21.07.10 / cosplayer / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: cosplayer
You’ve most likely seen her from her unforgettable Morrigan and Baroness photo series. As you’ll find, there are other places that you may have seen Lindze’s work, whether you’ve recognized her or not…
For a quick taste of Lindze: Her cosplay journey began in 1999, though she’s old school in the fandoms of anime, comic books, and video games. In just a few years, her talents and love of all things geek carried her on to some incredible adventures in her career. She’s appeared in magazines (including Spin and PS2 UK) and television, flexing her creative muscle.
Lindze has recently pulled back from the public eye after starting a family and forming her own business, but she’s hardly out of commission! Let’s get to know her…
Do you have a personal favorite costume or photo shoot; one you’re most proud of? That is, if you could choose which shot you’d like to be famous for?
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I have a few costumes I associate myself with equally, like Baroness, Morrigan and Shiva…so its a tricky question to answer.
What costume am I most proud of? I would answer Morrigan, because I made everything, and put SO much work and money into it. Baroness was a collaborative effort with another costumer so I cant feel that same pride in my work. However, I worship the Baroness and all things GI Joe, since it was my childhood obsession, so of course I’m going to learn towards her if I had to be ‘immortalized’ as any one character by other people.
And I could never pick a favorite photo… I’ve been so lucky to work with so many amazing photographers, it would be impossible!
Are you stoked about the upcoming GI Joe movie? The Baroness has always been a fan favorite character, but she’s been robbed of her trademark sexy accent! I’d bet if you showed up to the premier in cosplay, you’ll see the line of fanboys part like The Red Sea!
As soon as I found out who they were casting for the Baroness….a blond, freckled, tan, British girl…I knew the movie was in trouble. I’ve been keeping up with all the promo shots and it looks godawful. It makes me sad to see my childhood love ripped to shreds. But I try to tell myself that the “Xenia Zaragevna Onatopp” character in Goldeneye was damn close to being exactly how I imagine the Baroness to look/sound/act, so I’ll live with that incarnation and just pretend this new movie never was made.
And it makes me happy to hear people say things like I make a thousand times better Baroness than Sienna Miller.
What, then, is your super otaku origin? How did you get into anime, video games, and eventually cosplay costumes?
My otaku origins run deep. I grew up in San Diego, where my dad would take me to the San Diego Comic Con, when it was just a tiny little show. My older brother worked at a comic store so I would use every chance to pilfer his books, which started my comic book obsession. I also worked at a comic book store when I was in high school in NC and later on here in GA.
I was introduced to anime when I was in high school, when the very first translated videos were trickling over and Viz was first publishing manga. I fell in love with the style of art immediately. When I met my husband in college, he completed my dorkdom by getting me hooked on video games. So no comic, manga, anime, toy, or game was safe from me at that point. I guess its good I discovered cosplay in ‘98, since I had run out of dorky hobbies to obsess over.
Cosplay sale was an accidental discovery. I was looking online for pictures of Lilith from Darkstalkers, for a Halloween costume, and came across a photo of a girl cosplaying her. I about had an aneurysm with glee when I discovered there was a scene (albeit small at the time) where other fans that were geeky and fun-loving as me, enough to run around in costume together.
I literally joined a cosplay mailing list that night, and booked a ticket to the next convention within a month, with 3 new costumes in tow, without knowing a soul there. Hooked ever since!
20.07.10 / cosplay friend / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: cosplay friends
Having a love for anime is a start but an interest in the same show or a specific aspect of a show is even better. Panels are set up by volunteers and knowledgeable people about an anime or cosplay related topic. The hosts hold discussions about a specific topic with the audience. Panels are often held in a small intimate setting with small groups of people.
Check out the convention schedule and scan the panels that will be held. Find a interesting one, then visit the panel to get started. It is a good launching point because it will be easy to start a conversation since attendees share similar interests.
Similar to panels, photoshoots are a great way to find people who share a love for the same animes. Photoshoots may not be listed in the convention schedule; instead they may be organized online by individuals not associated with convention staff.
Check out costuming or cosplay shop websites and forums, like cosplay.com, to find out when and where they will be held. Individuals often list which costumes they will be wearing. Sometimes there will be groups looking for extra members to round off their set of characters. Signing up for with a group may lead to making friends before the convention starts.
When arriving at a photoshoot, be attentive to the organizer. They will be giving out orders to the costumers about photo ideas.
Confident cosplayers should consider signing up for the masquerade to meet new people.
Backstage at a masquerade, cosplayers are organized into groups or dens to keep them in order of stage appearance. They may be kept backstage for hours at a time.
This is an opportune time to find a anime cosplay buddy. Ask them if they are from the area? What brought them to the convention? How they made their costume? What do they plan to do on stage? There is so much to talk about, follow your cosplayer instincts.
