Category Archives: Cosplay of the Week

COSPLAY SPOTLIGHT: THE TRUE AQUAMAN

Name/alias

Rick Stafford aka The True Aquaman

 florida

Location

Orlando, FL.

When was your first cosplay and what was it?

My first official cosplay was in May of 2005 for the premier night of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith in Miami, Florida.  I was an all-white Star Wars, Episode 2: Attack of the Clones Clone Trooper. I received the armour kit three months earlier as a gift from the Florida Garrison of the 501st Legion Star Wars Costuming Group as a Thank You Gift for allowing them to be part of my son’s Celebration of Life Ceremony.  My son (Christian Richard Stafford), passed away at the age of eight in my arms from Leukaemia, March of 2005.  He thought his cancer battle was actually his Jedi Trials as he was a huge fan of everything Star Wars. I fed his belief by being his Jedi Master while he was in the hospital and taught him lessons on sword fighting, meditation and mindfulness.  He would never leave his hospital room without first putting on his Jedi robe.

The day after he passed away, I went to the crematorium and dressed him one last time in his Jedi costume and robe so that he would forever be the Jedi he hoped to become.  On the night of the premier in Miami, those of us working the event were given the privilege of seeing an advance screening several hours before the general public.  At that showing, I went to the concession stand and purchased an order of nachos, a hotdog, and pink lemonade.  As I sat in the theatre with the rest of the 501st and Rebel Legion costumers, I placed the food and drink in the seat next to me and in the cup holder separating my seat from the next, I placed a small metal container with a Jedi badge affixed to it that contained my young Padawan.  I fulfilled my promise to my son of taking him to see the last Star Wars movie.  I have been a costumer ever since, and I do so to honor the memory of my son, Christian.  He never got to grow up…SO WHY SHOULD I?!

Martin Schiff.
photo credit: Martin Schiff

Cosplay achievements:

Thanks to cosplay, I have had a long list of achievements. I have been in two major  documentaries: “Heart of an Empire” and as part of the Star Wars Blu-Ray Box Collection under Special Features “Star Warriors.”  “Star Warriors” documents the 501st costume group and how George Lucas and Lucas Films chose 200 individuals from around the world to represent Star Wars fandom by having us march in the Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade in California.  George Lucas was the Grand Marshal and we got to march as Imperial Forces in front of thousands of fans and televised worldwide.  I was also selected by Lucas Arts and flown to New York City as part of the 501st to March on Time Square as part of the release of the game Star Wars: Battlefront 2 and the release of Revenge of the Sith on DVD.

My picture made the front page of the New York Times, and we were all on the CBS Morning Show.  It was really cool to find out the I was listed on IMDB for my part in the 501st documentary “Heart of an Empire.” I later got internet attention when I started showing up in my now famous King Aquaman leather armoured costume.  I had people from all walks of life telling me they had seen me on one website or another, showcasing images of my costuming.  The King Aquaman armor was constructed by an uber talented leather worker named Sam Lee from Prince Armory.  It took over a year to fully construct based on our combined design.

But one of my biggest achievements was not even an award.  Several years ago I was leaving a convention here in Orlando called MegaCon.  As I left the show floor and was heading out onto the main concourse, a little old lady stopped me and asked if her husband could have a photo with me.  I was dressed in the classic version of Aquaman that included the low cut neckline and the black shorts over the green leggings with the fins on the calves.  I quickly obliged and stood next to the frail old man and holding my trident, I did my best hero pose for him.  After his wife had taken several pictures with her disposable camera, I began to walk away, and that was when the old man lightly grabbed my arm and told me, “You are exactly as I imagined you would look like.”  I thanked him for the compliment and again began to leave and again he stopped me and said, “You are the living embodiment of my imagination.”  At this point I again thanked him, but also felt things were getting a little weird.

He saw the puzzled expression behind my smile and asked if I knew who he was.  I politely told him that I did not.  That is when he told me, “My name is Nick Cardy, I invented Aquaman.”  He was on his way to a panel of Golden Age Comic Artists and saw me and had to have a photo of me because I was exactly what he pictured when he first developed Aquaman.  So my biggest achievement is being told by the creator of the character that so many people recognize me as, that I am The True Aquaman.  To this day I am humbled by that encounter.  Nick Cardy passed away a couple years ago and I never got to see the pictures of us together as I did not have a phone on me at the time since Aquaman has no pouches on his belt to hide it in.  But it is an amazing memory for me none the less. 

