lunaru vizatrix - a change of heart
photo by: Hexlord
Before I start today's feature, I'd like to greet you a very Merry Christmas and wish each one a very Happy New Year! I pray you've had a wonderful family dinner, opened wonderful presents from your loved ones, and gave love to those who deserve it!
There's a saying that goes, "first impressions last". A lot of people, including myself, tend to take first impressions to heart and not even try to know more about something or someone. It's not a good habit, but it's very hard to change. It's not impossible, but very hard.
Today's feature did not like cosplay. Actually, she used to despise it. But then, she tried it out, and everything changed. She's become really into the hobby, and is currently one of the cosplayers who seek perfection in accurately cosplaying the characters loves.
My favorite cosplays of hers are Barnaby Brooks jr. from Tiger & Bunny, and Aries from Fairy Tail (points to left). Do read on and discover more about today's creme de la creme.
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What's your name (nick/alias)
- LUNARU
How long have you been cosplaying?
- about 3 years I guess
What makes cosplaying fun for you?
- First is it enhances my creativity. It fascinates me seeing people doing all the props that I never imagined that someone could be possibly to do it. Second is bonding with friends inside and outside the country.
Please share your most memorable cosplay experience
- Early months of 2011, I thought of quitting cosplay and focus on my career. Maybe because I no longer had a motivation or it got really boring... then I played Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan. I learned to love Okita Souji, I wanted to cosplay him and was spazzing over him for weeks. On that same month, 2 of my friends invited me to cosplay it and have a photoshoot. It was kind of new to me because one of them was just an acquaintance of mine and the other, well, we didn't hangout that much. Basically we didn't have that much closure, until the photoshoot came. I must say, that was the most memorable photoshoot I've had in my entire cosplay experience. I gained real friends who irreplaceable. I met awesome people that they made me realise that I should continue cosplaying and make more wonderful memories like what we had last Feb 27, 2011.
What is cosplay to you?
- I've been a congoer since 2001 and always been attending to meet my artist friends from DeMeat (Deviantart Manila), to do sketches, hangout, etc. All I cared about before was just for the art, nothing more.
More than that, I also met some cosplayers, good ones and bad ones... and I found cosplay ridiculous because of the fact that people imitated fictional characters, thats what I thought before. Then my mindset on cosplay changed when I attended an event in Bangkok during my internship days in May 2008. I saw two cosplayers at the side of the stage and hell I was stunned. Seeing all those efforts into their costumes on outmost perfection. It was perfect. After that, when I got back to the Philippines in August 2008, I researched cosplay stuff here, then some of my artsy friends kept on telling me that 'Cosplay is fun' 'you have the potential' 'you should try it'. So I tried it.... and now I understood the atmosphere on being an Otaku in a cosplayer's perspective. It's just so funny that, I, who despised cosplay before, is now a cosplayer bringing all my best to portray one's character.
After 3 years in being in a cosplay community, I learned that it's not just personifying a character, its an art of giving a gratitude to the Mangaka, how you adore their Anime/ Manga up to the point where in you portray their characters from head to foot. Moreover cosplay for is a hobby, its my way of unwinding my brain from the real life. Well Cosplay is far better than drugs right?
describe a cosplayer - a person who Cosplays? haha kidding. You cannot be a cosplayer if you just wear a costume and make cute or sexy posses in front of the camera nor if you just sew/make the costume and not know (even the name) of the character is. No that's not Cosplay. Cosplay is costume play, portraying one's character whether it is from a band, fictional or non -fictional characters. You must know anything about the character you're impersonating. Best example of this is producing a film, every actor and actress must know their role or characters so that they can act them well.
What are some of your past cosplays?
- Believe me or not, all of my cosplays has its unique stories. So I'll just tell some of it. My first cosplay was Nell Tu from Bleach. It's a very funny story because I just broke-up with my partner that year. I have this bad habit before, that when I'm heartbroken, I usually ate a lot. Then I became really fat. So a friend of mine made a bet, that I should go on a diet and cosplay Nel Tu (adult version) from Bleach. I accepted her offer because of my desperation on losing weight plus, she knows there is no way I would decline the bet because I love Nel Tu a lot. Luckily I lost weight, won the bet and cosplayed Nel Tu.
Durarara! was introduced to me by my Thai friend way back 2010, so I watched it out of curiosity. Then I introduced it to my cosplay friends and they really liked it a lot. So much admiration to Durarara! a friend of mine made a website of Dollars, then we started impersonate each characters, for instance, me in the chat room I'm Setton (Celty's screen name in DRRR) some named themselves as Kanra, Dotachin, Yakisoba and Noodles. Then, our team before, Team Corsivah decided to make Durarara! as our group cosplay for our 1st Anniversary. I cosplayed as Celty and I put all the effort on making the helmet to make it perfect. It was tough but I found it really worth it.
Would you say every costume is well worth your time and money?
- Yes, putting all those costume and props specially if you made it. It feels like you invented something never done before
What's something that you think can help improve one's cosplay?
- Cosplay is not just about costume and make-up, knowing and portraying is very crucial part. There are many cosplayers that yah, their costumes are accurate but they don't know how to portray it well. Read and do some research about the character. Watch or read manga before you buy the materials for the costume. Be meticulous as possible on choosing the right cloth or accessories. Practice portraying the character in the mirror, it helps a lot. Most of all, take care of yourself, sleep properly, choose the right make-up that won't get ugly in the future, eat foods that are healthy, exercise - make it a 21 day habit. Remember your life and body is your investment.
What are your thoughts with this year's AFA?
- It was a bomb, that was my first time and damn I can't think of a perfect word to describe it.
What's a cosplay you'd want to see someday?
- an epic King Kazma cosplay from Summer Wars.
What's your dream cosplay?
- Someone from Evangelion and that will be my last cosplay. Well Evangelion is my all time favourite anime/manga. I still feel not worth it to cosplay any of the characters there.
What's your advice to newbies?
- cut properly your wigs and research your character please.
Shoutouts to people:
:icondancingontightrope: :iconlokichaos: :iconyuegene: :iconz3llll: :iconjaroukasama: :iconsuigeneres:
(from Deviant Art)
Anything for promotion
Kindly follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/LU_NA_RU
Cure No. 141939
lean - the boy wonder
Today we have someone who's had a taste of glory in Cosplaymania. He's one half of the Cebu representative group, team OTL. He's Leandro Pelenio, the Sora of a hundred tumbles! (believe me, this kid can spin around A LOT!) With only 2 years into cosplaying, he's already been having an absolute blast, giving and showing people a good time.
He hails from Cebu and is known for his Sora cosplay. He chose a great character for himself because he and Sora share so much similarities.
1.) Looks
2.) Moves
3.) Heart
4.) Energy
5.) Spunk
Mui Mui, as his friends would call him, really knows how to have fun and is sure to be the one to brighten your day. Goof around, get to know him and watch him continue to grow in the crazy world that is cosplay.
--------------------------------------
what's your name?
My name is Leandro Pelenio. My close friends call me mui mui =d
when did you start cosplaying?
Mmmmm.. I started cosplaying a few years back. That was during ArchCon 2009 in ayala center cebu :3
who was your first character?
My first character ever was Uzumaki naruto from the Naruto Shippuden series. I was forcibly naruto at that time(LOL) since my friends were looking for a naruto and they "claim" that i look like him(LOL again). After a few days of wooing me, I said yes. I came to love naruto as he matured in the series.. (Although i secretly wanted Sasuke to be my first LOL.. and i still do XD)
HH - goooo!! be Sasuke!!!!
what makes cosplay a worthwhile hobby?
I'm not really sure but maybe because I get to enjoy the simple things that goes with it. It was only in cosplay that I found friends that I never thought I would be priviledged enough to meet and would be there for each other no matter the distance. It's also only in cosplay that I met people that took me as I am. I mean it's not in everyday life that my peers understand why I'm different, why I'm a goofball and why I am into these kind of things and it's sort of a sanctuary for people like me LOL. It's crazy little world after all :))))
HH - I totally agree! *A*
who's your biggest (cosplay) inspiration to date?
waaaaaaaaaaa. why you do this to me TAT! There's Jiaki, there's Pinky, Jesuke,YUEGENE, Saya, Kaname, Clive, CVY, USAAAAAGIIIIII xD, tsaka si Zhel at AC, sila mommah Sese, ate yuu, SO MANY I DON'T KNOW AHAHHA. Si Marko Villaluz? Kilala niyo iyon? IYOOOOOOOOOOON!! idol ko rin iyon hahahah. Kidding aside, cosplays from Kaname. Maaaan I really want to meet him someday and tell him how much he inspired me. He does his make up and that's no joke for a man *A* +100000 Manry points! hahahahah but i might probably end up stalking and freaking him out, forcing him to go in rage and Pawn me LOL
HH - you'll have a chance to meet him in next year's cosplaymania!!!
what are your other hobbies?
I go Eating. LOL that's my favorite of all xD I also go Wall climbing, Cheerdancing, reading manga, facebook-ing? LOL Let's see what else.. Mostly my time is spent on cheerdancing nowadays xD
HH - you're such a busy body! *A*
you were 1/2 of team OTL, how was the experience for you?
Holy crap. HAHAHAHHAHA! It was so worth it. It didn't matter to me whatever the outcome would be. I just had the time of my life. Never did I expect in my whole life that I would be wherever I am right now and yet, it happened. Torch made me remember how it was to cosplay, yhat i should cosplay to have fun, enjoy, and give my best and show what I'm capable of. Torch will always have a special place deep inside my heart XD XD XD There would never be a Team OTL without my partner Rayland Duarte. Thank you =]
did you enjoy last cosmania's torch? do give details.
It was the best thing that has ever happened to me in my cosplay life. I am merely 2 years old in cosplay and I still cannot believe how far I have been blessed to be in cosplaymania. Blessed is definitely the word. How I found out that the people/cosplayers/photographers that I stalked (XD) became close friends over the internet! hahhaha so surreal! The cosplay.ph's staff was very warm and accomodating to us as well. I really want to thank Ms. Jewel, Sir Pabs, Ms. Tanya, Sir Jason, everybody! During the first day, I was in awe with the size of the event. Coming from cebu, it was my first ever in a Huge huge con *A* It even came to a point that i went up and down the super long escalator for fun LOL I was trying to finish my day one costume in KK and was lucky enough to finish it by 2-3 pm xD (prowess hand sewing technique LOL) I bonded with some of my co-competitors on that day and with team OTL. During day 2, early morning call! It was time for the dress rehearsal. Despite the stuff we went through, we managed to keep in pace and do our skit before the doors opened for day 2. The whole day, we were all preparing everywhereeeeeeee. And after we prepped, POOF, we were number one on the list which means.. we go first LOL. It was really cute to see each other backstage and wish each other good luck and that they could do it. Very Filipino and heart warming *A* I had mixed emotions by the time I got on stage. *inserts skit*. After everything was done, theres was relief!!! RELIEF!! It's finally done xD Favorite part would still be the times we go to each other's rooms at the hotel and invade each other's privacy! hahahahahah! Good times, good times ;)
why did your team choose kingdom hearts?
