Cosplay Interview #12

Seviria Cosplay

Home: Vancouver, Canada
Age: 18

Links to Seviria
Instagram
Facebook

This year's Cons:
Northwest Fan Fest (May 29-31)
Anime Expo (July 2-4 )
Anime Revolution (Aug 14-16)

CosWeek: When did you start cosplaying?
Seviria: I made my first costume in October of 2014, but it was for a halloween costume and it didn't require much work. So I would say I truly started cosplay at the end of December 2014 when I made my Snowstorm Sivir Cosplay from League of Legends.

CosWeek: Why did you start Cosplaying?
Seviria: I have always loved dressing up, and I have a passion for  musical theatre. So getting into characters is one of my favourite things to do, cosplaying gave me the opportunity to really bring my favourite characters to life as well as learn more about crafting different weapons and armour! I have also learned how to sew since I started cosplaying which has been an interesting learning curve for me.

CosWeek: Are you still involved in theatre?
Seviria: I wish I was but I can't afford to keep it up right now, and in university im taking a different approach

CosWeek: Do you make your own?
Seviria: I make everything myself with the help of my boyfriend who also has a passion for creating weapons and armour! I occasionally buy a few things, like shoes for example then modify them.

CosWeek: What are you reading right now?
Seviria: Steven King, I love Steven King.

CosWeek: What is the source of your cosplay name?
Seviria: Well I am really horrible when it comes to names, so when I made my league of legends account I decided I was going to try and make myself a cool sounding name that wasn't as lame as others I had made in the past. I ended up being not very creative and went with severea, which is just the word severe with an a on the end. I liked it because severe is a cool word, and the a made it sound more feminine. However spelt that way, people never pronounced it how I imagined it to be pronounced. So when I made my cosplay page I changed the spelling so it would sound much closer to how I wanted it, and so Seviria was born!

CosWeek: What is your favorite source material to cosplay?
Seviria: League of Legends so far! They have so many great characters and skins! However I also have started to make costumes from Anime especially one called Fairy Tail! I am currently working on an Erza cosplay.

CosWeek: What do you do when you're not cosplaying?
Seviria: I attend university full time during the winter session, and during the summer I work as well play tons of video games and watch lots of anime

Moka Akashiya from Rosario+Vampire

CosWeek: What is the last movie you saw?
Seviria: The last movie I saw was actually the Fairy Tail movie, from Funimation

CosWeek: Do you constantly tweak and improve a costume, or do you move on the the next one?
Seviria: I constantly tweak a costume till It looks how I desire it to be, but I also move forward to the next ones. My katarina cosplay for example I made in january, and since then have updated it three times and I'm finally happy with the finished product.

CosWeek: Coffee, Tea or....
Seviria: Tea, but not just any tea, Bubble tea! I live off of that stuff, so good.

CosWeek: What excites you about Cosplay?
Seviria: Getting to become a character I love, going to conventions and meeting other amazing cosplayers, as well as seeing really cool pictures of myself in costume where I sometimes look at it and go wow is that really me?!

Cosplay Interview #11

Kristina

of

Cutie Pie Creations

Home: Vancouver, Canada
Age: 20

Links to Cutie Pie
Deviantart
Facebook

This year's Cons:
Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo (April 18)
Northwest Fan Fest (May 29-31)
Anime Evolution (July 17-19)
Anime Revolution (Aug 14-16)

CosWeek: How long have you Cosplayed for?
Cutie: About 8 years. I started getting more serious about Cosplay and making my own displays about 3 years ago.

CosWeek: Who got you started in Cosplay?
Cutie: My high school friends brought me to my 1st convention back in 2008. Before then I was always into Sailor moon and studio Gibili. But I never knew that people actually dressed up it seemed like so much fun. Ever since I went to the 1st convention I was hooked!

CosWeek: What is your favorite source material?
Cutie:  I really like League of Legends! I really enjoy artists who make their own outfits of well know characters like the artist No Flutter. My favorite artist of all time has got to be Sakizou.

CosWeek: Were you a sewer before or because of Cosplay?
Cutie: I learned how to sew from my grandmother when I was young. But I mostly just enjoyed pressing the foot petal and sewing super fast. Now I sew for Cosplay and sometimes for regular fashion.

