Ken Tanabe Halloween Costume 2003
Ken Tanabe Halloween Costume 2003
Ken Tanabe Halloween Costume 2003
Ken Tanabe Halloween Costume 2003

This costume was inspired by a stack of cheap plastic buckets I found a convenience store supplier in Brooklyn. Other inspiration included older robots with a “low-tech” style like Mazinger Z (also known as Tranzor Z in the U.S.), Astro Boy, and Mac, the robot assistant of the Jetsons’ apartment repair man. Mac had two buckets for a head, a file cabinet for a body, and was in love with Rosie (the Jetsons’ robot housekeeper).

MATERIALS:
Bought: 5 plastic buckets ($1.29 each), black elastic (.25 a foot), one hacksaw ($3.99), and a mini stapler ($1.99).

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Halloween Costumes
Halloween Rules
1. Make it yourself.
This is the best way to be original. A store bought costume is better than no costume, but you can do better than that!
2. Use your whole body.
If you wear your usual clothes and throw on a mask, is that really a costume? Go from head to toe.
3. Keep it cheap.
Anybody can spend a zillion dollars on a costume and look cool. The real challenge is making it happen on a budget.
4. Don’t rely on recognition.
Do not dress as a celebrity or a movie character. Standard characters like vampires are off-limits, too.
5. Don’t rely on sex.
Don’t get me wrong – being sexy is great and all. Just don’t rely on it to make your costume work.
6. Don’t rely on horror.
Sure, blood and guts are a Halloween tradition, but don’t feel limited. Take advantage of the day you can wear anything!

Do you make Halloween costumes that follow these rules? If so, contact me.