Cosplay pet peeve:

Cosplay bullies in any and all forms: body shaming, costume divas that think only they can be a particular character, cosplayers that use false accusations to bully others out of cosplay for their own reasons, cosplayers that act like they are royalty and are better than the rest of us cosplayers and convention goers that disrespect anyone’s cosplay whether it is store bought or handmade and not perfect.  We are a community of geeks and nerds that love to express our fandoms with costumes.  It’s about having fun and socializing with others who share our mutual fandoms.  This is not high school, and we do not need to make this a popularity contest. Respect everyone and their choice of fandoms and the way they choose to represent their love of a character in costume. 

What is the piece you are most proud of?

First, I would say my Iron Man costume as it was my first major cosplay costume.  It weighs in at 85lbs. and is a total labor of love to wear as it is not comfortable, but it is loved by all the fans who see it.  And the one I am best known for now is my King Aquaman armor.  From the idea conception to finally wearing it was a year-long wait, but I am very proud of how it turned out and love the feeling I get wearing it and the feeling of being regal I have when I am walking around in it.  The old saying, “The suit makes the man,” and in the case of my Aquaman armor, it truly does. 

Martin Schiff
photo credit: Martin Schiff

Who is your dream team to work on a cosplay with?

In the last 10 years, I have gotten to work with so many amazing people that putting together a Dream Team would leave out so many incredibly talented individuals that I absolutely adore. Just to throw out a few names would include Danny and Heather Kelly, Chad Tango, Charles Hass, Brian Parsley, and Chase Law.  Some that I would love to get to work with, but have not worked out the logistics yet, include Saraphina Cosplay, RJ Foster, Rebecca McGillicuddy, and Nica Stone to name a few. 

What is a typical day in the life of you when working on a cosplay?

This question can be interpreted in two ways: when I am constructing a cosplay and when I am working as a cosplayer at a convention.  I’ll answer both.  I am a stickler for detail work when I develop a costume, so I try to make sure I have all the right tools and supplies to do the job correctly the first time.  If I know something will require snaps added to it, I make sure I have the proper kind of snaps and the snap tool laid out and ready to use.  I often work in a large open area on my hardwood floor that I cover with a drop cloth and then use large pieces of thick cardboard to protect the flooring underneath from cuts, dents, scratches and paint or glue drips. When I get started, I usually forget to eat or drink as I get so focused on the task at hand that I will work for hours and lose total track of time.  Because of this, I tend to hold off on working on projects till one of my days off.

At conventions, I try to get to the event early so I can meet with the convention promoter and get my table or booth set up as quickly as possible.  I then tend to wander around and introduce myself to the vendors and get an idea of what they have, so that if I see something I like, I can try to make a deal for it before the end of the convention.  I usually suit up in the costume for the day about 30 minutes before general opening of the doors, so I have time to fix anything that might go wrong and get acclimated to temperature of the convention site. Sometimes they are now well air-conditioned and other times they might have it cracked down really low in anticipation of heavy crowds and lots of warm bodies.

I hardly ever sit or stay behind my table at events as I like to interact with fans and guests who stop by.  It’s much easier to do a selfie with a fan while standing next to them then it is to lean across my table and do so.  During lulls in the convention traffic, I try to again visit the different vendors, now in costume, so that they get a chance to get photos with me since they are usually not able to venture far from their merchandise or artwork. They really seem to appreciate the thoughtfulness on my part to bring a segment of the convention experience to them.  I will chat with people all day long about all aspects of cosplay and particular fandoms while at the show.

But if I see a child who wants to do a photo with me, I will pause any conversation to honor the photo request of a family.  I truly enjoy the interaction with the guests and fans alike at conventions.  I typically bring my own food to the con and try to eat it as discreetly as possible so as not to have photos show up on the internet with Aquaman stuffing his face with grilled chicken and brown rice.  (LOL).  Another thing I am very careful to do is always use a stall when I need to use the bathroom as it is not safe with current cell phone cameras to simply do your business in costume and have to worry about photos of it showing up on the web.  This is a good practice for any male cosplayer.  

Who are your inspirations?

