Latest news with #KyloRen
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Anime convention in Toronto brings together comics fans and cosplayers
Costume-clad Skylar Spalla stood on the curb at the Toronto Congress Centre on a recent weekend, watching hundreds of fellow cosplayers pass by. His twin brother flitted around him, making sure Spalla's massive suit of armour, which they strapped on using zip ties, held together. Every few minutes, a person approached to ask for a photo with him, from muscle-bound warriors to little kids with their parents. The art student's costume, a recreation of the character Havel from the video game Dark Souls 3, was made of little more than papier mâché, paint and pop tabs. It took him countless hours to make, and showing it at Anime North, an annual fan-run convention celebrating anime, manga and video games, he said, brings him a great sense of pride. Anime North is not only Toronto's biggest anime convention – it is also a fashion show where everyone is a star. Outside of the convention buildings, people gathered in the shade or on the grass near the food trucks to take photos and make friends. One was dressed like Star Wars' Kylo Ren, amplifying their voice with a speaker. Another was costumed as A.B.A., the shy homunculus from the game Guilty Gear with her demon-axe partner Paracelsus (made out of pool noodles and cardboard). One man came to Anime North with a Furby head fashioned with remote-controlled eyes and mouth. For many cosplayers, the annual convention provides a chance to show off their costuming handiwork, and make others happy by bringing beloved characters to life. 'Coming to a convention like this gives me the opportunity to share in the joy that this brings me with so many other people,' said Elijah Kamaras-Garland, a photographer and cosplayer from Toronto who dressed in multiple costumes over the convention weekend as characters from the video game Star Fox. He was accompanied by a friend cosplaying as King K Rool, the malevolent crocodile from the video game Donkey Kong. That costume, made of foam mats, 'had to be built around him by a couple of his friends,' Kamaras-Garland said, because it was so large. Since the late 1980s, Japanese comics (or manga) and cartoons (also known as anime) have found an audience outside of their home country. That popularity has exploded over the past decade, as major television channels such as YTV and streaming services have offered anime shows in English for international audiences. This year's convention (attended by an estimated 36,000 visitors) hosted a variety of panels and workshops where attendees could learn about Japanese culture or their favourite fan pursuit, including a Japanese tea ceremony demonstration, a talk about the philosophy of the series Attack on Titan, a comedic live reading of poorly-written fan fiction and a discussion of accommodating cosplay for people with chronic illnesses. Huge halls were dedicated to artists selling their work. Many vendors were Canadians who said that events like Anime North offer exposure and revenue that keeps small businesses afloat. 'It's a great opportunity to be your own boss, and be able to make a living off of something you actually like' said Vincent Leclerc, an assistant of Savage Mojo, a French-Canadian artist, illustrator and animator who specializes in fan art of fantastical dinosaurs. Conventions like Anime North also provide a real-life space for people to meet fellow hobbyists. While anime fandoms have flourished in online spaces including Reddit and Tumblr, it can be difficult to connect in person with others who share the same interests in shows or games. That community is part of why so many people return to Anime North. It was Maxx Romphf's second time at the convention. 'I've seen every anime you can think of [and] video games,' said the Monster High series cosplayer. 'It's just really nice.' At the end of the convention, visitors headed home in their bright, colourful outfits, many to ready themselves for work the next day. Like the day after Halloween, the costumes go back in the closet and it's back to business as usual. But judging from the smiles on attendees' faces, it was an unforgettable weekend for them.
