Cosplayer Interviews-CheekerCosplay

Hello,everyone, today will be our new cosplayer interviews day, this time CheekerCosplay will join us and share her cosplay story 🙂

steampunk_psylocke_cosplay_01

  • Introduce you and CheekerCosplay first 🙂 

    My real name is Megan; I’m 19 years old and currently living just shy of New Orleans, Louisiana. I’ve been cosplaying since 2008 and I’ve made over forty costumes to date. (Not including commissions)

  • How did you get started in with cosplay, what was your first cosplay?

    I was part of the anime club in high school and our teacher was a cosplayer. She introduced me (as well as everyone else in the club) to the hobby. The summer after my freshmen year was the fourth year of Louisiana’s big convention, MechaCon, and I was very much under the impression that I needed to have a cosplay in order to attend. (I’m not quite sure why) After waiting until the week of the convention, I finally decided what character I wanted to be. One of my cousins and I stayed up all night the night before sewing our butts off to complete Kairi’s pink dress from Kingdom Hearts II. Unfortunately, I have no photos of the costume, and it doesn’t exist anymore.

shadowcat_cosplay_print_by_cheekercosplay-d54t1x9

  • What has been your favourite cosplay?

    Right now my favorite cosplay is a tie between Panty (from Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt) and BeastBoy (from Teen Titans). Panty’s personality is so much different than the characters I normally portray, I love it! I also feel like I pull off her character really well. I feel like I actually look the part, which is awesome! My friend and I have won two awards as Panty and Stocking as well, it;s a really awesome feeling. As for BeastBoy, he is just obnoxious and outrageous. It was the second time I had ever crossplayed and I loved it. So many people were convinced I was a male, it was hilarious. I got to be loud and obnoxious and do stupid stuff all around New Orleans Comic-Con, and I got to be green! Haha. I really can’t wait to get to cosplay him again.

  • Describe your creative process for starting a costume through completion!

    I’m really bad about overworking myself and picking way too many characters I want to cosplay at once. Usually, one character will really stand out though, and I will just be dying to get a head-start on them. The first thing I always tend to do is buy a wig. Wigs are my favorite thing to shop online for, you can never have enough! I’ll sit and think about how I want to make the outfit for a few days, or even weeks, before I got and buy fabric. Normally during that time, I’ll order the other things I need, like shoes or contacts. Once I purchase the fabric, I sit down and draw out what I’m making and the pieces I’m going to need. I have a stash of patterns that I tend to use or alter to make most of my things, although I will also draft my own or, honestly, just guess and cut pieces out. (Which works surprisingly well most of the time) Once all the pieces are cut out, they’re pinned and sewn together! (With some procrastination in the middle, of course) Then I go through a series of trying things on and altering them and trying them on again until everything fits right. Then it’s time to put the tiny finishing touches (like the accessories or minor details) and prepare to debut the costume for good! Normally I don’t try on the entire cosplay with make-up and all that good stuff until the day of the con. So it’s always a surprise! (I’m not sure if that is a good or a bad thing, haha

228516_518433201507260_1829249205_n

 Kio as Kid ChiChi

Black Tie Cosplay as Ox King

Photo credit: Dinnerfortwo Photography (GeorgeM)

  • Do you have any favorite Asian films?

    I actually don’t watch a lot of foreign movies aside from anime. But right now, Summer Wars is one of my favorite movies of all time. I love everything about it, the concept, the art, the characters! The movie was so well put together, I cried when it was over because I was just so overwhelmed by how great is was.

  • What is the biggest learning curve you have learned about the cosplay in the past years?

    Patterns! I used to never use them, EVER. They just made my head hurt and left a mess all over my living room. It took a long time and a lot of convincing, but finally I started using them, and I must say, my costumes started looking a lot better. Although I still won’t use them from time to time, it’s nice to have them for when they’re needed. I’m also terrible at styling wigs and making boot covers, but hopefully I will get the hang of it eventually.

  • Do you have one piece of advice that you would give to cosplay virgins?

    Cosplay what you want and not what you think other people will like! Also know your limits when it comes to making something. It’s better to wait until you’re skilled enough than to try and end up with something you’re going to wish never existed. And lastly, remember to stay strong, work hard, and remember to have fun!

  • Lastly, what is your con schedule looking like through early 2013?

    As of right now, my plans are for Katsucon, MegaCon, and Anime Matsuri; none of which are in my home state. 2013 is feeling kinda like “go big or go home!”

Thank you Megan share her real cosplay story at Miccostumes.com, I’m seeking a sponsor opportunity for her, so here we go!

