Neon Nikaidou

Neon Nikaidou is the elder sister of Shion Nikaidou, a central character in Flower Princess Blaze!!.

Within the story of My Dress-Up Darling, Neon is especially famous for her “fallen” transformation into the villainous Black Lobelia.

Neon’s nickname from Marin Kitagawa is “Neon Onee-sama,” emphasizing her cool, older-sister aura.

She is voiced by Houko Kuwashima in the anime adaptation of Flower Princess Blaze!!.

In-universe, the Nikaidou sisters became extremely popular with viewers when Flower Princess Blaze!! originally aired.

Their fanbase notably consisted mainly of elementary school girls and adult men, underscoring the series’ cross-generational appeal.

Neon Nikaidou is introduced as Shion Nikaidou’s older sister and a childhood friend of Hayate, Mirai’s older brother.

She harbors an unrequited crush on Hayate, which forms the emotional core of her fall into darkness.

Neon eventually discovers that their mutual childhood friend Sakuya is actually dating Hayate.

The shock and heartbreak of this revelation shatter her emotionally and corrupt her Flower Jewel.

As her Flower Jewel turns pitch-black from grief and resentment, Neon transforms into Black Lobelia.

From that point on, she becomes an antagonist who stands in opposition to the protagonists of Flower Princess Blaze!!.

Black Lobelia is always accompanied by a black Flower Pet, a small familiar-like creature.

This pet speaks and is portrayed as her constant partner in villainy.

Neon’s transformation into Black Lobelia is a classic “fall into darkness” or “corrupted magical girl” scenario.

Her sorrow and jealousy literally stain her Flower Jewel, twisting it into a dark power source.

Once transformed, her appearance changes so dramatically that even her own sister Shion fails to recognize her at first.

Only later does Shion realize that the powerful enemy Black Lobelia is actually her beloved sister Neon.

In her Black Lobelia form, Neon’s hair becomes gray, giving her a colder, more ominous look.

Her eyes become heterochromatic, with one red eye and one blue eye, creating a striking and unsettling gaze.

These visual changes emphasize the gulf between her former self and her corrupted persona.

They also make Black Lobelia visually distinct and memorable, which contributes greatly to her fan popularity.

Black Lobelia’s base outfit is reminiscent of a dark military uniform.

She wears a long black coat that looks like a mix between a military greatcoat and a stylish villain cape, along with a matching military-style hat.

Under the coat, her inner outfit is bold and revealing: a strapless, high-cut leotard-style garment.

This design is notably provocative for a show framed as a girl-focused magical series, and it is often pointed out as “too intense” for a children’s anime.

Her visual design balances sharp, angular edges and sleek black fabric with the fantasy aesthetic of Flower Princess Blaze!!.

The contrast between her gray hair, mismatched eyes, and black costume makes her a quintessential “cool dark villain.”

In addition to the TV-series outfit, she receives an alternate costume in the theatrical movie version of Flower Princess Blaze!!.

This movie costume features thinner, patterned lace over her arms and a single stocking with the same lace pattern, plus a wide, frilled skirt that flares dramatically.

These design elements give her movie version a more ornate, gothic elegance.

The mix of lace, asymmetrical legs, and a big flared skirt makes the theatrical outfit especially attractive for cosplayers who love detailed costumes.

In the anime adaptation of Flower Princess Blaze!!, additional battle scenes highlight Black Lobelia’s strength.

She is depicted as a top-tier enemy, more than worthy of being called a formidable foe.

Her combat skills include short-range teleportation, allowing her to disappear and reappear instantly in battle.

She also fires black beams of light, destructive energy attacks that showcase the corrupted power of her blackened Flower Jewel.

These abilities reinforce the idea that her negative emotions have been converted into overwhelming magical strength.

They also create dynamic, visually intense fight scenes that stand out within the show.

As Neon, she is gentle and earnest, carrying a quiet, long-standing crush on Hayate.

Her inability to confess and the sudden discovery of his relationship with Sakuya push her over an emotional edge.

Her transformation into Black Lobelia can be read as an expression of sadness turned into aggression and self-loathing.

She fights against the heroes, but at her core, she remains a hurt girl who has lost her way.

