If you're into anime, manga, or games, you're probably used to seeing a ton of merchandise for your favorite series. These days, there are even more themed IP character goods, often featuring brand-new outfits for the characters.
But just because there's a new look doesn't mean fans will automatically open their wallets. Recently, Japanese netizens on X (formerly Twitter) have been buzzing about some "official" character merch illustrations that have left them seriously disappointed. They're scratching their heads, wondering why official designers would take beloved, charismatic characters and suddenly make them look so utterly tacky that even die-hard fans can't bring themselves to buy them.
It all started with a post from a user who vented: "Please, official merch design department, I'm begging you, please, please, please! If a fan artist draws something ugly, I can laugh it off. But when official merch looks bad, it's genuinely heartbreaking..." Clearly, they were complaining about a particularly terrible official product design – something so bad that even their love for the character or series couldn't make them buy it.
They specifically called out male idol game characters, whose casual outfits are often hilariously ugly. Like, seriously, what are these designs?! Shouldn't this be a key focus?
This post blew up, with many netizens echoing the sentiment. Sometimes, official character merch illustrations feature new outfits – often described as "casual wear" – that somehow manage to make the characters look incredibly cheap and unstylish. It leaves fans baffled about what the official teams are thinking.
One netizen pointed to an official casual outfit illustration of Akai Shuichi from "Detective Conan," which apparently made fans weep. How could the cool Akai be dressed like such a total dork?
Then there's the "Neon Genesis Evangelion" collaboration illustration featuring Shinji Ikari, where even his proportions are off, making him look super bizarre.
This casual outfit illustration of Yoichi Isagi from "Blue Lock" also got roasted by fans. "What high schooler dresses like that?!" they cried.
The wildly popular "WIND BREAKER" faced similar criticism. A collaboration with FamilyMart resulted in outfits that left fans feeling utterly cold.
And let's not forget past illustrations from "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY." Fans were perplexed as to why these cool and beautiful characters were dressed in such uninspired, low-quality outfits. Did the official team even want people to buy them?
Some netizens immediately thought of the "Jujutsu Kaisen" pop-up store event illustrations that dropped shortly after the anime premiered. They were absolutely slammed, with even super cool characters like Gojo Satoru and Nanami Kento sporting baffling outfits that completely stripped them of their original charm.
Even "Tokyo Revengers" has seen its share of official themed illustrations that fans found utterly bizarre and couldn't get behind.
Of course, not all fans dislike these types of illustrations; some might even find these designs perfectly acceptable. But it's safe to say that when official teams are designing or planning collaborations, casual outfits, or themed styles, perhaps a stronger consideration for the character's personality and image would lead to more fan purchases and fewer instances of fans being left scratching their heads.
via： togetter