I am personally a BIG BIG FAN of the series! It was something I'd play when I'd finish FF LOL I enjoy the story, the characters, the twist... and most of all...... I ENJOY DISNEY! FYEAH! XD
tell us a bit about your team | Team OTL
.... It all started when..*fades into background music* hahaha! It was one hell of a ride! There was hard work, sweat, tears, blood, drama.. hahah! It was definitely something surreal! Rayland(my partner) was one of the best cosplayers we have here in cebu and I was priviledged enough to have the chance to have him as my partner. I had to man up and gather courage just to ask him if he was interested and unexpectedly, he said YES! Also the whole Team OTL that have been with us the whole time. Miles, Frenchi, Kidd, Eunice and everyone else who were behind our backs(Arvee, maki, nikolai, etc). Thank you Team Cebu for being with us =]
how did team OTL go about their skit?
This is quite trivial xD We were planning for a long period of time. It took us about 2 weeks to formulate the right skit that we wanted in order to have a chance to be the champions for torch II. As we progressed, I told Rayland that maybe this isn't the skit we should choose. I personally know that it was an awesome skit but somehow, it didn't feel right. It was too serious and it wasn't how we did skits in cebu. It wasn't who we were. It was our first exposure of what we have in cebu and I was happy enough to do our skit and proud to show everyone that we also have a different way of making skits.
how's cosplay in Cebu?
Cosplay in Cebu has been family. People now have different groups and friends but at the end of the day, we still meet each other with a smile on our faces. It's nice to see that there are cosplayers who are stepping up their game and trying to become better in their craft =] We can't deny that there'll always be problems but somehow, the community is in a good disposition. I continue to pray that we nurture a cosplay community here that would make us all proud of the achievements we have and continue to support each other all the way. Team Cebu all the way!
to you, cosplaying is ______
definitely, a dream come true. It was just not about the art, the passion and the love. It all boiled down to having fun and enjoying whatever it is for whatever reason it may be xD Never did I expect to be in a crazy world like this. Crazy, but worth while. I have met people along the way and have experienced so much on my journey. Thankful is an understatement. I cannot completely express how I feel but a big smile would definitely somehow describe how cosplaying is to me. =D
have you ever had any cosplay mishaps? what did you do to fix it/those?
OMG lol. I am no perfecto person xD I have had tonnnnnnnnnns of them and I mean I can't even call myself normal anymore LOL. Make-up and costume problem xD Whenever i have stuff like thess happening to me, I go to my nearest friend and plead for HELP! LOL and while I was reading the question again....... WIG.... Competition.... WIG.... My wig fell off during the torch prelims AND Torch Finals.. i went GAGA in my mind telling myself of how the @(!#!@#_) did I allow that to happen T.T I was bald at that time since I came from our cheerdance competition(had a mohawk but momma would kick me out of home LOL | where we placed first runner up YAY) and so when wig fell off... It hit me... I CAN'T BE A BALD SORA, THAT'S JUST WRONG. So i acted to put my hoodie on and SEARCHED.. SEARCHED FOR MY LIFE AND DIGNITY LOL. I didn't want to scar the sora Lovers by Flashing them .. a BALD SORA TAT(scaring myself infront of the mirror.. wigless was enough.. in fact, it was too much for me to handle). luckily enough, I somehow, fixed it LOL. I won't deny that i cried backstage while hugging Arvee(LOL) kasi it was the first thing i promised him and the people back at cebu, that i would not allow that to happen but you know what, none of it mattered in the end kasi I know I tried to bounce my way back and did the right thing :3 I was just ever so happy that they congratulated me for the efforts I've given and if I were to turn back time, I would still do my best not to disappoint them. They came all the way from cebu to enjoy and also support us. It really meant everything to me to get things right, and i am happy that they were happy =]
HH - *thumbs up*
what do you want to have this christmas?
LOVE LIFE.. PS3 or a 360... LOVE LIFE.. AND MOOLAH!!! (LOL).. I just want to finally enjoy Christmas by reminiscing everything that has happened and thank the Lord for whatever has gone my way. I never expected to be where I am. There's just so much that has happened and I can only thank Him so much for the blessings. At the age of 19(before i frustratingly reach the 20 line), I've achieved so much.. So much that I can only think about it and smile. I really am thankful and somehow, I will try to give back whatever I have and share to people whatever I can share in terms of experience and definitely not moolah.. I has no moolah/. I NEED moolah :> Hahahahha! on the 26th I will share my christmas with one of my awesome cosplay friends in Davao :> Make mee Happehhhhh!! XD
Who's manlier, Chuck Norris or Chuck Norris?
Definitely, Marko Villaluz. See those Abs?! Even Abs-kun can't handle it! he's like... Jay-em's father LOL but Absruki will always have a special place xD
HH - WHAT?!?!? WHO IS THIS MARKO VILLALUZ THAT YOU SPEAKETH OF??!?! XDDD
advice for people who want to try cosplaying?
Just don't think about it too much.. Give it a whirl and enjoy the experience XD
shoutouts to your peeps
Halloooooo! It's me LOL Hello Cebu people, hello Lovely people, Hello Davao people, hello Manila People, hello FRiends thru cosplay people, Hello Grope Group, Hello Team OTL Hello everybody Helloooooooooooooooooooo! Helloo Melo LOL and tux team xD hello Marko Villaluz XD
for promotion
You can add me up in http://www.facebook.com/leandromui .
If you want to LOL
and my DA account: http://ordnaelshofu.deviantart.com/
although it's still in the updating era XD
photos below by melabarca and Chai
He hails from Cebu and is known for his Sora cosplay. He chose a great character for himself because he and Sora share so much similarities.
1.) Looks
2.) Moves
3.) Heart
4.) Energy
5.) Spunk
Mui Mui, as his friends would call him, really knows how to have fun and is sure to be the one to brighten your day. Goof around, get to know him and watch him continue to grow in the crazy world that is cosplay.
--------------------------------------
what's your name?
My name is Leandro Pelenio. My close friends call me mui mui =d
when did you start cosplaying?
Mmmmm.. I started cosplaying a few years back. That was during ArchCon 2009 in ayala center cebu :3
who was your first character?
My first character ever was Uzumaki naruto from the Naruto Shippuden series. I was forcibly naruto at that time(LOL) since my friends were looking for a naruto and they "claim" that i look like him(LOL again). After a few days of wooing me, I said yes. I came to love naruto as he matured in the series.. (Although i secretly wanted Sasuke to be my first LOL.. and i still do XD)
HH - goooo!! be Sasuke!!!!
what makes cosplay a worthwhile hobby?
I'm not really sure but maybe because I get to enjoy the simple things that goes with it. It was only in cosplay that I found friends that I never thought I would be priviledged enough to meet and would be there for each other no matter the distance. It's also only in cosplay that I met people that took me as I am. I mean it's not in everyday life that my peers understand why I'm different, why I'm a goofball and why I am into these kind of things and it's sort of a sanctuary for people like me LOL. It's crazy little world after all :))))
HH - I totally agree! *A*
who's your biggest (cosplay) inspiration to date?
waaaaaaaaaaa. why you do this to me TAT! There's Jiaki, there's Pinky, Jesuke,YUEGENE, Saya, Kaname, Clive, CVY, USAAAAAGIIIIII xD, tsaka si Zhel at AC, sila mommah Sese, ate yuu, SO MANY I DON'T KNOW AHAHHA. Si Marko Villaluz? Kilala niyo iyon? IYOOOOOOOOOOON!! idol ko rin iyon hahahah. Kidding aside, cosplays from Kaname. Maaaan I really want to meet him someday and tell him how much he inspired me. He does his make up and that's no joke for a man *A* +100000 Manry points! hahahahah but i might probably end up stalking and freaking him out, forcing him to go in rage and Pawn me LOL
HH - you'll have a chance to meet him in next year's cosplaymania!!!
what are your other hobbies?
I go Eating. LOL that's my favorite of all xD I also go Wall climbing, Cheerdancing, reading manga, facebook-ing? LOL Let's see what else.. Mostly my time is spent on cheerdancing nowadays xD
HH - you're such a busy body! *A*
you were 1/2 of team OTL, how was the experience for you?
Holy crap. HAHAHAHHAHA! It was so worth it. It didn't matter to me whatever the outcome would be. I just had the time of my life. Never did I expect in my whole life that I would be wherever I am right now and yet, it happened. Torch made me remember how it was to cosplay, yhat i should cosplay to have fun, enjoy, and give my best and show what I'm capable of. Torch will always have a special place deep inside my heart XD XD XD There would never be a Team OTL without my partner Rayland Duarte. Thank you =]
did you enjoy last cosmania's torch? do give details.
It was the best thing that has ever happened to me in my cosplay life. I am merely 2 years old in cosplay and I still cannot believe how far I have been blessed to be in cosplaymania. Blessed is definitely the word. How I found out that the people/cosplayers/photographers that I stalked (XD) became close friends over the internet! hahhaha so surreal! The cosplay.ph's staff was very warm and accomodating to us as well. I really want to thank Ms. Jewel, Sir Pabs, Ms. Tanya, Sir Jason, everybody! During the first day, I was in awe with the size of the event. Coming from cebu, it was my first ever in a Huge huge con *A* It even came to a point that i went up and down the super long escalator for fun LOL I was trying to finish my day one costume in KK and was lucky enough to finish it by 2-3 pm xD (prowess hand sewing technique LOL) I bonded with some of my co-competitors on that day and with team OTL. During day 2, early morning call! It was time for the dress rehearsal. Despite the stuff we went through, we managed to keep in pace and do our skit before the doors opened for day 2. The whole day, we were all preparing everywhereeeeeeee. And after we prepped, POOF, we were number one on the list which means.. we go first LOL. It was really cute to see each other backstage and wish each other good luck and that they could do it. Very Filipino and heart warming *A* I had mixed emotions by the time I got on stage. *inserts skit*. After everything was done, theres was relief!!! RELIEF!! It's finally done xD Favorite part would still be the times we go to each other's rooms at the hotel and invade each other's privacy! hahahahahah! Good times, good times ;)
why did your team choose kingdom hearts?
I am personally a BIG BIG FAN of the series! It was something I'd play when I'd finish FF LOL I enjoy the story, the characters, the twist... and most of all...... I ENJOY DISNEY! FYEAH! XD
tell us a bit about your team | Team OTL
.... It all started when..*fades into background music* hahaha! It was one hell of a ride! There was hard work, sweat, tears, blood, drama.. hahah! It was definitely something surreal! Rayland(my partner) was one of the best cosplayers we have here in cebu and I was priviledged enough to have the chance to have him as my partner. I had to man up and gather courage just to ask him if he was interested and unexpectedly, he said YES! Also the whole Team OTL that have been with us the whole time. Miles, Frenchi, Kidd, Eunice and everyone else who were behind our backs(Arvee, maki, nikolai, etc). Thank you Team Cebu for being with us =]
how did team OTL go about their skit?
This is quite trivial xD We were planning for a long period of time. It took us about 2 weeks to formulate the right skit that we wanted in order to have a chance to be the champions for torch II. As we progressed, I told Rayland that maybe this isn't the skit we should choose. I personally know that it was an awesome skit but somehow, it didn't feel right. It was too serious and it wasn't how we did skits in cebu. It wasn't who we were. It was our first exposure of what we have in cebu and I was happy enough to do our skit and proud to show everyone that we also have a different way of making skits.
how's cosplay in Cebu?