This combination of beauty, power, and tragedy is a major reason for her strong fan following.

Viewers are drawn to her as both a cool villain and a heartbreakingly sympathetic character.

In the in-universe world of My Dress-Up Darling, the Nikaidou sisters became a phenomenon during the broadcast of Flower Princess Blaze!!.

They achieved significant popularity, particularly among young girls in elementary school and adult male fans.

Neon’s Black Lobelia form stood out for its cool, dark aesthetic.

Shion’s counterpart, Shion Nikaidou (who transforms into Black Lily), created a visually balanced duo of “white and black” sisters.

The contrast between Shion and Neon, both in character and costume, gave fans a lot to latch onto.

As a result, they became some of the most beloved characters within the fictional Flower Princess Blaze!! franchise.

Within My Dress-Up Darling, Flower Princess Blaze!! is a favorite series of several characters.

Black Lobelia and Black Lily, in particular, become major cosplay goals.

Marin Kitagawa decides to cosplay Black Lobelia as a matching pair with Shion Nikaidou’s Black Lily.

This “cosplay together” idea is part of a coordinated plan where different friends embody different characters from Flower Princess Blaze!!.

Wakana Gojo is commissioned to make the Black Lobelia costume, alongside the Black Lily costume requested by Sajuna Inui.

He studies Black Lobelia’s design in detail, especially the complex layering and sharp, villainous silhouette.

The completed costumes are then photographed at a rented studio space that the group shares.

This location is an abandoned hospital, giving the shoot a moody, atmospheric backdrop that suits Black Lobelia’s dark aura.

Shinju Inui brings a single-lens reflex camera to the shoot.

She handles photography, capturing the dramatic poses and expressions that bring Black Lobelia to life in the cosplay.

After the photoshoot, the resulting images are uploaded to social media.

These posts end up spreading widely and eventually influence another character in the series in an unexpected way.

For her Black Lobelia cosplay, Marin Kitagawa focuses on replicating the iconic silhouette and boldness of the character.

The inner garment is recreated using a high-cut swimsuit in the same color as Black Lobelia’s original design.

Before the event, Marin shows this revealing swimsuit to Wakana Gojo, flustering him and creating a comedic but intimate moment.

Her confidence contrasts with his shyness, highlighting their dynamic.

The Flower Jewel at the center of Black Lobelia’s chest is handmade by Marin herself.

She carefully crafts it to imitate the gem that becomes corrupted in the original story.

For makeup, Marin consults Sajuna Inui, who is experienced in cosplay.

Sajuna helps her refine the makeup so that Marin’s facial features match Black Lobelia’s sharp, dramatic look.

With costume, props, and makeup all aligned, Marin’s Black Lobelia becomes an impressively faithful representation of the character.

The photos taken in the abandoned hospital setting heighten the dark, villainous feel of the cosplay.

Later in My Dress-Up Darling, Black Lobelia inspires a second major cosplay arc.

Shinju Inui deeply wishes to see her sister, Sajuna Inui, cosplay Black Lobelia.

This wish is unknown to Sajuna at first.

Instead, their cosplay friends Ito Suzuka and Honda Miyako help arrange a surprise plan to make it happen.

They invite Sajuna under the pretext of scouting for another cosplay project.

Once she arrives, they reveal the idea that she should cosplay Black Lobelia for Shinju’s sake.

Initially, Sajuna strongly resists the suggestion.

She scolds Suzuka and Miyako and tries to leave, feeling embarrassed and pressured.

However, Honda Miyako gently persuades Sajuna by explaining how important this is to Shinju.

Hearing about Shinju’s heartfelt wish gradually softens Sajuna’s stance.

Sajuna eventually agrees to cosplay Black Lobelia, though she is nervous and uncertain about how she will look.

During the first reveal, nervousness and insecurity overshadow her excitement.

Shinju’s reaction, however, is full of admiration and joy.

Her heartfelt praise breaks through Sajuna’s self-doubt and allows Sajuna to accept and even enjoy her Black Lobelia cosplay.

This moment becomes an emotional highlight, showing cosplay as a way to express love and support between siblings.

Black Lobelia, originally a symbol of heartbreak and corruption, becomes a bridge that draws the Inui sisters closer together.