Convention staff is always looking for a helping hand. Volunteers can meet the people who bring the convention to life, as well as the attendees.
Volunteers are always in contact with the public, by helping out during events. Sometimes free or discounted convention pass are awarded after accumulating enough hours. Although it is a good opportunity for socializing, it is still work. Be careful not to neglect duties in order to make new friends.
19.07.10 / Video Game Cosplay / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: Video Game Cosplay
Silent Hill – Pyramid Head Cosplay Costumes
One of the most creepy and bizarre characters in video game history – the violent and sadistic Pyramid Head – is a favorite amongst survival-horror and Silent Hill fans.
Batsu Sai’s Pyramid Head Costume nails the over sized head and weaponry. The “Pyramid Head” and weapon both represent well, retaining the same gritty look and overbearing size as the video game. Gamers would be hard pressed to find a better representation of Pyramid Head.
Soul Caliber – Nightmare Costume
Soul Caliber features numerous unique fighters with their own weapons. Nightmare – always a fan-favorite – features a giant, mutated arm and the massive sword called the Soul Edge.
Yui’s Nightmare costume design impresses on a lot of levels. While the armor’s color may be a bit brighter than the video game, every other aspect, right down to the creepy eye in the Soul Edge, looks incredible. The mold of the armor and helmet look exactly like the video game character, and the detail in Nightmare’s mutated and the Soul Edge look impressive even when up-close.
Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater – Naked Snake Crocodile Cap Costume
Here’s a case where a costume does not have to feature hours upon hours of painstaking detail to impress. This costume is based off Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater, where players can actually use a “Crocodile Cap” as a disguise in the water.
This costume design by Jiro428 impresses for its wow-factor and hilarity. The croc’s mouth extends a good 2-3 feet, making it stand out immediately. Unlike most Metal Gear Solid costumes, Jiro428′s design stands out by focusing on Metal Gear’s unique sense of humor.
Without the Crocodile Cap, this Halloween / Cosplay costume would all too easily blend in with all the other anime and video game soldier cosplay out there. But with the cap, it stands out as one of the most memorable video game costumes ever designed.
Bioshock – Bouncer Big Daddy Costume
The “Big Daddy” helped Bioshock become one of the most memorable and endearing first-person shooters of all time. Big Daddies come in a number of varieties, but the “Bouncer” is featured on the cover of the game and is easily the most iconic.
Volpin crafted a truly jaw-dropping anime cosplay with this Bouncer Big Daddy design. The “dome” helmet shows impressive detail, from the bent bars surrounding the helmet to the bolts attaching it to the rest of the costume. The armor looks gritty and dirty, and the boots add six inches which helps to achieve the look of a terrifying, hulking beast. And, perhaps most impressive of all, the Big Daddy drill is hooked up to a real cordless drill and actually spins!
18.07.10 / Anime Cosplay Costumes / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: cosplay
A commission is when you pay someone to make something custom cosplay for you. For example, if you pay Mary x amount of dollars for a cosplay costume, that’s a commission. Different commissioners have different ways of having you order from them. Some commissioners will do any costume as long as you provide a reference picture(s) and give them your measurements. Other commissioners can only do certain costumes. There may even be some who can only do one costume, or just one type .
If you can’t find the fabric, use a substitute! Just have fun with it.Just remember, if the costume is made of a cotton-type material, then don’t substitute with satin or silk. This makes the costume look awkward to say the least.
When cosplaying a character with an unusual hair style, make sure the wig is secure, so that it doesn’t come apart in the middle of a convention.
Keep in mind that props usually have to be carried around a long time, so even the lightest of props can be a major burden during the day.
You shouldn’t worry if you want to cosplay a character that you don’t look exactly like, cosplay costumes doesn’t have to be perfect.
Don’t try so hard to look like that particular character.If your costume is not as good and people laugh,don’t worry because you know you spent a lot of time, effort, and money on that costume, and you should be proud of it!
If a charcter wears common anime cosplay, such as a suit with an untied red tie, don’t trie to make a suit and tie(unless you want to), go to Marshalls and get a suit and tie for $30 and it takes no time at all. The less you have to make. the better.
17.07.10 / Anime Cosplay Costumes / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: Anime Cosplay Costumes
1. Plan Your Video. This is probably the most important step in the whole process because if you don’t plan it well, your final result won’t be very good. Start by picking a song that has two qualities: 1) you really like it and 2) it has an anime cosplay ”feel” to it. That doesn’t mean it has to be Jpop.. just that you can envision some select anime scenes rocking to your tune.
2. Map Out Your Lyrics. The idea here is to make your video match the music. Most songs, especially rock music, have a mix of milder verse and more “explosive” choruses. Listen to your selected tune and determine what type of clips would go well in each section of the song. This will help when you begin slicing your video.