CosWeek: What keeps you going in Cosplay, what drives you to do it?
Cutie: I get motivated to work on cosplay when looking at other's cosplay creations. Sometimes the cosplay is so unique and so well done I wish that I could make something as great!

CosWeek: What do you do when you're not cosplaying?
Cutie: When i'm not cosplaying I'm working as a Pastry Chef!

CosWeek: Do your co-workers know? What do they think about what you do?
Cutie: The people that I work with know that I cosplay. When i tell them they are very surprised, and very interested in seeing pictures of my costumes. Alot of the time my coworkers don't know what cosplay is and are very shocked to see how different I look in and out of costume. It's nice that they all support my crazy hobby!

Cosplay Interview #10

Luxlo

of

Cloak & Dagger Cosplay

Home: Toronto, Canada
Age: 19

Chest: 79cm / 31"
Waist:60cm / 23.5"
Hips:  92cm / 36"
Height:172cm / 5' 6"
Weight:56kg  / 125 lbs 

Links to Luxlo
Deviantart
Facebook

This year's Cons:
PAX East 2015 (March 6-8)
Anime North 2015 (May 23-25)
hopefully others if I get a chance!

CosWeek: Why did you get into Cosplay?
Luxlo: I got into cosplay because all my life I have loved both dressing up and art- so when I became submerged into more pop culture where cosplay is so often seen, I just naturally got into it and knew it'd be something I would love.

CosWeek: Who do you Cosplay with?
Luxlo: I sometimes Cosplay with my boyfriend- we started our cosplay name/team "cloak & dagger cosplay" in March 2014. We have cosplayed together a couple times as well as doing individual cosplays, and we also work on our projects and commissions together now and then.

CosWeek: How long have you been Cosplaying?
Luxlo: Not very long at all- My first cosplay was in May 2012. I was Marceline from Adventure Time.

CosWeek: So far, what has been your favorite event?
Luxlo: I have only been to a few different cons, so I hope in the future I'm fortunate enough to get the chance to go to more and perhaps travel further to do so too.
My favourite of the ones I've been to is Anime North! Many attendees and tons into cosplay, and it encompasses not just anime but many other fandoms as well.

CosWeek: Do you make your own costumes?
Luxlo: I try to make as much of a costume I can by myself. One costume of mine that was entirely not made by me though would be Asuna from SAO. Looking back I wish I'd tried to make some parts of it myself.

CosWeek: Why other forms of art do you partake in?
Luxlo: Aside from cosplay, other art I like is mainly drawing and painting- acrylic and watercolours. I was in an art program for a year in college, but decided art is something I want to keep as a hobby (unless some crazy amazing opportunity ever came upon me I guess I could rethink!)

Cosplay Interview #9

Useless Materia Cosplay

Home:  Raleigh, NC, USA
Age: 27

Chest: 91cm / 36 inch
Waist: 72cm / 28.5 inch
Hips: 99cm / 39 inch
Height: 165cm / 5'5"
Weight: 59 kg / 30 lbs
Blood Type: O+

Links to me:
Facebook

This year's Con list:
Animazement (Raleigh, NC)
Cosplay America (Cary, NC)
Escapist Expo (Durham, NC)
Heroes Con (maybe) (Charlotte, NC)

CosWeek: What got you started in Cosplay?
UMC: My best friend knows how to sew, and she offered to make a group of us costumes to go to Animazement in Raleigh.  That was seven years ago, and though most of us went our separate ways, she and I have gone every year since!  We tend to do matching costumes, because cosplaying is more fun together :) She's the talent behind the sewing, and I help out with accessories where necessary.

CosWeek: Who do you Cosplay with?
UMC: It's always been my best friend, Smash Cosplay, but in the last few years we've started going with another group of friends too - one year we had a huge Blaz Blue group go together, and this year we had a bunch of people dress up for Game of Thrones.  The big groups are always so fun - people really get excited to see so many people from the same show or game.