Cosplayer Interviews-Team blase Cosplay

There is a new cosplay interviews from our new friends teamblasecosplay : Gen and Fe .

Fe’s Lucca Cosplay from Chrono Trigger

1. Introduce you and your cosplay group first.

We are Fé and Gen from Canada. We have been cosplaying together for 2 years now, but Fé has been cosplaying for 10 years so that makes Gen the newbie!

2. How did you get started in with cosplay, what was your first cosplay?

Gen: I started cosplaying in 2010 because I wanted to attend an anime convention with my friends. I never cosplayed before that because I didn’t know people I could go to conventions with. I was really into Bleach at the time, so I decided to cosplay as Sunsun. I think it was a good choice because it wasn’t too challenging to make for a begginer without sewing knowledge. Also, I was nervous about getting my picture taken so cosplaying as a character who covers her mouth with one of her long sleeves was perfect for me; I had my photo pose figured out for me already.

Fé: I did the usual Halloween costume cosplay thing in the late 90s. I went to my first convention in 2003 dressed as Yuli from Pop’n Music.

Gen’s Shampoo Cosplay from Ranma 1/2

3. What has been your favourite cosplay?

Gen: My favourite cosplay is Margaret from Persona 4. I’m very proud of how it’s constructed,the fabric choices and how well it’s coordinated with Fé’s Elizabeth costume. We won a hall award for these costumes at Anime North and I was really happy!

Fé: I can’t pick just one! I usually love my latest costume best… until the next one!

4. Describe your creative process for starting a costume through completion!

Fe’s Elizabeth Cosplay from Persona 3

We usually start working on costumes many months ahead of the convention we plan on wearing them to. When you get more experienced at making costumes you can manage to make them in less time, but in the beginning I think it’s good to have plenty of time or if you’re just a bit lazy like us, haha.First we try to find as many reference pictures of the character as we can in order to figure out what clothing pieces or props are necessary to make. The next step is finding similar base patterns to modify among the commercial patterns from Vogue, Butterick, McCalls, Simplicity,etc. We usually don’t draft patterns from scratch unless it’s very easy, like skirts or when the clothing item just doesn’t look much like real clothing, such as Penelo’s top from FFXII:Revenant Wings.Then comes fabric shopping which also takes a considerable amount of time, because we like to pick our fabrics very carefully. We always make an effort to mix different fabric textures in our costumes and try to stay away from popelin and cotton as much as we can since it tends to look too plain.A lot of the sewing is done at our sewing classes, so we get to see each other’s progress along the way. It’s great to work in a pair since we can brainstorm and get awesome ideas that we wouldn’t have thought of by ourselves! Plus, it’s a lot more fun to work on cosplay with friends!When the convention gets closer, we take some time to think about what type of makeup we want for our characters. Sometimes it’s simple and doesn’t require much thought besides picking the right false eyelashes and eyeshadow colour. Other times it’s more elaborated such as with our Elizabeth and Margaret cosplays. We specifically wanted to have pale skin and even though we both have very pale complexions, white wigs made us look more tan than usual. We ended up mixing white foundation with our regular liquid foundation to get the right look. It’s good to practice your makeup once before the convention with the wig so you know what to expect.

5. Do you have any favorite Asian films?

Gen: I honestly don’t watch a lot of movies, but I like to watch Japanese movies sometimes.My favorites are Kamikaze Girls and Nobody Knows. Oh, let’s not forget the Rebuild of Evangelion movies. I can’t wait to watch Evangelion: 3.0.

Fé: I don’t watch movies at all. I prefer to play video games.

6. What is the biggest learning curve you have learned about the hobby?

Gen’s Fuuka Cospaly from Persona 3

Gen: For me, the thing that was the most difficult to learn is working with wigs. I don’t cut my own hair, so cutting a wig for the first time was scary. My first attempts weren’t successful and even now I’m afraid I can’t say that I have mastered this aspect of cosplay. I do some of the styling myself, but I always ask Fé for help for cutting them!

Fé: The most difficult for me is anything that doesn’t involve fabric or synthetic hair. I’m terrible at footwear or props and will do whatever I can to get out of doing them (like styling and cutting Gen’s wigs!).

7. Do you have one piece of advice that you would give to cosplay virgins?

Gen: Try not to obsess with cosplay “popularity”. With Facebook and all the social cosplay websites, it’s so easy to compare yourself to others and get discouraged. The point of cosplay shouldn’t be to get the most “Likes” on a page or gaining popularity, but to have fun creating (or

wearing) a costume, hanging out with friends and sharing your love of a fandom. I think you’ll enjoy the hobby much more if you focus on that instead of cosplayer rankings and who gets the most pictures taken.

