For years, concerts have been a key way for fans to express their individuality and sense of style. With many artists collaborating with well-known brands and franchises, it’s become easier than ever to capture multiple forms of media in one outfit. Major fashion brands like GCDS, Jimmy Choo, and Loewe have joined the ongoing trend of combining animation and fashion. These collaborations have expanded the creative landscape for fans of popular media to express their interests.

Despite its lack of commonality among concert culture and fashion, fans continue to think of creative ways to visually support their idols. Recently, fans have been utilizing accessories such as fan caps, hair clips, keychains, knit bags, and more to amplify their physical concert experience. With safety and concert etiquette taking precedence over all else, it can be difficult to fully commit to a complete fit while still keeping comfort and well-being in mind. Additionally, for those new to the concert scene, it may be difficult or even overwhelming when creating an outfit that conveys both their love for the artist they’re seeing and their other corresponding interests. However, there are many ways to show off one’s interests, including identifiable inspiration from certain shows and films. 

For those with a strong love for music and are looking to implement animation into their concert outfits, look no further! Here’s a small series of K-pop groups and animated character combinations for your next concert outfit!

NCT: Sanrio

In addition to the recent interest in all things Y2K, the Sanrio brand as a whole has seen a massive rise in popularity within the past few years. Founded in 1960 by Shintaro Tsuji, the Japanese franchise is home to popular characters such as Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Pochacco, and more. In June 2022, NCT’s official collaboration with NCT was announced to the world, which paired each member with one of over 400 characters. For example, Taeyong is paired with Cinnamoroll, Haechan is paired with Tiny Chum, Johnny is paired with Chococat, and so on. This is a great way to stylistically connect with the fan base, as it provides fans with a mode of expression when dressing up for concerts! 

Considering the popular marketing of the characters, there are many ways for fans to show their excitement in a concert setting. Currently, many stores, including the official Sanrio store, sell nail sets, plushies, and photo card holders sporting the Sanrio mascots. Notably, shops like Tomatoesnails provide a wide array of nail sets featuring different cartoon characters, including the Sanrio friends! These additions, especially when combined with the NCT’s identifying color of pearl neo champagne, make for an easy cartoon-coded accessorizing!

Other animated shows with characters in green include Kim Possible, Steven Universe, and Teen Titans.

Red Velvet: Disney Princesses

Red Velvet are no stranger to classical styles and elements of royalty. Their songs, music videos, and collaborative fashion have taken inspiration from vintage art, classical music, and global architecture. Even when the members are attending non-musical promotions for their comebacks, they’re commonly styled in a refined and regal manner. With all of that in mind, coming up with a princess-themed concert outfit can ease your pre-concert stress.

Enter Disney Princesses. Taking inspiration from traditional fairy tales and stories, the female protagonists of Disney films are hard to forget. From their recognizable color palettes to their unforgettable fashion, the many princesses provide a wide range from which to draw inspiration for your next outfit! Don’t worry — if you’d rather not wear a dress, there are still numerous ways for you to join in on the royal fanfare! For example, in order to add elements of Princess Tiana to an outfit, incorporating glitter, accessories with an emphasis on pastel colors, and long gloves can amplify a look. Or, if you’re a fan of the lesser-included princesses (such as Megara, Elena, or Jane Porter), you can still join in with the additions of gold jewelry, bows, or updo hairstyles.

@poisonsugarrr Hime gyaru kind of vibe #himegyaru #gyaru #gyarufashion #princesscore #princesscoreaesthetic #princesscorefashion #hyperfeminine #pink #girlyoutfitinspo #outfitinspo ♬ Diamonds – PRINCESS PRINCESS

A few other famous animated princesses are Princess Anastasia from Anastasia, Princess Fiona from Shrek, and Princess Yue from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

EXO: Space Jam

In EXO’s lore, the members are native to a far away planet and separated by a powerful force. Many of EXO’s videos, such as “Love Me Right,” “Lucky One,” and “Obsession,” display the members’ journey through different environments. Each member also has a specific ability vital to the group’s collaborative efforts to reunite. For example, in the music video for “Power,” the eight members are shown using all of their abilities (like teleportation, fire, ice, and more) to defeat an enemy.  These changing environments apply to the group’s logo for each music video, making the content exciting and intriguing for fans.

Similar to this lore is Warner Bros.’ Space Jam from 1996. This film features the original Looney Tunes cast battling (via a basketball game) against a group of violent aliens in order to make it back home together. Though there haven’t been many collaborations with clothing brands for the original film, the 2022 sequel allowed fans to exhibit their love for the franchise through modern accessories such as graphic t-shirts, costumes, and figurines. Just like the Looney Tunes, EXO are on a mission to return to their home planet with the help of each of their unique powers. Notable outfit pieces such as matching basketball uniforms from the film, sneakers, planetary jewelry, and basketball-coded accessories can help bridge the gap between EXO and the Looney Tunes world.

