Starlightslk

What got you into cosplay?
I've always liked costumes (making and wearing), and I when I got into anime I loved the idea of cosplaying but I was unable to get the courage to do so until Anime Boston 2004, when I cosplayed as Hitomi Kanzaki (it helped that I looked like her) and one of my best friends went as Van Fannel (Escaflowne). Prior to this I had already completed four costumes: a Jedi, Usagi (Ep. 182) street clothes, Ami (BSSMStars) street clothes, an elf from (LOTR); and had started four costumes: Michiru Kaiou (BSSMS) party dress (pattern, planning, +fabric), a Sailor Senshi fuku (planning and I had the gloves+tiara constructed), TV Hitomi (Escaflowne), and Kagome (Inuyasha).
What was your first costume and why?
My first costume I ever made by myself was a Jedi costume for Halloween back in high school, because I had just gotten into the Classic Star Wars Trilogy, and my brother was going as the emperor, so having a Jedi only made sense. My first anime related costume was from Episode 181 of Sailor Moon Stars, Seiya and Usagi's Heart-Pounding Date; I made the street-clothes that she wore in that episode. I was still a bit to intimidated to make her Sailor Senshi Fuku, and I really liked the outfit. ^_^
What is your favorite costume and why?
My favorite costume right now is my Temari (Naruto) cosplay. I not only get to carry around a giant fan of doom, but I also have a cute stoat familiar Kirikiri Mai. I really like the coloration of this costume since it is primarily periwinkle, navy, burgundy, and white, which looks really good together in my opinion especially the way they designed it. I also get to wear comfortable ninja sandals and use my real hair for her pigtails (which supposedly make me look really different.) She may not be the closest character to me personality-wise but I really lover her strong self-confidant demeanor.
Do you have a dream costume you'd like to make?
Ran's princess costume from the Desperate Revival arc in Detective Conan. I love that arc it is my favorite so far in the series, and her dress is so pretty, unfortunately it would be a lot of work and money to make and I doubt that anyone would recognize my character unless I had a Shinichi as the Black Knight or a Conan with me.
What has been your most memorable cosplay experience?
Definetly Anime Boston 2005! ^_^ I was running around crazy because I was involved in practically every cosplay event there. I originally had applied and been accepted to do the cosplay chess as Kagome, I was to be the black queen. It was so much fun playing the character while interacting with all sorts of characters from other series (several of which helped me to take down Inuyasha on more than one occasion). I even got to have a special! ^_^ Ed (who had gotten "killed" by Kakashi) ran out and transmuted a spear for me to use to defeat Squall. It was so cool! ^_^ Unfortunately our side lost and I was "poked to death" by Areth and Sakura from CCS. About a week before the convention, I randomly without really realizing how ended up getting dragged into a masquerade group and winning "Best Accessory" for my Kagome book bag. And while at the judging for the masquerade I not only got a round of applause from the judges and a hall vote ribbon but I was also asked to participate in the anime dating game the next day. The dating game was a riot as well, all of the bachelors and bacheloretts got to hang out and talk before the game and I was all nervous because unlike everyone else I had had no prep time, but Rei (RikuuX) helped me calm down and do a fast prep right before it began. I ended up being picked by the bachelor, Edward Elric (well someone crossplaying him) to be their "date", but right after that they ran off never to be seen or heard from again.
Do you participate in masquerades?
Yes! ^_^ So far I have participated in: Anime Boston 2005 Bakuretsucon 2005 Anime Boston 2006 Otakon 2006 MangaNEXT 2006 Bakurestucon 2007 Arisia 2008
What was your best masquerade experience?
My first masquerade experience was Anime Boston 2005. It was so much fun! I was in a group of walk-on Inuyasha characters, and my friend and I had a blast back stage. When they were announcing the awards, I was insisting that I was not going to win anything since I never win, especially since someone had already gotten an honorable mention for a handwritten book and awesome automail arm, and my friend was insisting that I would win for my book bag, but I couldn’t believe her. Then when they announced "Best Accessory" and called my name I couldn't believe it and then my friend grabbed me and we started jumping up and down screaming. Then I ran up on stage. Laura Goodnight was the MC and started asking me questions about my book bag and then started to undo it, so I ended=up unpacking the majority of it on stage and explaining it. It was awesome! ^_^
Have you won any awards for your costumes?