Cosplay in Cebu has been family. People now have different groups and friends but at the end of the day, we still meet each other with a smile on our faces. It's nice to see that there are cosplayers who are stepping up their game and trying to become better in their craft =] We can't deny that there'll always be problems but somehow, the community is in a good disposition. I continue to pray that we nurture a cosplay community here that would make us all proud of the achievements we have and continue to support each other all the way. Team Cebu all the way!
to you, cosplaying is ______
definitely, a dream come true. It was just not about the art, the passion and the love. It all boiled down to having fun and enjoying whatever it is for whatever reason it may be xD Never did I expect to be in a crazy world like this. Crazy, but worth while. I have met people along the way and have experienced so much on my journey. Thankful is an understatement. I cannot completely express how I feel but a big smile would definitely somehow describe how cosplaying is to me. =D
have you ever had any cosplay mishaps? what did you do to fix it/those?
OMG lol. I am no perfecto person xD I have had tonnnnnnnnnns of them and I mean I can't even call myself normal anymore LOL. Make-up and costume problem xD Whenever i have stuff like thess happening to me, I go to my nearest friend and plead for HELP! LOL and while I was reading the question again....... WIG.... Competition.... WIG.... My wig fell off during the torch prelims AND Torch Finals.. i went GAGA in my mind telling myself of how the @(!#!@#_) did I allow that to happen T.T I was bald at that time since I came from our cheerdance competition(had a mohawk but momma would kick me out of home LOL | where we placed first runner up YAY) and so when wig fell off... It hit me... I CAN'T BE A BALD SORA, THAT'S JUST WRONG. So i acted to put my hoodie on and SEARCHED.. SEARCHED FOR MY LIFE AND DIGNITY LOL. I didn't want to scar the sora Lovers by Flashing them .. a BALD SORA TAT(scaring myself infront of the mirror.. wigless was enough.. in fact, it was too much for me to handle). luckily enough, I somehow, fixed it LOL. I won't deny that i cried backstage while hugging Arvee(LOL) kasi it was the first thing i promised him and the people back at cebu, that i would not allow that to happen but you know what, none of it mattered in the end kasi I know I tried to bounce my way back and did the right thing :3 I was just ever so happy that they congratulated me for the efforts I've given and if I were to turn back time, I would still do my best not to disappoint them. They came all the way from cebu to enjoy and also support us. It really meant everything to me to get things right, and i am happy that they were happy =]
HH - *thumbs up*
what do you want to have this christmas?
LOVE LIFE.. PS3 or a 360... LOVE LIFE.. AND MOOLAH!!! (LOL).. I just want to finally enjoy Christmas by reminiscing everything that has happened and thank the Lord for whatever has gone my way. I never expected to be where I am. There's just so much that has happened and I can only thank Him so much for the blessings. At the age of 19(before i frustratingly reach the 20 line), I've achieved so much.. So much that I can only think about it and smile. I really am thankful and somehow, I will try to give back whatever I have and share to people whatever I can share in terms of experience and definitely not moolah.. I has no moolah/. I NEED moolah :> Hahahahha! on the 26th I will share my christmas with one of my awesome cosplay friends in Davao :> Make mee Happehhhhh!! XD
Who's manlier, Chuck Norris or Chuck Norris?
Definitely, Marko Villaluz. See those Abs?! Even Abs-kun can't handle it! he's like... Jay-em's father LOL but Absruki will always have a special place xD
HH - WHAT?!?!? WHO IS THIS MARKO VILLALUZ THAT YOU SPEAKETH OF??!?! XDDD
advice for people who want to try cosplaying?
Just don't think about it too much.. Give it a whirl and enjoy the experience XD
shoutouts to your peeps
Halloooooo! It's me LOL Hello Cebu people, hello Lovely people, Hello Davao people, hello Manila People, hello FRiends thru cosplay people, Hello Grope Group, Hello Team OTL Hello everybody Helloooooooooooooooooooo! Helloo Melo LOL and tux team xD hello Marko Villaluz XD
for promotion
You can add me up in http://www.facebook.com/leandromui .
If you want to LOL
and my DA account: http://ordnaelshofu.deviantart.com/
although it's still in the updating era XD
photos below by melabarca and Chai
Devian grey - putting style in cosplay
photo by: Q
Whoa! We're finally back on track! It's been a while since the last feature~ We begin in 3....2....1.... GO!!!!
Cosplay, to quite a number of people, see it as part of fashion. I've already made an article about this before, so I don't want to go back to the nitty-gritty and just move along with what's supposed to happen today. *ahem* Today's feature knows exactly what the difference between the two is.
He's a freelance fashion stylist, a cosplayer, and a businessman. He's got needling skills and has a number of costumes to prove it. I don't know if he's a model, but I can safely say he's got the knack for it.
Posing - check!
style - check!
flair - check!
He's one of the people here in the local community who giving justice to bishounen characters through the years! (sadly, I'm not one of them *sobs*)
He knows how to put make-up, and knows art. I present thee, Ian C. aka, Devian Grey~
---------------------------------------------
What's your name (nick/alias)
- Ian, I'm also known as Devian Grey
how long have you been cosplaying?
- since Ozine 2008
what makes cosplaying fun for you?
- the creative hands-on side of it; from planning to execution. I always love dressing up
please share your most memorable cosplay experience
- My recent trip to SG for Anime Festival Asia. It's so surreal cosplaying on a different environment, I met a lot of new friends YAY
describe a cosplayer
- A cosplayer is someone who dresses up as a certain character from an anime,manga game etc etc and acts like how the character behaves. It's like celebrity impersonation but in a japanese level. LOL
what are some of your past cosplays?
- My most recent is Ichigo Kurosaki from bleach. hmm Alto from Macross frontier, Leo from Fairy Tail and a lot of Vocaloid versions of Kaito and Gakupo ahahaha
would you say every costume is well worth your time and money?
- Yes, coz I wont do that if it wasn't.
what's something that you think can help improve one's cosplay?
- MAKE-UP and swag
what are your thoughts with this year's AFA?
- Well, I cant really say much coz' it's my first time going there. all I can say though it's super fun and a bit crowded.
what's a cosplay you'd want to see someday?
- hmmm as of the moment Kamen Rider Fourze haha coz i'm loving that show recently *coughIKKIcough* and old school anime's please like Dual and BurnUp hehe
you're a freelance fashion stylist, right? do shed some light
- I'm a fashion stylist, I keep up to date of the latest on fashion and translates them on editorials, shows, etc.
how is it different from cosplaying?
- It's waaaay different. I dress up people/models with the latest trends and stuff and it's a profession. cosplaying is a hobby.
what future do you see for yourself?
- You'll see my name on fashion magazines
who do you look up to? (fashion world)
- hmm a lot actually, designers and artists like vivienne westwood, Ryuji Shiomitsu (my mentor), Japanese street fashion and everything around me. remember an artist utilizes all things he encounters and translates into something that describes him.
what's your advice to newbies?
- 3 words: research, resource and reference
shoutouts to your peeps
- Ohai Dar annoying people! i love you guys ( to the readers: annoying people is actually a group :D)
anything for promotion
- please do visit the following:
cosplay related:
facebook.com/deviangrey.cosplay
lazyeight.deviantart.com
Cure No. 160249
fashion related:
www.iancartalaba.com
Cosplay, to quite a number of people, see it as part of fashion. I've already made an article about this before, so I don't want to go back to the nitty-gritty and just move along with what's supposed to happen today. *ahem* Today's feature knows exactly what the difference between the two is.
He's a freelance fashion stylist, a cosplayer, and a businessman. He's got needling skills and has a number of costumes to prove it. I don't know if he's a model, but I can safely say he's got the knack for it.
Posing - check!
style - check!
flair - check!
He's one of the people here in the local community who giving justice to bishounen characters through the years! (sadly, I'm not one of them *sobs*)
He knows how to put make-up, and knows art. I present thee, Ian C. aka, Devian Grey~
---------------------------------------------
What's your name (nick/alias)
- Ian, I'm also known as Devian Grey
how long have you been cosplaying?
- since Ozine 2008
what makes cosplaying fun for you?
- the creative hands-on side of it; from planning to execution. I always love dressing up
please share your most memorable cosplay experience
- My recent trip to SG for Anime Festival Asia. It's so surreal cosplaying on a different environment, I met a lot of new friends YAY
describe a cosplayer
- A cosplayer is someone who dresses up as a certain character from an anime,manga game etc etc and acts like how the character behaves. It's like celebrity impersonation but in a japanese level. LOL
what are some of your past cosplays?
- My most recent is Ichigo Kurosaki from bleach. hmm Alto from Macross frontier, Leo from Fairy Tail and a lot of Vocaloid versions of Kaito and Gakupo ahahaha
would you say every costume is well worth your time and money?
- Yes, coz I wont do that if it wasn't.
what's something that you think can help improve one's cosplay?
- MAKE-UP and swag
what are your thoughts with this year's AFA?
- Well, I cant really say much coz' it's my first time going there. all I can say though it's super fun and a bit crowded.
what's a cosplay you'd want to see someday?
- hmmm as of the moment Kamen Rider Fourze haha coz i'm loving that show recently *coughIKKIcough* and old school anime's please like Dual and BurnUp hehe
you're a freelance fashion stylist, right? do shed some light
- I'm a fashion stylist, I keep up to date of the latest on fashion and translates them on editorials, shows, etc.
how is it different from cosplaying?
- It's waaaay different. I dress up people/models with the latest trends and stuff and it's a profession. cosplaying is a hobby.
what future do you see for yourself?
- You'll see my name on fashion magazines
who do you look up to? (fashion world)
- hmm a lot actually, designers and artists like vivienne westwood, Ryuji Shiomitsu (my mentor), Japanese street fashion and everything around me. remember an artist utilizes all things he encounters and translates into something that describes him.
what's your advice to newbies?
- 3 words: research, resource and reference
shoutouts to your peeps
- Ohai Dar annoying people! i love you guys ( to the readers: annoying people is actually a group :D)
anything for promotion
- please do visit the following:
cosplay related:
facebook.com/deviangrey.cosplay
lazyeight.deviantart.com
Cure No. 160249
fashion related:
www.iancartalaba.com
Nikki sumbe - the armor-clad pearl
photo by: Mr. Yobs Nasol
Hello again, people of the world! It's time for me to write another article for our BTC section~~ *Rolls up sleeves*
For today, I'd like to assume that you guys know the game, Monster Hunter. It's Capcom's online(optional) hunting game for the PSP, and has even reached the loving hands of the Wii. You take on the role of a warrior who hunts monsters for food, honor, and glory. You get to... blah blah blah blah blah... you can always google it, if you don't know.
To be a great hunter, you have to have a number of things in you. One must have skills, a sound mind, and a body that can take on the physical beatings on a daily basis. Cosplaying, just like hunting, needs you more or less, have a bit of these to gain respect from your peers. And these are the qualities today's feature definitely has.
Stephanie, or Nikki as most people would call her, has proved to us that she can pit against some of the best for being one of the winners of the Hero Face-Off last year, and getting the Kipi award at the Singapore Toys, Games, and Comics Convention this year. Let's learn more about this great hunter waiting for her next event to conquer.
--------------------------------------------------
what's your name?
- Stephanie A. Sumbe/nikki
when and why did you start cosplaying?