CosWeek: What would you ultimate Cosplay dream be?
UMC: I never seem to do any happy people - my Cosplay characters are always so serious (aside from Margaery!).  But I'd love to do Celine Jules from Star Ocean 2, Luna from Lunar 1, or Inara from Firefly... but if I could do the dragoon form of Rose from Legend of Dragoon, I think that would be the most impressive. :-)

CosWeek: What other hobbies do you have?
UMC: I love to read, and I'm a big lover of Shakespeare and other 17th century playwrights and I go to as many local performances as I can.  I also collect beer caps and have over 550 different ones; I plan on making a mural for my bar back out of them one day!  I also enjoy other noble pursuits, such as cooking, drinking wine and binge watching Netflix.

CosWeek: What has been your favorite cosplay?
UMC: While Margaery has been by far the most comfortable, I think my favorite was Noel Vermillion from Blaz Blue a few years back.  We had a huge group go together and one of them was playing theme music out of a huge boom box wherever we went at the con.  It really was a spectacle, and so much fun.  And all by happenstance, the singer of the Blaz Blue: Calamity Trigger theme song was at the con and I got her to sign my costume!

CosWeek: What Convention do you look forward to the most?
UMC: The convention that started it all, the one that I always go to and never miss is definitely Animazement in downtown Raleigh.  That's my hometown too so it's a little surreal to stay in a hotel 10 miles from my house.  But it's fun - like a weekend away at home!


CosWeek: What is your favorite TV show?
UMC: I love so many! Right now I'm hooked on Battlestar Galactica.  I know, I'm a little behind on the times, but it's really a great show.  I also love Brooklyn Nine-Nine (that silly Andy Sanberg) and Sherlock.  Next I need to watch The Tudors.  If I were ever to cosplay a show it'd be Firefly though :-)

Photo by: Photosnxs

Cosplay Interview #8

Smash Cosplay

Home: North Carolina, USA
Age: 28

Chest:  86cm / 34 inch
Waist: 71 cm / 28 inch
Hips:   96 cm / 38 inch
Height: 170cm / 5'7"
Weight: 56kg / 125 lbs
Blood Type: O-

Links to me:
World Cosplay
Cosplay.com
Deviantart
Facebook
Twitter
Cure
T-shirt Company

CosWeek: What got you into Cosplay?

Smash: I learned how to sew when I was 8 years old because I wanted to make outfits for my American Girl dolls. After going to my first convention and seeing all the beautiful costumes, I knew I had to try and make one! It has been an addiction ever since.

CosWeek: What part of Cosplaying do you like most?
Smash: Being able to dress up as my favorite characters! I love it when people recognize the character I'm cosplaying, and get excited because they love them as much as I do! It's a great bonding experience and it's great making new friends.

CosWeek: Congratulations on you Marriage, how does you husband help your Cosplaying?
Smash: Thank you! Although my husband respects my cosplay and is very encouraging especially when I'm behind schedule, you would never see him in a costume or at a convention! LOL, you know what they say... opposites attract!

CosWeek: Where does the name Smash Cosplay come from?
Smash: While waiting tables at a restaurant, I was given the nickname Smash (short for Smashley) by my coworkers. It caught on so fast that even my regulars called me Smash!

CosWeek: What is the worst thing that has happen to you as a Cosplayer?
Smash: Personally, I have been fortunate not to have anything awful happen to me as a Cosplayer, but it hurts me to see how cruel people can be towards some cosplayers, especially on the internet. Everyone has different skill levels, time-
restraints, ethnicities and body-types, but we all love cosplay the same and I feel that is the most important part.

CosWeek: What do you do when you're not Cosplaying?
Smash: I am a full-time Creative Graphic Designer and Marketing Specialist at a small, but rapidly growing company. I also design geek t-shirts part-time at Absolootly.com. I spend as much time as possible creating new designs and learning as much as possible.

CosWeek: What advice do you have for young Cosplayers coming into the scene?
Smash: First and foremost, Cosplay is about having fun! It's also a great place to meet people with similar interests. Any drama that happens or competitions you don't win just aren't that important. You should cosplay for only one person. Yourself. It's a creative outlet for me and I really enjoy the challenge.

Cosplay Interview #7

Anshie

Home: Frankfurt, Germany
Age: 25

Links:
Personal Site
Facebook
Deviantart
World Cosplay
Cosplay.com
Cure
Youtube
Twitter

CosWeek: What do you do when you're not cosplaying?
Anshie: I'm a trained foreign language assistant, and I'm working at the quality assurance / localisation department of a big game company.


