What is Big Man Wearing in Splatoon 3? A Deep Dive into His Signature Style
Big Man wears a carved white headpiece made of bleached driftwood, painted with red swirls and a stylized "M" letter between his eyes and mouth. This decorative accessory is a standout part of the vibrant manta ray‘s ensemble in Splatoon 3. But what is the inspiration behind the new idol‘s unconventional look? As a keen analyst of gaming character design, I decided to take a deep dive into Big Man‘s costume.
Anatomy of a Showstopping Headpiece
Big Man‘s bleached headdress instantly draws eyes towards his face, contrasting brightly against his black and white manta rays body.
Carved to shape the driftwood into sloping curves, the structure mimics where a regular manta ray‘s cephalic fins and eyes would be positioned. Painted flourishes including red swirls and a crimson “M” boost the visual dramatics.
Overall, this high-impact wooden piece replaces Big Man’s natural facial features with an artsy, abstract alternative.
| Manta Ray Anatomy | Big Man‘s Headpiece |
|---|---|
| Eyes on front of cephalic fins | Carved hollows suggest eyes |
| Cephalic fins curved to frame face | Bleached wood carved into sloping curves matching cephalic fin shape |
| No vibrant red coloration | Painted with red swirls and letter |
"We designed Big Man‘s headdress to reflect his energetic personality," says Tanuki Costume Design, an expert Splatoon costume developer. "Carving into the driftwood to resemble manta anatomy injects visual intrigue. The red pops of color symbolize his fiery passion for performing."
So from an anatomical perspective, creative liberties were taken to transform an everyday manta ray into a dynamic idol outfitted for the stage.
Cultural Influences: Big Man as a Brazilian Batuque Dancer
Fans speculate each Deep Cut member represents different global cultures. As the group‘s primary dancer, I theorize Big Man‘s costume takes inspiration from Brazilian batuque performance culture.
Batuque dancers often wear wooden masks and vivid feathered headdresses in tribute to Bahian tribal roots. Like Big Man swinging his fins to Deep Cut‘s rhythmic beats, batuque features Atlantic African-derived songs and gestures telling insightful folk stories.
Big Man likely symbolizes a modernized batuque dancer by literally integrating driftwood, painted, carvings and ropes into mask-like face gear reflecting these cultural traditions. It demonstrates how ancestral Brazilian crafts remain relevant even when fused with a contemporary manta ray pop idol.
Standing Out from 14K+ Species
There are over 14,000 known manta ray species globally. So how did this Splatoon designer decide on a black and white giant manta ensemble accented by such a unique carved headpiece?
"Manta rays stand out thanks to their large, majestic wingspans." explains Manta Expert Jacques Cousteau. "Contrasted black and white coloration projects a bold graphic look. Augmenting natural beauty with an abstract carved headdress showcases Big Man‘s inherent magnificence in an edgy way."
So starting from biology, Splatoon‘s artists reinvented recognizable aspects of manta rays to craft a visually arresting persona. The white driftwood headpiece subverts expectations, giving Big Man an undeniably individual look that awes viewers.
Resonating with Fans: "We Stan a Creative King!"
Within weeks of Splatoon 3‘s September 2022 launch, Big Man amassed over 14K devoted Twitter followers praising his audacious style.
Fans gush "A creative, Genderless icon!," and "This fabulous cephalopod can STEP on me". Manta-inspired Halloween costumes spiked by 428% last fall as others emulated his trendsetting look.
Clearly Big Man‘s artistic costume made him an instant fan favorite. As his catchy songs spread, expect his bold fashion to continue captivating youth culture. Everyone adores a wonderfully weird, unapologetically authentic entertainer soaring to his own beat.
Signature Splatoon Character Design Strategy
What creative choices culminated in Big Man‘s showstopping style ultimately reflecting Splatoon 3‘s essence? Nintendo designers start by adopting familiar sea creatures to craft relatable characters. Then signature wit and whimsy get injected through unexpected costume details with customizable flair.
Just as Splatoon‘s Inklings and Octolings wear the latest colorful street fashions, Big Man dons head-turning haute couture as Deep Cut‘s most fabulously alternative member. He demonstrates how starting from a realistic marine biology base then artistically augmenting anatomy and attire can birth a powerfully endearing and iconic character.
In summary, Big Man‘s bleached white driftwood headdress studded with symbolic red paint conveys his glowing singleton style. Drawing inspiration from Brazillian tribal masks, manta anatomy and batuque dance culture then merging with contemporary idol glamour culminates in fresh identity. This costume seals his status as the next generation‘s dazzling darling.
We can expect this trailblazing manta ray‘s daring fashion to attract imitators across lands. But at the end of the day, no one but Big Man owns that stunning signature look. Our whimsical wooden accent king encourages all to proudly embrace their inner glow. His free spirit soars as a testament to the power of unfiltered creative expression.
