infectious, and when Scott belted “Defying Gravity” for the finale, the room erupted.

A Star-Studded Judging Panel

Joining the panel this year was actress and advocate Marissa Bode, making a special appearance ahead of Wicked: For Good’s release. She was joined by Variety’s Marc Malkin, Hot Topic’s Robin Motts, and last year’s winners Wes Jenkins and Candice Miller.

“I came expecting a fashion show,” Bode told the crowd, “but nothing could have prepared me for this warm, vibrant, and inclusive community. The very welcoming and creative voices on this runway made this a Wicked-ly memorable evening.”

While the audience votes were tallied, Michael James Scott returned with his “90s Mixtape” medley, turning the ballroom into a high-energy singalong.

Ashley’s final look was perhaps the most breathtaking of the night was a living gown made of 2,400 fresh tulips, designed by McLaine and assembled onsite by floral artist Rochelle Leigh Wall of delightful! Flower co. The matching floral headpiece and shoes made it a literal runway garden moment.

And the Winners Are…

All of the designs were incredible! I loved learning the story behind each designer and their design. The two designers who will now collaborate on collections with Her Universe (and take home $2,000 each) were:

• Judges Winner: Lynleigh Sato of Redondo Beach, CA (@lynleighsato) (far right)
• Audience Winner: Caitlin Beards of Randolph, NJ (@ladyavadesigns) (left)

For fans who couldn’t be there in person, you can watch the full show below:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jckJhsYY9v8%3Fsi%3DH4GQ7mQknJyOoAeA

Follow Her Universe: @heruniverse on Instagram, X, and Facebook; @officialheruniverse on TikTok.

The post Her Universe Defies Fashion at SDCC 2025 appeared first on Project-Nerd.

FAN EXPO Denver 2025 Felt Like Coming Home

There’s something really special about FAN EXPO Denver that’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it. For us at Project-Nerd, it was never really about the crowds, the booths, or even the convention itself. It was about the people.

This year reminded us why we love this community so much.

All weekend long, people kept stopping by our booth just to talk comics, share what they loved, tell us about their cosplay builds, or show us what they were excited to find at the con. Some people stayed for five minutes. Some stayed for almost an hour. Every conversation mattered.

Watching someone flip through a comic and suddenly light up because they found something that connected with them never gets old. Seeing fans genuinely excited to support creators, independent artists, and nerd culture as a whole honestly means everything to us.

One of the best parts was seeing how happy everyone was just to be there together. You’d look around and see strangers becoming friends in line, people complimenting each other’s costumes, families taking photos, kids completely overwhelmed in the best way possible. There was this constant feeling of excitement and kindness everywhere we turned.

We had people come back to the booth multiple times just to say hi again. Some shared stories about how fandom helped them through difficult times. Others told us they’d been following Project-Nerd for years and finally got to meet us in person. Those moments stick with you.

By the end of the weekend, we were exhausted, our voices were gone, and our feet were killing us, but honestly, we didn’t want it to end.

FAN EXPO Denver 2025 reminded us that fandom is more than entertainment. It’s connection. It’s community. It’s people finding joy together in a world that doesn’t always make space for that kind of happiness.

So to everyone who stopped by our booth, bought comics, shared stories, laughed with us, or simply said hello: thank you. Truly.

You made the weekend unforgettable.

The post FAN EXPO Denver 2025 Felt Like Coming Home appeared first on Project-Nerd.

One of the things I love most about FAN EXPO Denver is the cosplay. Not just because the costumes are impressive (they absolutely are)  but because you can feel how much heart people put into them.

Everywhere we looked this year, there was creativity. Full armor builds that looked like they walked straight out of a movie. Intricate handmade details. Massive wings somehow fitting through crowded hallways. Makeup, props, sewing, foam work: people brought everything.

But honestly, the best part wasn’t even the craftsmanship. It was seeing how happy people were while wearing them.

The post The Cosplay at FAN EXPO Denver 2025 Was Unreal appeared first on Project-Nerd.

PN’s Sarah Marie Spectrum sat down with Bandai Namco’s Justin Cavender at the Bandai booth on the San Diego Comic Con expo floor to hear all about what’s popular.

Sarah: In all of the stuff that you guys have had, what is your highest selling licensed product, or the most popular?

Justin: Well, I would say for most popular: Dragon Ball is definitely at the front of that line. Dragon Ball and Gundam are two of our biggest properties when it’s all said and done. Especially at a place like this [San Diego Comic Con], where we go all out. Where we have, like the outdoor Dragon Ball activation, where not only is there amazing photo ops and blue displays, dioramas, but we have people building model kits and playing the trading card game or playing the video game. So we can see that we’re really doubling down on Dragon Ball for events like this, because it is so popular.

