“We put a different spin to various tastes and genres of music…” >>>
Monday, April 13
Superdebz interview: Debra Phillips on cosplay
“It’s really good when you make something yourself and then you get recognised for it as well,” said Debra Phillips (Superdebz Cosplay) on the reactions she receives after finishing a costume she’s been working on. “It justifies it and makes me happy that [I’m not] wasting all my money for nothing. I’m actually getting a skill out of it.”
From Manchester, Debra attended the first MCM Manchester event in 2011 after her sister showed her photos from an MCM London convention. She started cosplaying the following year, only to take it more seriously in 2013, when she began learning to sew. She has since cosplayed Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones, Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (including an armour clad Zelda from Hyrule Warriors) and Lana from Hyrule Warriors.
During our interview we talked about her most challenging cosplay, support from social media, getting motivation and fangirling over other people’s cosplay.
How did you end up getting into cosplay?
My sister went to one of the London events when she was at university with her anime society. Then she came back and showed me all the pictures. She was like, “Oh we did this and this and it was really fun.” So I was like, “Well, I want to do this!” So then we went to the first MCM Manchester event, which was five years ago and it was just a lot of good fun. I didn’t really do anything else for about two and a half years.
It was 2013 that I started getting more into it. I just started learning to sew as well. I ended up ordering a dress off eBay; it was for MCM Birmingham three years ago. It was an Ariel one… and it wasn’t what I wanted. It wasn’t the same as the eBay picture was. So then [I thought], “You know what, I’m just going to start learning to sew.” So now I can do it all myself and I don’t get ripped off by [dishonest sellers]!
A little over two years ago, you said you see yourself as a “massive noob” in regards to cosplay. How do you see yourself now when you look back at what you’ve managed to accomplish and where you are now?
Back then I didn’t really know what I was doing at all and now I have somewhat of an idea what I’m doing (laughs). I can actually do stuff that most of the time doesn’t look completely terrible. I hadn’t been involved in the [cosplay] community at all back then, which I’m quite involved in now. I’ve got a lot of friends who do the same thing. So everyone kind of knows everyone at this point, whereas back then I didn’t have a clue who anyone was. I didn’t have a clue how to do anything. I was just kind of winging it.
You’ve been cosplaying for nearly four years. Your first cosplay was Tinkerbell…
It wasn’t the first one I wore to a convention, but it was the first one that I made. It’s dreadful compared to how I can do stuff now.
Where does that passion come from to carry on and continue progressing?
My parents never let me have any of the Disney dresses as a child, so I guess they’re partly to blame. They have to deal with me now. But I guess a lot of it is escapism and it gives me something to do when I’m making it. Then you get to show off what you’ve made and you get a lot of attention and praise for it. It just makes you feel really nice and really good.
 |
 |
Is that something you’re thinking about when you’re making it, seeing people’s reactions?
Yeah, I guess so. I really like to fangirl over other people as well. I’ll just be like, “Oh my God, these are really good.” I’m really into craftsmanship now. So I’ll sit on the floor and look at people’s dresses.
Has there been a particular fangirl moment at a convention for you?
I don’t think there’s been a particular one, but like I said, I do enjoy sitting on the floor looking at people’s hems now. That’s quite enjoyable for me. I don’t think I’ve ever fangirled completely on someone, but I’m not very good talking with people face-to-face either. So if I don’t know who someone is I’d just be like, “Oh my God, look at that over there. That’s so pretty, but I’m not going to go over because I’m scared.”(laughs)
What’s been the most challenging cosplay you’ve created so far?
Different ones have different aspects. I try and push myself with each thing I do, try and improve on something.
So, one would be more challenging than the other, but for a different reason?
Yeah. I’ll try and do different techniques for different things, try and learn something new. I usually give myself loads of time as well, but maybe Lana from Hyrule Warriors gave me the biggest headache, because I was restricted on time. It was a really awkward costume to put together. There was just things I was trying to do with it that I’d not done before and working with different fabrics and Worbla. I’ve worked with Worbla before, but I don’t think I’m that great with it. There’s things in the design that don’t make a lot of sense, it was really difficult finding reference images for a lot of the detail, so I had to wing a lot of the patterns on the skirt. So it’s trying to get it to look good and trying to work with the resources I’ve already got instead of buying new stuff.
Is Lana one you’d want to rework in the future?
I’ve already started doing some bits for it now. I’ve redone the top part for that, which is good, I’m quite happy with that now. I don’t think I’ve ever been 100% happy with something. The first time I make something I usually go back and change something if I wear it again. If you’ve taught yourself to sew, every step you do is a learning process until you’re at a high enough skill level where it’s not. It’s good to go back and redo something as well, because it means you can look back on what you’ve done previously and realise, “Oh I’ve improved a lot since then.”
 |
 |
A lot of cosplayers use social media to show off their progress and work, but there have been a few instances where you’ve asked for feedback, constructive criticism and help from fellow cosplayers and prop makers. How helpful has that been for you?