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3. Pick Your Video. This part of the process can be extremely time consuming, depending upon your resources. Using purchased DVDs that you own, you’ll need to import your selected clips into MPEG or AVI format. There are several software programs available that can help you do this or you can use a video capture card to get the same results. Once you’ve imported all your clips, you’re ready to start slicing cosplay.
4. Slice Your Clips. Using one of many editing programs out there slice your video clips according to your song lyrics. Most of these editing programs will import your music as well as your video so that you can preview your work as you go.
5. Publish. All that’s left to do now is burn your masterpiece to a CD and enter it in one of the many con competitions cheap cosplay costumes. Good luck!
16.07.10 / Anime Cosplay Costumes / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: cosplay
Anime characters are notorious for having a clean even skin tone. To get this effect is similar to applying regular make-up. Start with a clean face. Apply a facial moisturizer across the entire face and neck. If the skin is oily or the make-up will be worn for a long time, put on a small amount of primer first.
Apply liquid foundation evenly over the face and the neck. Be sure to blend it in at the hairline. If there are very apparent blemishes consider adding some concealer before applying the foundation. Foundation can be applied with a brush, a sponge or with the hands cheap cosplay costumes. Try them out and choose which option works best.
The next step is powder. Apply a powder of the same shade with a wide loose brush, like a kabuki brush. Blend a light layer of powder overtop the foundation.
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Pay special attention to the characteristics of their face. Most young characters have no definition on the face, meaning they do not have a pronounced jaw or high cheekbones. In that case contouring will not be needed.
If the character is mature consider defining the cheekbones by adding a slightly darker toned powder under the ball of the cheekbone and a highlighting shade atop the cheekbone.
When cosplaying female characters, use a light or nude shade gloss for the lips. Other than characters who wear lipstick, their lips often have a shine.
When cosplaying a male character consider wearing a nude shade of lipstick or applying foundation on the lips. Be sure to moisturize them before applying foundation because it may dry them out. Notice how the majority of male anime characters have no colour to their lips. Less colour gives the face a surreal appearance cosplay shop.
The eyes are often the defining part of any character. To get the defined lash, add a thin line of black eyeliner along the lash line. Also apply some black mascara because most anime characters have black lashes that do not match their hair colour. This may be all that’s needed for a male cosplay.
15.07.10 / cosplay wig / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: cosplay wig
Be sure to pin the cosplay wig down before styling to keep it in place. Keep in mind the wig head may be smaller than a human head therefore the style doesn’t look the same when worn.
For big cuts use a simple horizontal cut. To make spikes or to avoid blunt edges, leave an inch or two of buffer because it may take a few rounds of cutting before getting the right shape. Cut vertically making the edges uneven and pointy.
Spikes can be formed by styling the wig with freezing spray or hair glue. When using the spray, shape the spike and work the spray from root to tip and pinch the edges. Hold them in place until the cheap cosplay costumes product dries.
The glue is handy for hanging spikes, in other words ones that do not stand up. Work the gel into the tips of the hair.
When styling a wig, watch out for holes or bald spots. This happens when you move the hair around on an open-cap wig, a wig that has rows of hair stitched in circles but with gaps in between. To cover them up, sew on matching extensions onto the wig underneath an existing row then feed it through the gap where the bald spot is. Use wefted extensions – hair that has been stitched at the top – because it is less trouble than managing loose hair.
If the style is very spiky consider using a full-cap wig instead which has no gaps.
Some styles have the hair pulled back and the hairline is showing. To avoid the hard edge of a wig, get matching extensions to create a new hairline. The edges cannot be wefted because they will be showing, so cut it off if it is. Cut a strip of fabric, ribbon or foam to lie against the wig hairline. Be sure the colour blends in cosplay shop.
Glue down the extensions to the material by leaving an inch or two off one edge, making the new hairline and the rest off the other edge. Make sure the hairline edge is cut somewhat uneven or pointed like a real hairline.
Then attach the material to the wig by sewing it down. Afterwards style the rest of the loose hair into the wig with freezing spray.
14.07.10 / Anime Cosplay Costumes / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: Anime Cosplay Costumes
1. Being a freelance writer, I learned a long time ago that you can’t develop your cosplay story until you know where it’s supposed to go. Your objective? Write a one paragraph synopsis of your entire story, leaving out details and character specifics. Then take that paragraph and reduce it down to one sentence. For example, Dragon Ball Z might be “a group of friends battle strange enemies to protect the Earth.” Does that really cover DBZ? No, but it sums up where the story will lead.
2. In order to develop your anime cosplay story, you need to know who your characters are. Where did they come from? Do they have morals and values or none at all? A love interest? A best friend or an arch enemy? What makes them tick? Write a complete profile as if you were telling someone else about your guy or gal. Develop their strengths and weaknesses as these will come in handy when you begin to develop your storyline.