My major inspiration is and will always be my son, Christian.  I do all of this for his memory.  If I had to honestly trade all that I have done in the cosplay world to have him back…HELL YES, I WOULD! Beyond my son, I would say I am inspired by those cosplayers that truly put themselves out in the community at large for the sake of real charity work.  Those that visit hospitals and clinics, those that raise money for charities and those that stand up for those who do not have the strength to do it themselves, such as the anti-bullying cosplayers.

Any Occasion Photography
photo credit: Any-Occasion-Photography

What is the current project you are working on?

I actually have several that are in the planning stages.  Three new versions of Aquaman are being developed over the next year, an aquatic character suit is being completed in the next six months. The Force Awakens version of the X-Wing pilot costume and a couple other surprises are being sketched out.

 What is your dream project?

This is a hard one as the King Aquaman was such a massive undertaking and overall successful project.  I would really like to have another Iron Man costume that if as close to movie accurate as possible with electronic moving parts and sound system that allows me to sound like Ironman.  I’m keeping my eyes out for someone talented enough to build the version I would ultimately want to have and wear.

Ernesto Javier
photo credit: Ernesto-Javier

 If you could pick anyone to act as your mentor, who would it be?

As a mentor, I would really appreciate having Scott Fensterer.  He is an incredibly talented artist, prop builder and make-up artist.  Learning a tenth of what he knows would be incredible.  He was one of the last five competitors on this seasons Syfy Channel show Face/Off.  Not only is he a talented artist, he is an amazing man all the way around and I truly look up to all he has to offer as a great human being.

 How has the industry changed since you first started?

The cosplay community when I first started over ten years ago, was much more fandom loving based.  Unfortunately, due to the mass media glamorization of the cosplay community—with reality shows and major coverage of the cosplayers at events like San Diego Comic Con and New York Comic Con—the community has been inundated with people seeing the prospect of being at conventions as the new cool place to been seen at.  This has led to a large increase in shaming and cosplay bullying by individuals who are not truly in the community for the love of the fandoms they represent, but rather to be seen as cool because they are in a costume from the current popular craze in the media.  This has me defining the community in two factions.  My personal definition of a Cosplayer is: a person who dons a costume and does their best to represent the character in both actions and knowledge like an actor taking on the role.  A Costumer: is a person who wears a costume because they simply like the character, but are not trying to become the character.  Like a sports fan wearing a jersey of their favorite team, but obviously not being an athlete.  Some would argue that a costumer is someone who makes their own costumes, but I prefer to call them costume designers.  We are all allowed to use our own vernacular.
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The mass media has made conventions big business for a lot of promoters, but the spirit of the fandom driven events has suffered for it as it is now much more a mass market event to sell products and less and less about fans coming together to enjoy their mutual love of different sci-fi and fantasy genres.  

M. Schiff
photo credit: Martin Schiff

Fun time:

Who is your favorite comic book character?

Easy…Aquaman!

Who is your favorite author (books)?

Jules Verne, a man way ahead of his time.

 What is your favorite movie?

Original Star Wars and Princess Bride.  Both are great hero stories.

What is your favorite band/music artist?

Tough one as my musical tastes truly are all over the place.  Nine Inch Nials and Florence and the Machine are a couple of my picks.

 What is a quirk you have (like dipping fries into chocolate Sunday)?

I tend to eat all of one thing on my plate before I move to something else.

Martin Schiff3
photo credit: Martin Schiff

 

Pick-

Day or night

Day, I love the feeling of sunlight on my face.

Star trek or star wars

I like Star Trek, but I am a child of Star Wars and it will always be my favorite.

Coffee or tea

Definenty tea.  I love a kettle of Moroccan Mint Green Tea every day.

Summer or winter

Summer, I cannot stand going days without seeing the blue skies and sunshine.

Cats or dogs

DOGS!  I love love love dogs.  I tend to be an alpha male to them.

Batman or Superman

I prefer to throw those options out for a third, Aquaman. (LOL)

Movies or a book

I love all kinds of movies, but a book always beats a movie, but I can get through more movies due to time constraints.

Pizza or Burgers

Pizza for cheat days, and a good burger (Five Guys) when I have weight training days.

You can see more of The True Aquaman’s work on FacebookTwitter and Instagram

SGH Photo Art
photo credit: SGH-Photo-Art

 

Next project release date of current project:

Probably going to be about six months as I am taking my time to make sure I add a lot of detail to my current projects.

Cosplay Spotlight: The Jokumi

Name/alias                                    

The Jokumi

singapore-on-the-world-map

Location                                          

Singapore

When was your first cosplay?    

