Memetacular post
But first!
That is a picture of my TV from the last time I played Legend of Dragoon. Not photoshopped in any way. I wasn't kidding when I said this game is MUCH more perverted than I remember. OTL
Anyway, on to the memes!
Cosplay meme, stolen from zipchan :
What is your cosplay alias?
Artik
How many years have you cosplayed?
Since Halloween 2004, technically. That was the year I wore my Xelloss cosplay for the first time. Officially I started in 2005 when I went to my first convention, Animazement.
How did you get into cosplaying?
A combination of stumbling across pictures of cosplayers on lelola.net and finding a purple wig in Wal-Mart. xD
What was your first convention and how did it go?
Animazement 2005. When I walked in the doors and saw my first cosplayer in real life that wasn't me or one of my friends, I said: "I feel like I'm finally at home!"
How many cons have you been to?
13! I even helped run two of them!
How many cosplays have you done?
If you count all of the "second version"s and times where I just switched wigs but kept the same outfit and was a different character... 31.
[[Your Cosplays]]
What was your first cosplay and why did you choose it?
Xelloss, because I was a huge Slayers geek back then and that was my first thought when I saw the purple wig. Also it wasn't actually a difficult costume to pull out of my closet, all I had to make was the cloak.
What is your favorite cosplay you've done so far?
So many for so many different reasons. Kintaros because it's comfortable, Jun because it was the first costume I completed on my own and still to this day it looks AWESOME. Eruka because I honestly love the character and costume. Kallen and Lillymon because I honestly think I did a good job on those costumes.
What is your least favorite you've cosplayed?
Articuno. It was a pretty costume but I just UGH.
What cosplay is the most uncomfortable?
Articuno. Wearing it to AWA's ball was a MISTAKE. It was SO HOT.
[[Process]]
How do you research the cosplay before you make it?
I find as many reference pictures from as many different angles as I can, then I sit down and plot out what materials I want to use to make parts of the costume, and see if there are any sales for said materials going on any time soon.
Do you sew your cosplays yourself?
Of course!
If so, how did you learn to sew? If not, do you plan to learn?
I got my aunt to teach me how to sew, because I realized that I didn't want to have her make everything for my costumes when I had about fifty gajillion ideas for cosplays besides just Xelloss! xD
Do you make your own props?
I try. I can make stuffed/plushie props just fine but weapons I'm not so good at. Yet. Hopefully I'll improve.
If so, how did you learn to? If not, do you plan to learn?
Tutorials from cosplay.com. For serious.
Do you style your own wigs?
Yes, but I suck at it so I get zipchan to help me occasionally.
What other skills do you use to create your cosplays?
Painting, fabric dye, glueing...
What skill has been most useful for making your cosplay?
It's a tie between actually knowing how to sew and knowing how to alter patterns - I used one pattern for EVERY costume I took to AWA this last year and they all turned out differently!
What is the hardest thing when making a cosplay?
Either finding the time/motivation to actually sit down and work on the costume or...the money. DX
What was the biggest screw up you've had making a cosplay?
For both Eruka and Tsubaki I ended up having to remake both costumes. A couple of times. Also I screwed up on the back of the cloak for my Mia costume and IT SHOWS. Guh. Also leaving seams un-seamed at the bottom of my costumes seems to be a common trend...
How often do you injure yourself while making a cosplay?
Usually nothing major, maybe a burn from the hot glue gun or iron or stabbing myself with a needle.
[[Budget]]
Do you try to stay cheap or do you splurge on materials?
If it's a costume I really want to do a good job on, I can justify splurging. If it's a costume I'm just making for the heck of it, I go with cheaper materials. Sometimes I have to splurge when I don't want to, sometimes I luck out and find cheap materials that will still work for more "expensive" costumes. I'm always looking for cheaper methods to make things that don't sacrifice how "cool" or "professional" something looks.
[[cos-PLAY]]
Have you ever cosplayed with a partner or group?
All the time!
Do you try to act in character?
Sometimes. When it's fun to act in character, I do it, but I'm not constantly going "Oh no I'm out of character!" Though sometimes I'll do something and then point out how out-of-character it is because it's funny. xD
Have you ever done fanservice at a con?
Shonen-ai fanservice, yes, but not fanservice in the traditional sense...
How do you react to cosplayers dressed as character from the same anime/game/etc?
I try to say hi, get their picture, sometimes get a picture WITH them, etc. If I'm cosplaying from something it means I like it (usually), so finding other cosplayers from the same series is always a good thing!
Do you try to duplicate your character's expressions, walk, movements, etc?
