Cosplayer Interviews-Kie from Angel Hearts Cosplay

Today Kie,founder of Angel Hearts Cosplay( If you are frequently join CA. based anime&game  conventions,maybe you have seen AHC’s J-pop dance already), Join in our cosplay interviews to share her cosplay story.

Kie’s Awords:

* Honorable Mention: Journeyman Craftsmanship – Ani-Magic 2000
* Yaya Han’s Judge Award – Ani-Magic 2001
* Honorable Mention Craftsmanship – FanimeCon 2002
* Best Technical: Group – FanimeCon 2002
* Tristen Citrine’s Judge Award – Anime Expo 2002
* Best Group – Ani-Magic 2002
* Honorable Mention Presentation – Anime Expo 2003
* Best Anime Group (Industry Award) – San Diego Comic-Con 2004
* Best Anime Costume (Industry Award) – San Diego Comic-Con 2004
* Most Humorous – San Diego Comic-Con 2005
* Industry Award – San Diego Comic-Con 2005
* Best Advanced Intermediate – Anime Expo 2006
* Most Humorous – San Diego Comic-Con 2006
* Best Anime Costume Runner-Up – San Diego Comic-Con 2006
* Honorable Mention: Group Craftsmanship – FanimeCon 2008
* Most Popular (Industry Award) – San Diego Comic-Con 2008
* Best in Division (Normal): Group Craftsmanship – FanimeCon 2009
* 3rd Place – Anime Expo 2009
* Best Choreography – FanimeCon 2010
* Runner-up: Presentation – Anime Expo 2010
* Most Adorable (Journeyman Presentation Award) – Costume Con 30 (2012)
* Best in Show – AniMegaCon 2012

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1.Introduce you and your group Angel Hearts Cosplay(AHC) first.

Hi!  I’m Kie — cosplayer since 1999, fashion designer, artist, Lolita, and gamer.  I am the founder and leader of Angel Hearts, a California cosplay dance group known for performing songs from THE IDOLM@STER.

For more information and the latest updates, follow my page and group page on Facebook:
“Kitty Princess Kie” http://www.facebook.com/kittyprincesskie
“Angel Hearts” http://www.facebook.com/angelheartscosplay

2.How did you get started in with cosplay, what was your first cosplay?
In 1998 I was active online in the fan art community.  I learned about Anime Expo and cosplay on the internet and decided to go in 1999 and dress as one of my favorite characters, Sailor Mars.  Before AX came around, however, San Francisco’s Cherry Blossom Festival held its first cosplay contest in April 1999.  I found about it two weeks before the event and asked my mom to help me quickly put together a costume.  I picked Tifa from Final Fantasy VII.  It was pretty bad, but that’s how a lot of cosplay was back in those days.
3.What has been your favourite cosplay?
My favorite costume has always been Ocarina of Time Zelda.  I would really like to remake it someday.
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4.Describe your creative process for starting a costume through completion!
The first thing I do is gather all the reference I can find of a costume.  I used to draw turnarounds of the outfit to make sure I knew what it looked like from all angles, but these days if I can see all the details and visualize it in my head, I don’t bother.  I make a collage with all the reference images and print them out so I can refer to them at all stages of construction.  Next I hunt for materials.  I have a fairly extensive knowledge of textiles and am very particular about the materials I use.  The weight, texture, and drape of the fabric must be appropriate for the intended project, and the color just right.  Sometimes I spend a very long time hunting for just the right fabric.  Once I have all the materials, I start patterning the cloth parts of the costume.  If the shape is something I have not worked with before, I’ll make a mockup.  Cutting always takes a long time, but sewing is pretty quick.  Once the cloth pieces are done, I move on to accessories, jewelry, armor, shoes, wigs, props, or whatever embellishments are needed to complete the outfit.  I always make sure to coordinate my makeup as well!
5. Please talk more about your cosplay group AHC,I’ve check all girls cosplay,really impressive!!
I started Angel Hearts in 2003 because I wanted a group of dedicated cosplayers to sing and dance to J-pop songs with.  Unfortunately J-pop cosplay was not very popular, and I had a hard time finding people who wanted to join.  We performed some ZONE and Hello! Project songs, but the group was not very active for many years.  In 2005 we did our first ParaPara dance show, and in 2006 I discovered the IDOLM@STER game.  I was very excited about the game and pulled some people together to perform a few songs in 2007.  The group grew slowly after that and really finally started to pick up in 2010.  We now have an active group with eight members and perform at events all around California.  After the IDOLM@STER anime aired in 2011, a lot more people started to recognize our cosplay and we are really happy to meet more IDOLM@STER fans!
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6.What is the biggest learning curve you have learned about the hobby in the past years?
If I don’t know how to do something, I will research it until I figure it out.  Probably the biggest challenge for me so far has been the programmable lights in the “Starry” costumes from THE IDOLM@STER.  E-textiles was a field I was completely unfamiliar with, but the key to learning is knowing who to go to for help.  I read everything I could on the subject and after a few months managed to come up with a plan for our lighting.  It is very satisfying when you finally see everything come together.
7. Do you have one piece of advice that you would give to cosplay virgins?
My advice to new cosplayers would be to do your research and don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Constructing costumes is something that takes a lot of practice and experience to get right, so don’t get discouraged if something doesn’t turn out right the first time.  Just keep working at it.  Also don’t forget to smile and have fun!  Cosplay is not something to stress over.
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8.Lastly, what is your con schedule looking like through early 2013?
The year started out rough for me — I missed Anime LA because I was really sick.  Hopefully the rest of the year will turn out better!  I will be at AOD in San Francisco in February along with two other members of Angel Hearts, and then five of us will be going to AD Sabakon in Las Vegas in April!  For sure we will be going to FanimeCon at the end of May. I am crossing my fingers that we can get all eight members this year!

sado44

Co-Founder of Miccostumes.com,love Cosplay,Anime,Game,Hiking,Running,Board Game,Poker!