Fé: Choose your cosplay carefully. I think picking the right or wrong character for your first cosplay can make you fall in love with the hobby or hate it! It’s important to love the character,pick an outfit that is not too daunting to make (if you are making it) and that flatters your figure.

8. Lastly, what is your con schedule looking like through early 2013?

In 2013, we will be attending Anime North in Toronto and Otakuthon in Montreal, two of the largest anime conventions in Canada.

Thanks Gen and Fe Join in our this week’s cosplay interviews, and miccostumes will sponsor Uta no Prince-sama Saotome Academy Girls Uniform and Uta no Prince-Sama Haruka Nanami wig for teamblasecosplay,hope we can see their new cosplay photos soon!.

Videogame Cosplay: Jillian Husted as Larxene from Kingdom Hearts (Pt 1)

I am here to provide you with a look into the life of Florida’s cosplayers and their costumes. This time I would like to feature one of the cosplayers associated with Orange Anime.  Orange Anime is an online forum that bands togheter all of Florida’s videogame and anime fans and arranges local events in Miami and the surrounding areas.  One of Orange Anime’s own staff member. Jillian Husted, also known as “Ixka1kai” on the forums will be the subject of this interview. She will be sharing here experiences as she talks about her cosplay of Larxene from Kingdom Hearts.

1. As a female cosplayer, why did you take an interest in this character and how close does the character resemble your personality?
I would say that Larxene is pretty much the exact opposite of me (except for maybe the b****y part). I wanted a character where I can be what I am not and attempt to have some more confidence. What initially drew me to Larxene in particular was the fact that she wanted to overthrow the ultimate evil to get a greater position of power.

2. What initially drew you to play the game she is from?
Larxene came from Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (or Re:Chain of Memories) which was apart of, in my opinion, the greatest game series ever. Not a lot of people have played/completed that particular game and Larxene was the greatest challenge I had in the game; it made me want to be her.

3. Did the character’s outfit influence your choice in cosplaying her?
The outfit was given. I mean there is basically 15 cosplays in one Organization XIII coat. I guess my main gripe is that it’s one coat (and gets very hot at cons) so I can’t change it up unless I go by fanart. When it comes to doing other outfits I plan to do a slumber party Larxene for Metro Con if it’s accepted

4. Why do you feel this character is special to the game she is from?
I believe that the character is special from the Kingdom Hearts series because she and Marluxia basically set-up the character line up in the second game of the series and creates a rift in an Organization meant to take down the good guys. It sorta makes her the ultimate evil I guess.

5. Is she your favorite videogame character? If not who is?
I would say she was my third favorite character in the games. I favorites are Riku & Sora. I cosplay Sora, but Larxene is special because she was my first cosplay ever.
6. What drove you to put in the work to make this character’s outfit and how did you go about making it?
I bought my outfit because I’m just getting into cosplay, but I would really like to learn how to sew in order to make the outfits as accurate as possible. I have made improvements in the chain and did get some advice and help on the wig from a fellow cosplayer.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this interview later this week!

Cosplayer Interview with oruntia

oruntia cosplay2

Oruntia is a very talented cosplayer from Indonesia. We posted her The Legend of Dragoon Shana Cosplay, Final Fantasy XIII Paddra Nsu Yeul Cosplay, and Final Fantasy XIII Lebreau Cosplay on our daily cosplay blog. We feel very grateful that oruntia accepts our interview, in which she shared some nice cosplay ideas and tips with us. Let’s take a look 😛 !

1. Please tell us something about yourself.

My real name is Nina from Indonesia. I love drawing, playing game, and of course cosplay 😀 .

2. Since cosplay becomes more and more popular, how do you think about the good things and also bad things on this performance art?

I think when someone join cosplay, she will discover a new world, a world that brings her find new friends, a new activity. She will learn many things that she never imagined before. Lately cosplay become competitive. Every cosplayer striving to be the best, famous. Many cosplayer obsessed to become celebrity. Cosplay isn’t fun anymore.

oruntia cosplay4

3.Have you ever met some difficulties in cosplay? And how did you solve them?

Of course. I always find difficulties on every costume I did. I usually ask for advice from friends who have been working on similar costume. Doing some experiments. The rest/ the execution i figure out myself.