Only if it's for something like a skit or panel where I need to be in character. I try to copy character's poses and facial expressions for pictures, too, otherwise no.
When crossplaying, do you try to act as much like the gender as possible?
I try, I really do. But I fail!
What was your funniest experience of acting in character?
Hmm. Either being in-character Liz with a Patti and Death the Kid at one photoshoot, or being in-character Tsubaki during Cosplay Chess at AZ last year. =D
What was your worst experience acting in character?
Whenever I cosplay a serious character I just CAN'T seem to get in character for the life of me, so in that sense serious characters are my "worst" to get in-character for.
[[Competition]]
Do you compete in cosplay contests?
Yes, but I'm probably going to stop soon. I don't see the point any more.
Have you won anything?
No, because I know I'm not good enough to get awards.
Do you prefer skits or walk-ons?
Skits!
[[Community]]
How many friends have you made because of cosplay?
A lot. Is there a word for more than a lot? Because that's what I want to use.
Do you attend photo shoots and meet-ups outside of conventions?
Whenever possible.
What is the funniest reaction you've gotten cosplaying from people outside of the community?
Getting our picture taken with a bride and groom when we accidentally crashed a wedding photoshoot. That was funny.
What was the worst?
Generally, I've found that people are usually only curious about why we're in costume, but not really rude or angry about it.
[[Future]]
How long do you think you'll be cosplaying for?
As long as I'm able to!
Name a few cosplays you're planning to do next:
Working on a few for Katsucon: Filia (Slayers TRY), Belarus (Hetalia), Meister Kirisaki (Yakitate! Japan) and maybe Riki/Dogga (Kamen Rider Kiva)
What is your dream cosplay?
I have three. Meru from Legend of Dragoon, Pulse from Twin Signal, and Bookmaster from Kingdom Hearts 2.
[[[Misc]]
What do you take into consideration when picking a character to cosplay?
I generally pick based on either "ooh I like this character", "ooh this character has a cool costume" or, "we need ____ for the group and I happen to like that character, so why not?" Often these three coincide.
Is cosplay serious business for you?
Sort of. I don't take it to extremes, but I am serious about my costumes and proud of what I do. I'm not a "cosplay snob" unless it's in reference to someone in a costume contest. Seriously, if you're going to throw on stuff from the bottom of your closet that only looks vaguely like the character and enter a contest, you deserve a little mockery. I don't mock said person when they're just running around a convention, but entering a contest with said costume is just asking for it.
What is your favorite thing about cosplay?
A tie between getting to meet people that are just as insane as I am, or getting glomped/squeed over/pictures taken because I cosplayed someone's favorite character.
What is your least favorite?
Ugh, all the drama. Also the fact that I'm constantly broke at conventions...
What is it that makes you keep cosplaying?
It's fun! And when I don't have something to work on, I feel like I'm not doing anything productive.
How would you like cosplaying to change in the future?
Less drama, and more people at least making an attempt to put effort into their costumes. Also, it's starting to happen more and more but I'd really like to see people cosplaying less from really popular series.
How do you want to grow as a cosplayer?
I want to have the skills (and the budget) to enter a costume contest and feel like I should win something (whether or not I do). Right now my techniques are crap, and it shows.
And now for a change of pace, a meme stolen from
vin_faucon :
1. List 10 celebrities you'd have sex with without even asking questions
2. I can't put them in order, so...yeah. These are in random order.
3. Say which movie/show/whatever hooked you.
4. Supply photos for said people.
Shockingly, this won't contain any anime/manga/video game characters! Unsurprisingly, it will contain a lot of asiansactors from Kamen Rider and J-dramas and J-rock groups.
Takashi Sorimachi
Series that hooked me: Great Teacher Onizuka the live action (yes I have a mild teacher moé now shut up)
Sato Takeru
Shows that hooked me: Kamen Rider Den-O and Rookies
Renn Kiriyama
Show that hooked me: Kamen Rider Double
Matsuda Kenji
Show that hooked me: Kamen Rider Kiva
Keisuke Kato
Shows that hooked me: Hana-Kimi and Kamen Rider Kiva
Koji Yusa
Shows that hooked me: Bleach (Gin), Kamen Rider Den-O (Urataros)
Kimito Totani
Show that hooked me: Kamen Rider Decade (Kaito was the only reason I kept watching xDD)
Gackt
Seriously, who wouldn't hit that?