2001/2

What was it?                                    

Noriyasu Seta from Love Hina with a shovel

Cosplay achievements               

WCS Team Singapore – 2013

WCS Team Singapore – 2014

Cosplay pet peeve 

 That girl cosplayers will always have the prettier selection of costumes that I won’t have the opportunity to do.

 What inspired you to get into cosplay?

I was so infatuated with Belldandy since she’s so pretty and gentle and stuff, and so I thought, what if I could be someone in there, like Keiichi, but I didn’t have a motorcycle when I was 18, to which I chose the next best character I felt I could pull off.

Sheryl iPhone 02
Macross Frontier (Kindan no Elixir): Sheryl Nome Photographer: Fumina Kamiya

What is the piece you are most proud of?

Sheryl Nome – Kindan no Elixir / Prince. I’ve always wanted to cosplay my waifu.

Who is your dream team to work on a cosplay with?

Skilled people to make an unforgettable performance, who can follow schedules and be on time.

What is a typical day in the life of you when working on a cosplay?

Measuring shit, drawing shit down, cutting shit up, cutting myself, making a mess, joining shit together, poking/burning myself, ow, add finishing to shit… done…

How long does it take to do an average cosplay?

Typically 2 weeks, if I’m not lazy.

What is the process how do you start from picking out the cosplay to finally wearing it?

  1. Do I like it?
    1. Yes, proceed to 2.
    2. No, don’t do it.
  2. Do I think I can make it?
    1. Yes, proceed to 3.
    2. No, don’t do it.
  3. Do I have money to eat?
    1. Yes, proceed to 4.
    2. No, don’t do it.
  4. Plan all steps required to make the costume.
    1. Sketch and itemize sections.
    2. Digitally superimpose general image onto self in actual scale.
    3. Get general actual dimensions for all items required.
  5. Do the steps required to make the costume.
    1. From 4c, draw templates on paper by hand or ideally CAD it out.
    2. Transfer templates to materials (foam, cloth, etc.)
    3. Cut materials and join them together (glue, sew, etc.)
      1. Do intermediate test fittings to make sure you don’t need to redo everything if something messed up.
    4. Apply finishers (vinyl, paint, glittery shit, bling, etc.)
  6. Check if what you did was right.
    1. Put on everything and do final test fit.
    2. Alter any parts that don’t fit properly.
  7. Costume is complete and ready to be shown to the world.

Who are your inspirations?

Tom Hanks and Sean Connery, just to name a few. Cosplay wise, really good costume makers who have really detailed fabric knowledge and skills.

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Sakura Taisen: Oogami Ichirou Photographer: Maria Tachi Cosplay

WCS

WCS stands for World Cosplay Summit.  It’s where more than 2 dozen countries send a team of two to compete in Japan for the title of Best Cosplayers in the world.

What dates were you representing your nation at WCS?

August 2013 and August 2014.

What costumes did you take?

August 2013: Final Fantasy XI – Corsair.

August 2014: Sakura Taisen – Oogami Ichirou / Aoi Satan / Chibi Koubu.

What was the experience like? Tell us about the process from heats in your nation to finals in Japan.
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Singapore is a small country so there’s only registration around March and selection that is done in July.

The finals are held in August, where there’ll usually be PR and media stuff for days before the detailed costume judging, which is conducted by an international panel and held before final performances. We’ll then have the red carpet parade in the morning of the finals and then perform and wait for results in the evening.

What was the highlight for you?

Standing on the stage where the (cosplay) world looks at you for 2 and half minutes.

What was your proudest moment?

Being nominated for the Nico Nico awards in 2014 after a disastrous 2013; but it was also the saddest because we lost to cat girls.

Any funny stories or bloopers?

Sebestian and I were trying out a last minute stage effect in our hotel room. The air popper was stuck on the back of his helmet and it didn’t activate when he pressed it twice. He took it off to check what’s wrong with it and it blew up confetti almost in his face.

 What advice do you have for others attempting to enter WCS?

Stamina is very important. 2 weeks of cosplaying will take a toll on your body.

04
Rurouni Kenshin – Kyoto Inferno: Shishio Makoto Photographer: Shaun S. Photography

What is the current project you are working on?

Captain Jack Sparrow, Suicide Squad’s Joker.

What is your dream project?

To write and direct a full length theatrical stage piece.

If you could pick anyone to act as your mentor, who would it be?