- I started cosplaying since August 11 2007 (2nd ICC con)
I just tried attending conventions and met up with my friends in friendster which were cosplayers XD
what was your first cosplay?
- I cosplayed Amane Misa of Death Note
who are some of your cosplay inspirations?
- Locally, i love Jin Joson and Zhel Guiral's cosplays..I was also inspired by Team Drachen specially Naoki and Aramil, as well as sir Jacky Dosai
what's your favorite snack?
- My favorite snack XD SPICY DILIS and PUSIT XD
* Oooh~~ me gusta!! :3
please give us a bit of information about your Monster Hunter cosplay
- My brother gave me a psp with Monster Hunter Freedom Unite in it...I played it but I really sucked that time(2008) My brother, being a gamer and a fan of MH, encouraged me to do a cosplay of it...he made me choose among the armors and i just fell in love with the female rathalos blademaster armor. Then, the rest was history XD
You've competed in STGCC held in Singapore this year. Do tell us the experience you had.
- Actually, It's really fun, Day1: we just visited the venue, I wore my Akane Jubei Yagyu costume. Then we competed on Day 2. I wore my Female Dark Akantor Blademaster costume which somewhat amazed the crowd. The Kipi Prize was really surprising! I was really happy that I still got a special award even though I didn't win.
* Your Dark Akantor just blew me away *A*
How is the convention in Singapore as compared to here?
- The convention in SG is really organized(they're on time!). There are photogs everywhere(everyone has their own dslr/slr/etc.). They have their cosplay cards to exchange with other cosplayers/photogs. More on anime cosplays...more on cloths,epic make up,and wigs! These are just some of my observations. Here in the Philippines,cosplaying is held almost weekly. Every cosplayer knows each other so there's no need for cosplay cards. We have a wide range of cosplays: anime, live action, game, mecha,toku, etc.But both cosplay conventions are really fun and exciting.
Do you have a cosplay group/team/organization?
- I want to greet my Project8...also: P* and BCM!!!
fill in the blank: Cosplay, for me, is ________ because __________
- Cosplay, for me is a diversion because it takes away my stress from school work, naughty pupils, tons of paper works, forms and grading sheets! I love u cosplay XD
What other hobbies do you have aside from cosplaying?
- Aside from cosplaying, I love to eat, doodle, search for materials, and make some cute props.
* EATING IS A GREAT HOBBY!!!!
What's your dream cosplay, why?
- My dream cosplay would be gundam nobel... XD I just wanted to make a mecha that can move! That has 100% mobility! I just wish we can make that.
Given the chance, would you like to compete in WCS? why or why not?
- Certainly...YES! I always dreamed of competing in the WCS, because primarily I want to go to Japan, I want to experience the convention there,and meet new friends.
Some words of wisdom for newbies
- First, always choose the character which will suite you well, know your character and be in character(give justice to it). Next after choosing your character, know your budget that is very essential you know. If you can't make your own costume...you can always have it commissioned (but i prefer making your own costume because it's more personalized)
P.S.Please do not cosplay for the sake of fame...there's no fame in cosplaying! There's no such thing as cosplay queen, king, prince, princess, maid, pet, etc! XD So that's it! Happy Cosplaying!!!
Shoutouts to your friends, family, and fans
- *waves* to Project 8 and Bulacan Cosplay Mania!!!
Hi to all my cosplayer friends...
Anything for promotion?
Shameless plug: (face book)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000473689474
(this is not a fan page i just couldn't change the name anymore XD)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nikki-Chan-Fan-Page/164726933545481
(project8)
http://www.facebook.com/project8cosplaygroup
(monster hunter gallery: where all MH arts are)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Monster-Hunter-Gallery-Philippines/132526846806478
(bnahabra pipz MH valenzuela)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bnahabra-Boys/111279722280609
(marbs shop)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Moogle-Marbs-Shop/180871795301163
For today, I'd like to assume that you guys know the game, Monster Hunter. It's Capcom's online(optional) hunting game for the PSP, and has even reached the loving hands of the Wii. You take on the role of a warrior who hunts monsters for food, honor, and glory. You get to... blah blah blah blah blah... you can always google it, if you don't know.
To be a great hunter, you have to have a number of things in you. One must have skills, a sound mind, and a body that can take on the physical beatings on a daily basis. Cosplaying, just like hunting, needs you more or less, have a bit of these to gain respect from your peers. And these are the qualities today's feature definitely has.
Stephanie, or Nikki as most people would call her, has proved to us that she can pit against some of the best for being one of the winners of the Hero Face-Off last year, and getting the Kipi award at the Singapore Toys, Games, and Comics Convention this year. Let's learn more about this great hunter waiting for her next event to conquer.
--------------------------------------------------
what's your name?
- Stephanie A. Sumbe/nikki
when and why did you start cosplaying?
- I started cosplaying since August 11 2007 (2nd ICC con)
I just tried attending conventions and met up with my friends in friendster which were cosplayers XD
what was your first cosplay?
- I cosplayed Amane Misa of Death Note
who are some of your cosplay inspirations?
- Locally, i love Jin Joson and Zhel Guiral's cosplays..I was also inspired by Team Drachen specially Naoki and Aramil, as well as sir Jacky Dosai
what's your favorite snack?
- My favorite snack XD SPICY DILIS and PUSIT XD
* Oooh~~ me gusta!! :3
please give us a bit of information about your Monster Hunter cosplay
- My brother gave me a psp with Monster Hunter Freedom Unite in it...I played it but I really sucked that time(2008) My brother, being a gamer and a fan of MH, encouraged me to do a cosplay of it...he made me choose among the armors and i just fell in love with the female rathalos blademaster armor. Then, the rest was history XD
You've competed in STGCC held in Singapore this year. Do tell us the experience you had.
- Actually, It's really fun, Day1: we just visited the venue, I wore my Akane Jubei Yagyu costume. Then we competed on Day 2. I wore my Female Dark Akantor Blademaster costume which somewhat amazed the crowd. The Kipi Prize was really surprising! I was really happy that I still got a special award even though I didn't win.
* Your Dark Akantor just blew me away *A*
How is the convention in Singapore as compared to here?
- The convention in SG is really organized(they're on time!). There are photogs everywhere(everyone has their own dslr/slr/etc.). They have their cosplay cards to exchange with other cosplayers/photogs. More on anime cosplays...more on cloths,epic make up,and wigs! These are just some of my observations. Here in the Philippines,cosplaying is held almost weekly. Every cosplayer knows each other so there's no need for cosplay cards. We have a wide range of cosplays: anime, live action, game, mecha,toku, etc.But both cosplay conventions are really fun and exciting.
Do you have a cosplay group/team/organization?
- I want to greet my Project8...also: P* and BCM!!!
fill in the blank: Cosplay, for me, is ________ because __________
- Cosplay, for me is a diversion because it takes away my stress from school work, naughty pupils, tons of paper works, forms and grading sheets! I love u cosplay XD
What other hobbies do you have aside from cosplaying?
- Aside from cosplaying, I love to eat, doodle, search for materials, and make some cute props.
* EATING IS A GREAT HOBBY!!!!
What's your dream cosplay, why?
- My dream cosplay would be gundam nobel... XD I just wanted to make a mecha that can move! That has 100% mobility! I just wish we can make that.
Given the chance, would you like to compete in WCS? why or why not?
- Certainly...YES! I always dreamed of competing in the WCS, because primarily I want to go to Japan, I want to experience the convention there,and meet new friends.
Some words of wisdom for newbies
- First, always choose the character which will suite you well, know your character and be in character(give justice to it). Next after choosing your character, know your budget that is very essential you know. If you can't make your own costume...you can always have it commissioned (but i prefer making your own costume because it's more personalized)
P.S.Please do not cosplay for the sake of fame...there's no fame in cosplaying! There's no such thing as cosplay queen, king, prince, princess, maid, pet, etc! XD So that's it! Happy Cosplaying!!!
Shoutouts to your friends, family, and fans
- *waves* to Project 8 and Bulacan Cosplay Mania!!!
Hi to all my cosplayer friends...
Anything for promotion?
Shameless plug: (face book)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000473689474
(this is not a fan page i just couldn't change the name anymore XD)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nikki-Chan-Fan-Page/164726933545481
(project8)
http://www.facebook.com/project8cosplaygroup
(monster hunter gallery: where all MH arts are)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Monster-Hunter-Gallery-Philippines/132526846806478
(bnahabra pipz MH valenzuela)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bnahabra-Boys/111279722280609
(marbs shop)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Moogle-Marbs-Shop/180871795301163
reiko - time produces greatness
photo by Soujou
The pleasure of time varies from one person to another. Some may have a lot(like me TAT) while some don't(probably the rest of you folks). Time is necessary to be able to accomplish anything in good fashion, and more time to turn something worthy of being considered spectacular. Balancing is a tall order for most which leads my respect to go to our current feature.
A lot of people choose their characters either out of convenience or of a measly whim, often times not even considering if the character would fit them or not. I think otherwise. Preparation is necessary if you want to pull of something commendable. And as we all know, preparation takes time.
So now, I want you to veer your eyes to the left and feast them on the lovely picture. It's safe to say that much time has been spent to produce that work of art. Amazing, right? Yes, and yes she's the feature for today~
We have Reiko, an amazing cosplayer from overseas! Yes! It's a milestone for Happy Hariography because this would be the first time an international cosplayer has graced this humble weebly of mine. (tears are falling down my cheeks right now)
IT'S SUCH AN HONOR!!!! *lights up fireworks and throws confetti*
HOORAY!!! HOORAY!!!!
-------------------------------
how would you like to be called?
reiko
how long have you been cosplaying?
10years
10 years! wow! would you mind telling what your first cosplay was and how you felt during that time?
My first cosplay was a ghetto cosplay of Natsume from You're Under Arrest. At that time cosplay has just started in Singapore (about 2 years?) and I just dropped by to see how the event was like, and what cosplaying was all about. All we had were simple film/compact cameras, and there wasn't the luxury of using wigs/coloured contact lenses because there weren't many suppliers.
But the event atmosphere was super fun and everyone was really friendly! It was so amazing to see anime characters I like walking around ^^ Wanted to share the same happiness, and that was what made me continue cosplaying ^^
do you make your own costumes?
I try to as far as I can, because there are some ways I would rather them to look like than those sold on the market. I rarely ask for help from friends too because I like my cosplays to be done with my own taste. And if anything goes wrong I have only myself to blame ^^
I admit that I have bought simple costumes like uniforms(Ouran Host Club's) that can't go wrong though.
for you, how much preparation is necessary before cosplaying a character?
I would say quite a lot, especially on the mental side. I must feel and empathise enough for the character before getting the idea of wanting to cosplay him/her. After that I start to think about whether there is anything I want to portray for that character, and if there is nothing interesting / that hasn't been done before I will throw away the idea of cosplaying.
If I do decide to go ahead, I will start looking for reference pictures, make adjustments to the outfit to suit my body-type so that the final outcome will resemble the character as much as possible, assemble materials and get to work. I work with an environment that allows me to think about the title and character as much as possible (playing soundtracks / drama CDs in the background). When I see the final product emerging from the original materials I get more and more excited xD
have you ever been to the Philippines?