Sugita Tomokazu
Shows that hooked me: The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi (Kyon), KR Kiva (Kivat)
Yuichi Nakamura
Show that hooked me: Kamen Rider Den-O
That is a picture of my TV from the last time I played Legend of Dragoon. Not photoshopped in any way. I wasn't kidding when I said this game is MUCH more perverted than I remember. OTL
Anyway, on to the memes!
Cosplay meme, stolen from zipchan :
What is your cosplay alias?
Artik
How many years have you cosplayed?
Since Halloween 2004, technically. That was the year I wore my Xelloss cosplay for the first time. Officially I started in 2005 when I went to my first convention, Animazement.
How did you get into cosplaying?
A combination of stumbling across pictures of cosplayers on lelola.net and finding a purple wig in Wal-Mart. xD
What was your first convention and how did it go?
Animazement 2005. When I walked in the doors and saw my first cosplayer in real life that wasn't me or one of my friends, I said: "I feel like I'm finally at home!"
How many cons have you been to?
13! I even helped run two of them!
How many cosplays have you done?
If you count all of the "second version"s and times where I just switched wigs but kept the same outfit and was a different character... 31.
[[Your Cosplays]]
What was your first cosplay and why did you choose it?
Xelloss, because I was a huge Slayers geek back then and that was my first thought when I saw the purple wig. Also it wasn't actually a difficult costume to pull out of my closet, all I had to make was the cloak.
What is your favorite cosplay you've done so far?
So many for so many different reasons. Kintaros because it's comfortable, Jun because it was the first costume I completed on my own and still to this day it looks AWESOME. Eruka because I honestly love the character and costume. Kallen and Lillymon because I honestly think I did a good job on those costumes.
What is your least favorite you've cosplayed?
Articuno. It was a pretty costume but I just UGH.
What cosplay is the most uncomfortable?
Articuno. Wearing it to AWA's ball was a MISTAKE. It was SO HOT.
[[Process]]
How do you research the cosplay before you make it?
I find as many reference pictures from as many different angles as I can, then I sit down and plot out what materials I want to use to make parts of the costume, and see if there are any sales for said materials going on any time soon.
Do you sew your cosplays yourself?
Of course!
If so, how did you learn to sew? If not, do you plan to learn?
I got my aunt to teach me how to sew, because I realized that I didn't want to have her make everything for my costumes when I had about fifty gajillion ideas for cosplays besides just Xelloss! xD
Do you make your own props?
I try. I can make stuffed/plushie props just fine but weapons I'm not so good at. Yet. Hopefully I'll improve.
If so, how did you learn to? If not, do you plan to learn?
Tutorials from cosplay.com. For serious.
Do you style your own wigs?
Yes, but I suck at it so I get zipchan to help me occasionally.
What other skills do you use to create your cosplays?
Painting, fabric dye, glueing...
What skill has been most useful for making your cosplay?
It's a tie between actually knowing how to sew and knowing how to alter patterns - I used one pattern for EVERY costume I took to AWA this last year and they all turned out differently!
What is the hardest thing when making a cosplay?
Either finding the time/motivation to actually sit down and work on the costume or...the money. DX
What was the biggest screw up you've had making a cosplay?
For both Eruka and Tsubaki I ended up having to remake both costumes. A couple of times. Also I screwed up on the back of the cloak for my Mia costume and IT SHOWS. Guh. Also leaving seams un-seamed at the bottom of my costumes seems to be a common trend...
How often do you injure yourself while making a cosplay?
Usually nothing major, maybe a burn from the hot glue gun or iron or stabbing myself with a needle.
[[Budget]]
Do you try to stay cheap or do you splurge on materials?
If it's a costume I really want to do a good job on, I can justify splurging. If it's a costume I'm just making for the heck of it, I go with cheaper materials. Sometimes I have to splurge when I don't want to, sometimes I luck out and find cheap materials that will still work for more "expensive" costumes. I'm always looking for cheaper methods to make things that don't sacrifice how "cool" or "professional" something looks.
[[cos-PLAY]]
Have you ever cosplayed with a partner or group?
All the time!
Do you try to act in character?
Sometimes. When it's fun to act in character, I do it, but I'm not constantly going "Oh no I'm out of character!" Though sometimes I'll do something and then point out how out-of-character it is because it's funny. xD
Have you ever done fanservice at a con?
Shonen-ai fanservice, yes, but not fanservice in the traditional sense...
How do you react to cosplayers dressed as character from the same anime/game/etc?
I try to say hi, get their picture, sometimes get a picture WITH them, etc. If I'm cosplaying from something it means I like it (usually), so finding other cosplayers from the same series is always a good thing!
Do you try to duplicate your character's expressions, walk, movements, etc?