Gizmodo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
John Boyega Says Finn Still Is Not a Fan of Reylo
Back in 2019, Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker ignited a powderkeg of heated online debates among fans, many of which have laps like waves on the shores of Kef Bir to new discourse discussions about the franchise. Yet, one moment that offered a fleeting sense of satisfaction to a sect of viewers was the emotionally charged kiss between Rey and Kylo Ren–a victory for Reylo shippers that was swiftly undercut when Kylo dissolved into the Force mere seconds after locking lips. Now, six years removed from that silver screen kiss, actor John Boyega reaffirms he's still standing ten toes down on his stance that Finn wasn't a fan of their intimate moment. At C2E2, Boyega sat down with Josh Horowitz and answered a question from a Reylo fan about how Finn and Poe Dameron might have responded to Rey's relationship with Kylo Ren (F.K.A. Ben Solo) had he survived the film's ending. Before delivering his verdict, Boyega took a moment to frame the dynamic of Rey and Kylo through the lens of someone not entrenched in the world of Star Wars before ultimately settling on a firm no. 'I mean look, ladies in the room–straight ladies in the room–when he is pursuing you, him trying to kill you is not a part of the romance, okay. Chasing him and saying, 'We can become something powerful,' I'm there like, 'I wouldn't tell my sisters to do that,'' Boyega said. 'But that kind of reflects off of the spiritual element to Star Wars–the fact that she recognized the good and was fighting for it. But if I was Finn there, Finn should've had a line where he'd say, 'Girl, leave him be. Come home with me.' This isn't the first time Boyega has spoken his piece on Reylo's infamous kiss. Back in 2020, Boyega commented on an Instagram post poking fun at Ben Solo) being no mo, positing that Rey and Finn could get romantically entangled like they were hinted to be in The Force Awakens. Granted, Boyega's joke implied they'd have sex. Still, it was a joke all the same about made-up characters that was refreshingly candid given how restrictive and sanitized actors seem to be whenever they speak about anything Star Wars. Naturally, Boyega's innocuous comment devolved into vitriolic backlash, as Star Wars fans are wont to do (particularly with actors of color), who took the joke to mean he was actually jealous of the made-up character's relationship being endgame, as the kids say. Funnily enough, Boyega's remark comes a year after Rey actor Daisy Ridley shared her thoughts on the Reylo kiss. Speaking on Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, Ridley revealed the smooch was a part of the film's reshoots. She also characterized the kiss as a fitting farewell for her to the franchise (at the time) that felt well-earned. 'I felt like we all… it felt earned, and what was interesting [was the] intentionality. My feeling in that moment was that it was a goodbye, so that felt earned,' Ridley told Collider. 'Because, I mean, you could call a kiss a thousand things, but I felt like it was a goodbye, and that whole scene felt so emotional. I felt like I was saying goodbye to the job.' Whether you loved or loathed Kylo Ren and Rey's kiss, fans can look forward to Rey Skywalker's grand return to the Star Wars universe in her upcoming film trilogy, where she'll embark on the herculean task of rebuilding the Jedi order. The only thing the Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy-directed film needs is an actual script from its smörgåsbord of writers and plenty of time to cook before we get any meaningful updates on its progress.
Time Business News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
Destiny 2 News what is and How this is beneficial
Stay informed with the most recent developments in the world of Destiny 2. From exciting new expansions to significant gameplay changes, here's everything you need to know. Upcoming Expansions: Edge of Fate and Renegades Bungie has announced two major expansions for Destiny 2. The first, Edge of Fate , is set to release on July 15, 2025, introducing new storylines and challenges. Following that, Renegades will launch on December 2, 2025, featuring a collaboration with the Star Wars universe. Players can look forward to wielding lightsabers, using iconic blasters, and exploring desert landscapes reminiscent of Tatooine. This marks Destiny 2's most extensive crossover to date, offering themed skins and gear inspired by characters like Darth Vader and Kylo Ren. [Source] Year of Prophecy Roadmap The Year of Prophecy brings a refreshed approach to Destiny 2's content delivery. Bungie plans to release two medium-sized expansions annually, complemented by four major free content updates. This strategy aims to provide a steady stream of new experiences, including nonlinear campaigns and innovative gameplay modes. [Source] Gameplay Enhancements and Quality of Life Updates Recent updates have addressed some of the community's longstanding concerns. Notably, Bungie has improved the new player experience by refining the UI and introducing the Portal, making it easier for newcomers to navigate the game. Additionally, vault space has been increased, and power level systems have been adjusted to provide a more balanced progression for all players. [Source] Community Events: Rite of the Nine Starting May 6, 2025, the Rite of the Nine event offers players new and revamped activities, including rotating dungeons and unique game modes tailored to various skill levels. This limited-time event also reintroduces the Third Spire as a social hub, providing access to exclusive quests and rewards. [Source] Stay Connected For more detailed insights and continuous updates on Destiny 2, visit Destiny 2 News. This platform offers comprehensive coverage on all things related to Destiny 2, ensuring you never miss out on important announcements and community discussions. Conclusion Destiny 2 continues to evolve, offering players fresh content and engaging experiences. With upcoming expansions like Edge of Fate and Renegades , along with ongoing community events and gameplay improvements, there's never been a better time to dive into the world of Destiny 2. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Japan Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Celebrating Japan's defeat at Shimoda's Black Ships Festival
