It began with a hush. In a sun-splashed studio in Tokyo — where cherry blossoms meet neon signs and manga posters crowd the walls — a small figure tuned a microphone and smiled like someone who knows how to turn fantasy into life. That figure is Daniela Aiko: cosplayer, singer, manga author, and the woman behind the spellbinding persona Donna Beneviento from Resident Evil Village. Tonight she’s not just a character; she is the story. In this Daniela Aiko interview we trace how a Tokyo childhood steeped in anime and pop culture became a career of carefully crafted dreams — from The Otherworld manga to the anthemic single “Road to Light.” This piece is a tribute to the artist who makes fiction feel intimate and real.
Inside The Otherworld — Daniela Aiko Interview on Her Original Manga Universe
We love that you have an additional Instagram page called ‘The Otherworld’. What inspired you to create that space? What’s your role?
Daniela: “The Otherworld” started as a whisper in my head — a story I couldn’t stop sketching in notebooks. I wanted a place where my manga ideas would live outside cosplay photos: a serialized story with its own tone, pace and music. I’m the author, the scriptwriter and the design director. I work with two brilliant illustrators, Samy & Consu, who translate my vision into panels and expressions. For me, it’s more than a side project; it’s a new language I’m learning to speak. The page lets fans peek behind the curtain and follow the characters beyond conventions and stage lights.
Donna Beneviento and Beyond, Daniela Aiko on Her Defining Role
Tell us your story of Donna? How did you get that role?
Daniela: I was hired through a Japanese talent agency. I auditioned and was chosen. It was that mix of nerves and certainty — you know when a role feels like someone else’s skin that suddenly fits yours? Donna’s darkness and fragility called to me. Playing her taught me how to use silence as a prop and emotion as armor. The role pushed me to blend performance with a precise aesthetic: voice, posture, and the small unsettling details that make Donna linger in a player’s memory.
Daniela Aiko Interview: The Joy of Cosplay and Her Favorite Character
Out of all the characters you’ve cosplayed, which one has been the most fun to portray?
Daniela: Flora — a fairy of Alfea — is joy in motion for me. There’s a lightness to her that frees my expressions and costume design choices. When I cosplay Flora, I feel like I’m slipping into a dream I had as a child: glittery wings, flowing fabrics and the playful magic of being seen as more than reality allows. Costume construction, make-up, and the tiny choreography we do for photoshoots are all part of that joy.
Dream friends and anime bonds
If you could have any fictional character (besides Donna) as your best friend, who would it be and why?
Daniela: I’d pick the girls of the Winx Club — Flora especially. They’re vibrant, loyal and their world is all about friendship and magic. As someone who grew up on anime and manga, those characters embody the hopeful, creative energy I want around me.
“Road to Light”: the single that connects worlds
Huge congrats on the release of “Road to Light”! Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind the song?
Daniela: Thank you! “Road to Light” was written for The Otherworld — it’s practically the manga’s heartbeat. I adore Japanese anime openings; they’re cinematic and charged with momentum. I wanted a song that lifts you, makes you excited, and gives a sense of purpose to the characters’ journey. The track mixes energetic synths, soaring vocal lines, and that bittersweet feeling of leaving darkness behind. I hope it becomes a companion track for fans as they read the manga.
A new website and creative transitions
You’re currently working on a website! What can fans expect to see when it launches?
Daniela: I’m undergoing a huge transformation as an artist, so my website needs to evolve too. Expect a curated space that blends my cosplay portfolio, manga updates, music releases, and perhaps exclusive behind-the-scenes content. I’ve been quieter on social media because I’m focusing on building something more meaningful — a hub where fans can follow every strand of my creative life. Please stay tuned!
Tokyo’s influence and simple pleasures
Growing up in Tokyo, what’s one unique aspect of the city that you think has influenced your creativity?
Daniela: Japanese pop culture — manga and anime in particular — is woven into the city’s rhythm. Tokyo’s visual language, the way it plays with color and contrast, inspired the way I frame a shot, design a character or layer a song. The city taught me transformation: clothing, persona, and the idea that everyday life can look cinematic if you choose the right angle.
Tell us your guilty pleasure?
Sleeping until late!
Brand partnerships and feminine art
How do you select the brands you collaborate with? What values are important to you when you agree to a partnership?
Daniela: Alignment matters most. If a brand shares my vision and respects my aesthetic, I consider it. I won’t promote something I disagree with; authenticity is everything for me. My collaborations must support the story I’m telling about myself as an artist and as a woman.
You’ve worked with some lingerie brands — what message do you hope to convey when showcasing those pieces?
Daniela: Lingerie is fashion — part of a woman’s wardrobe and an expression of femininity. When I model lingerie I aim for elegance, not exploitation. I want to celebrate the female body as beautiful and sacred, not objectified. My goal is empowerment: garments that make a woman feel like a goddess, not a product.
Rapid-Fire Remix — Yes or No
(A catchier, playful rapid-fire round — quick, revealing, charming.)
- Shower solo or karaoke spotlight? Karaoke nights — bring the crowd, bring the courage.
- Do you believe in ghosts? Yes — there’s mystery everywhere.
- Do you have a secret talent no one knows about? Maybe — I prefer a little mystery.
- Morning person? Absolutely not — give me midnight and creativity.
Parting note — a tribute close
Daniela: Thank you so much for the warmth and support after Resident Evil Village. The journey has been incredible and I’m grateful for every adventure ahead. Keep following — there’s so much to come.
And a little chorus for you:
“Forget the past — now’s time to bring my real self out… woo-ooh… I wanna be the hero that everyone talks about!”
We end this Daniela Aiko interview as we began — with a soft, bright tribute. She is an artist who builds worlds and offers them to us generously: a singer who writes soundtracks for her own stories, and a cosplayer who turns fictional lives into lived experiences. If this piece has one promise, it’s this: keep an eye on The Otherworld and “Road to Light” — Daniela’s map to the next chapter is already being drawn.
Leave feedback about this