Nope, but I would love to visit the Philippines some day! I hear it's a beautiful place ;v;
HH - we would love to have you here :)
what's your dream cosplay?
This is a hard question... it really depends on what I like at the moment. Every cosplay idea is a dream, and every cosplay done is a dream come true. But if I have to name one at the moment, it will be Gundam Deathscythe.
HH - why gundam deathscythe?
because I love the Gundams from Gundam Wing, and Duo is my favourite character ^^. I love Wing-Zero and Deathscythe the most in terms of design, but I would want to make Deathscythe more than Wing-Zero ^^. I've never had the chance to make armour/Gundam stuff so I would like to try someday.
who are your inspirations in cosplay?
On DA: Cvy, Lenneth, Kanasai, Konoe-Lifestream, hybridre,Uley
Off DA: (Without honorifics) 夏鬼、ろく、六、なぐも、牌、ネル、潤、桂、くりゅー、晋.
Some are more of photographers than cosplayers, but their photography / works really mersmerise and inspire me.
you're into photography as well! what do you like taking pictures of?
Of course cosplays of characters I love!!! 8D
But other than that I like taking street snaps as well as capturing the beauty of Mother Nature. Though I still have a lot to learn with regards to photography!!
HH - Hooray!! Hooray!!!
have you ever thought about participating in WCS?
Not at the moment ^^.
If you look at my DA blog I did take part in WCS this year but as a participant/sight-see-er, and not competitively
I can't really agree to the idea of judging and comparing cosplays because every title is unique in it's own way and there is no fair ground for judging. You can't compare for example a battle-focused game with a sweet and heart-warming title like Usagi Drop. I believe the cosplayers are doing it out of love for those characters. Who am I to judge and put them down? I wouldn't like that to be done to me either, so I'm not a fan of the idea of cosplay competitions. But I do love to mix with cosplayers from all over the world so the non-competitive side of WCS was a good event for that ^^.
Cosplay for me is __________
a hobby for me to output what I feel for and love ^^.
who's your all-time favorite character?
This is a hard one >.< But I will have to say Gintoki from Gintama!
what's your favorite snack?
Potato chips ^^
HH - Yum~~ :3
advice to newbies
Those who have been thinking of trying out cosplaying but have not yet gathered the courage, go for it! Cosplay is a wonderful tool to make friends who have the same likes, so focus on having fun with them!
shoutouts to friends, family, fans
Many thanks to friends and family who have been supportive. I know a lot of people have had to suffer my endless fangirling Thanks for being there and hearing me out, and for accepting me as I am.
To fans, though I doubt there are any lol, thanks for your support(?) and an even bigger thank you for even just stopping by and looking at my cosplay works! Would love feedback, and I always welcome fangirling over character / series that we like in common!
sites for promotion
I've restarted a photo-centric blog (mainly in Japanese) at http://gk-reiko.jugem.jp/
Features mainly cosplay, location shoots that appears in anime/game, and my life in general sometimes.
Over here I lump photos in bulk lol There are quite a few photos there that won't be here on DA
(This is her DA, by the way~)
A lot of people choose their characters either out of convenience or of a measly whim, often times not even considering if the character would fit them or not. I think otherwise. Preparation is necessary if you want to pull of something commendable. And as we all know, preparation takes time.
So now, I want you to veer your eyes to the left and feast them on the lovely picture. It's safe to say that much time has been spent to produce that work of art. Amazing, right? Yes, and yes she's the feature for today~
We have Reiko, an amazing cosplayer from overseas! Yes! It's a milestone for Happy Hariography because this would be the first time an international cosplayer has graced this humble weebly of mine. (tears are falling down my cheeks right now)
IT'S SUCH AN HONOR!!!! *lights up fireworks and throws confetti*
HOORAY!!! HOORAY!!!!
-------------------------------
how would you like to be called?
reiko
how long have you been cosplaying?
10years
10 years! wow! would you mind telling what your first cosplay was and how you felt during that time?
My first cosplay was a ghetto cosplay of Natsume from You're Under Arrest. At that time cosplay has just started in Singapore (about 2 years?) and I just dropped by to see how the event was like, and what cosplaying was all about. All we had were simple film/compact cameras, and there wasn't the luxury of using wigs/coloured contact lenses because there weren't many suppliers.
But the event atmosphere was super fun and everyone was really friendly! It was so amazing to see anime characters I like walking around ^^ Wanted to share the same happiness, and that was what made me continue cosplaying ^^
do you make your own costumes?
I try to as far as I can, because there are some ways I would rather them to look like than those sold on the market. I rarely ask for help from friends too because I like my cosplays to be done with my own taste. And if anything goes wrong I have only myself to blame ^^
I admit that I have bought simple costumes like uniforms(Ouran Host Club's) that can't go wrong though.
for you, how much preparation is necessary before cosplaying a character?
I would say quite a lot, especially on the mental side. I must feel and empathise enough for the character before getting the idea of wanting to cosplay him/her. After that I start to think about whether there is anything I want to portray for that character, and if there is nothing interesting / that hasn't been done before I will throw away the idea of cosplaying.
If I do decide to go ahead, I will start looking for reference pictures, make adjustments to the outfit to suit my body-type so that the final outcome will resemble the character as much as possible, assemble materials and get to work. I work with an environment that allows me to think about the title and character as much as possible (playing soundtracks / drama CDs in the background). When I see the final product emerging from the original materials I get more and more excited xD
have you ever been to the Philippines?
Nope, but I would love to visit the Philippines some day! I hear it's a beautiful place ;v;
HH - we would love to have you here :)
what's your dream cosplay?
This is a hard question... it really depends on what I like at the moment. Every cosplay idea is a dream, and every cosplay done is a dream come true. But if I have to name one at the moment, it will be Gundam Deathscythe.
HH - why gundam deathscythe?
because I love the Gundams from Gundam Wing, and Duo is my favourite character ^^. I love Wing-Zero and Deathscythe the most in terms of design, but I would want to make Deathscythe more than Wing-Zero ^^. I've never had the chance to make armour/Gundam stuff so I would like to try someday.
who are your inspirations in cosplay?
On DA: Cvy, Lenneth, Kanasai, Konoe-Lifestream, hybridre,Uley
Off DA: (Without honorifics) 夏鬼、ろく、六、なぐも、牌、ネル、潤、桂、くりゅー、晋.
Some are more of photographers than cosplayers, but their photography / works really mersmerise and inspire me.
you're into photography as well! what do you like taking pictures of?
Of course cosplays of characters I love!!! 8D
But other than that I like taking street snaps as well as capturing the beauty of Mother Nature. Though I still have a lot to learn with regards to photography!!
HH - Hooray!! Hooray!!!
have you ever thought about participating in WCS?
Not at the moment ^^.
If you look at my DA blog I did take part in WCS this year but as a participant/sight-see-er, and not competitively
I can't really agree to the idea of judging and comparing cosplays because every title is unique in it's own way and there is no fair ground for judging. You can't compare for example a battle-focused game with a sweet and heart-warming title like Usagi Drop. I believe the cosplayers are doing it out of love for those characters. Who am I to judge and put them down? I wouldn't like that to be done to me either, so I'm not a fan of the idea of cosplay competitions. But I do love to mix with cosplayers from all over the world so the non-competitive side of WCS was a good event for that ^^.
Cosplay for me is __________
a hobby for me to output what I feel for and love ^^.
who's your all-time favorite character?
This is a hard one >.< But I will have to say Gintoki from Gintama!
what's your favorite snack?
Potato chips ^^
HH - Yum~~ :3
advice to newbies
Those who have been thinking of trying out cosplaying but have not yet gathered the courage, go for it! Cosplay is a wonderful tool to make friends who have the same likes, so focus on having fun with them!
shoutouts to friends, family, fans
Many thanks to friends and family who have been supportive. I know a lot of people have had to suffer my endless fangirling Thanks for being there and hearing me out, and for accepting me as I am.
To fans, though I doubt there are any lol, thanks for your support(?) and an even bigger thank you for even just stopping by and looking at my cosplay works! Would love feedback, and I always welcome fangirling over character / series that we like in common!
sites for promotion
I've restarted a photo-centric blog (mainly in Japanese) at http://gk-reiko.jugem.jp/
Features mainly cosplay, location shoots that appears in anime/game, and my life in general sometimes.
Over here I lump photos in bulk lol There are quite a few photos there that won't be here on DA
(This is her DA, by the way~)
jm chua - the man, the icon, the legend
self-portrait
Today, cosplaying has become a hobby to a large number of people. There would be simultaneous events in different areas at times, with a frequency of almost every other week. You can see cosplayers almost anywhere, be it on television or the internet.
I can name names and you'd probably know a couple, but that's not what I wish to do right now. What I DO want to do is share with everybody, today's feature! We have, this time, is a GREAT cosplayer. He's considered to be a legend by many and a lot of people look up to him (including myself!). His (RRK) Saito Hajime cosplay's got the stuff of champions. He's a world-class cosplayer and someone who knows his stuff. I present to you, the one and only, JM Chua!
He's the one who pushed me (albeit indirectly) to cosplay after being able to watch him in AXN 2002. His cosplay of Saito was SOOOO accurate that it brought him to Singapore and win the AXN finals. I've looked up to him ( and I still do now!) We all have a thing or two to learn from THE MAN!!
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What's your name?
-JM Chua
when why did you start cosplaying?
-November 2000 (AnimeXplosion2000)
you were the first international cosplay icon of the philippines. please describe the feeling
-More than anything else, it was a huge surprise. I didn't expect to win, especially after seeing how intricate the other representatives' costumes were. But it was also awesome to have represented the country, even if it was in a small way.
HH - We were really happy knowing that you won that time!
what's your secret for choosing your characters?
-It has to be a character that I really really really like; Reason why I haven't cosplayed as much characters as I wanted to, it's a bit difficult to find one that I like that much.
have you studied any form or martial arts?
-Aikido for a couple of months, college representative for Taekwondo and some Capoeira. Studied Kendo the longest, though.
HH - wow! you've done a lot!
if you were to live in a time aside from ours, which epoch would it be? why?
-The 50's! Things were built like tanks, everyone had swag and life was so much simpler (and creature comforts weren't that far off from what we have today. At least the basics, heh heh)
HH - hohohohoho~
have you ever had any cosplay mishaps?
-I can't say I have had anything major. Nothing a couple of safety pins couldn't fix. Most uncomfortable, though, was the Wolfwood prop because I had to commute with a 5ftx3ft, 10Kg cross.
HH - whoa! that cross's pretty darn heavy! I really loved that cross, especially with it's opening mechanism!
what keeps you busy these days?
-Work from Mondays to Fridays, cycling and photography during the weekends.
HH - whoa~ occupied the whole week!
why angrylittleboy?
-Title for my LJ from 6-7 years ago, haha! I was so angry at a lot of things, and I was aware of how immature I could get then. I didn't want to bother remembering different usernames, so I used it for everything since then.
please describe yourself in a nutshell
-I'm an old kid.
what's your favorite show of all time?
-A lot, but Fushigi no Umi no Nadia (Nadia of the Mysterious Sea) is the first to come to mind right now.
Eastern or western(culture)
-A bit of both, I guess. I like the idea behind the west's emphasis on freedom of expression and innovation, as well as the east's preference for what is simple and practical.
do share something most people don't know about you
-I used to write fanfics, hahaha! They're terrible, so it's a good thing I used a pseudonym back then.
do you have any plans for cosplaymania?