Steven Spielberg; on how to create captivating performances.

How has the industry changed since you first started?

It’s got a little idol-ly and cosplaying because the series is popular across the world now as compared to when most people were cosplaying because they really like the character and want to bring him/her to life.

How do you feel about the change to mainstream thanks to shows like The Big Bang Theory and the movies now in the cinema like Spiderman and Batman vs Superman?

I don’t really watch TV so I can’t really comment on those. Movies wise, I guess it’s interesting to see what the director’s feels and edits. Some were pretty interesting and some were a huge miss.

Anything extra you would like to share:

Remember cosplay is ultimately to bring your character to life, not just who has the prettier face or who has more bling in your costumes.

zone-00-03
Zone-00: Kurobara Renji Photographer: Orie Yokoyama

Fun time:

Who is your favourite comic book character?

Ah! My Goddess – Hild.

Who is your favourite author (books)?

Tom Clancy.

What is your favourite movie?

Saving Private Ryan.

What is your favourite band/music artist?

Savage Garden.

What is a quirk you have (like dipping fries into chocolate Sunday)?

Giving the “rape face” to people and enjoying their “wtf” reactions.

JoJo Nagoya 210402 04
Jojo’s Bizzare Adventure: Steel Ball Run Character: Mountain Tim Photographer: Orie Yokoyama

Pick-

Day or night                                               

Night

Star Trek or Star Wars                 

Star Wars

Coffee or Tea  

Coffee

Summer or Winter

Neither… but winter will be the better choice

Cats or Dogs

CATS!

Batman or Superman                  

Batman

Movies or a book

Movies

Pizza or Burgers                           

Burgers

Coke or Pepsi      

Coke                          

[Yukiko] 03
Final Fantasy XI: Corsair Photographer: DaizMiah Official
You can see more of Jokumi’ work on FacebookTwitter or his WorldCosplay Profile

Next project release date of current project: January 2016

 

 

Cosplay Spotlight: P.S Cosplay

Name/alias:

P.S Cosplay

world-globe-highlight-australia-md

Location:

Arkham Asylum… let’s just keep it at that… ha-ha. No but I would post my real name and address here, but after coming a long way in the cosplay community, I’ve come across some not so friendly or sociable people, and I guess I’ve gotten to the point where I’d rather them not know my address or name.

Cosplay achievements:

Having learned and created so much since 2012 up until now. Gaining a following of fans who love my work.

When did you first cosplay and what was it?

Sydney Supanova 2012, Crocodile from One Piece.

What is your current project?

Right now I’m taking a break from cosplay, but will be trying to update my current costumes and learn new skills in that time. So no new project entirely. I would have to say I’m putting together a few Monty Python costumes for Ironfest 2016.

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Crocodile: CMoss Photography

What inspired you to get into cosplay?

My obsession with One Piece back at the time

What is the piece you are most proud of?

 Probably my Ganondorf costume. The hardest costume I’ve made and first ever use of Worbla.

Who is your dream team to work on a cosplay with?

 Me and the voices in my head XD

What is a typical day in the life of you when working on a cosplay?

Music or TV in the background, making a mess of my work area.

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Sandman: Adrian Franco Photography

 How long does it take to do an average cosplay?

 I would say a month, but I’m always hunting pieces here and there that would work for any new cosplays or look good on a current cosplay. I’m always updating and upgrading.

What is your process? How do you start from picking out the cosplay to finally wearing it?

I find a character that I am able to do, with the skills I have, or a character I really like that I could learn new skills whilst making. I’ll gather up reference photos, different versions and takes on the character. I’ll then draw up some sketches: the full costume, parts of the costume, props and weapons. I’ll go hunting in costume shops or second hand stores for any pieces that will work, modify them if I have to. Most of my costumes are assembled from bits here and there. I’ll put all these pieces together and do some test photos in them. The process depends on the character really.

Who are your inspirations?

 I would have to say my friends and cosplayers I’ve followed since I first started. Justin Costello and Paul Kerr are two of my greatest inspirations, and they will continue to be until I retire from Cosplay ha-ha. Variable is another, one of the first cosplayers I’ve followed. Ely Renae is another inspiration, especially for my Ganondorf cosplay. I have a lot of inspirations, too many to list, but those are just a few.

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Ganondorf: Bridgette Grant Photography

What is your dream project?