"Journeyman Best in Class Performance" for "Fire & Ice Catwalk" at Arisia 2008 "Journeyman Best in Class Craftsmanship" for Crimson Kitty at Arisia 2008 "Best Advanced Craftsmanship" for Super Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon S) at the Bakuretsucon 2007 Masquerade. "Second Place Master Division" for Super Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon S), (The Holy Grail Transformation version with the butterfly wings and Holy Grail), in Tokyo Kid's 5th Annual Halloween Cosplay Contest 2007. "Second Place Singles Division" for Super Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon S) at the JapanLA 1 Year Anniversary Party, Cosplay.com Cosplay Contest. "Second Place Advanced Division" for Super Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon S), (The Holy Grail Transformation version with the butterfly wings and Holy Grail), at the Anime Boston 2007 Hall Costume Contest. Winner of the first round of Anime Dating Game at Anime Boston 2007, as Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya). "First Place Advanced Division" for Temari (Naruto) at the Anime Boston 2006 Hall Costume Contest. Winner of the first round of Anime Dating Game at Anime Boston 2006, as Winry Rockbell (Fullmetal Alchemist). "First Place" for Temari (Naruto) in Catzia's 5th Annual Anime Costume Contest 2005. "Third Place Master Division" for Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy VII) in Tokyo Kid's 3rd Annual Halloween Cosplay Contest 2005. "Best Over-All Group" at the Bakuretsucon 2005 Cosplay Contest for our group and our skit, "Final Fantasy Lockdown" "Best Accessory" at the Anime Boston 2005 Masquerade, for my Kagome's Book Bag (Inuyasha). Winner of the first round of Anime Dating Game at Anime Boston 2005, as Kagome Higurashi (Inuyasha). A "Hall Vote Cosplay Ribbon" on Friday for my Kagome (Inuyasha) costume at Anime Boston 2005. "Third Place" in Catzia's 4th Annual Halloween Cosplay Contest 2004 for my Kagome (Inuyasha) costume.
Tell us a little about yourself
I graduated from Emerson College as a Film major with a concentration in directing and producing and a Minor in History.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I have three little brothers (2 of the 3 are into anime), the youngest of which is only 11 years-old. He went as Conan Edogawa, from Detective Conan, for Halloween. He was sooo cute!!! He is also constantly asking me if he can come to an anime convention with me, but mom won't allow it yet (It would be nice way to spend some time together.) ^_^
My favorite anime
Detective Conan, Tenchi, Escaflowne, Fushigi Yuugi, X (X/1999), Sailor Moon (especially season 5 - Stars), Cowboy Bebop, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Rurouni Kenshin, Read Or Die OVA & the TV, Please Save My Earth, Witch Hunter Robin, Tokyo Babylon, DNAngel, Card Captor Sakura, Mayonaka no Tantei - Nightwalker, Inuyasha, Fullmetal Alchemist, Naruto, Bleach...
My favorite game(s)
Tales of Symphonia, Final Fantasy 7, DDR (any), Kingdom Hearts (1 & 2), Golden Sun, Tetris, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Lumines, Final Fantasy X, Inuyasha, Chrono Trigger, Way of the Samurai...
My favorite book(s)
"The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkin, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"(the misnamed trilogy) by Douglas Adams, "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" by Douglas Adams, "The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul" by Douglas Adams, “The Complete Sherlock Holmes" By Arthur Conan Doyle
My favorite character(s)
Shin'ichi Kudo/Conan Edogawa (Detective Conan), Ran Mouri (Detective Conan), Kagome Higurashi (Inuyasha), Inuyasha (Inuyasha), Winry Rockbell (Fullmetal Alchemist), Tsukino Usagi (Sailor Moon), Ami Mizuno/Sailor Mercury (Sailor Moon), Haruhiko Kasama (Please Save My Earth), Ed (Cowboy Bebop), Tamahome (Fushigi Yuugi), Inuki (X), Subaru Sumeragi (Tokyo Babylon the anime movie), Hitomi Kanzaki (Escaflowne), Allen Schezar (Escaflowne), Robin Sena (Witch Hunter Robin), Amon (Witch Hunter Robin), Dark (DNAngel), Haruhi Suzumiya (Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu), Mikuru Asahina (Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu)...
My favorite movies(s)
"Paprika", "The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy", "The Lord of the Rings", The Classic "Star Wars Trilogy", "Inuyasha Movie 1: The Love That Transcends Time", "Inuyasha Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass", "Inuyasha Movie 3: The Sword of the World Conquest", "Detective Conan Movie 1: Countdown on a Skyscraper", "Detective Conan Movie 4: Captured in her Eyes", "Detective Conan Movie 6: The Phantom of Baker Street", "Detective Conan Movie 7: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital", "Detective Conan Movie 8: Magician of the Silver Sky", "Princess Mononoke", "Spirited Away", "The Princess Bride", "X-Men" (1+2), "Hero", "Moulin Rouge", "Wayne's World", and many more... (Not a question to ask a film student and expect a short answer. ^_^)
My favorite actors/actresses
Nagayama Takashi, Minami Takayama, & Kappei Yamaguchi