-Haven't planned anything for now.
for you, life is ___________?
-Something that shouldn't be taken too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
you've been taking photographs for a long time now. what are the changes that you've seen today?
-For me, just the ease of access to photography paraphernalia and, consequently, the number of photographers. People are still taking photos of pretty much what people from 10-20 years ago were taking. Now, though, people don't have to worry much about cramming their photos in a 36exp roll, and it's a whole lot easier to share photos online, so we see more photos now compared to then.
which do you prefer as subjects, people or things?
-People. People, for me, are always interesting.
HH - agreed!
ambient or artificial?
-I haven't had much experience with artificial lighting (because of the expense that comes with it), so I would have to say ambient.
words for newbies
-Keep in mind that cosplaying is supposed to be a fun activity,meeting and being with people with the same interests and an opportunity for you to show how much you like the character you're cosplaying as. It's not about who has the most expensive/sexiest/gimmicky costume, who has the most fans or who won the most "competitions". At the end of it all, we're all just silly geeks walking around in silly costumes.
shoutouts to fans, friends, family
-Hi ma! Na-interview na ako ni Marko! LOL!
HH - oh, no. I SHOULD BE THE ONE REJOICING!! *dances around*
for promotion
-Do check out my DA for my cosplay photos:http://angrylittleboy.deviantart.com/ Thank you!
I can name names and you'd probably know a couple, but that's not what I wish to do right now. What I DO want to do is share with everybody, today's feature! We have, this time, is a GREAT cosplayer. He's considered to be a legend by many and a lot of people look up to him (including myself!). His (RRK) Saito Hajime cosplay's got the stuff of champions. He's a world-class cosplayer and someone who knows his stuff. I present to you, the one and only, JM Chua!
He's the one who pushed me (albeit indirectly) to cosplay after being able to watch him in AXN 2002. His cosplay of Saito was SOOOO accurate that it brought him to Singapore and win the AXN finals. I've looked up to him ( and I still do now!) We all have a thing or two to learn from THE MAN!!
-------------------------------------
What's your name?
-JM Chua
when why did you start cosplaying?
-November 2000 (AnimeXplosion2000)
you were the first international cosplay icon of the philippines. please describe the feeling
-More than anything else, it was a huge surprise. I didn't expect to win, especially after seeing how intricate the other representatives' costumes were. But it was also awesome to have represented the country, even if it was in a small way.
HH - We were really happy knowing that you won that time!
what's your secret for choosing your characters?
-It has to be a character that I really really really like; Reason why I haven't cosplayed as much characters as I wanted to, it's a bit difficult to find one that I like that much.
have you studied any form or martial arts?
-Aikido for a couple of months, college representative for Taekwondo and some Capoeira. Studied Kendo the longest, though.
HH - wow! you've done a lot!
if you were to live in a time aside from ours, which epoch would it be? why?
-The 50's! Things were built like tanks, everyone had swag and life was so much simpler (and creature comforts weren't that far off from what we have today. At least the basics, heh heh)
HH - hohohohoho~
have you ever had any cosplay mishaps?
-I can't say I have had anything major. Nothing a couple of safety pins couldn't fix. Most uncomfortable, though, was the Wolfwood prop because I had to commute with a 5ftx3ft, 10Kg cross.
HH - whoa! that cross's pretty darn heavy! I really loved that cross, especially with it's opening mechanism!
what keeps you busy these days?
-Work from Mondays to Fridays, cycling and photography during the weekends.
HH - whoa~ occupied the whole week!
why angrylittleboy?
-Title for my LJ from 6-7 years ago, haha! I was so angry at a lot of things, and I was aware of how immature I could get then. I didn't want to bother remembering different usernames, so I used it for everything since then.
please describe yourself in a nutshell
-I'm an old kid.
what's your favorite show of all time?
-A lot, but Fushigi no Umi no Nadia (Nadia of the Mysterious Sea) is the first to come to mind right now.
Eastern or western(culture)
-A bit of both, I guess. I like the idea behind the west's emphasis on freedom of expression and innovation, as well as the east's preference for what is simple and practical.
do share something most people don't know about you
-I used to write fanfics, hahaha! They're terrible, so it's a good thing I used a pseudonym back then.
do you have any plans for cosplaymania?
-Haven't planned anything for now.
for you, life is ___________?
-Something that shouldn't be taken too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
you've been taking photographs for a long time now. what are the changes that you've seen today?
-For me, just the ease of access to photography paraphernalia and, consequently, the number of photographers. People are still taking photos of pretty much what people from 10-20 years ago were taking. Now, though, people don't have to worry much about cramming their photos in a 36exp roll, and it's a whole lot easier to share photos online, so we see more photos now compared to then.
which do you prefer as subjects, people or things?
-People. People, for me, are always interesting.
HH - agreed!
ambient or artificial?
-I haven't had much experience with artificial lighting (because of the expense that comes with it), so I would have to say ambient.
words for newbies
-Keep in mind that cosplaying is supposed to be a fun activity,meeting and being with people with the same interests and an opportunity for you to show how much you like the character you're cosplaying as. It's not about who has the most expensive/sexiest/gimmicky costume, who has the most fans or who won the most "competitions". At the end of it all, we're all just silly geeks walking around in silly costumes.
shoutouts to fans, friends, family
-Hi ma! Na-interview na ako ni Marko! LOL!
HH - oh, no. I SHOULD BE THE ONE REJOICING!! *dances around*
for promotion
-Do check out my DA for my cosplay photos:http://angrylittleboy.deviantart.com/ Thank you!
shoti li - le shutter pup
self-portrait
Hello, everybody~ We have another photographer for this feature! He's a Davao-based photographer who's currently residing in China but will be oh-so-present in Cosplaymania (the biggest cosplay event in the Philippines!)
Dennis or "Shoti", as most people call him, has been sharing to the world stunning captures and stills together with one of the Philippines' greatest cosplayers to date, Zhel Guiral. His photographs are not only limited to cosplay, but to fashion as well.
I've been an admirer of his work for a couple of months now. A favorite of mine is his "Extra Terrestrial" collection, a photographic take on Katy Perry's song"Supernatural". I still find great pleasure whenever I take a look at either his past or current highly commendable works of art.
As you can clearly see from his picture, you can already determine that he's quite the funny bone. I'm pretty stoked to get to meet the man behind the lens this October.
----------------------------------------
what's your name?
-Hi! My name is Dennis Joseph Li, but people affectionately (and sometimes not) call me “Shoti” ^^v
are you a fan of japanese animation?
-yuss, I am! XD
if so, what's your all-time favorite?
-If all-time favorite… I guess it would be Naruto. It’s the longest series I’ve watched, and I’m a sucker for fight scenes, techniques, magic, etc. I also love Fairy Tail. And currently loving Mawaru PenguinDrum, Ao no Ex and No. 6. XD
HH - I'm quite into Ao No Ex too~ :3
what made you enter the world of photography?
-Well, back in my early college days, I picked up my mom’s digital camera and started taking photos. Whenever I would take a fairly decent one, I’d feel really good about myself and I would take some more photos. My mom saw that I was starting to like photography, so she encouraged me to take up lessons on how to use a DSLR. That’s how and where I began. XD
how about cosplay photography?
-I actually did cosplay photography first before I did some major fashion/avant garde shoots. I got into cosplay photography because I was part of an org for otakus! I met Zhel and many other cosplayers there. Being a photographer, cosplay definitely interested me. The colors, the endless possibilities for creativity.. It drew me in. And thanks to Zhel (who became my usual cosplay model and eventually my muse in cosplay photography) I got to better myself in this field of photography. ^^
who are your inspirations for your works?
- My inspirations are:
➢ Manny Librodo (for portraiture)
➢ Shiro Ang, z3lll and hexlord (for cosplay photography)
5 chickens added with 3 knives give you what?
- I can’t answer, so I asked my friend and she said “Pastil”. LOL. Now I’m hungry… D:
HH - you get a meal, a cut, and a noisy kitchen XDD (don't ask, I couldn't make sense of what I said either)
which has been your toughest shoot to date?
- Hmmm. I guess it would be the Tekken group shoot I did before. I’m not really good with shooting more than one person. O_O This is something I have to learn to do better. ^^
HH - group shoots are murder!! but fun once done~~ hohoho
what's your gear?
- I don’t bring much. My camera is a Nikon D7000. Two lenses, my kit lens and my favorite 50 mm 1.4 lens. I bring two reflectors sometimes… I don’t use flash because (1) I don’t really like the effect it does and (2) I don’t know how to use one… yet. LOL.
have you ever thought of cosplaying?
- Umm, to be honest. I was one of the very first cosplayers of Davao (as far as I know). ^^ But after that, I never cosplayed again. I’m not so good with the stage. D: But, maybe, one day.. I will. ^^
HH - WHOAAAA!!!! PICTURES! PICTURES! PICTURES!!! :3
croissants or cupcakes?
- cup-keykiiiii!!!!
what kind of photography would you like to specialize in?
- I love cosplay photography, but I would really love to specialize in fashion, the magazine shoot types.
fill in the blanks: models are ________ while cosplayers _________.
- Models are … umg… D: umm.. models are for my portrait/fashion shoots while cosplayers are for my cosplay photography shoots!!! But, it can also work the other way around. Why not, right? XD XD XD
what are you doing these days?
-OMG NOTHING. I’m STRANDED in China… TT^TT someone save meh. T^T But, seriously, I am studying chinese in Xiamen, China. XD
are you a gamer? favorite game?
-I think I am. But not the hardcore type. Favorite game would be… Ragnarok Online. XD
advice to the newbies
- Hmm… I’m not a master yet, but all I can say to those who want to try photography is… Do not stop improving, do not stop learning. Take criticism and use it to further your skills. And, well, for me, it’s okay to idolize other artists works but DO NOT copy their style. It’s okay to incorporate it into your work, but don’t copy them. It takes out your originality and you will lose your individuality and uniqueness. Well, that’s just for me. XD
shoutouts to your peeps
-OMG. Friends, save me! T^T LOL. Hi to the DuruDuru Gang! I miss you! To (what’s left of) TNG! I miss you guys, too! And all my supporters!! I lubs yoo!!
anything for promotion
-Well, there’s my websites:
➢ facebook: facebook.com/shutterpuppy
➢ dA: puppyblue07.deviantart.com
➢ tumblr: shutterpuppy-photography.tumblr.com
And there’s 4DL’s facebook: facebook.com/4dlteam
I guess that’s it? XD
THANKS Mark for this!!! Hope to meet you in Cosmania II!
HH - SEE YOU!!!! *crosses fingers*
moonlightflight - be inspired
Photo by Sandra Dans
Everybody has his or her own sources of inspiration, or motivation. We can get it from painted artworks, or from films we've watched. Heck! We can even get it from invertebrates!(Yeah, that's right! Know your kung-fu! kapow!) But, definitely one of the best sources would come from people. And just to be a tad more specific, talented people.
I believe this goes without saying in the world of cosplaying. Using myself as an example, I get inspired/motivated/challenged whenever I see people bringing something new to the plate. It pushes me to do something better than what I've already accomplished in the past.
