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Tell us how you got started costuming.
Living in Okinawa, Japan, I was exposed to cosplay at a very young age, but I never tried it until I moved to the states. After my first American convention, I was determined to costume from then on.
How important is being able to cosplay with a group at conventions?
Cosplaying alone is great fun, but I love being on stage in costume, doing a
fun skit with all my friends, and hearing the crowd’s reaction, good or bad.
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What's your favorite aspect of conventions?
I'd say the masquerade and the dealer's room (of course) are my favorite parts of conventions.
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How did you get involved in Dark Muffins Productions?
Probably about 6 years ago, I joined an anime drawing club named F.O.A.M (Friends of Anime and Manga). As a club we started to attend conventions, and one day, the older members decided that it would be a great idea to start performing in the masquerades as opposed to sitting in the audience (probably because of the long lines). We needed a name so before we went to Neko-con that year, the name "Dark Muffins" was adopted because of inspiration from a friend's Lenore lunch box that said, "Behold my Dark Muffins." And the rest, as they say, is history.
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Talk about your favorite costume and what went (or is going) into making it.
I really don't have a favorite costume, but the costume I am most looking forward to completing is my Final Ultimecia costume (how she looked in her last form). This is because I can apply my arts and crafts skills and won't have to sew as much. (Sewing is not my strong point...^^) Most of all, I like the challenge of making this monstrosity.
What video game would you like to see continued? |
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Hmm, definitely Earthbound. I have been hoping for a continuation for years. Earthbound was my first RPG and a wacky, wacky one at that. To this day, I have yet to play an RPG that was so funny and fun to play.
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The fact that there aren't many black characters to cosplay hasn't stifled your creativity. How do you get inspired when choosing the costumes you make?
Well, I just pick the characters that I like, the ones that speak to me, that I can relate to. I don't really worry about the race of the character. If I stuck to only the black characters (all seven of them), I wouldn't be happy with myself. It doesn't matter if you are black, white, brown, or purple; if you like the character, make the costume. Nothing should hold you back.
If you were commissioned by SquareSoft to design a new Final Fantasy character, what would it look like and what would be some of the construction details?
First off, she would have to be the hero: reliable, optimistic, and knowing how to have a good time, not an angst-bucket like some heroes. As for her outfit, it would have to be playful, but not too revealing. It would also have to be colorful, but not so much as to be tacky. She would most likely have medium length, blue hair ^^ and use a rapier as a weapon. Overall, she would be graceful, humorous, and fun to play as.
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There are many critics in the world of cosplay. How do you deal with
criticism?
There is always a critic, and constructive criticism can be helpful, but
unfortunately, most of these people only want to put you down to make
themselves feel better. I ignore the critics, especially if they haven't
experienced cosplay for themselves. No one can bring you down if you are
happy with your work. That's all that matters.
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Please share some costuming tips.
Take your time. Rushing to meet a deadline is the worst! Start early and
give yourself enough time, especially if you are attending school. Believe
me, I know. ^^;
What do your family and friends think of your dressing up?
Just about all of my friends either dress up with me or have expressed an interest
in it. My Mom has always been supportive of this hobby, but as for my Dad...
he's just now accepting it (probably because he doesn't have to foot the
bill anymore), and my thirteen-year-old brother has always been supportive of
and intrigued by it.
The year is 2010. What will you be doing and will cosplay still be a
prominent part of your life?
Hopefully, I will have accomplished my dream of becoming a director in
Hollywood. If not, I will be working toward it. Of course, I'll still be
cosplaying, still attending conventions, and still having fun watching anime
with my friends. |
View more of Dan-chan's Cosplay Lab profile here.
Dan-chan, you have a fresh perspective and a great outlook that people gravitate toward. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in the details of a costume, and our presentation, that we neglect the primary thing that makes cosplay great — having fun. It's obvious that you enjoy this hobby and make 'having fun' an important aspect. Best of luck in your future career as a director, and we can't wait to see many more cosplay productions.
Garry aka Prof.
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