Well. I already made Ganondorf, which was a costume I wanted to do since I first started. Can’t say if I have a new dream cosplay as of yet.

If you could pick anyone to act as your mentor, who would it be?

I would have to say Dan Axiak. He’s my best cosplay mate and has some of the best skills in costume making.

How has the industry changed since you first started?

Well, cosplay has become much bigger and accepted since I first started. It’s a good thing because more people get to enjoy this fun hobby, we’re not seen as oddballs as much; it’s opened up a whole new world of opportunities and fun for us. The bad side is that some less-than-likeable people decided to take up the hobby as well, who put other cosplayers down or give cosplay a bad name.

How do you feel about the change to mainstream thanks to shows like The Big Bang Theory and the movies now in the cinema like Spider-man and Batman vs Superman?

I think, ever since the Avengers movies, not just cosplay, but pop culture as a whole has exploded in the last half decade or so. Non cosplayers are excited for the next Ironman or Thor to come out; they’re waiting and waiting for the next Game of Thrones season to start. New people are trying cosplay every time there’s a convention. It’s just exploded.

Cosplay pet peeve:

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Anything extra you would like to share?

I’d like to write all my rants on how to be a good cosplayer. Not in terms of skills, but in just being nice and friendly and always asking for consent and such.

 Fun time:

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Joker: All the HP

Who is your favorite comic book character?

Joker…. hehehe hahahaha!

Who is your favorite author (books)?

Derek Landy: Skulduggery Pleasant. Deny it all you want, it’s better than Harry Potter.

What is your favorite movie?

Please don’t make me choose. It changes every year.

What is your favourite band/music artist?

Surprisingly, Eminem…yeah…

What is a quirk you have (like dipping fries into a chocolate Sunday)?

Yeah, exactly that.

Pick-

Day or night?

 Day

Star trek or star wars?

Star Wars

Coffee or tea?

How dare you make me choose……coffee.

Summer or winter?

Winter

Cats or dogs?

Stop making me choose XD ……Dogs…no cats…oh dang.

Batman or Superman?

Batman….cause Justice

Movies or a book?

Books will always be better than the movie adaptions, but original movies are kickass.

Pizza or Burgers?

 Pizza

Coke or Pepsi?

 Pepsi

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SLy Cooper: Mumei

You can see more of P.S Cosplay’s work on Facebook

Next project release date of current project: Ironfest 2016

Cosplay Spotlight: Emily Wallin

Name:  Emily / Luna Lady of Light Cosplay

Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Cosplay achievements:

 Runner Up World Cosplay Summit Team USA 2015, First Place Finalist for the US World Cosplay Summit in 2013 and 2014.

Honorable Mention Craftsmanship Youmacon 2008
Best Novice Performance Youmacon 2010
Best Journeyman Craftsmanship JAFAX 2012
Cosplay Shinkou Best Overall Craftsmanship 2012
Best Master Performance Colossalcon 2013
Limelight Masquerade Best Overall Craftsmanship Summer 2013
Best in Show Godaikocon 2013
Best Master Craftsmanship Kaizokucon 2013
Best Master Craftsmanship Hallway Competition Youmacon 2013
Best in Show Youmacon 2013
Best of Friday Hall Craftsmanship Youmacon 2014
US WCS Qualifier Win Midwest Media Expo 2015
First Place Anime Park Con 2015

When was your first cosplay and what did you pick?:

Anime Central 2007 in Chicago, IL.

Super Sailor Moon from the Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Super S Manga

 What inspired you to get into cosplay?

In 1999 my family got a computer. I had gotten into Sailor Moon as a young child and was inspired by the people I saw on the internet dressed as the characters. They were amazing and I wanted to be like them.

 What is the piece you are most proud of?

 I am most proud of my Kohane Tsuyuri costume from xxxHOLIC. Not only is it my most elaborate costume, but it was a true group effort between my best friend Karmada Cosplay and myself. There was nothing on those costumes that was not crafted from scratch. We made every single piece.

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Takiko Okuda photo by Karen Santora (Liquid Cocaine Photography)

Who is your dream team to work on a cosplay with?

 My friend Karmada Cosplay. She and I are very alike in our approach to things in the way we analyse them. She and I balance things between each other because we share common knowledge and then each has a strong suit in an area the other considers a weakness.

What is a typical day in the life of you when working on a cosplay?