Looking back at the past interviews, I've been able to point out a couple of names. Names that are in the lists of the people's favorites/inspirations, one of the most common ones is Team Tuxedo.
For today's feature, I've been given both the pleasure and the honor to have had this interview with one of the members of Team Tuxedo. The first time I got to see her in person was only recently at the first day of MCC. She goes under the handle name of Moonlightflight in DA, and is definitely an abundant source of the things I've been muttering right from the get-go. If you check out her DA page right now, you can immediately see how much truth there is to my words.
-------------------------------------------------------------
how long have you been cosplaying?
- I've been cosplaying since 2007.
Fill in the blanks: Cosplay for me is __________ but ________ because _________
- Cosplay for me is about loving the craft and loving the culture it stems from. But as much as it is these things, it also demands a lot of hard work.. It's like this for me because I love what I do and it encourages me to do everything I can to give justice to the characters I represent.
"When you're in something you've got to give it everything you have, else what are you doing?"
^ HH - I really like this saying~ :3
which among the cosplays you've done to date is your favorite?
- This is a difficult question. You see, all my cosplays hold a special place in my heart. The characters somehow always make a deeper impression on me when I cosplay them. But I guess if I really had to choose I'd say Kushieda Minorin from Toradora and Yoko Ritona from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.
I just fell in love with Minorin because I could relate to her character so much. She hid such deep and overwhelming emotions under such a fun and crazy facade. That and the fact that she would do anything for her friends made her someone very relatable for me.
People tend to look down or get the wrong impression of Yoko because of the way she looks, but she's actually pretty badass and can hold her own in a fight. I also admired how she could handle such intense hardships and not lose hope. She was able to come out of it a stronger person determined to do what's right and to protect the people she loves.
The Tux Team, what's something we don't know about the group that you can share?
- We're all hermits and we enjoy being hermits together. Oh! Also, our favorite food is food.
*HH - amazing! that's my favorite food too!
Which do you prefer, watching anime or reading manga?
-I guess it would depend on the anime or manga. I'm fine with either.
Do you have psychic abilities?
-Apparently I do. My friends tell me I give them a look and make them feel like they're being scolded by their mum. XD
Chocolate is _______
-Chocolate is something you should be giving me… RIGHT NOW PLEASE.
*HH - huhuhuhuhu.... *empties pockets*
chocolate is something that doesn't last long with me XP Do you have any particular sinful favorite?
-I actually have a lot of favorites. It's insane. The ones I could remember right now are Belgian chocolates, Meiji milk chocolate, Hershey's milk chocolate, Royce chocolates and Twix are just some of the few. :P
*HH - *wipes drool*
Are you into the current Kpop craze?
-I actually am. Although sad to say I'm not as updated as I would like to be.
Have you ever cosplayed a character you think didn't suit you but still did, anyway?
-Hahaha. Yes. That would be Yoko Ritona from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. I didn't think I had the right facial structure, let alone body type for her. I ended up working out like a Spartan (if he was sleeping), manning up and doing my best for the love of her character.
Do you have a particular song that pumps you up?
-A lot actually. Mostly it's Mika's or Katy Perry's songs but lately "The Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars and "My Heart Skips a Beat" by Linka has been on loop on my itunes.
Have you ever dreamed of shining on stage as a performer/singer?
-Funny you should ask that. Nowadays, I'd rather be behind the scenes when it comes to those kinds of things. I'm rather a big fan of plays and ballets. Somehow I always find myself paying more attention to the sets rather than the performers. Of course I respect them and their craft but there's something about the detail in the work behind the show that always captivates me when I watch something on stage. I don't know, maybe it's because of my background as an art student that makes me appreciate these kinds of things than most.
Although I did dream of the grandeur of being a performer once upon a time. I was still a little kid then and my parents tell me I loved singing for guests and relatives whenever we'd have get togethers. I'd make up impromptu one-kid plays or dance around like a silly goose while singing "Mr. Disco" at the top of my lungs. LOL. Now that I'm older, the only concerts I have are among friends during silly karaoke hang outs or in the confines of my shower.
HH - We must Red Box!!! *o*
Who's your favorite actor?
-Miguel Merca- I mean, Johnny Depp. XD (I like Mickey Rourke too *winkwink nudgenudge*)
*HH - XDDD (I couldn't bring myself to think of a reply other than this)
Johnny Depp's a national treasure! What makes him suit your fancy?
-First of all, let me state the obvious: The man is GORGEOUS! Then there's him being such an amazing and versatile actor. He can be charming and sexy as Gilbert Grape, crazy and goofy as Willy Wonka, mysterious and out of this world as Captain Jack Sparrow, insane and creepy as Sweeney Todd, or heartbreakingly sweet and innocent as Edward Scissorhands. Actually I think it all stemmed from that movie, Edward Scissorhands. I remember being so enamored with him as a kid when he took on that role that I'd keep insisting I wanted an Edward of my own for my next birthday (preferably not one that sparkles).
HH - Edward Sparkly face? XD
Also, there's the fact that he has a great sense of humor. I remember reading this one article before concerning him trashing his hotel room. When the hotel pressed charges, he simply denied everything and blamed the whole thing on a wild armadillo that got into his room through an open window. He won that case through sheer charm and ingenuity (how an insane armadillo got through the penthouse window still remains a mystery). XD
HH - The armadillo's part of a conspiracy, I tell ye~
Do you have any cosplayer favorites? (foreign or local)
- Gosh there are so many. There's Julia, Aku, Haku, Jimmy, Jayem, Lillyxandra, and Adella from the States, Shanhuang from China, Jesuke from Singapore, Kaname from Japan, Of course all my friends from Tuxedo Team, Sir Guy Singzon, Mary Grace Roldan, Gibs Sagun, Kuya Robert Wong, Zhel Guiral, AC Hernandez, Yuu Shomura, Sese Ramirez, and Markee are just some of the names that come to mind.
Abstract or Realism?
-I will always hold a high regard for Realism just because I know for a fact how hard it is to accomplish.
Ambient or Artificial?
-Ambience wins hands down. There's just something very soothing and peaceful about something natural.
*HH - Here here!!
Bishie or GAR? No, it can't be a combi because that kind is too powerful
-(Stingy :p) I guess it'll have to be GAR. There's something about a pseudo bad boy image that just gets me. Knowing that he can protect me no matter what and will stand up for what's right, how can any girl say no to that?
Words of wisdom for those planning to enter cosplaying
-I remember the first time I was planning to cosplay, most of it was a blur of rattled nerves and incessant months of wrestling with my insecurities. I guess it was mostly fear that kept holding me back. For those of you who are going through that, I can honestly tell you it's normal- don't worry about it.
I'm sure you've all heard this before- Cosplaying is about having fun. It's not a popularity contest. It's one of the things that I love so much about my friends because as much as we stress out over every little detail about our costumes, as much as we obsess over every little quirk or facial expression that the characters have, we try to never forget why we're doing this.. We cosplay because we want to show our love for a certain series or a certain character and we want to share that with other people. Because we hope, even in some small way, we are able to share the happiness and inspiration we experience from it with others.
Of course there will always be nitpickers. As I always tell my friends, Haters will hate. Don't ever let that get you down. Remember that you are doing this for yourself, for your love of the series, for your love of the character; you aren't cosplaying to earn the approval of anyone else. The costumes may not always be perfect, the expressions may not always be easy to do but as long as you have fun and you get to share the experience with amazing people, it will all be worth it.
*HH - your words of wisdom just made me shed a tear
shoutouts to your peeps and homies
-To my wonderful friends, the Tuxedo Team, I feel very blessed to have been able to meet such amazing people and have the honor of calling you guys my friends. Love you my bebes, you complete me.
To my friends in Baguio and Davao- Sammy, AA, Ton, Shoti, Zhel, AC: I shall count the days when I get to see you guys again. We don't get to hang out as often as I'd like but I hope you know how special you all are to me.
Also, to all the wonderful friends I've made in the cosplay community (I'd list all of you down but this interview will never end). Thank you so much for all the support. I await the times we get to hang out and share more laughs. I give all of you internet hugs.
sites for promotion
-My deviantart> http://moonlightflight.deviantart.com/
-My twitter> http://twitter.com/leanashe
-Tuxessories website> http://tuxessories.net/
-Tuxessories tumblr> http://tuxessories.tumblr.com/
-Tuxessories Facebook> http://facebook.com/tuxessories
I believe this goes without saying in the world of cosplaying. Using myself as an example, I get inspired/motivated/challenged whenever I see people bringing something new to the plate. It pushes me to do something better than what I've already accomplished in the past.
Looking back at the past interviews, I've been able to point out a couple of names. Names that are in the lists of the people's favorites/inspirations, one of the most common ones is Team Tuxedo.
For today's feature, I've been given both the pleasure and the honor to have had this interview with one of the members of Team Tuxedo. The first time I got to see her in person was only recently at the first day of MCC. She goes under the handle name of Moonlightflight in DA, and is definitely an abundant source of the things I've been muttering right from the get-go. If you check out her DA page right now, you can immediately see how much truth there is to my words.
-------------------------------------------------------------
how long have you been cosplaying?
- I've been cosplaying since 2007.
Fill in the blanks: Cosplay for me is __________ but ________ because _________
- Cosplay for me is about loving the craft and loving the culture it stems from. But as much as it is these things, it also demands a lot of hard work.. It's like this for me because I love what I do and it encourages me to do everything I can to give justice to the characters I represent.
"When you're in something you've got to give it everything you have, else what are you doing?"
^ HH - I really like this saying~ :3
which among the cosplays you've done to date is your favorite?
- This is a difficult question. You see, all my cosplays hold a special place in my heart. The characters somehow always make a deeper impression on me when I cosplay them. But I guess if I really had to choose I'd say Kushieda Minorin from Toradora and Yoko Ritona from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.
I just fell in love with Minorin because I could relate to her character so much. She hid such deep and overwhelming emotions under such a fun and crazy facade. That and the fact that she would do anything for her friends made her someone very relatable for me.
People tend to look down or get the wrong impression of Yoko because of the way she looks, but she's actually pretty badass and can hold her own in a fight. I also admired how she could handle such intense hardships and not lose hope. She was able to come out of it a stronger person determined to do what's right and to protect the people she loves.
The Tux Team, what's something we don't know about the group that you can share?
- We're all hermits and we enjoy being hermits together. Oh! Also, our favorite food is food.
*HH - amazing! that's my favorite food too!
Which do you prefer, watching anime or reading manga?
-I guess it would depend on the anime or manga. I'm fine with either.
Do you have psychic abilities?
-Apparently I do. My friends tell me I give them a look and make them feel like they're being scolded by their mum. XD
Chocolate is _______
-Chocolate is something you should be giving me… RIGHT NOW PLEASE.
*HH - huhuhuhuhu.... *empties pockets*
chocolate is something that doesn't last long with me XP Do you have any particular sinful favorite?
-I actually have a lot of favorites. It's insane. The ones I could remember right now are Belgian chocolates, Meiji milk chocolate, Hershey's milk chocolate, Royce chocolates and Twix are just some of the few. :P
*HH - *wipes drool*
Are you into the current Kpop craze?
-I actually am. Although sad to say I'm not as updated as I would like to be.
Have you ever cosplayed a character you think didn't suit you but still did, anyway?
