Kirdina_the_elf

What got you into cosplay?
My friends took me to Otakon in the summer of 2005 after we met in May '05. They thought I might like it since I enjoy anime and since I love costumes (I was in a lot of theatre just b/c I got to wear costumes and Halloween is my favorite holiday). There I witnessed the glory that is cosplay and ever since I have striven to do my best at cosplaying
What was your first costume and why?
My first costume was that of Mitsuko Somha from Battle Royale. I suppose I chose that costume to do because Battle Royale was really the first Japanese film that really got me into reading subtitles! eeps! I know, I know, now I love subs, but when I started out liking anime and what not I just couldn't stand reading the show, I just wasn't use to it. It took Battle Royale to get me to really appreciate the movie without it having to be in my language. Now I love foreign films :) Thanks to that movie. Plus it's one of my favorite movies of all time!
What is your favorite costume and why?
My favorite costume I have ever done? I suppose it would be that of my elf character Kirdina. Mainly because I couldn't really "do it wrong" hehehe. I love making a costume when I don't have to worry about other people saying I did something wrong. Since Kirdina was from my imagination, I could do whatever I wanted, no limits. I also love playing d&d and for a long time I've been wanting to dress up as one of my characters. I also love the forests, which is where I got to have my photo shoot at, and I love weapons (mawhaha) which I got to use in some of the pics. I also love having pointy ears!! Huzzah!
Do you have a dream costume you'd like to make?
Hmm, a dream costume? Let's see here... if I ever get good enough to make it, I would like to make the first costume you see Akasha wearing from Queen of the Damned. I love Egyptian things and that costume looks so pretty!! Especially the crown she wears. I would also like to do a Helba cosplay from Dot Hack. *dreams*
What has been your most memorable cosplay experience?
I think it would be my Batman group cosplay. I made the Poison Ivy costume, the Two-Face costume and the Riddler costume all by myself. It was the first time I had actually "made" a costume without any help. I was really really nervous as we walked to the convention center because our costumes weren't Asian and I felt bad since it was Otakon, but I really really wanted to do a Batman cosplay and that was the only convention we ever go to. It was so memorable though because everyone wanted our pictures and gave our group lots of compliments on the costumes, especially Two-Faces, and it just felt so wonderful having people tell me I did a great job. Yay for positive reinforcement!
Do you participate in masquerades?
Hahaha, actually until 2007 I didn't really understand what a masquerade was. Then my friend explained it to me and I thought, why didn't I ever do a masquerade! Especially with my theatre experience! Now I do.
What was your best masquerade experience?
So far I have only ever done two. My first one was at Setsucon in January 2007 (when my friend first explained to me what a masquerade was). We did a Ranma 1/2 cosplay group and I volunteered us to do a skit since we learned there had been no entries for one yet. We wrote out a really quick skit on the back of a piece of paper and turned it in. We then had about an hour to rehearse it and memorize our lines. For a last minute skit I think it turned out relatively well. It can be seen here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6UZF6AQr10 My second masquerade was at Otakon 2008. It was very different from my first masquerade at a small local convention, but I still had a wonderful time. We did a slayers skit which can be seen here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OhW8iZI2Gs I cannot pick a favorite experience since they were both equally wonderful.
Have you won any awards for your costumes?
A first place award in 2007 at Setsucon for our Ranma 1/2 masquerade group skit and a Judge's Award for our Slayers skit at Otakon 2008.
Tell us a little about yourself
I have lots of hobbies! Painting, drawing, writing, belly-dancing, playing flute, piano, watching movies!
My favorite anime
Ranma 1/2, Slayers, Fruits Basket, Record of Lodus War
My favorite game(s)
DOA 3
My favorite book(s)
Dark Elf Trilogy, fruits basket mangas, battle royale mangas, Women's Encyclopedia of Myth and Secrets
My favorite character(s)
Drizzt Do-Urden (Dark Elf Trilogy), Yoda (if you don't know who he is shame on you!), Zhann (Farscape) Xena, Lina Inverse (Slayers), Yuki and Kyo (Fruits Basket)
My favorite movies(s)
Battle Royale!