Tell me about the outfit you are wearing – who are you cosplaying and how did you decide to pick this particular character ?
The character i’m cosplaying is General Marian Cross from D-gray man. Originally a dear friend of mine had asked me to cosplay him, but I was pretty excited at the idea because he is a presonal favorite character of mine and I’m a very big fan of the series D-gray man . (also it gave me an excuse to make a really cool gun)
Tell me about the process of making your outfit – was it easier or tougher than you imagine it to be ?
It wasn’t a necessarily tough costume for me. But it was a valuable learning experience. I’m not the most versed in sewing, so I sewed my own costume this time to learn more. And I admit I made some stupid mistakes on the way, but I learned a lot from making it and hope to build my sewing skills. The gun turned out well too, which was the most exciting piece for me. I love the prop making process. It was made by sanding and glueing styrofoam into the form of the gun. I then cut pieces of cratfoam on it as well and glued them to it to help keep a layered and smooth looking gun. I’ used a drywall plaster for layering and smoothing. Sanded that and covered it in Gesso. I just tried using model paints for cosplay on this costume, which if you haven’t used them, they are amazing. By using them and detail painting you can really make your props come to life. The last and most improtant thing I did and found out through this cosplay is I wore make up for cosplay this year. And I’m sure a lot of the girls out there already do this, but to all you guys out there it can really improve the photos you take when cosplaying. Get a female friend to help you.
Any interesting stories from people’s reaction to your outfit at the con ? ^^
Mostly the reactions I got while wearing Cross wear positive and maybe a little too ecstatic at times. But I love the community and it makes me happy seeing people get excited about a costume I made.
How did you get started cosplaying and what got you interested ?
I’ve always had a fascination with making things and being an artist doesn’t help. But really what got me started on cosplay was my first A-kon. I hadn’t really known what to expect at an anime con before and albeit I had an amazing time, I decided that next year I would make a costume no matter what. My first cosplay was Gaara from Naruto and I painstakingly made a giant gourd out of chicken wire and paper mache. After all the fun nad attention I got at that second A-kon. I decided I didn’t want to ever go to a con again and not cosplay.
What are the con did you first attended and what’s your favorite con that you’ve attended so far and why ?
My first con was actually a table top gaming con in Kansas that was short running. It only ran 2 years. My first anime cons were A-kon and Animefest. My favorite con to this day is still Animefest. Its just an amazing con. They’ve had amazing Japanese guests. Its four days and the enviroment is so relaxed and fun. Its a great con for socializing and the panels are ran really well too. I just love it.
What does cosplay mean to you ?
This is a very good question and one very important to me. I think cosplay is both a hobby and a community to me. I think in a lot of ways people see it as a competition, which I think it also can be. But it should be in a friendly way. I love the creativity of people and seeing them push themselves to see what they are capable of doing. But I dislike cosplaying for the sake of showing up people. I try to do the best job I can and do as much justice to the character I’m cosplaying as possible. But I stress the community because I see too much hostility between cosplayers and a lot of resulting drama. Realistically we are a community that’s brought together by our common interests and nothing makes me happier than meeting wonderful new people and seeing how creative and talented everyone out there is.
If you had unlimited funds/technology/time, what is your dream cosplay ?
I’m still not sure on this one. I think the most time consuming and complicated costume I’d like to do is I’d like to do a monster hunter cosplay. The weapon designs and armors are so complicated and original that I think it would take alot of time and money. Others I’ve been wanting to try as well would be Thanatos from Persona 3, Anything Hyung Tae Kim, Oswald from Odin Sphere, Brandon Heat from Gungrave with all of his guns, and Gut’s berserker armor in Berserk.