-Hahaha. Yes. That would be Yoko Ritona from Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. I didn't think I had the right facial structure, let alone body type for her. I ended up working out like a Spartan (if he was sleeping), manning up and doing my best for the love of her character.
Do you have a particular song that pumps you up?
-A lot actually. Mostly it's Mika's or Katy Perry's songs but lately "The Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars and "My Heart Skips a Beat" by Linka has been on loop on my itunes.
Have you ever dreamed of shining on stage as a performer/singer?
-Funny you should ask that. Nowadays, I'd rather be behind the scenes when it comes to those kinds of things. I'm rather a big fan of plays and ballets. Somehow I always find myself paying more attention to the sets rather than the performers. Of course I respect them and their craft but there's something about the detail in the work behind the show that always captivates me when I watch something on stage. I don't know, maybe it's because of my background as an art student that makes me appreciate these kinds of things than most.
Although I did dream of the grandeur of being a performer once upon a time. I was still a little kid then and my parents tell me I loved singing for guests and relatives whenever we'd have get togethers. I'd make up impromptu one-kid plays or dance around like a silly goose while singing "Mr. Disco" at the top of my lungs. LOL. Now that I'm older, the only concerts I have are among friends during silly karaoke hang outs or in the confines of my shower.
HH - We must Red Box!!! *o*
Who's your favorite actor?
-Miguel Merca- I mean, Johnny Depp. XD (I like Mickey Rourke too *winkwink nudgenudge*)
*HH - XDDD (I couldn't bring myself to think of a reply other than this)
Johnny Depp's a national treasure! What makes him suit your fancy?
-First of all, let me state the obvious: The man is GORGEOUS! Then there's him being such an amazing and versatile actor. He can be charming and sexy as Gilbert Grape, crazy and goofy as Willy Wonka, mysterious and out of this world as Captain Jack Sparrow, insane and creepy as Sweeney Todd, or heartbreakingly sweet and innocent as Edward Scissorhands. Actually I think it all stemmed from that movie, Edward Scissorhands. I remember being so enamored with him as a kid when he took on that role that I'd keep insisting I wanted an Edward of my own for my next birthday (preferably not one that sparkles).
HH - Edward Sparkly face? XD
Also, there's the fact that he has a great sense of humor. I remember reading this one article before concerning him trashing his hotel room. When the hotel pressed charges, he simply denied everything and blamed the whole thing on a wild armadillo that got into his room through an open window. He won that case through sheer charm and ingenuity (how an insane armadillo got through the penthouse window still remains a mystery). XD
HH - The armadillo's part of a conspiracy, I tell ye~
Do you have any cosplayer favorites? (foreign or local)
- Gosh there are so many. There's Julia, Aku, Haku, Jimmy, Jayem, Lillyxandra, and Adella from the States, Shanhuang from China, Jesuke from Singapore, Kaname from Japan, Of course all my friends from Tuxedo Team, Sir Guy Singzon, Mary Grace Roldan, Gibs Sagun, Kuya Robert Wong, Zhel Guiral, AC Hernandez, Yuu Shomura, Sese Ramirez, and Markee are just some of the names that come to mind.
Abstract or Realism?
-I will always hold a high regard for Realism just because I know for a fact how hard it is to accomplish.
Ambient or Artificial?
-Ambience wins hands down. There's just something very soothing and peaceful about something natural.
*HH - Here here!!
Bishie or GAR? No, it can't be a combi because that kind is too powerful
-(Stingy :p) I guess it'll have to be GAR. There's something about a pseudo bad boy image that just gets me. Knowing that he can protect me no matter what and will stand up for what's right, how can any girl say no to that?
Words of wisdom for those planning to enter cosplaying
-I remember the first time I was planning to cosplay, most of it was a blur of rattled nerves and incessant months of wrestling with my insecurities. I guess it was mostly fear that kept holding me back. For those of you who are going through that, I can honestly tell you it's normal- don't worry about it.
I'm sure you've all heard this before- Cosplaying is about having fun. It's not a popularity contest. It's one of the things that I love so much about my friends because as much as we stress out over every little detail about our costumes, as much as we obsess over every little quirk or facial expression that the characters have, we try to never forget why we're doing this.. We cosplay because we want to show our love for a certain series or a certain character and we want to share that with other people. Because we hope, even in some small way, we are able to share the happiness and inspiration we experience from it with others.
Of course there will always be nitpickers. As I always tell my friends, Haters will hate. Don't ever let that get you down. Remember that you are doing this for yourself, for your love of the series, for your love of the character; you aren't cosplaying to earn the approval of anyone else. The costumes may not always be perfect, the expressions may not always be easy to do but as long as you have fun and you get to share the experience with amazing people, it will all be worth it.
*HH - your words of wisdom just made me shed a tear
shoutouts to your peeps and homies
-To my wonderful friends, the Tuxedo Team, I feel very blessed to have been able to meet such amazing people and have the honor of calling you guys my friends. Love you my bebes, you complete me.
To my friends in Baguio and Davao- Sammy, AA, Ton, Shoti, Zhel, AC: I shall count the days when I get to see you guys again. We don't get to hang out as often as I'd like but I hope you know how special you all are to me.
Also, to all the wonderful friends I've made in the cosplay community (I'd list all of you down but this interview will never end). Thank you so much for all the support. I await the times we get to hang out and share more laughs. I give all of you internet hugs.
sites for promotion
-My deviantart> http://moonlightflight.deviantart.com/
-My twitter> http://twitter.com/leanashe
-Tuxessories website> http://tuxessories.net/
-Tuxessories tumblr> http://tuxessories.tumblr.com/
-Tuxessories Facebook> http://facebook.com/tuxessories
The Bram Bear - Coming Back with Guns Ablazing
Photo by me
Hi, kids! We meet again~ It always feels good to be back here writing articles after a time of inactivity. It gets your mind racing, your blood pumping, and your hands eager. One gets the feeling of electricity when you've been held back from something you like doing and when the opportunity arises, you just can't help yourself but go out with a big bang! This is probably the same feeling our feature for today is feeling. Especially because he's been out for a year in the cosplay scene for a year due to his hectic medschool life.
As I'm typing each letter on this page, I'm feeling more and more stoked because I've just had another chance to interview one of the greats. Today, we have none other than the mecha-monstar that is The Bram Bear. I've actually been wanting to feature him for a long time now, but was a tad hesitant due to his apparently heavy schedule.
Whether you agree with me or not, doesn't change the fact that today's feature can be considered as one of the greatest and definitely one of the most decorated catwalk cosplayers in local cosplay today. Bram only started at 2008, but has swept so many awards that you'd need extra sets of limbs just to count them by hand
I've been very lucky to be given the chance to work with such a great cosplayer and an even better friend. Experiencing his drive to win firsthand is just inspiring and has even lit the spark of my competitive spirit.
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what's your name
Abraham E. Cruz
when and why did you start cosplaying?
June 2008. Toycon 2008! One of the best days of my life.
It feels just like yesterday. I started cosplaying out of boredom and I wanted
to try something "wild" and new. Haha! Cosplaying as Manny Pacquiao seemed like
a wild idea to me back then. I enjoyed the experience so I stuck around since then.
what's cosplay to you?
Cosplay is the best hobby EVER. As a fan, I think cosplay is the highest form of
fandom because we literally become the characters. As an artist, It's a fun and challenging
art form that combines crafting and stage performance. My life would have been totally
different had I not discovered cosplay. I can honestly say I'm totally in love with it.
have you always been a mecha cosplayer?
Nope! I started cosplaying non-mecha characters. I cosplayed as Manny Pacquiao, V (V for Vendetta),
Juubei Kakei(Getbackers), Manji(Blade of the Immortal), Pedobear(4-chan) and even HARD GAY!
Those were fun days. But I wanted to get competitive so I shifted to mecha cosplay.
you've won a lot of awards, which one holds the most meaning to you?
Perhaps the one I treasure the most is the Best Anime Cosplay I won in Toycon 2010. Hey, we won that
together, Pare! Our tandem of Master Asia and Master Gundam was a dream come true for G Gundam fans
everywhere. Hehe. Winning in Toycon was big for me because it was the first event I cosplayed
in and it felt like coming full circle.
HH - T_T IT WAS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE!!!!! *cries manly tears of happiness*
have you ever had mishaps before one of your skits? what did you do?
I've had my mecha platform shoes fly off twice with Mechagodzilla and Master Gundam.
I'm pretty helpless when I'm wearing my big costumes so I just walk(more like limp) out of the stage
as quickly as I can to prevent further embarrassment. Haha.
HH - XDDD
which among your cosplays is your current favorite, why?
War Machine forever! Haha. Me and my buddy AC Hernandez made that costume waaaay before Iron Man 2.
Making that costume was a great learning experience. The whole process of making it was fun and dramatic with a
photofinish(amoy pintura pa nung dinala sa venue. XD)I learned most of my current costume making techniques
from making War Machine. It's also my costume with most wins in competition (10 wins I think?) and a definite
fan favorite even in the international community.
HH - an awesome costume will always and forever be OZM!!!
anything in the works right now?
Yeah! I'm finishing my version of a Zeeker model from the defunct game Exteel. I'm just waiting for a competition
to debut it. I'm also working on something for T.O.R.C.H but that's a secret for now. hehe
HH - ooooh~~ better watch out for that!
western or eastern comics?
Both! I'm a universal geek yo!
games or anime?
Anime.Haha. simply because I like stories and my fingers are slow so I suck at executing combos in fighting games. XD
bishie or gar?
GAR! Haha. Manliness all the way like Hard Gay! FOOOOOOOOOOO!
I kinda dislike bishies. due to jealousy! haha. I'll never be a bishie....Dr. Belo will you help me? T__T
Annie or Pink Ranger?
Annie. She became a porn star, right?
Do you have any cosplayer inspirations? (local/int'l)
Local:Kuya Guy, Kuya Benjie, Don Rob, Lyron, Edj, SpiderDan and of course, you! Haha.Sipsep
(HH - nyahahaha!! )
International: Clive Lee. Goldy. Yung Malupit na Japanese Dude. Yung Malupit na Indonesians(Endless Illution)
(* Yung Malupit na = The Amazing)
What's your dream cosplay?
Batista. walang dami ng rubber sheet ang makakabigay ng katawan na parang ganun! haha.
(Batista. No amount of rubber sheet would be able to give a body like his! haha)
On a more serious note:I guess Bahamut Fury from FFCC. A bit hard to wrap my brain around it XD
grecco burn or rugby smell?
Greco! I've had myself rehab-ed from rugby addiction. Time for a new one!
advice to newbies
Cosplay lang! Enjoy lang. Wag na kayo pumansin ng kung ano anong issue sa tabi tabi. Cosplay coz it's fun and rewarding.
Dont let other things bother you.
(Just keep cosplaying! Don't bother with the issues around you. Cosplay coz it's fun and rewarding)
shoutouts to your fans, family, friends?
Sup dawgs! Magbabalik na ako sa cosplay scene. Hehe. Hope you enjoyed my 1 year leave of absence. Dahil maghahasik na ako uli
ng lagim. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
(Sup dawgs! I'm coming back to the cosplay scene. Hehe Hope you enjoyed my 1 year leave of absence because I'll be spreading evil once more BWAHAHAHAHA!)
Check out his DA site at
thebrambear.DA