It’s very helpful. I’ve spent a lot of time stalking other people’s profiles, because they’ve made something that I’m trying to do, or something similar, and they’ve used a technique which I haven’t done, or even thought about. A majority of the time people are very happy to tell you and very happy to help you, which is great.
I try and be as helpful as I can if anyone asks me anything. It’s not very nice to be turned down if you’re stuck with something. I always try and be really helpful and I always appreciate it when people are incredibly helpful as well.
Would you say that you’ve had to rearrange certain things in your life around cosplaying?
(Pauses) I don’t leave my house a lot anymore, because a lot of my days off I’m sewing, sat on my kitchen floor with Worbla.
Would you say there was a certain turning point where that happened?
Probably about two years ago now, where I seriously considered that I know what I’m doing now. I’m quite happy to spend all day sewing and then just crashing out because I’m so tired (laughs).
Is there a favourite cosplay that you’ve created?
My pink Ariel one, my newest one, that’s probably my favourite at this point. I don’t know whether it will be my favourite at the end of the year, but at this point it’s definitely my favourite. I’m just obsessed with Ariel. I finished it in time for MCM London [in May 2015]. Then I redid some parts for it for MCM Birmingham in November [2015] and I won the masquerade on the Sunday with it.
 |
 |
What is it about Ariel and her costume that stands out for you?
I’ve always been attached to Ariel. It’s really cheesy, but I guess it’s because she has a dream, it happened and it was all really nice and lovely. I’ve just been obsessed with Ariel since I was pretty young and now I have a way to actually express it.
The dress was just one that I happened to want. It was one of the first ones that I actually made a few years ago, but it was when I was still learning, so wasn’t up to my standards anymore. I remade it and I was much happier with it. It’s not screen accurate, I did it off one of Lele Draw’s Queen Ariel designs. It’s true to the character, but it’s like your own spin on it. I like putting my own different spin on things. No one else really has it, so it’s nice to have something that’s more individual to you. I don’t want it to sound like it’s better than anyone else’s, because it’s not, but I like having something that’s more unique, [and being] the only one who has it like that.
How does it feel for you taking part in masquerades, placing and winning?
Really good. I really like getting recognition as well, because… I’ve got a lot of joint pain and the amount of work and effort I put into just working all day, that makes it justifiable. Like, “Oh I’ve worked nine hours,” which is probably something I shouldn’t have done, but I’ve done it and I’m in loads of pain, but it’ll be worth it. If you place, it’ll make you feel a lot more justified in what you’re doing.
You’ve mentioned moments where you tend to procrastinate. What do you do to motivate yourself?
I literally just force myself to do it. I’m usually quite good at keeping on track. It’s like, I’ll [work on something] for like an hour, then I’ll have a break for 20 minutes as opposed to working all the way through. Or instead of doing a part I don’t want to do, I’ll do another part. But if there’s something I don’t want to do, I just force myself to do it. It’s, “Do this and then you can eat this biscuit later. You can sit and play video games for the rest of the night, so long as you do this. It’s not going to get done itself, so you need to do it now.” I manage that way. It just works for me.
When you’re posting progress about your cosplays, you tend to mention being poor and having to budget. Do you plan and budget before making a cosplay, or do you just spend till you’re happy with it?
I try and save money. I’m trying to save money for the one I’m going to be starting in a few weeks. But I’m not working a lot. I work in retail and they keep dropping the hours. I just try and save as much money as I can. If I know that I’m not going to be able to afford a big costume, I’ll do something smaller.
Last year I had lots of Coscraft vouchers, so I did one [Princess Zelda from Hyrule Warriors] that required lots of Worbla, because I didn’t have to pay for that myself; so that was convenient. Also I try and find cheaper alternatives to things. Like, a lot of my fabric I get online, just because it’s cheaper and I’ll try and find discount days or discount codes to try and get stuff as cheap as I can
 |
 |
What is the most you’ve spent on making a costume?
Probably about £200, for my Ariel with the pink dress, everything included. (Pauses) I don’t know, it’s probably about £170-ish. It was about that amount after all the fabric. It’s such a good costume and it just kind of happened. Then it was like, “Okay, I need all this extra fabric as well, because I need to do this, I need to add this to it.” My fabric was £7 a metre and I have to get ten meters of that… it just adds up a lot. Then you end up getting little bits for it. Like, “Oh, this little bit is only £10, so that’s fine, I’ll get that.” That just keeps happening.
