From gothic castles and supernatural creatures to witches, demons and beautifully unsettling worlds, dark fantasy has always been a major source of inspiration around KiraKiraBrand.
Whether you’re looking for your next anime binge, manga obsession or video game to disappear into, here are my top pick's for the Halloween season. - Cici 🎃
Photo cred: nintendolesite.com
Bayonetta ✦
Witches, angels, demons, dramatic fashion and completely over-the-top combat.
Bayonetta combines gothic imagery with camp, femininity and stylish action in a way few games can replicate. The titular Umbra Witch battles angels using firearms, magic, Wicked Weaves and demonic powers.
Founder’s note: "I absolutely fell in love with this game in high school! High-octane combos, Charlie’s Angel-style soundtrack and cut scenes, & the overall dark Umbra Witch imagery. The Devil May Cry devs understood the assignment. 👌"
Photo cred: hauntedgamecafe.com
Tokyo Ghoul ✦
What happens when the monster you’re afraid of becomes part of you?
Tokyo Ghoul follows Ken Kaneki, an ordinary college student whose life changes after he becomes a half-human, half-Ghoul hybrid. Suddenly caught between two worlds, Kaneki must learn how to survive Ghoul society while struggling with his own identity.
Founder’s note: "One of my more poignant reads. Kaneki’s battle with essentially Schizophrenia always makes me emotional. The gothic art style & poetic horror are some of my favorite elements about this manga and I only wish S2 & S3’s plot was a little better 😅"
Photo cred: yokogaomag.com
xxxHOLiC ✦
Beautiful, mysterious and just a little unsettling.
xxxHOLiC follows Kimihiro Watanuki, a boy plagued by supernatural visions who encounters the mysterious Yuko. He begins working in her strange shop, where wishes can be granted and increasingly unusual customers appear.
Its occult themes, spirits and unmistakable CLAMP artwork give the series a dreamlike atmosphere that feels completely its own.
Founder’s note: "I’ll admit I haven’t read much of this series but their Card Captor Sakura cameos were AMAZING! Clamp had me in a vice grip with their Gothic Lolita fashion & had such a huge influence on the manga I would draw as a child."
Photo cred: Wikipedia
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence ✦
Before generations of Belmonts became legendary vampire hunters, there was Leon Belmont.
Set in 1094, Castlevania: Lament of Innocence explores the origins of the Belmont clan’s fight against darkness as Leon enters a mysterious castle to rescue his kidnapped fiancée, Sara.
Founder’s note: "Growing up, I LOVED watching my siblings play this game. Themes of romance and horror, maze-like depths of the castle, & most of all the boss battles. I remember reading the game manual cover to cover, really studying the artwork. Core memory for sure."
Photo cred: Wikipedia
Junji Ito ✦
This pick ventures further into horror than traditional dark fantasy, but we couldn’t make a Founder’s Picks list without Junji Ito.
His stories transform ordinary people, places and obsessions into surreal nightmares. His catalog includes iconic works such as Uzumaki, Tomie, Gyo, Remina and many more.
If you’re ready to leave fantasy behind for a moment and venture directly into the strange, this is your stop.
Founder’s note: "I've always been intrigued with Japan's fascination with macabre themes & the way they hide deeper messages within the plot. I love Edgar Allen Poe's work so naturally Junji Ito's work inspired me to embrace being misunderstood, quirky, mysterious... something I want KKB to exude. The tv animations, however, don't do the mangas justice at all, but it's great Junji's work is finally getting recognition throughout mainstream media."
Photo cred: vidaextra.com
Devil May Cry ✦
Demons, ridiculous weapons and unapologetically stylish combat.
Devil May Cry blends supernatural chaos with fast-paced action, larger-than-life characters and a signature gothic style. Between demonic invasions, outrageous weapons and its effortlessly cool protagonists, the series makes fighting the underworld feel like a fashion statement.
If the energy of Bayonetta appeals to you, this deserves a spot on your gaming list.
Founder’s note: "One of my fav video game franchises EVER! Who knew shot-gun blasting unholy demon spawns back to the hellhole they crawled out of could be done so stylishly??? The obsession I have with DMC's concept art and character development is unhealthy. Every character in every series posess their own stylish wardrobe, move set, skill tree, and weapons. DMC really inspired me to channel my inner cool girl and a collab with CAPCOM one day is the absolute dream!"
Photo cred: indigo.ca
Claymore ✦
In a world haunted by monsters hiding among humans, Claymore follows an order of silver-eyed female warriors created to hunt them. The series mixes medieval fantasy, brutal battles and tragedy with the constant struggle between humanity and becoming the monster yourself.
Founder’s note: "I didn't find this manga on my own, actually. I told my father that I love anime and he picked out this manga for me because the main character and I share the same name (how sweet, right?) I really appreciate that the women are portrayed as powerful Amazons in charge of protecting the villages. The artwork is gorgeous and compared to most mangas, minimalist but impactful, something I like to demonstrate with KKB's brand identity."
Photo cred: Wikipedia
Dead Space ✦
Engineer Isaac Clarke finds himself trapped aboard a massive mining ship overrun by grotesque creatures known as Necromorphs. Its isolated setting, disturbing transformations and constant sense of dread blend science fiction with intense survival horror.
Founder’s note: "I owe a lot of KKB's personality to this game and ultimately ALIEN, the movie that inspired Dead Space. Before my launch even existed, I wanted to create a feeling of loneliness. That feeling of being online as kids when it was only you in a dark bedroom, the pc monitor static softly buzzing as we explored the depths of the digital world... OBVIOUSLY Dead Space is an extreme example lol but there's something foreign & peaceful about the void & I really wanted to show that in KKB's branding."
⋆｡°✩ ───────────────────────────── ✩°｡⋆
Whatever world you choose to enter next, consider your dark fantasy side quest officially UNLOCKED. Complete your dark fantasy look with NIGHTSHIFT Aqualixir Hydrating Lip Oil. Long-lasting lip oil with high shine on even the darkest of nights... 😈
「 NIGHTSHIFT // AVAILABLE NOW 」
✦ Shop the drop at kirakirabrand.com