Sarah: Yeah, I grew up watching Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball.

Justin: Both of those are evergreen anime. Anyone that grew up in the 90s, for sure, are going to be able to tap into that Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball nostalgia, especially with Toonami, you know. A lot of kids coming home from school and then putting on Cartoon Network, and then rock and rolling with Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon. So, yeah, that’s great stuff.

Sarah: I know that Sailor Moon got redone and they’ve brought the streaming back for it. It felt like: let’s bring the millennials back. Out of all the products that you’ve worked with what has been your favorite? Or what has been the most memorable?

Justin: Oh, man, that’s like, asking for needle in a haystack. So Tamashii has made a Voltron, a Die Cast Voltron from their Chogokin line. And when I was a kid, I actually remember buying my Voltron here in San Diego. I used to live in San Diego and I was a little boy, and the box was so cool because the flap at the top opened up, and you got to see all five lines in the packaging. And I thought that was so cool. I had it as a little boy all the way through college. It was in my closet back home, and when I came home from school, I saw it, and I got so excited. I picked it up and I dropped it and broke it, and I was devastated. Oh my god, I’ve had this thing all this time, and now it’s broken. And then Tamashii made one, and it was right when I started five years ago, and I was like: this is like Kismet. New job, new replacement toy. I’m buying this thing so that will always hold a special place in my heart. So that was a long answer, and I apologize, but ultimately, it was a Voltron figure. That Tamashii thing is my favorite.

Sarah: I love that. I saw there’s a lot of Ultraman being sold right now. Is Ultraman a product line that you guys have continually had, or was it brought back for the anniversary?

Justin: So Ultraman has been around for, what, nearly 60 years, and while it is a very signature look, a lot of people here know Ultraman, but don’t really, you know. They recognize the face and the body, but they don’t really know who Ultraman is. And what’s exciting is that Netflix launched Ultraman Rising last month, a animated movie. This beautiful story with a strained relationship between a father and son, and it’s really resonating well with people here in the west. So it’s going to serve as a wonderful sort of gateway to get people into this amazing franchise that has been around for nearly 60 years. So Bandai has always made Ultraman toys, but there is a very niche audience. So hopefully something like Ultraman Rising can open up the doors and allow for new fans to come and join the Ultraman high train. And we’re just really proud of how that turned out. And we’re very excited about the voice actor, Christopher Sean. He’s gonna come by our booth a couple times. He came to our studio, played with the toys, and had a really good time. So we’re very excited about ultimate rising and just the possibilities of what can now come here in the States with Ultraman.

Sarah: Yeah, it made me excited to see a lot of Ultraman. I took a anime history class in college and learned about Ultraman and other retro series. I feel like people are really bringing the retro series back and I’m very excited about it. I know a lot of people are. My last question for you today, and thank you so much for sitting with us: What do you think is your favorite aspect of your job?

Justin: Sarah, I have the best job in the whole freaking world. I love my job more than anything. It is a hashtag dream job, as it were. I love just meeting all kinds of fun and interesting people when I’m at shows like this. I usually hang out down there [on the floor as we are up in the booth] and just kind of see what people are buying and talk to people in line, see what they’re collecting, what they’re into. I can talk about toys all day long. And you know, when people ask, what do I do? I ask them: have you seen the movie Big with Tom Hanks? Well, I’m basically Tom Hanks. I play with toys all day and get people excited for them.. And, yeah, I get to travel. I work with an amazing team. I actually commuted about two hours a day to my job, and then I gotta go on. So, I mean, it’s a journey, but I don’t even care, because I love my job so much. The community with with toys and collectibles is incredible. I’ve met so many people, have so many wonderful friends, and you know, we do like live streams, and we shoot a lot of fun content. So when people see us on the show floor and they’re like, oh my god, it’s the band of guys, or whatever. That’s a really fun feeling. And we were part of a scavenger hunt the other day. It was to get your picture taken with someone from Bandai. And I was like: Oh, that’s so awesome. I was asked: Can I get a photo with you? And I said I guess because I wasn’t wearing a Bandai shirt or cosplay or anything before I realized it was a scavenger hunt. They asked me: you’re with Bandai, right? I’m like: yeah! It was so cool. But again, another long winded answer, I apologize, but just being a part of the community is literally the best job ever. And I’ve met so many wonderful people. I get to travel and I just get to play with toys. Can’t beat that. Thank you so much. My pleasure.

Sarah: Not a problem! I loved chatting. Thank you for your time.

Be sure you check out Bandai Namco and all of their wonderful collectibles and toys!

The post A Conversation with Justin Cavender, Bandai Namco appeared first on Project-Nerd.