How does it feel for you when you’re at a convention and people ask to take a photo and want to talk to you about your costume?
Honestly, I’m always taken aback by it when people are like, “Oh, I love your costume, it’s so good!” But I have a lot of issues with my anxiety, so I guess I’m always going to be taken aback a little bit. I’m getting recognition out of it and it’s making people happy, it’s making me happy.
Would you say that cosplaying has helped you with your anxiety?
I guess it’s helped with some aspects. I never have that many issues when I’m at a convention as opposed to out with the normal people in civilised society. I guess it helps. It helps with a lot of things. It means that I socialise with people, I talk to people that I usually wouldn’t talk to… that I wouldn’t even dare talk to. And it gets me out of the house a lot, which is really good.
 |
 |
You’ve mentioned a few times wanting to cosplay one of Anastasia’s dresses from Don Bluth’s animated film, as well as a walkable mermaid Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Are you still interested in cosplaying these characters?
I don’t think a walkable mermaid Ariel will ever happen. It’s something that I want to make, just for the sake of making it, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to wear it. I don’t think I’ll be comfortable enough wearing it. A lot of people do it where her skirt is opened up at the bottom and you can walk around, but I’m one of those people who would want to make it as an actual tail and you wouldn’t be able to walk, so it’s not very practical.
I’d love to do one of Anastasia’s dresses at some point, it’s just trying to find one that I’m attached to and really would do… and just getting it done. I’ve got a list and I keep seeing things and I’m just like, “I want to add that to the list.” The list keeps getting longer and it’s just more harder to narrow everything down to what I can do within my skills and what I can afford to do.
If money was no object, which cosplay would be there on the top of your list to do?
(Pauses) There’s a few that I’d probably want to remake completely. I’d want to remake my Hyrule Warriors Zelda one, which I’ve [already] remade bits for, but it’s still not up to [the standard] I want it to be. I would want to do more Disney dresses… oh God, I know what I want! There’s an Ariel dress in one of the parades in Disneyland… one that’s not running anymore, the ‘Celebrate a Dream Come True’ parade. It’s blue and it looks like a sail and I want it, but it’s very expensive. I’ve seen a couple of people do it and it looks absolutely stunning. I really want to do it, but it’s not going to happen this year, unless I roll into a lot of money. It’s unlikely, but it’s on my list. Maybe one day I’ll be able to get it done… maybe.
Finally, what’s your favourite Disney film?
The Little Mermaid. I’m far too obsessed with Ariel. I have too many figures and too many pairs of Little Mermaid pyjamas (laughs).
Thank you to Debra for taking the time out for the interview. You can see her describe herself as adorable by following her progress on the Facebook page Superdebz Cosplay.
Thank you also to Papercube for arrangement and photos. You can check out his work on his Facebook page.
Photos of Debra cosplaying as Ariel by Robert John Parker.
Interview by Shalimar Sahota
Boys Republic “Get Down” with new album [BR:evolution]
We previously covered the K-pop boy group Boys Republic during their European tour where they stopped in London to see their UK fans, and even got a little personal when we had the chance to interview them before their tour. Off the record, we asked when their next release would be, and they told us to wait patiently as they were working hard for a new concept and comeback – with this new release, it looks like it was worth the wait!
Boys Republic are known for their mellow romantic releases such as “Hello“, the fun and cutesy K-pop classic releases such as “Dress Up” and “L.I.U“, as well as breaking into the dance scene with “Video Game” and “Party Rock“. But as times change, so does their style. “You Are Special” brought out the rebel within the members, whereas sexy gentleman chic was announced with their release of “The Real One“. But nowadays it seems that K-pop fans want more powerful and dominating music videos, with catchy tunes and lots of artistic eye candy. With Boys Republic and Universal Music being on the ball with pleasing their fans, they have heard your calls and gone for something completely different than what many would have suspected.
[BR:evolution] is the new album, which in its own title is about the evolution of Boys Republic. Released on 30 March, the album consists of four songs and one instrumental of the main title, boasting a mix of dance, pop and a ballad. Initially from the teaser photos it was unclear what to expect, with the black leatherette look, the images were theatrical yet slightly on the apocalyptic side. One of the key things to note was how different each of the members looked; their boyish charms making way for strong, handsome looking men.