The crowd assembled in the parking lot of Shimoda Community Hall is a motley crew of spectators from far and near, Edo Period (1603-1868) samurai and geisha, and a small band of Star Wars stormtroopers led by series' villain Kylo Ren. When the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet Band takes the stage with a raucous jazz performance, the crowd of locals, foreign residents and overseas visitors breaks into enthusiastic applause. It's a festive atmosphere for an undeniably odd cause: The Black Ship Festival celebrates Japan's near-complete military and political capitulation to the United States. In 1853, U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Tokyo Bay with four coal-fired, black smoke-belching warships, a show of gunboat diplomacy meant to threaten the Tokugawa shogunate with mass destruction if it did not open trade relations with the U.S. and change its policy of self-imposed national isolation known as 'sakoku' that had been in effect for 220 years. After giving the shogunate until the following year to make a decision, Perry returned with 10 ships and 1,600 soldiers, landing at Yokohama, where the Convention of Kanagawa was signed. This opened Shimoda, today about 3½ hours south of central Tokyo, and Hakodate in Hokkaido as ports that would receive American vessels, just as later unequal treaties between Japan and the U.S. would grant extraterritoriality and other special rights to any American citizen who visited Japan's shores. The Black Ship Festival sees the biggest crowds of the year descend upon Shimoda, a sleepy coastal community at the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula. | TODD FONG The Black Ship would largely be seen as a national humiliation for Japan and a major factor in the 1868 Meiji Restoration that overthrew the shogunate and kickstarted Japan's breakneck pace of modernization throughout the late-19th and early-20th centuries. However, at the Black Ship Festival, held this year from May 16 to 18, the mood isn't one of national disgrace but of intercultural glee. On the Saturday of the festival, a reenactment of the signing of the 1858 Treaty of Amity and Commerce that formalized Perry's demands is held at Ryosen Temple, the same location American diplomat Townsend Harris negotiated the treaty with his Japanese counterparts. Amid the lovely aroma of hundreds of blooming jasmine bushes, a small crowd watches intently as costumed actors portray the official opening of Japan to the West. Tatsumi Onose played the role of Commodore Perry for the 2023 and 2024 festivals and will be returning to play that part this year. Onose hails from Osaka but makes the long journey to Shimoda each year because he says he enjoys the Sunday parade and marching bands. When asked if it feels strange to hold such a celebration in honor of Japan's military failure, Onose shrugs, saying if it wasn't America forcing Japan to end its seclusion, it would have been another country soon thereafter. A kimono fashion show forms a part of the Black Ship Festival, making it a worthwhile destination for more than just fans of Japanese history. | TODD FONG 'Japan learned a lot through its relationship with the U.S.,' says Onose, 37, adding that Perry's arrival spurred Japan to catch up with the rest of the world during the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Also located on the grounds of Ryosen Temple is the compact Museum of Black Ship, which holds a collection of relics and photographs related to the events that took place there and some Black Ship-related omiyage (souvenirs) for naval history buffs. After the reenactment, diplomatic representations take a backseat to plain, old good times. A small group of kimono aficionados, a mix of Japanese and foreign-born members of which I am a part, put on a fashion show at the temple combining kimono and Western-style fashion in a fusion of cultures, a fitting theme for the festivities. For much of the daylight hours of the weekend, most of the streets of downtown Shimoda are closed to motorized traffic. Instead, they're flooded with revelers watching free street performances of local musicians playing everything from bluegrass to traditional folk songs, snapping selfies with Edo Period costumed actors and local mascots, or enjoying food and beverages from the dozens of stalls set up in empty lots and along the sides of buildings. The Black Ship Festival is an eclectic mix of Japanese period reenactors, active service U.S. Navy sailors and pop culture fans. | TODD FONG Among them are members of the U.S. Navy, taking leave from the naval base in Yokosuka to the north to enjoy the unusual atmosphere of the Black Ship Festival. Last year, sailors Eric Barnes and Aubrey Smith were among the enlisted personnel visiting Shimoda. Despite serving at Yokosuka for several years, the pair enjoy the opportunity to attend the festival whenever they can. "You can't find festivals like this in America," says Smith. "Everyone is kind and polite,' Barnes agrees. 