CosWeek: Are you a part of any groups currently?
Anshie: Right now I'm not part of any group because I'm busy with my own cosplay projects. The groups I've been a member of are called "Tsuki no Senshi" and afterwards "monogatari". The stage plays I took part in were Sailor Moon, Kingdom Hearts, Death Note, Vampire Knight, Ludwig II, Eternal Sonata, and Romeo x Juliet


CosWeek: How many events do you attend each year?
Anshie: It varied a lot during the past years. This year it will be over 10.


CosWeek: What is your biggest event?
Anshie: The biggest so far was Japan Expo in France. But this year I will visit WCS and Comiket in Japan.


CosWeek: As a long time member of the Cosplay community do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Anshie: If you don't know how to do something don't hesitate to ask for help. We all started at some point and it's no shame to ask if you don't understand something. And apart from that, just give it a try and don't lose your motivation if it won't work right from the start because learning by doing is what will make you improve.

Cosplay Interview #6

La Esmeralda

Home: Kiel, Germany

Age:
Chest:
Waist:
Hips:
Height:
Weight:

24
90cm / 35 inch
64cm / 25 inch
96cm / 37 inch
164cm / 5' 4"
58kg / 127 lbs

Links:
Blog
Deviantart
Facebook
ModelMayhem
Model-Kartei

CosWeek: You don't attend any Cosplay events?
La E: I have never been at a convention so far, but hope to be able to change that in the next year. As I am usually working as a goth- and alternative model I only visited these kind of events in the past years and only took a few cosplay pics when I found the time.

CosWeek: When did you start Cosplaying?
La E: I actually never thought "I want to start cosplaying" but the first time I dressed up as queen Amidala was in 2010 and then I had a pin-up princess Leia shoot in 2011. There has only been one edited photo so far but people seemed to like it and this encouraged me to do more stuff like that every now and then. But well, the first plan that I had when I started modelling was to portray several characters of the Grimm's fairy tales. So one could also say that I had my first contact with the theme in 2009 when I started modelling.


CosWeek: Where do you get the materials for you cosplays?
La E: I buy lots of things online - eBay, Amazon or normal fabric shops. Also I love to shop at local markets and dollar shops.

CosWeek: What materials do you like to work with for outfits?
La E: I usually make my outfits out of fabric. I am a huge fan of stretchy red velvet, beautiful lace embroidery and sparkling stuff which I use for my dresses a lot, even if they are more goth than cosplay. Stretchy materials are my favourites anyway as you don't need to add a zipper ;) For accessories - a lot of hot glue, cardboard, paper maché and foam rubber work pretty good for me. And glitter :)

CosWeek: How long does your typical outfit take to construct?
La E: That is different and I never really counted the hours that an outfit took me. I know that my Princess Peach Outfit and the accessories took round about two or three days because I spent a weekend creating this outfit. The Slave Leia Outfit took me WAY longer, especially since I had to find a way to make the bra (I made three versions) but didn't want to buy any expensive materials.

CosWeek: What is your favorite Cosplay right now?
La E: At the moment it is Princess Peach, this character is one of my favourites anyway and my friend Ashtray Arts Photography did a fantastic job as a photographer. But I am working on another princess at the moment and even if it is still a long way to go I am incredibly looking forward to shooting this set.

Cosplay Interview #5

Alien Orihara

Sengoku Basara Kasuga

Home: Moscow, Russia
Age: 21
Chest:86cm / 33 inch
Waist:60cm / 23 inch
Hips:  84cm / 33 inch
Height:172cm / 5' 7"
Weight:47kg  / 103 lbs
Blood Type: А

Personal Site
World Cosplay
Deviantart
Instagram





CosWeek: When did you start modeling?
AO: I started Cosplaying in 2010

CosWeek: Who got you started?
AO: My friends asked me to cosplay with them. My first Cosplay was, Jack Vessalius from Pandora Hearts.


CosWeek: What is your favorite costume to date?
AO: I love all my costumes! But my favorites are: Blue Rose, Zoe Hanji, Kasuga, Nia, Awashima Seri

CosWeek: How many conventions to you attend each year?
AO: On average I attend about ten festivals a year.

CosWeek: What is your favorite event to attend?
AO: Ichiharu'12 in Moscow