Each member released a teaser video along with a teaser image. They started with Minsu who now donned bright white blonde hair whilst wearing a mixture of jumpsuits and leather coats. The sound clip sounded like part of the chorus (something entertainment companies do to tease their fans) and the theme certainly looked post-apocalyptic (and can we just point out how on point Minsu’s make up is). Second to make an appearance was SungJun and the apparent post-apocalyptic theme is more than that, you see SungJun spray silver paint onto his teeth and face which is representative of the movie Mad Max: Fury Road. The leader of the group OneJunn brings the bad boy vibes and gives fans the idea of scale to the set of the video. Being the youngest, SuWoong brings a new element of manliness and growth to the group and through the small clips presented you get a feeling that this is his transitional stage. Lastly we have SunWoo,who looks like a total boss and is full of charisma.
The teasers alone were enough to stir up excitement for their album, which starts with their single release “Get Down”, which is powerful and upbeat. This is nothing compared to their previous works and feels like listening to a completely new group. The combination of soft and strong vocals with the balance of heavy drums and base work really gives the song a catchy and pleasing sound. It’s also a very fast growing favourite with or without the music video! “Eyes On Me” sticks with the powerful backing music, but it’s bought down with more powerful lyrics, yet not so powerful with the vocals. There is a lot of playing with pitches of the vocals and the music through this song, nonetheless it makes a point and represents the members well.
“VIP” has a slightly retro sound that I usually associate with Boys Republic’s songs. It sounds like old school K-pop, but has a natural mix with the modern day sounds that the group releases. It has the usual vocal, chorus, rap ratio that creates a catchy and upbeat song. Although this isn’t as powerful and growth-worthy as the previous songs, the feeling is that this is a track to show where they have come from, which fits well with the concept of the album. Finally we have a song that has completely blown me away in terms of not only showing growth, but the strength of the album. “A Song For You” is a solo song performed by OneJunn, and although we all know that K-pop idols are incredibly talented, this is the first time we have truly heard the leader of the group showcase his vocals to (what I feel is) his full capacity. As ballads go, this has all the elements of a great song – soft piano, soft vocals and beautiful heart touching lyrics. But in terms of a Boys Republic ballad, this is something completely new (exactly like “Get Down”). There is a sense of evolution and growth just within this song that is totally enthralling and is one that ends the album on a beautiful note.
In conclusion, there is a feeling that this is one of those albums that needs to be purchased as a physical copy, not just digital. And if the “Physical Album Teaser” is anything to go by, you will be getting a photo book worth keeping and a photo-card for your collection as well!
Please do check out Boys Republic’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Fancafe and Instagram to show your support.
VAV Reveal Hidden Secrets With Webtoon Comeback “Lost In Memories”
With the extraordinary rate that Korea pumps out their musically talented artists, the fight for the top debut is a vicious cycle. One group who are willing to fight that battle are AQ Entertainment’s new boy group VAV.
VAV are under the company AQ Entertainment and are a six member group consisting of Ace (Vampire), Jacob (Vampire), Baron (Vampire), Xiao (Vampire), St.Van (Priest), Gyeo UI (Wolf Boy) and ZeHan (Vampire – also known as the Lost Member). Under the supervision of producer Quasimodo, the group are being promoted with the help of famous Korean webtoon artist Ha Il Kwon. The idea behind VAV’s concept is a modern version of “Journey To The West” with each member being represented by a strong character within the story.
Since their debut showcase on Halloween in 2015 (which attracted more than 10,000 people on stage and through Naver’s V App), VAV are ready to make their unique comeback with their second album and webtoon collaboration titled “Lost In Memories”. Although a comeback or the news of K-pop artists working on their own webtoon isn’t a new thing in its entirety, a new group such as VAV to be collaborating so early on is a new promotional direction for a rookie group.
The webtoon itself tells the story of the origins of each of the members and how they find out their untold destiny, with hidden secrets revealed throughout. This is something that has continued on from their first album “Under The Moonlight”. The new webtoon will become available every Monday and Wednesday at 7pm through VAV’s Official Facebook, which allows their international fans easier access to the unfolding story.
VAV are currently gearing up for their comeback, the concept of which has been stated will be very different from their previous debut song. Instead of the sultry vampires they portrayed they are going in a completely different direction and are hoping to perform with a powerful hip-hop stage. MCM Buzz will be conducting an interview with VAV about their upcoming comeback, so you can get involved and be sure to comment with questions you’d like to ask below.
For more information about VAV or to show your support be sure to head on over to their Official Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Weibo and YouTube channel.
Zootropolis interview: Ginnifer Goodwin is Judy Hopps
Ginnifer Goodwin plays Judy Hopps in Zootropolis (AKA Zootopia) and she explains how she’s all about the teamwork – until she messes up Jason Bateman’s lines.
How did you get the role of Judy Hopps?
Mr Lassiter described Judy as a glass half full kind of bunny and I would definitely say I’m a glass half full kind of bunny. In fact when I was cast, I came in and I had a plethora of voices to offer and they explained that they cast me to bring me to this performance. And I think I understand what that means. Both Judy and I are fiercely optimistic, determined and ambitious, without that ambition being about hurting anyone else in the process. I’ve never believed that it takes stepping on anyone else to climb the ladder. I think it’s all about teamwork and so does Judy.
Judy ends up paired up with a fox. Does that test her optimism and can-do attitude?
Nick Wilde is a wily fox. Judy has come to Zootropolis equipped with some mace-like anti-fox spray that her family gave her. She believed before coming to Zootropolis that she didn’t have any preconceived notions about other animals. That she could see animals equally. She only took the spray to calm the fears of her bunny family. But she finds when she meets Nick that she naturally responds because of the way she was raised and jumps to the conclusion that Nick is sly and scamming. Unfortunately, that actually ends up being true! Nick is a con artist and Judy finds that very useful – she finds, using good old fashioned blackmail, that she can illicit his help in solving a mystery.
What was Jason like to work with?
Jason Bateman is the fine gentleman who plays Nick Wilde and it is such an honour to work with him. Though it’s difficult for me because I laugh so hard when we’re in the booth together that I mess up his takes and I feel fairly badly about that. But he’s a natural, genius comedian and has such a dry wit that I think really balances out how over-animated I am in general. We play off each other in a really good way – except when I mess up his takes.
Did you view this as a cop buddy drama when you read it?
Everyone keeps calling it a buddy comedy, I’m like, ‘It’s a bunny comedy!’ It’s a bunny buddy comedy. It’s really funny. I really have trouble and I think I waste a lot of everybody’s time laughing, because the script is really, really funny. And Jason’s hysterical and these characters together are a perfectly written comedic balance. But also there’s real heart and it makes me really genuinely emotional at times.
What was it like working with two directors?
Byron Howard and Rich Moore are dream directors – we just play and play and play. They’re very good at setting the scene for me and really staying on the playground with me. We just try different things every single take. They’re supportive, hilarious, cheerleaders. They’re more than directors because in the booth it’s them and the writer Jared Bush and me and we just all play together.
What will audiences enjoy about Zootropolis?
It is a comedy and it is action adventure and I cry when I read it – I think it definitely has that Disney heart and that hook. And there are so many layers of meaning that I see how a child will enjoy it but I’m positive that a lot of references for adults are going to go over their heads and mean a lot to the adults in the audience.
Zootropolis from Walt Disney Studios is released in the UK on 25 March 2016.
Loved the interview? Check out the Zootropolis voice cast B-roll, featuring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba…
Cauldron of Mischief interview: Laura Kupse on cosplay
“I just kind of looked at the characters and thought ‘I want be that character’,” said Laura Kupse (aka Cauldron of Mischief) on how she started cosplaying. “My first costumes were Tohru from Fruits Basket and a Pokémon Trainer from Pokémon. I just kept thinking, ‘I really like that character.’ I didn’t know it was cosplay until I found out and did some research that it was cosplay.”
From West Yorkshire, Laura started cosplaying in 2005 as a hobby. Having initially studied computer animation, her passion for costume and prop making won over, as she taught herself how to sew. Soon she was taking on costume commissions and earlier this year she launched her own website accepting commissions. “I know jobs are kind of hard to get and I wanted to get a job that I really enjoy doing,” she said. “It picked up and went from there.”
Our interview was conducted on the Sunday of MCM London Comic Con, where Laura was cosplaying as Krul Tepes from Owari No Seraph. She mentioned that she was feeling tired; yet during our time she was humble, cheerful and very polite. We discussed her most challenging cosplay, budgeting, making tutorial videos and being a perfectionist.
Who have you been cosplaying at MCM this weekend?
This weekend I’ve been Motoko Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Krul Tepes from Owari No Seraph.
How did you initially get into cosplay?
It started out as a hobby. I’ve always been sewing and always enjoyed it since I was little. When I was about 14, 15, I started having an idea of dressing up as some of the characters. Then I realised it was actually a thing. Like people actually did it. Then I thought, ‘Oh, that’s really good, I should try that.’ So then I started with a really basic costume I made from one of my cloaks.
 |
 |
You studied computer animation, but eventually moved to becoming a costume and prop-maker. How did that change come about?
I went to university and did computer animation and special effects for three years. I found out it was quite difficult and I just wasn’t enjoying my course as much. I decided to move on to sewing. I wanted to learn how to do it, but the courses were so expensive. All my sewing is self-taught. I did attend a small course at Hybrid FX to learn about prosthetics and make up, but anything else I taught myself. So I learnt from there and then moved on to that. Eventually it turned into a business. I wanted to just make and sell costumes. I just love making stuff.