 I go to work, come home, eat dinner, and then I’ll get to work. I’ll listen to an audiobook or play Netflix on my tablet as I’m working.  My cat, Chester, is always there to assist me.

 How long does it take to do an average cosplay?

 It depends on the project. I’ve spent anywhere from a week up to 6-10 months working through the entire process from conception to realization.

What is the process how do you start from picking out the cosplay to finally wearing it?

 I choose costumes based on love of the character and love of the design. Another deciding factor is how inspired the series makes me for a performance or skit. Usually I’ll see something I like, then I’ll break down each piece, decide if it will flatter me, and what I would need to do to create it. Then I make lists. I follow the lists as I build and check things off as I go.

 Who are your inspirations?

 I know a lot of really talented cosplayers. The ones that I would say inspire me the most would be Elrowiel and Pannon, Cupcake Cosplay, God Save the Queen, and Volpin Props.

 What is the current project you are working on?

The Snow from Cardcaptor Sakura.

 What is your dream project?

Currently it is Princess Asseylum vers Allusia from Aldnoah Zero.

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Alice Liddell photo by Karen Santora (Liquid Cocaine Photography)

 If you could pick anyone to act as your mentor, who would it be? God Save the Queen or Volpin Props. They are both fantastic artists that do incredible work.

How has the industry changed since you first started?

I would say that it has changed in that it has become an industry. Cosplay was not an industry back in the 2000’s. It was difficult to find wigs in odd colors, tutorials and educational publications were not nearly as easy to find, a lot of things had to be figured out on your own. It is now a lot more accessible, meaning that anyone can find a tutorial for just about anything on the internet, wigs come in a rainbow of colors, and it is much easier to buy fabric and materials on the internet.

How do you feel about the change to mainstream thanks to shows like The Big Bang Theory and the movies now in the cinema like Spider-Man and Batman vs Superman?

 It’s good in that we have a bigger market of materials, wigs, fabrics, etc to choose from. My only issue is the objectification of cosplayers’ bodies. It can sometimes feel like the hobby is no longer about the craft or the costume, but about the body underneath the costume. There is a lot more pressure in the community to look like a bikini model than there was 8 years ago. I’ve had younger, plus-sized cosplayers tell me that I am a huge inspiration to them because of what I have accomplished in the community. It is sad to me that they think their size limits them. Cosplay is about having fun, and the only thing that should limit you is whether you’re having fun or not.

The difference is now we can access it (mostly). cheapest viagra It also contains cheap levitra india those herbs which are associated with semen, sperm and fertility. These have been some of the potential medicinal products which have been approved by the health experts & highly recommended for such http://deeprootsmag.org/2020/04/13/in-the-woods-in-the-illustrators-eyes/ canadian viagra samples usage of overcoming erectile dysfunction. Those who were longing for a happiness pill for sometime now need not worry as it has scarcely been a decade since the first oral drug; buy viagra pill has been approved as the safe and effective one is ‘kamagra’. What is your cosplay pet peeve?

Seeing a great costume on someone that is not ironed or pressed.

 Anything extra you would like to share:

Cosplay is a fun and challenging hobby. I see it as an opportunity to expand my skills and I enjoy learning new things about new materials.

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Emmeryn, Queen of Ylisse photo by Mary Cochran Photography

Fun time:

Who is your favourite cosplay character?

I love seeing cosplays of Yuuko from xxxHOLIC. She has so many outfits that almost every time I see a Yuuko they’re in a different costume.

Who is your favourite author(books)?

 Charlaine Harris (Southern Vampire Mysteries).

What is your favourite movie?

The Harry Potter films.

What is your favourite band/music artist?

I love 80’s music, so pretty much anything 80’s.

What is a quirk you have (like dipping fries into chocolate Sunday)?

 I have anxiety about opening gifts in front of people because sometimes my face gives me away.

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Kohane Tsuyuri photo by Chris Wiggins (CosIT Photography)

  Pick-

Day or night

Day

Star trek or Star Wars         

Star Wars

Coffee or Tea

 Neither

Summer or Winter

 Fall

Cats or dogs

Cats

Batman or Superman

Batman

Movies or a Book

Movies

Pizza or Burgers

Burgers

Coke or Pepsi

Coke

 You can see more of Emily’s work on Facebook,  acparadise or follow her on Twitter

 

Next project release date of current project: 10/31/15 Youmacon in Detroit, MI.

GIGA Approved: Peter Parkour

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