Cosplay is for fun. It's a misunderstood hobby with a good and bad side. If everything is going good in your cosplay, keep it up just don’t lose your head in its fictional world. Keep priorities like family and school in order. If things aren’t great, do not be disheartened from doing what you love. As long as you are having fun, keep going!You know what is amazing ? This was spoken by a 13 year old girl ! She's definitely wise beyond her years.
It’s a different kind of happy-high when you are among fellow cosplayers but at the end of the day, it only matters if you enjoyed yourself or not. It’s not about popularity or pageviews, having fans or not, being better than others... no. It’s about expressing yourself through a character you love and sharing it with others.
Hopefully, you’ll make friendships that will last even when the costumes are faded, wigs worn out and cameras stop flashing.
Meet Anne-Marie. She’s the first cosplayer I’ve interview who is from outside the US. Her friends and her crossed borders to come to Baltimore for Otakon ‘09. She wasn’t the only ones – I’ve met a few folks from England and Canada at this con. When I was in Texas, there were folks who came over the border from Mexico for that con ! I saw her and was amazed by her “tattoo”. I’ve seen other Revys around but didn’t think they pulled it off as well as Anne-Marie did.
Hey ! Just wanted to find out what inspired you to go with that character for Otakon ?
What inspired me? Well.. from my point of view.. when you do a cosplay, you need to look like that character, at some point. The way to move, to talk, the look or whatever have a link with it. I know a lot of anime, but still, Revy from Black Lagoon was to me the one that look the closest to me. I still have some idea for futur cosplay, but I think this one will be my best one. I’m glad to hear ppl say “wow, awesome job, nice tattoo, you pull it out so good”. that make me happy to see ppl do know my character and do think I did a good job. Cosplay is now a big part of my life. I really enjoy it, and spend a lot of time on it. I got a cosplay group too, if you want to take a look. www.notsonuts.ca We just begin but still. ^^
Hm, our group begin couple month ago. We decide to create one cause we were all so much into cosplay. The first Otakuthon we did, was just over, we got all exited and start talking about new projects. We got so much into the talk, that we pass our exit by 10 minutes without noticing it lol. At first we just talk about how much we wanted to get the best costumes possible, and it turn out to talk about some name group we could have, so people, with time, would know about us and our passion for cosplay. After long talk, we begin to mention about a website, for people to see about our work, and talk about anime. We plan lots of things on it and lots of work was done on it too. We’re proud of all the work we have done so far, and hope it will still go on, in the good way ^^ So basicly, of course, the website is for our cosplay group, so you can see all we have done, and what we plan to do later, but its for everyone that share the same passion as all of us too!
Okay, back to your costume, tell me about the tattoo – it did look great and I saw another Revy but her tattoo didn’t rock as much as yours.
The tattoo is in fact the biggest thing ppl talk to me about lol. They just love it.. some even think it was a real one.. I got to make a mold of all that part of my body, to after draw the tattoo on it, to finally cut all the holes. Like that, for all conventions, we just need to retrace it to be the same each time. For the paint, I use some special skin paint that resist to water and work with 99% alcohol. If I remember the name right, its Kryolan. The tattoo is the biggest part of my character, I don’t have that, it just don’t work.
So how long have you been cosplaying ? And what other outfits have you done ?
Its technically my second year of cosplay… I have done Natsuki from My-Hime, Revy of Black Lagoon and some kind of Gloomy bear so far. Thats all. I have many idea for later tough, hoping it will come out good Like I said, we just begin ;P
Oh, so was that your first time at Otakon ? And how was your experience there ? What other cons have you gone to ?
Yes it was my first time at Otakon, and probably my last one. We have friends over there, and we just got there for a week or so at the same time. But they wont be there next year, cause they plan to move. (Its about 11h of road for us to get there =_=) I’ve got to Otakuthon (Montreal convention) 2 times now, Anime North (Toronto convention) and we plan on going at Ganime (Gatineau convention). Otakon was really awesome, but so much people! It was crasy,.. lots of really good costumes, and the place was cool ^^ I would definitivly go back if I could. It was the biggess one I see so far. We’ve done 2 skit so far too.. one at Anime North, and one at Otakuthon. We won the best workmanship in the journeyman division at Otakuthon 2009 ^^ We were so excited! XD
Thank you! ^^ Cosplay really mean a lot to me. Its like a second life, where I can be who I want without been afraid to be judge. I can have fun, and relax. Just to be able to show what I can do, and see what people think about it, is such a ruch of adrenalin, specially in the skit contest. Before, I was passing my time on TV and video games, all day long. Now, I’m active, and excited about new cosplay projects ^^
Thanks !
UPDATE : Offer all done :(- Ex-Shadow (Jefferson City, MO) via
FUNimation and Forbidden Planet present a special FREE screening of the hit series Black Butler(Kuroshitsuji)!
Join Forbidden Planet at the SoHo Gallery for Digital Art on Saturday,December 11th from 1pm-5pm for an exclusive FREE screening event featuring the FIRST SIX dubbed episodes of the anime series (two never before seen) and a cosplay contest with prizes from FUNimation! Also joining us will be special guests the SoHo Host Club!
What to bring: Cosplay (it's going to be cold, so you might want to keep that in mind ^-^), cameras, and some snacks.
We'll all meet in the parking lot next to the tennis courts. Once everyone has arrived, we can choose a spot and have all sorts of escapades! Bring whatever sort of snacks/treats you care to, and we can have plenty of photoshoots.
If this sounds like something you're interested in, leave a comment! Let us know what you'll be cosplaying, and what you might want to bring along. The more people that show up, the awesomer!!! xD