4. Do you consider yourself a “cosplayer” year round, or only when participating in certain activities?

I am a cosplayer year round. I’d love to make costumes from my fave characters either to attend a cosplay convention, for photoshoot or just for fun.

oruntia cosplay1

5. Going to a venue with many people to watch you in costume and simply taking a photograph, which one is more meaningful?

Both are meaningful to me. I love to attend cosplay convention to gathering with my friends, showing off my costume to many peoples, getting new friend, doing performance on stage, taking fun picture with friends. I do private photoshoot to get maximal result. I can more concentrate if less peoples around. Besides by doing private photoshoot we can more selective to find a place suitable with my costume and doing some extreme poses hehehe….

6. We do think your Legend of Dragoon Shana cosplay seems ideal. The costume is made by yourself, right? So, how could you achieve this?

Yes, I did it myself a whole month. Honestly I never thought that I’d able to do it hehehehe… Legend of Dragoon is my fave game ever. since I played that game about 10 years ago, I always think dragoon armor is very amazing and I always imagine how it feels to wear that dragoon armor. since I started cosplay, cosplaying one of Legend of Dragoon character become my goal. So I did learn bit by bit how to create armor. Experience is my teacher. After about 2 years armor experiments, finally I dared to do it. I believe i can do it. So here’s the result 😀

oruntia cosplay3

7. Is the creation of the costume or characters more valuable than the actual acting or vice versa, or is it a mix? As well, how much of the do-it-yourself mentality is admired? If someone just bought their whole costume, are they still a true cosplayer?

Hmmm…. yes, it’s mix. An amazing costume without portraying the character is meaningless. The result of your cosplay will be plain and something missing or vice versa. Being a cosplayer isn’t about make a costume, also do acting, thinking about photoshoot concept, create gallery to show their works, get sosialize with other cosplayers from around the world.

I still respect to those who buy their cosplay costume. Sewing skill, armor create skill isn’t easly obtained. As long they (who buy their costumes) are honest with that it doesn’t matter. Cosplay is having fun.. there are no special rules in the world of cosplay.

oruntia cosplay5

8. Do you have one piece of advice that you would give to cosplay virgins?

For my friends, especially who consider cosplay is hobby, including those that are interested but hesitant to get started, make your costume seriously, wholeheartedly. Whatever the result, you will be proud wearing it. Also learn from people around you, whoever it is, whatever the field is, because we never know whether we need it or not (I found many new things that used to work on my costumes). And last but not least, everything has process, nothing is instant. Maybe the first work is less satisfactory, be patient, keep trying, do not despair. Be patient. Experience is the best teacher.

oruntia cosplay6

9. Which contest theme do you mostly want to see at Miccostumes.com?

Hmmm…. I’d love to see “battle scene” theme. I love stop action photography 😀 that would be awesome!!!

Cosplayer Interview with misslarisacroft

misslarisacroft cosplay3

A month ago, we posted an stunning Lara Croft Cosplay photo from misslarisacroft on our daily cosplay blog. Perhaps you have known this cosplay talent from Ukraine. misslarisacroft shows us many awesome Lara Croft cosplay works by wearing different Lara’s clothes. Her Lara Croft Cosplays are the best I’ve ever seen 😀 . It’s our pleasure to invite her to do an interview below.

misslarisacroft cosplay5

1. Since cosplay becomes more and more popular, how do you think about the good things and also bad things on this performance art?

I’m glad that cosplay becomes more popular, especially in my country. The only bad thing is expenditure 😀 But without this won’t be good and qualitative cosplay. The good things are pleasure, popularity, new friends and knowledge, aim in your life.

misslarisacroft cosplay1

2. Do you consider yourself a “cosplayer” year round, or only when participating in certain activities?

Of course I consider myself a cosplayer year round:) I try to do my cosplay, when I have free time.

3. Going to a venue with many people to watch you in costume and simply taking a photograph, which one is more meaningful?

Yes, I try! I love to see reaction of people about my cosplay, and I’m very happy to be in the centre of attention 🙂

misslarisacroft cosplay2

4. Is the creation of the costume or characters more valuable than the actual acting or vice versa, or is it a mix? As well, how much of the do-it-yourself mentality is admired? If someone just bought their whole costume, are they still a true cosplayer?

Not everyone can afford to buy costume or equipments for cosplay so then make it himself. Of course, when you have sewn a costume it will be more respectful, than when you bought it. For example, in my country it’s so hard to find Lara’s costumes so my boyfriend makes costumes and equipments himself 🙂

misslarisacroft cosplay4

5. Do you have one piece of advice that you would give to cosplay virgins?

Yes – If you already lay down an aim – don’t give up hope!

misslarisacroft cosplay7