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What got you into cosplay?
I saw a picture of Cloud cosplayed several years ago. It was absolutely perfect, except for the fact that it was crossplay... and I decided that I could make just as perfect a costume on a man.
After starting, it's been the people who's kept me going. Either my friends, those I meet at cons, or an attempt to prove myself to those cosplayers I respect and admire.
What was your first costume and why?
I made my sister's best friend White Mage robes which unfortunately made me rush on my own costume. Luckily everyone only recognized her as a WM rather than Garnet til Alexandros 17th. (Her mom whipped up a craptacular Garnet to wear under for that scene in FFIX.....).
And then there's that one pic of me as Sailor Pluto that the CIA has on file...
What is your favorite costume and why?
Whichever one I'm working on is my favorite... and the most frustrating. I really enjoy old school and nostalgic anime cosplay.
Do you have a dream costume you'd like to make?
Every costume of mine is a dream costume. I try to leap to a new level with each one, so that means that every costume was once a dream.
Right now? "Goddess"/Custom/"Amano" Jenova.
What has been your most memorable cosplay experience?
Onicon 2006, backstage to the contest, Lord Masamune was walking around and talking to the cosplayers. I got my picture taken with him, then I got a hug. That alone made the whole thing worth it. I didn't need to win that contest to feel that kind of satisfaction.
Do you participate in masquerades?
As often as possible
What was your best masquerade experience?
Onicon 2006, when I lost, but I learned something very valuable about cosplaying. I've heard it time and again, but it's something that must be learned. If you go into it with the goal to just win, you'll be miserable. If you cosplay for fun, or for the costume itself, you'll be happy whether you win or lose. Even though I didn't place anywhere on the radar and I totally klutzed out on stage (got all caught up in my staff... it was embarassing), I did get to meet Space Invader and got to talk to Lord Masamune (I even got a hug <3). And that was beyond worth everything. One of my friends got the Host's award, and that made me happy. Overall, it was a fantastic night.
Have you won any awards for your costumes?
Walking and Thinking - Sora and Roxas skit - AnimeFEST 2007 -- Best Drama Award || Hellsing (manga/Ultimate) - Ikkicon 2008 -- Best Walk-On || "Writer's Strike" - Pokemon skit - A-Kon 19 -- Judge's Award
Tell us a little about yourself
I believe that fanart is a very useful but under-utilized resource. Not only does it provide a second opinion, it also gives ideas to spice up an otherwise bland costume and what is and what isn't accepted in the fan community. Never use fanart as canon, but as a secondary source... like in a research paper. When I work on a costume, I use fanart almost as much as I do official art, depending on availability. For example, there's not many pics for Aerith, but I used fanart as a suppliment. Definately for Jenova, but I also used fanfics since art was scarce. Use everything, including your own imagination. Artist's interp always gets bonus points in my book.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
My heroes and inspirations in this field have always been those people who have made a difference on a personal level, no matter their cosplay level. Sometimes, it's those first year cosplayers who gave it their all, though there's a lot to be improved, they came out to the floor knowing that there are seasoned players out there. It's that gusto that makes me hopeful for the future of cosplay. Then again... there's also those masters who I idolize. Cherry and Gren were real inspirations. I sat in on their panel back at AKon 16, and it was a real eye opener. I had taken to the cosplay snobbery and if I hadn't gone, I might have never realized it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
For the longest time, I'd been cosplaying to be better than Adella. But back at Onicon 2006, I recieved a revelation: I have to be myself, not her. It's a liberating feeling, it really is. Now, I've made two costumes that were inspired by those I met at the con. Space Invader and Lord Masamune both did so much, though they did so little. By just being so nice and so normal to those of us who spoke to them, it gave myself and those I cosplay with hope that one day, we might be able to do the same for the next generation of cosplay.
My favorite anime
.hack//SIGN, .hack//Roots, Kyo Kara Maoh, Jubei-chan the Ninja Girl: Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Rurouni Kenshin OAV, Otogi Zoshi - first half, Iria: Zeiram the Animation, Armitage III: Poly-Matrix (the original VHS release), Hellsing
My favorite game(s)
Final Fantasy VI, VII, VIII, and X, .hack series, Resident Evil, Onimusha, Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2...
most anything Squaresoft. Yes, I said SquareSOFT. It's the old stuff I like. Kickin' it middle school, that's what I'm doing. Middle school, yo!
My favorite book(s)
Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, How to Draw Manga, Harry Potter
My favorite character(s)
Bantaro Sanbanmatsu! Haseo, Gunter von Christ, Cloud Strife, Roxas, Jenova, others...
My favorite movies(s)
Moulin Rouge, Knight's Tale, Neverending Story, Labyrinth, Man of the Year, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl and At World's End
My favorite actors/actresses
Takahiro Sakurai, Miki Shinichiro, Seki Tomokazu, Robin Williams, Jason Isaacs, Christian Bale
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United States
