Well, I don't know what Team Ninja is after right now. It seems, that it has a special direction this time. Maybe fairytales and ghosts. What are Honoka and Brad Wong supposed to represent? (I'm sorry, I don't really know)
Both of them are supposed to represent the Mad Hatter character from Alice in Wonderland (and thinking about his perennial intoxication make appear it fitting in the role xD):
Reptile, the author of BradWong's outfit (and even of the chibi that Emperor uses in his videos tutorial together with thecreations of Synce), even realized Alice in Wonderland inspired outfits for Marie Rose (Alice), Honoka (Cheshire Cat) and Eliot (White Rabbit).
In the last Halloween packs, we had everything (big variety). This time, it seems, that it has more a fantasy theme which would be bad for most of my entries. Maybe Rachel (Dark Angel), Gen Fu and Alpha 152 (ancient queen) could fit with it. For Rachel I bet, that Shiranui will see his entry in the game. Let's see.
I'm not so sure about it like you, more it's maybe too much often for thinking that the theme is fantasy (after all Kodachi realized a sort of super heroine outfit for La Mariposa - and seems pretty cool in game). But we will see, anyway don't lose the hopes for your outfits, believe me that you made some of the most original creations that I ever saw, I think that there are huge chances that they were noticed from TN
Well yes, I got a special mention from Community Manager himself. But if my design didn't make it into the game it's because the rest of TN team decided to not put it for some reason. And if they didn't want to put it it makes sense to think it's because they didn't like it.
Shiranui I don't want sound as a broken disc, but like I already said you in the past you don't have to think to the discarding of your outfits in these terms. TN is not called to express what outfits they like, rather what outfits can become DLC and this is something very different.
They are pushed to make a single choice between many outfits, it would be just illogical to think that in 1800 entries they like just a single one for each character: the reasons for a preference can be endless and objectively talking there are really few chances that they decided uninamously that your outfit in the two contests didn't deserve any recognition: I know that you are
deluded disappointed/crestfallen, but believe me that you are in the position to get your outfit realized from TN sooner or later, just because you don't miss neither creativity neither artistic ability (and the latter is not to be understimated because in addition to give a better presentation, I can think for a great design but if I'm not able to realize it on paper because I lack of the proper skill to make clear my idea, it's useless).
[On a related sidenote remember even the words of Tom Lee: the fact that they realized Honoka doesn't mean that there aren't members of the team that would like to see more efforts done on characters similar to Raidou. Because something is chosen doesn't mean that a different thing wouldn't have been however appreciated.]
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If someone doesn't remember it, here the drawing of the competitor of the selected Raidou for outfit that I was mentioning before:
https://twitter.com/richardsuwono/status/604263110694674432
However this seems inspired to the legend of Son Goku while the selected design for Raidou represent a Thunder God in the mind of his author.
@Argentus Some time ago you asked for Leon's outfits in the contest, I forgot that it was released an Egyptian design even for him: