NBA superstar plays Studio Ghibli’s creepiest character

As the Halloween season approaches, there are plenty of anime fans who are more than willing to bring some of their favorite characters with them. In recent years, more and more professional athletes have been hiding their love of anime. Whether it’s NFL football players, MMA fighters, and/or baseball players taking the field in Major League Baseball, anime and sports find themselves intertwined. In a hilarious new cosplay, the NBA’s top star took to the court to celebrate the spooky season by donning the guise of No Face, one of Studio Ghibli’s creepiest characters.

For those who somehow missed it Spirited AwayThe Studio Ghibli film became the first film of its kind to win an Academy Award. The film, first released in 2001, is about a young girl named Chihiro who and her parents stumble upon a magical world. When her parents turn into pigs, Chihiro is forced to work in a bathhouse to save herself and her loved ones. During her time in slavery, a young girl comes into contact with the mysterious “Faceless One”, a shadowy being who offers gold to those around her and remains one of Ghibli’s most recognizable creations to this day. It makes sense that one NBA player decided to bring this creature into the real world.

Video from ComicBook.com

Faceless Basketball Association

On Halloween, San Antonio Spur player Victor “Wemby” Wembanyama came to practice dressed as No-Face, perfectly recreating Spirited Away antagonist. Considering that Wemby is about seven feet three inches tall, it makes sense that he would be a good fit for a supernatural creature. Needless to say, anime continues to make inroads into some wild destinations in North America, and we expect anime to cross over more into the world of the NBA in the future.

Anime x Basketball

Anime and basketball have gone well together in the history of both. More recently, one of the prominent examples of anime dedicated to the game was First slam dunk. The film returns to the classic anime franchise courtesy of Toei Animation, telling the story of a high school basketball game that intertwines the characters’ flashbacks and fast-paced on-court action. Now streaming on Netflix, First slam dunk is one of the greatest anime films of all time, let alone sports.

When it comes to sports in the anime world in general, anime fans have a lot to choose from. Only this fall Blue castle returned for a second season, although it was controversial. Many anime fans feel that the second season failed to live up to the animation of the anime. Blue Locke first season, although despite these hiccups it still maintains its status as one of the world’s biggest examples of sports anime.

Ironically, the NBA announced a crossover with a basketball anime series. Kuroko’s Basketball. This official partnership brings players of the beloved anime franchise to the courts in the mobile game. Street Rivalswhich has strong influence from the National Basketball Association. As anime continues to grow in popularity over time, it wouldn’t be surprising if the NBA works on creating more crossovers in the future.

Want to stay up to date with all things Studio Ghibli? Want to see the world of anime come into sports leagues in the future? Keep up with Team Anime at ComicBook.com for the latest news from the world of anime and connect with me directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.