Other animated shows that feature space exploration are Silver Surfer, Lloyd in Space, and Duck Dodgers.

ITZY: Trollz

ITZY, known for their visual vibrancy and fun choreography, cater to fans from around the world with their intriguing performances. Each member’s individuality shines in a way that doesn’t overshadow their strengths as a collective. Here’s where the influence of Trollz comes in. Trollz (not to be confused with the 2010s Trolls franchise) was an animated television series in the early 2000s. In it, a group of friends navigate their teenage lives in a magical high school where casting spells and dressing fashionably are the norm. Like the other characters in the city, the main five friends are named after gemstones — Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, Onyx, and Topaz. One of the show’s most recognizable features is the characters’ big and vibrant hair. 

In terms of ITZY, this could be a great candidate when choosing animated influences for concert styling! A number of the group’s music videos feature vibrant colors and eye-catching set designs, which parallels the visual tone of the Trollz world. Creative hairstyles have risen in popularity since the pandemic, with many stylists taking to Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok to show off their unique hairdos. Of course, it’s important to keep personal and external safety in mind, but many concert goers-strive to make their hair one of their best accessories. Styles corresponding with a group’s identifying color(s) have the potential to become the next popular accessories at K-pop concerts.

@layzchipz

HELLO ?🩷⭐️

♬ Pound Town 2 Nicki Minaj Verse – RED RUBY ❣️

Other animated shows that feature vibrant magical girls are Magical DoReMi, Totally Spies!, and Winx Club.

ATEEZ: Toy Story

ATEEZ are one of many groups whose lore involves exciting adventures and a search of one’s own treasure. Their music videos can serve as a sort of timeline into the progress of the group’s compelling voyage. These adventures take them to a variety of places, all resulting inner and outer satisfaction through confidence, teamwork, and support. Along with these moments of personal development are interactions with the settings as the eight men traverse between different dimensions. From “Treasure” to “BOUNCY,” these videos display the group in a multitude of worlds and timelines, making their storyline exciting for fans to follow along.

Paralleling these themes are the Toy Story films, which all deal with inner and outer exploration. The main characters of the films (namely Woody, Buzz, and all of the other toys in Andy’s room) each have their own inner turmoil to work through, which are commonly resolved after receiving support from each other. Though our current society may seem normal to us, the outside world (especially at a much smaller scale) can seem scary through the eyes of a toy. Channeling these themes is possible with the additions of patterns such as cow print or denim and accessories such as alien antennae headbands or jewelry based on outer space! Also, with Toy Story being one of many vibrant franchises, bright hair highlights or glow-in-the-dark keychains can also be great additions to your outfit!

Some other shows and films that feature long adventures are One Piece, The Wild Thornberrys, and Pokemon.

NewJeans: The Proud Family (L.P.D.Z.)

Two notable aspects of NewJeans’ branding are a capture of Y2K elements and bunnies. Through the group’s various choreographies, melodies, and styling, NewJeans are able to immerse their fans in a new yet familiar world while on stage. Audiences around the world have shared their excitement and support for NewJeans on social media through dancing, singing, and styling as well. Recently, the group collaborated with The Powerpuff Girls earlier this month.

The Proud Family is one of many popular shows from the early 2000s. The show follows teenager Penny Proud as she navigates her hectic family life and experiences new conflicts with the people around her. Along with family and honesty, friendship was a common theme on the show. Penny and her three friends (Lacienega, Dijonay, and Zoey) form the music group L.P.D.Z. When the girls perform, they’re always shown in coordinated outfits. With this idea in mind, fans attending concerts with their friends can use The Proud Family as inspiration when coordinating outfits. This is by no means a new idea, as many fans plan outfits with their friend groups already. However, the accessibility of the outfits shown as the help can serve as a starting point, with the four girls sporting plain white T-shirts, denim bell-bottoms, and platform shoes (which could help with viewing) at their shows.

@bishoujo_asia (Credit goes to @meltellem) #fyp #proudfamily #Destinationdepop #clonesquad ♬ Dance With Me – 112

Other animated shows that feature bunnies are Looney Tunes, Baby Looney Tunes, and Tiny Toon Adventures.

Though concert preparations can be stressful, emulating your favorite styles and shows shouldn’t be. Those who love animation and music shouldn’t have to stress themselves out over finding a way to combine their two interests. Thus, staying imaginative and sharing ideas with each other are great ways in keeping this collaborative concert culture alive. As long as everyone is safe and happy, cosplay and concerts can go hand in hand!

Be sure to tag EnVi and use the hashtag #cartooncoded with your animation-inspired concert looks!

Recently, collaborations between luxury brands and animated franchises are on the rise. Read our coverage on this phenomenon here!

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