'Especially the kids." As if on cue, a young Japanese boy approaches, motioning to his camera and asking for a photo with the sailors. They oblige him with big grins, and the boy skips happily away before returning to hand them each a piece of Hi-Chew candy. On Sunday morning around 9 a.m., it's time for the highlight of the Black Ship Festival: the parade. The 7th Fleet Band takes its place at the head of the column, energizing the participants and crowd alike with infectious jazz performances. They are followed by costumed groups of Edo Period actors, schoolchildren on unicycles, marching bands from local schools and kimono models. Along the 1-kilometer route, residents and visitors alike line Shimoda's narrow streets, waving to and high-fiving participants. The aroma of grilled yakisoba noodles and taiyaki (fish-shaped cakes with sweet fillings) floats in the air, and the crowd claps along to the music of the bands. Musical performances, street food and more turn Shimoda's streets into a bustling affair during the Black Ship Festival. | TODD FONG Regardless of the historical context, it's this atmosphere that attracts many of the Japanese visitors to the Black Ship Festival. "It's a magical place where tourists, U.S. Navy personnel and locals can enjoy being together," says Yasuyuki Kurushima, 46, a Tokyo resident who participates in the kimono fashion show at Ryosen Temple. Kimono show emcee Mika Endou agrees. "The shop staff and visitors are all so kind, and there are smiling faces everywhere,' says Endou, who travels to Shimoda from Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. 'The festival creates a sense of unity that makes me want to participate year after year." The festival is a boon for the businesses of Shimoda, who see their largest crowds of the year throughout the event. Although Shimoda is known as a summer destination with pristine, white sand beaches and turquoise waters reminiscent of Hawaii, the offseason is particularly brutal on the city's small businesses. Many remain shuttered on weekdays until the weather warms up and summer vacationers start to arrive in larger numbers. Come mid-May, though, the Black Ship Festival gives Shimoda reason to open up — not unlike how Japan was so unceremoniously forced to way back in 1853. "I'm already excited to ride the express train (from Tokyo) to the festival because it feels like a school trip,' says Nodoka Nakamoto, who participates in the kimono fashion show. 'And when we arrive, the people of Shimoda greet us with smiles, which makes me smile, too."
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Should ‘Destiny 2' Be Doing A ‘Star Wars' Expansion?
Destiny 2 Bungie While Bungie just announced three additional Destiny 2 expansions spanning two years, and dove deep into the first one, The Edge of Fate, that was not really what anyone was talking about after the showcase. Rather, that was the 'Renegade' reveal, which is a licensed Star Wars Destiny 2 expansion. The story is 'inspired' by Star Wars (dealing with a criminal underworld on a sand planet, possibly Mars), but features full-on additions like Han Solo's blaster and lightsabers to be used in combat, plus armor ornaments that are literally Darth Vader, Kylo Ren and General Grievous, as seen above. This has split the community, at least to a certain extent. On Twitter I'm seeing maybe a 50/50 ratio of whether people think this is cool or lame. On YouTube, it's about a 3:1 ratio of positive to negative likes on the video. You can compare that to the Edge of Fate gameplay trailer at roughly 20:1. Is this good? Bad? Here's how I see it on a few fronts: The actual plot will be Destiny canon and will not be some actual universe crossover like the Death Star shows up to blow up Neomuna (though I would not be opposed to that). The synopsis, ignoring all the Star Wars stuff, sounds cool: 'Dive into the criminal underworld and take down an evil empire. Venture into a lawless frontier and reveal deeper mysteries about a new Dredgen in Sol. Build your power, credits, and notoriety.' That sounds cool? I get how you could craft a neat story based on Star Wars vibes, as I mean, all science fiction is inspired by other fiction to some extent, so here we are. Buuuut a licensed, full-on Star Wars expansion? The optics are…not great, especially as soon as I saw Titan Darth Vader armor that is just Darth Vader. Not 'inspired by,' that guy is Darth Vader. We saw tease of this recently with buyable Stormtrooper armor, which was clearly testing the waters, but now we're diving headfirst into the pool. I cannot escape the conclusion that it is going to look inescapably stupid to see a Darth Vader in an end-of-activity screen standing there with an auto rifle. Star Wars Bungie I will say about this armor specifically, you can mix and match pieces and shaders in Destiny to make things less…lame, shall we say. For instance, forget the Vader helmet, that set is the first one to give Titans a cloak, which will be cool by itself. So this isn't a Fortnite skin. However, all of this does feel very Fortnite. Literally Fortnite, given that as we speak, Fortnite is doing an entire Star Wars season. As such, Destiny 2 doing an entire Star Wars expansion, 'inspired by' or not feels kind of weird given that this is meant to be the kick-off year to this big new era. I don't love that. The counter to this is 'I love Star Wars, I love Destiny, this rules.' I get that perspective but I'm divided here, as is the community. What do you think? Follow me on Twitter , YouTube , Bluesky and Instagram . Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy .
