Attending conventions and cosplay are very important social aspects of the Anime Community. While not everyone at a convention is a cosplayer and some people like just take pictures of other’s costumes, cosplay is still one of the most enjoyable parts of an anime convention. Because of this I decided to interview two cosplayers at AnimeUSA, who happen to be my friends, to learn a bit about their costuming passions.
Haley has been cosplaying for 7 years and has attended 14 conventions, and Mandy has been cosplaying for 2 years and has attended 7 conventions. I used pictures of their ‘Favorite Currently In-Use Cosplay”, Haley’s Winter Sawsbuck (Pokemon Gijinka) and Mandy’s Pit from Kid Icarus.
Haley as Winter Sawsbuck (Pokemon gijinka)
Mandy as Pit from Kid Icarus
Our AnimeUSA group, I’m on Haley’s right as a Fennkein Pokemon Gijinka (plus a random OnePIece cosplayer on the far right)
Q. What is the weirdest material you’ve used?
Haley- a door stopper, for a prop for Kira Kosuke from the anime Btooom!
Mandy- cans of Mountain Dew, to make the laurels for my Pit cosplay
Q. for Mandy: What inspires you to make a new cosplay?
Mandy- I want to show my love for my favorite characters, and to show appreciation to their creator.
Q. What is the hardest piece that you’ve very made for a costume?
Haley- altering a sweater for a Halloween version of Estonia from the anime Hetalia
Mandy- toga for Pit from the game Kid Icarus, since there was no pattern
Q. What originally got you into cosplay?
Haley- People who cosplay at conventions get talked to more, so its easier to make new friends while wearing a costume.
Mandy- my friends go to conventions and most people cosplay, so it seemed fun, and if someone recognizes your costume, you know that you have a shared interest with them
Q. for Haley: You’ve been to a lot of conventions, whats that like?
Haley- going to conventions is really fun, but I’ve been to so many that it’s hard to keep my exact count accurate!
Q. What is your favorite Convention snack?
Haley- Chocolate Pocky and Strawberry Ramune
Mandy- Strawberry Pocky
Chocolate Pocky
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