What would you say has been the biggest hurdle for you to overcome to get to where you are now?
I guess it’s confidence. I was worrying a lot about what people thought. There were a lot of stupid things that I worried about and I just had to push all that away. For example, I’m not very confident speaking on camera, but when I’m cosplaying it helps boost my confidence a lot, because I don’t have to worry about anything else. I can jump into somebody else’s shoes temporarily and it just helps my confidence… greatly.
What has been your most challenging cosplay to create?
Definitely Elphelt Valentine from Guilty Gear Xrd. The way the character is designed, she has a hoopskirt, but there is a gap towards the side of the hoopskirt, but it’s only a very small gap. I had to engineer the skirt so it would stay up without collapsing. [I had to] put a dress on top of it, then loads of other details and then roses on top of that so that the whole thing would take the weight of it and it wouldn’t collapse. That was definitely a pain to figure out (laughs). But I did it! It ended in a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of mistakes, a lot of, ‘Oh God, I’ve done that wrong, I’m going to have to go back and start again.’
You also described your Elphelt Valentine cosplay as one of the most complicated to put on. What makes it so complicated?
I have a corset built into the dress and also a separate corset that I wear with it. I’ve got to put the corset on, then I put my shoes and socks on, then the hoopskirt on top of that, because once the hoopskit is on I cannot bend or sit down to put my shoes on. Then I got to put the dress on top of that, and there are loads of little hooks and attachments that attach the details that hang off the sides and the roses at the back. Then I got to put my jacket on over the top. That’s it; it’s just layer upon layer.
How long does it take to put on?
That can take up to an hour for me to put on (laughs). The quickest time I’ve put it on is 40 minutes, because I had [my partner] Sam (Varia Cosplay) to help me. I can put it on by myself, but it’ll take longer. But I do ultimately need somebody to zip the back up and put the roses on the back because I can’t do it by myself. Definitely a hard costume to wear (laughs).
Eventually I get back pain and side pain from it. If it gets to the point where I’m walking around and I’m hurting in it, I have to just take it off, because I don’t want to sacrifice my health for it or anything like that.
Out of the many cosplays that you’ve created for yourself, which one is your favourite?
It’s a cross between Elphelt Valentine and this one I’m wearing now, Krul Tepes. I wasn’t sure how I was going to look as Krul when I first made it, but I actually really like how this one came out. I like how long the sleeves are, I like the fact I get to wear fangs and prosthetic ears with it. Plus it’s not too bad to walk around in.
Elphelt I really like, but it’s so hard to wear because I can’t sit down, I can only stand up straight and walk straight. It’s a good costume other than that.
 |
 |
What is it about their costumes or characters that stands out for you?
I’ve always liked the Guilty Gear games. When I saw Guilty Gear Xrd come out, which was in 2014 when Elphelt was introduced, she was one of those characters where you just look at her and think, ‘I love that design. I need to find out more.’ I didn’t get a hold of the game immediately, so I had a friend bring it over and I played it. I also watched a play-though online as well. I loved it, I like her move-set and I just think it’s so cool. It’s so cool how much thought went into her as well. And I like the fact that she fights with roses and different guns (laughs). I really enjoy it.
And Krul Tepes?
When I first read Owari No Seraph, I felt it started out quite slow. Then I went back to read it from the beginning and I really enjoyed it a lot more. I also like the fact that Krul’s surname is based off Vlad Tepes, so that was cool that they put that in there. And I just love vampires as well (laughs). I also like her design, the long sleeves, the cape… I just like the way she is (laughs).
I noticed you mentioned that your Akiba Blue cosplay cost over £450!
It did! The majority of that cost came from the helmet. I haven’t learnt how to make helmets yet, so I had that commissioned from Aniki Cosplay. He makes these helmets for a living, so I really wanted to get that from him. But because it was a custom commission it cost me about £350, including shipping. The rest of the cost was just the outfit… materials…
Is that the most you’ve ever spent on a costume?
I think so… yeah. Elphelt cost me around the £200 mark I would say, because I had to make bits of it again. Other than that, I think Akiba Blue is definitely the most I’ve ever spent on one costume.
Do you try and set a budget in mind before making a cosplay or do you spend till you feel it’s perfect?
Usually I try budget myself a bit. I look at the costume I want to make, I look at the materials I’ve already got, or what I can reuse. If it requires me to buy new material then I usually go to my local market and buy the fabric, or I’ll source other material. But usually I start budgeting, using what I’ve got first if I can help it. If it’s something I’ve already got then I can just use that and save money. If I find out I’ve already got the fabric I can start immediately. With Krul for example, I already had most of the fabric lying around, so I didn’t have to go buy any.
So how much did it cost to make Krul?
I haven’t totalled up my whole costume, but I’d say it’s about £50. The wig was £20 and the teeth and ears were about another £20-25 on top. The rest of it I already had so I just used it up. Half of [the material] was already there; I just had to make it.
You’ve said that you want to try making more tutorial videos in the future. Is that something we could potentially see?
I get a lot of questions on how I’ve made bits of costumes. It might be easier if I just made a tutorial on it, so if people want help on the costume, or if they need help making that one particular thing, it’s there. If it helps, that’s great. It also helps with my confidence as well. I don’t usually film myself for tutorials, but I think if I could it would help me a bit more so I wouldn’t have to worry again. But yeah, I’d love to make more tutorials again in the future.
I’ll probably do that with more of my costumes. Because I enjoy making costumes so much I don’t really think about it. I just go straight into it, because I’m so excited to get on my sewing machine and then I think, ‘Ah, I could have filmed that.’
Would you say that you’re kind of a perfectionist?
Yeah, I’m very OCD about stuff like this. Even if it’s something someone else won’t notice, if I know it’s not there, it’s going to make me feel a bit weird. Because I enjoy sewing and I’m very passionate about this, I just need to focus and make sure I get everything in there. Like today, I realised that Krul actually has buttons on her sleeves. I’m not going to lose sleep over it now.
But you’re probably thinking, ‘I can improve this in the future’?
When I get time, I can just add the buttons or any other details I didn’t add and then it’ll be fine. I don’t mind it at the moment, because it’s not noticeable, it’s such a minor detail.
What part of cosplaying do you find the most fulfilling for you?
Oh man, this is hard, because there’s a lot of things. I think when I finish a costume and then I give it to the person I’m making it to. If they’re really happy with it, seeing their face light up, it’s like, ‘Aww, I’ve made them happy.’ Also, you get to meet a lot of old friends, meet new people. It definitely really helps my confidence in meeting people as well. It’s just so nice to hang around with people that you know in the same community.
I find it interesting that the first thing you answered with was the reactions from people you’ve made something for.
I really don’t want to mess up making a costume for somebody else. If I make a mistake on a costume and they’re not happy with it, I’ll fix it, one hundred percent. But if they’re happy with it the first time around, seeing their face light up and seeing how happy they are in their costume, it just makes me really happy seeing them happy. Seeing them happy is important.
How does it feel for you when you’re at MCM and you have people talk to you about your character, your costume and ask you for photos?
It feels good. It feels nice getting your photo taken. When you’re walking around a con and you’re very tired and then somebody wants a photograph, or they compliment you on your costume, it’s just like a nice feeling. It’s very sweet of them that they like the costume.
Have you had that today with Krul?
I just came from a Owari No Seraph meet and some of the people came running up to me saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I love your ears, I love your hair, I love the clips in it.’ I’m just like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so sweet, thank you.’ I’m looking at everyone else around me and they just look amazing as well. So it’s really nice for them to come up to me and say that.
It’s also a bit of reassurance. Because, if you’re very tired and you’re worried about how bits of your costume look, getting other people coming up to you saying, ‘Oh, you look fab,’ it’s just…(breathes sigh of relief). It settles your mind a bit if you’re worrying. It’s very calming and reassuring.
 |
 |
On your Facebook page you put up pictures of cosplays you’d like to attempt in the future. With some of them, you sometimes say how they’re a bit out of your comfort zone, or that you finally feel confident enough to work on it. Over the years do you feel that cosplaying has increased your confidence?
Definitely. When I look back to when I was 15 or 16 and compare it to now, I wouldn’t have expected to be doing this now. When I was 15, 16, I just thought, ‘Oh, one day I would like to do this.’ I just kept practicing and practicing, and then it built up… eventually to this.
Would you say it has also pushed you into wanting to create more elaborate, more challenging costumes?
Yeah, I would think so. For example, I really like Trinity Blood; I’ve never done a Trinity Blood costume for myself, though I helped Sam make his Seth Nightroad costume. But I’ve never attempted anything that detailed for myself. I would like to attempt one of those costumes. Definitely Astharoshe Asran.
So would that be your dream cosplay?
One of them, yeah, because I love her design, her hair, her costume, her hat, and I like the staff that she has as well. It’s just… oh my God, I need to try it (laughs). I just need to attempt it one day.
I also like Scissors Crown, which is not very well known outside of its origin, but it’s by the same artist (Thores Shibamoto) who drew the Trinity Blood designs. One of them is Alice and it’s such an intricately designed dress. I’m just looking at it thinking, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to attempt that,’ but I would like to try it one day.
