Tell me about the outfit you are wearing – who are you cosplaying and how did you decide to pick this particular character ?
I am portraying Marco Pagot (a.k.a. Porco Rosso) from the Hayao Miyazaki animated film Porco Rosso. He is a cursed pilot who must live life as a half-man-half-pig creature until he can come to terms with the over-consuming guilt of his friends’ deaths in the air, a fate he barely escaped himself.
I chose Porco for several reasons:
I am an older cosplayer, and he is closer to my age than most characters in anime.
I am “a bit chubby” (lol), so his form suited mine!
Mainly, I adore Miyazaki, and in particular this film and its anti-hero.
Tell me about the process of making your outfit – was it easier or tougher than you imagine it to be ?
Another consideration was time and money. I figured Porco would be a comparatively easy build since his clothing is “Earth based”. Overall, it wasn’t that difficult. I found almost all I needed in several Army Surplus stores in the San Fernando Valley and Burbank, California. I had to modify the helmet a bit for the exaggerated ear cups ( I used a dog toy, a plastic ball, sawed in halves, and then spray-painted to match the helmet’s leather. My wife sewed the scarf. The goggles I found on-line, as I did the pig snout (which I shortened considerably). The mustache was originally a real hair one found also on-line. It disintagrated after the first con. I fashioned the next out of the fuzzy half of a wide Velcro strip. I sewed it directly to the rubber snout. It looked much better than the real hair one, I believe.
Any interesting stories from people’s reaction to your outfit at the con ? ^^
Oh yes! I was very pleasantly surprised at how well Porco was received by everyone! Apparently he is VERY popular in Japan. It seemed everyone I passed who was visiting from Japan was very excited to see Porco. One fellow in particular was very amusing. I saw his head popping up over the sea of people at AX 2009 in LA. Each time he was growing nearer. Finally he burst through the crowd, slid across the floor on his knees to my feet, hands clenched, eyes wide in adoration! He said in his broken English, “YOU are the very reason I come to convention! May I have picture?!” Of course I obliged, and he took several from all angles (including lying on his back). He jumped up and down a bit, gave me a proud hug, thanked me again, and then slipped off into the crowd. Many others from Japan gingerly and/or excitedly asked for photos with their iconic friend. I was thoroughly impressed by the grace, and polite manners of these visitors from afar, and they all hold a special place in my memories. I was also greeted several times by those thanking me for representing the “Old School” of anime, as they put it. I received several sincere handshakes and hugs by those who admired Porco’s less-than-glamorous appeal, and nostalgic air.
How did you get started cosplaying and what got you interested ?
My son (about 14 at the time) embraced the cosplay world early on. My wife and I enjoy sharing our children’s’ interests, as we all are also great Renaissance Faire devotees. Dressing in costume, and attending events was not strange to us at all (we met in an acting class in college, after all).
What are the con did you first attended and what’s your favorite con that you’ve attended so far and why ?
I first accompanied my son to AX2007 Los Angeles as a civilian (plain clothed). When I saw what fun he was having dressed as No-Face from the Miyazaki film “Spirited Away”, I knew I would have to return in costume the next year. I have been Porco for both AX2008, and AX2009. We also attended a small Anime Fair called Mikomicon at Northridge College in the San Fernando Valley this past September. I suppose my favorite has been AX2009. It was quite an event as the entire family and three of my son’s friends all attended. We stayed at a hotel for the whole Con and had a blast!
What does cosplay mean to you ?
Cosplay is another of my many ways to keep young. I am 50 in July, but I still feel like a kid inside. Cosplay offers a way to remain young at heart, keep my imagination alive, and spend real quality time with my family & friends. The real world is quite often a frightening, and/or drab place. The Cons let us escape for a few days in harmless revelry.
If you had unlimited funds/technology/time, what is your dream cosplay ?
Hmmm… Perhaps I should come to Con as Akira – full blown! Tentacles flying, ever increasing in size, grotesquely swelling and sprouting new house-sized parts, until I fill then consume the entire Con complex!!!
…You did say unlimited resources, right?
