Kantai Collection: Kancolle Online

, commonly known as KanColle , is a Japanese multimedia franchise centered on the anthropomorphism of World War II warships into "ship girls" ( kanmusu ). Originally launched as a free-to-play web browser game in 2013 by Kadokawa Games and C2 Kikan, it has since evolved into a massive cultural phenomenon in Japan, spawning multiple anime series, films, manga, and extensive merchandise. Core Gameplay and Concept

In the game, players take on the role of an who manages a fleet of kanmusu to battle the "Abyssal Fleet," a mysterious force of monstrous alien-like warships that have seized control of the oceans. Kantai Collection: KanColle

About The Author

Michele Majer

Michele Majer is Assistant Professor of European and American Clothing and Textiles at the Bard Graduate Center for Decorative Arts, Design History and Material Culture and a Research Associate at Cora Ginsburg LLC. She specializes in the 18th through 20th centuries, with a focus on exploring the material object and what it can tell us about society, culture, literature, art, economics and politics. She curated the exhibition and edited the accompanying publication, Staging Fashion, 1880-1920: Jane Hading, Lily Elsie, Billie Burke, which examined the phenomenon of actresses as internationally known fashion leaders at the turn-of-the-20th century and highlighted the printed ephemera (cabinet cards, postcards, theatre magazines, and trade cards) that were instrumental in the creation of a public persona and that contributed to and reflected the rise of celebrity culture.