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Description
One thing I like about Sephiroth is that he's the very embodiment of an overused Japanese narrative trope so dear to my heart - the Charismatic Villain. They're my guilty pleasure, these guys. Even though the trope's so frequent it can be considered a cliche, it can often happen that the Charismatic Villain is a psychologically nuanced character with complex motivation. Frequently, this guy is a disgraced hero or a "fallen angel" with a past so messy and traumatic that he simply lost it and decided that the entire world must pay for his suffering - or, sometimes, he's moved by some legitimate goals, albeit his methods to reach them are more than questionable. Physically attractive (usually blond or white-haired), painfully seductive, either asexual or aggressively sexual (often with a taste for both girls and boys), slightly off his rocker because them Japanese harbor a narrative tradition of fetishizing and romanticizing violent insanity, the Charismatic Villain can charm and captivate both the characters and the audience. Even if they don't turn you to the Dark Side so that you start openly cheering for them, at least you'll have a full understanding of their actions.

Some of my favorite examples include Michio Yuki of Osamu Tezuka's "MW", the bisexual sociopath on the roaring rampage of revenge and the very prototype of this trope; Johan Liebert, the titular Monster of Urasawa's masterwork who's openly modeled after Tezuka's Yuki; Aion of "Chrno Crusade", the glasses-wearing demon determined to kick the sh*t out of both Heaven and Hell; Akio Ohtori, the manipulative alpha male of "Revolutionary Girl Utena" who uses his sexuality to control and oppress characters of both genders; Kazutaka Muraki of "Yami no Matsuei", the mysterious doctor who's after the main character's body for more than one reason; Griffith of "Berserk", the charismatic leader of a mercenary band, best known for one of the ugliest and most brutal moves in the history of fiction; Choji Suitengu of "Speed Grapher, the man with the plan who's definitely NOT what he seems to be at first glance; His Majesty Vetti Sforza, the usurper of the galactic empire from the ridiculously entertaining space opera schlock "Glass Fleet"; and, of course, Sephiroth.

Because you won't find many better examples of the Charismatic Villain than this white-haired Übermensch with godlike ambitions, a mother complex, and a thing for psychological abuse of blond little boys.

My Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ferashacospla…

Credits:
Main project supporter and chief crafter: Endymion
www.facebook.com/AnimemanijaVl…
Wing designed and constructed by Dragan Lisica
www.facebook.com/craftmaster.l…
Shoulder armor by Shunak and yours truly
Coat by Ana&Marina
www.facebook.com/sheandshedesi…
Makeup by Ljubica Mirković
www.facebook.com/ljubamakeup
Masamune by Ender
Pic by Aleksandar Jovković, edited by Tenshi
www.facebook.com/tenshicosplay…

Description
One thing I like about Sephiroth is that he's the very embodiment of an overused Japanese narrative trope so dear to my heart - the Charismatic Villain. They're my guilty pleasure, these guys. Even though the trope's so frequent it can be considered a cliche, it can often happen that the Charismatic Villain is a psychologically nuanced character with complex motivation. Frequently, this guy is a disgraced hero or a "fallen angel" with a past so messy and traumatic that he simply lost it and decided that the entire world must pay for his suffering - or, sometimes, he's moved by some legitimate goals, albeit his methods to reach them are more than questionable. Physically attractive (usually blond or white-haired), painfully seductive, either asexual or aggressively sexual (often with a taste for both girls and boys), slightly off his rocker because them Japanese harbor a narrative tradition of fetishizing and romanticizing violent insanity, the Charismatic Villain can charm and captivate both the characters and the audience. Even if they don't turn you to the Dark Side so that you start openly cheering for them, at least you'll have a full understanding of their actions.

Some of my favorite examples include Michio Yuki of Osamu Tezuka's "MW", the bisexual sociopath on the roaring rampage of revenge and the very prototype of this trope; Johan Liebert, the titular Monster of Urasawa's masterwork who's openly modeled after Tezuka's Yuki; Aion of "Chrno Crusade", the glasses-wearing demon determined to kick the sh*t out of both Heaven and Hell; Akio Ohtori, the manipulative alpha male of "Revolutionary Girl Utena" who uses his sexuality to control and oppress characters of both genders; Kazutaka Muraki of "Yami no Matsuei", the mysterious doctor who's after the main character's body for more than one reason; Griffith of "Berserk", the charismatic leader of a mercenary band, best known for one of the ugliest and most brutal moves in the history of fiction; Choji Suitengu of "Speed Grapher, the man with the plan who's definitely NOT what he seems to be at first glance; His Majesty Vetti Sforza, the usurper of the galactic empire from the ridiculously entertaining space opera schlock "Glass Fleet"; and, of course, Sephiroth.

Because you won't find many better examples of the Charismatic Villain than this white-haired Übermensch with godlike ambitions, a mother complex, and a thing for psychological abuse of blond little boys.

My Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ferashacospla…

Credits:
Main project supporter and chief crafter: Endymion
www.facebook.com/AnimemanijaVl…
Wing designed and constructed by Dragan Lisica
www.facebook.com/craftmaster.l…
Shoulder armor by Shunak and yours truly
Coat by Ana&Marina
www.facebook.com/sheandshedesi…
Makeup by Ljubica Mirković
www.facebook.com/ljubamakeup
Masamune by Ender
Pic by Aleksandar Jovković, edited by Tenshi
www.facebook.com/tenshicosplay…