If you visit
this page, you're most likely interested in the costuming pictures - and
thereby interested in the costumes and the way they're made. On Fanime
Con's final day, three groups of costumers assembled to share their experience
and expertise with fans who want to match their achievements - or are just
interested in learning how they make the costumes. The Japanese cosplayers
who traveled to Fanime Con were very popular for their graceful appearance,
and they noted some of their techniques - Sailor Moon boots are actually
boot covers, and there's a foam-molding process that lets them make accessories
such as armbands.
Amateur artists
in Japan are known for their "circles" which make doujinshi. Cosplayers
also have circles, costumer Milk said, and some of them make costumers
for sale. Most make costumes because they like the character and the series,
and they enjoy the attention they receive from camera-toting fans. In Japan,
cosplay can be considered a non-conformist activity - Milk's parents didn't
accept her hobby at first - but there are still many costuming events each
year. Japan has events like the huge Comic Market which attracts thousands
of cosplayers and doujinshi artists, but they don't have North American-style
anime conventions, said Milk.
Judy and Kel,
the Stitchin' Babes, showed off some of their work. Even though mock weapons
probably are going to become rare at conventions, they were able to display
the stungun they made for Judy's Milly Thompson costume. It's far, far
lighter than it looks, and is made out of painted foam core and cardboard.
The shoulder pieces on the right that look like Tiffany lamps glowed on
stage. How were they lighted? While some costumers have been known to create
elaborate lighting systems, the Stitchin' Babes just went to a discount
store and got a bunch of the inexpensive, battery-powered "tap lights"
and placed them under the shoulder pieces.
Matthew Clayson
had been scheduled for the Sunday afternoon panel before the Jin-Roh cosplay
group of which he was a member won the best of show award at the Saturday
night costume contest. So, the final day presentation was a perfect chance
for Clayson to explain how those futuristic military uniforms were created.
One word: plastic. Sheets of plastic, some clear, others black, were vacuformed
into the plates and props that the Jin-Roh soldiers carried. The realistic
texture came from sanding the surface of the plastic so it looked like
composite armor.
If you visit
this page, you're most likely interested in the costuming pictures - and
thereby interested in the costumes and the way they're made. On Fanime
Con's final day, three groups of costumers assembled to share their experience
and expertise with fans who want to match their achievements - or are just
interested in learning how they make the costumes. The Japanese cosplayers
who traveled to Fanime Con were very popular for their graceful appearance,
and they noted some of their techniques - Sailor Moon boots are actually
boot covers, and there's a foam-molding process that lets them make accessories
such as armbands.
Amateur artists
in Japan are known for their "circles" which make doujinshi. Cosplayers
also have circles, costumer Milk said, and some of them make costumers
for sale. Most make costumes because they like the character and the series,
and they enjoy the attention they receive from camera-toting fans. In Japan,
cosplay can be considered a non-conformist activity - Milk's parents didn't
accept her hobby at first - but there are still many costuming events each
year. Japan has events like the huge Comic Market which attracts thousands
of cosplayers and doujinshi artists, but they don't have North American-style
anime conventions, said Milk.
Judy and Kel,
the Stitchin' Babes, showed off some of their work. Even though mock weapons
probably are going to become rare at conventions, they were able to display
the stungun they made for Judy's Milly Thompson costume. It's far, far
lighter than it looks, and is made out of painted foam core and cardboard.
The shoulder pieces on the right that look like Tiffany lamps glowed on
stage. How were they lighted? While some costumers have been known to create
elaborate lighting systems, the Stitchin' Babes just went to a discount
store and got a bunch of the inexpensive, battery-powered "tap lights"
and placed them under the shoulder pieces.
Matthew Clayson
had been scheduled for the Sunday afternoon panel before the Jin-Roh cosplay
group of which he was a member won the best of show award at the Saturday
night costume contest. So, the final day presentation was a perfect chance
for Clayson to explain how those futuristic military uniforms were created.
One word: plastic. Sheets of plastic, some clear, others black, were vacuformed
into the plates and props that the Jin-Roh soldiers carried. The realistic
texture came from sanding the surface of the plastic so it looked like
composite armor.