3. For the moment, don’t think about layouts or issues. Just write your story. What happens? Who does it happen to? Why did she leave or why did he come back? Will his powers ever return? Why did he lose them in the first place? Get all your questions answered on paper first. Then it’s time to…
4. With the “bigger picture” in mind, think first issue. You’ll need to give some background to your story and you’ll want enough current action to keep the reader intrigued for your next installment. Decide how much information you want to give in your first issue. Got it? Now you’re ready to storyboard.
5. “Storyboard” is a phrase that refers to the layout of your manga or comic. Each panel conveys a certain amount of information and will also contain your artwork. Don’t worry about the illustration right now. Just focus on the text. Who says what to whom? What action scenes will you include? What information will they provide? Break your story down into pieces that you can section off into individual panels.
6. It’s time to pull your story together with the artwork. Either find yourself a good cheap cosplay costumes artist, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, try your hand at drawing your own characters. There are several great books out there that teach drawing, as well as a few good online sources. Bring each character to life with various facial expressions and the dialogue you created in the storyboard.
7. Publish. Ready to deliver your pilot issue to the masses? Try TOKYOPOP’s Annual Rising Star of Manga contest or put your manga online by setting up your own website. Good luck!
13.07.10 / Anime Cosplay Costumes / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: Anime Cosplay Costumes
Rebecca records and posts her performances on YouTube.
The results have made her an internet phenomenon in Japan, home of the anime cartoon characters she imitates. More than eight million people have watched Rebecca performing as Beckii Cruel, dancing to bouncy J-pop and anime theme songs in the attic of her home on the Isle of Man.
Her success has led publishing giant Tokuma Japan cosplay to sign up Beckii, teaming her with 18-year-old French college student “Sara Cruel”, from Lyon, and a 16-year-old student from Portsmouth known as “Gemma Cruel”. The trio – Beckii Cruel and the Cruel Angels – release their debut album in Japan on Wednesday, when it is expected to reach the top of the charts.
Anime has a huge following in Japan across all sections of society. Taro Aso, a former prime minister, is a self-confessed anime cosplay obsessive, reading up to 20 comic books a week.
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“The perceived virtual existence and borderless nature surrounding Beckii are a catalyst for stirring fantasies,” said Toshiyuki Inoue, an IT journalist, summing up the popularity of moe artists.
Kaori Sakurai, a freelance writer, said that the otaku – anime geeks who worship teenagers like Beckii – will often avoid pretty girls in real life, fearing that they would simply dismiss them. But they have been won over by Beckii, who appears as just another fan like them.
Beckii’s popularity in Japan rocketed after her YouTube videos were picked up by popular Japanese website Niko Niko Douga. Her Japanese DVD debut, This is Beckii Cruel: Too Cute to be Real, was released last November and debuted at number eight in Japan’s DVD charts. Beckii, who already features in Japanese TV commercials for chewing gum, performed live for the first time at Akihabara, home of otaku culture in Tokyo, last October.
Beckii’s idea to film herself in “cosplay” – derived from costume play – followed and an internet star was born. Hundreds of thousands of Japanese teenagers indulge in “cosplay”, with conventions regularly held around the country. Tokyo Dome, home of the Yomiuri Giants baseball team, is a regular weekend hangout for teenagers dressed as their favourite anime or manga characters.
Beckii has had her own webpage since she was four – her older brother, Ryan had his at six. Ten years on from setting it up with her father, who says he has educated his daughter on the dangers of the internet, she now has the second most subscribed website among Japanese school uniform musicians. The expectation surrounding the release of her album this week suggests her incredible rise to fame shows no signs of slowing down.
Anime usually refers to a style of animation originating in Japan, influenced by the manga style and typically featuring characters with large eyes, big hair, exaggerated facial expressions and elongated limbs.
12.07.10 / Cosplay Costumes / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: cosplay costume
Every cosplayer must abide by a basic list of guidelines:
Outfits should not be so revealing as to warrant indecent exposure charges. All body parts should be covered and not require constant pulling, tugging, straightening, etc. of the outfit to keep them covered. A good rule of thumb is to not wear anything that covers less than what you would wear to the pool or beach.
Tsubasacon is a family event; while we understand that some cosplay characters wear more revealing outfits than others, you may be asked to “cover up” or modify your outfit in some way that is more modest in public areas.
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Some of the hallways of the convention center, especially near Artist Alley and during busy periods, are narrow and extremely congested. If your cosplay entails accessories which may hinder hallway traffic, please design your cosplay costumes so that the wings may easily be removed in case you are asked to remove them.
While Tsubasacon may ask participants to modify their costume for various reasons in the public areas of the convention center, we realize that a lot of work has been put into the outfit. During cosplay events, such as the masquerade or cheap cosplay costumes judging, cosplayers are permitted to wear their cosplay in its original, unaltered form.