Only if it's for something like a skit or panel where I need to be in character. I try to copy character's poses and facial expressions for pictures, too, otherwise no.
When crossplaying, do you try to act as much like the gender as possible?
I try, I really do. But I fail!
What was your funniest experience of acting in character?
Hmm. Either being in-character Liz with a Patti and Death the Kid at one photoshoot, or being in-character Tsubaki during Cosplay Chess at AZ last year. =D
What was your worst experience acting in character?
Whenever I cosplay a serious character I just CAN'T seem to get in character for the life of me, so in that sense serious characters are my "worst" to get in-character for.
[[Competition]]
Do you compete in cosplay contests?
Yes, but I'm probably going to stop soon. I don't see the point any more.
Have you won anything?
No, because I know I'm not good enough to get awards.
Do you prefer skits or walk-ons?
Skits!
[[Community]]
How many friends have you made because of cosplay?
A lot. Is there a word for more than a lot? Because that's what I want to use.
Do you attend photo shoots and meet-ups outside of conventions?
Whenever possible.
What is the funniest reaction you've gotten cosplaying from people outside of the community?
Getting our picture taken with a bride and groom when we accidentally crashed a wedding photoshoot. That was funny.
What was the worst?
Generally, I've found that people are usually only curious about why we're in costume, but not really rude or angry about it.
[[Future]]
How long do you think you'll be cosplaying for?
As long as I'm able to!
Name a few cosplays you're planning to do next:
Working on a few for Katsucon: Filia (Slayers TRY), Belarus (Hetalia), Meister Kirisaki (Yakitate! Japan) and maybe Riki/Dogga (Kamen Rider Kiva)
What is your dream cosplay?
I have three. Meru from Legend of Dragoon, Pulse from Twin Signal, and Bookmaster from Kingdom Hearts 2.
[[[Misc]]
What do you take into consideration when picking a character to cosplay?
I generally pick based on either "ooh I like this character", "ooh this character has a cool costume" or, "we need ____ for the group and I happen to like that character, so why not?" Often these three coincide.
Is cosplay serious business for you?
Sort of. I don't take it to extremes, but I am serious about my costumes and proud of what I do. I'm not a "cosplay snob" unless it's in reference to someone in a costume contest. Seriously, if you're going to throw on stuff from the bottom of your closet that only looks vaguely like the character and enter a contest, you deserve a little mockery. I don't mock said person when they're just running around a convention, but entering a contest with said costume is just asking for it.
What is your favorite thing about cosplay?
A tie between getting to meet people that are just as insane as I am, or getting glomped/squeed over/pictures taken because I cosplayed someone's favorite character.
What is your least favorite?
Ugh, all the drama. Also the fact that I'm constantly broke at conventions...
What is it that makes you keep cosplaying?
It's fun! And when I don't have something to work on, I feel like I'm not doing anything productive.
How would you like cosplaying to change in the future?
Less drama, and more people at least making an attempt to put effort into their costumes. Also, it's starting to happen more and more but I'd really like to see people cosplaying less from really popular series.
How do you want to grow as a cosplayer?
I want to have the skills (and the budget) to enter a costume contest and feel like I should win something (whether or not I do). Right now my techniques are crap, and it shows.
And now for a change of pace, a meme stolen from
vin_faucon :
1. List 10 celebrities you'd have sex with without even asking questions
2. I can't put them in order, so...yeah. These are in random order.
3. Say which movie/show/whatever hooked you.
4. Supply photos for said people.
Shockingly, this won't contain any anime/manga/video game characters! Unsurprisingly, it will contain a lot of asiansactors from Kamen Rider and J-dramas and J-rock groups.
Takashi Sorimachi
Series that hooked me: Great Teacher Onizuka the live action (yes I have a mild teacher moé now shut up)
Sato Takeru
Shows that hooked me: Kamen Rider Den-O and Rookies
Renn Kiriyama
Show that hooked me: Kamen Rider Double
Matsuda Kenji
Show that hooked me: Kamen Rider Kiva
Keisuke Kato
Shows that hooked me: Hana-Kimi and Kamen Rider Kiva
Koji Yusa
Shows that hooked me: Bleach (Gin), Kamen Rider Den-O (Urataros)
Kimito Totani
Show that hooked me: Kamen Rider Decade (Kaito was the only reason I kept watching xDD)
Gackt
Seriously, who wouldn't hit that?
Sugita Tomokazu
Shows that hooked me: The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi (Kyon), KR Kiva (Kivat)
Yuichi Nakamura
Show that hooked me: Kamen Rider Den-O