Thank you to Laura for taking the time out for the interview. You can follow her progress on her Facebook page, Cauldron of Mischief Cosplay. Or, if you’re interested in getting a costume, prop or a wig commissioned, then visit cauldronofmischief.com.
Photos by Papercube and Alex Kupse.
Charlotte Baker: Cosplay interview
“I was seeing all these amazing costumes around me,” explains Charlotte Baker (Char Cosplay) on her first experience to a convention. “It made me want to improve and create bigger and better cosplays with each convention I went to.”
After attending her first convention in 2010, Charlotte was motivated to make her own costume for the next one she attended the following year and has been cosplaying ever since. She has cosplayed characters such as Alois Trancy, Princess Tutu, Princess Aurora and Princess Peach. She is also a member of the dance group Cinnamon Purin.
Our interview was conducted at MCM London Comic Con, where Charlotte was cosplaying as Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Upon meeting her I went along to a photoshoot she had scheduled. She later changed out of her cosplay, but kept the theme of the character present, wearing a T-shirt that said, “I’m really a mermaid.” She was in good spirits as we talked about how she started her cosplay journey, the reactions she has had when cosplaying, and starting a princess party business.
Who have you been cosplaying at MCM London?
Ariel from The Little Mermaid.
You’ve been cosplaying since May 2011.
Yes, it’s been such a long while. I actually cannot believe it’s been so many years now. Really, it just flies by.
What was it that got you interested in cosplay?
I think it was more that I just really wanted to bring to life the character. The first convention that I went to was in 2010 and I was just surrounded by all these amazing costumes. I really hadn’t been exposed to [something like that]… coming from Surrey. There was nothing in Surrey for cosplayers (laughs).
So in May 2011, it was my first MCM. I decided to cosplay Yuuki from Vampire Knight. It was such a rubbish cosplay. Looking back now it was like the worst thing ever, but at the time it was like the best thing. I felt really good at the time.
What was the reaction and experience like for you when cosplaying for the first time?
It was really surreal. This sounds really sad, but I remember for a week or two before [the convention] I’d be constantly trying it on and wearing it casually around the house (laughs).
Okay, what was the reaction like at home?
My mum was like, ‘What are you doing? This is quite strange.’ But she was the one helping me sew everything, so I was trying to be really nice to her. But my dad was quite supportive of me. He’s got quite a geeky side to him, whereas my mum really has nothing to do with that at all, other than just sewing in general. She was like, ‘Why do you want to spend money doing this thing? Making a costume?’ (laughs). I was like, ‘Just let me do this one thing and then you’ll see.’
From the actual convention, [my dad] took me to my first MCM convention in 2011. His feedback was really positive too when we came back. He was just talking about all these different, amazing cosplays and so was I. My mum finally realised that it’s not just me being really weird, but there’s a whole community of us doing it together. I had no idea there was such a massive community. I thought it was really tiny. It’s really strange looking back now. It’s so odd (laughs).
](https://i0.wp.com/www.mcmbuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/000158By-Papercube.jpg)
You say you’ve never spent more than £150 on a cosplay. Is that a limit you’ve set for yourself or do you budget when making your costumes?
Because I’m a student, I don’t want the whole of my student loan to be taken up buying expensive fabrics, even though that’s what I really dream to do (laughs). I’ve got other things to save up for. I try to not cheapskate the outfit, but I try to budget. Not like cut corners, but try to be the most cost effective I can.
Rather than buying really expensive accessories that people from Etsy have made, I try to recreate them myself. My Princess Aurora cosplay, the crown and the necklace, they’re not as perfect as I wanted them to be, but it was so much cheaper for me to make them myself and learn the skills with that rather than buying it off Etsy for £50 (laughs).
In the future, are those accessories something you would remake again?
I definitely want to remake Aurora. Pretty much every cosplay I’ve done, afterwards I’m thinking, ‘I want to remake that again and make it a lot better.’ Because I’ve learnt so many skills making it, I won’t mess up so much making it the next time (laughs).
There have been some outfits where I’ve learnt a lot, mainly the princess ones. With my last three cosplays I feel like I’ve really learnt the most and I’m more motivated to sew it myself rather than ask for help. I used to rely on my mum a lot for help, but now I’ve motivated myself to learn properly how to sew. So… that’s good (laughs).
What has been your most expensive cosplay to create?
(Long pause) I’d probably say Ariel. I bought the wig and then I bought loads of wefts to go in it and then all the accessories. I’d probably say Ariel also was the most time consuming one I’ve done. Sewing on all those little pearls was so painstakingly hard and just… urgh. Yeah, Ariel was the most expensive and required the most amount of fabric.
How much would you say it came up to?
(Pauses)
You never thought about it?
No, I haven’t! It’s really strange. You buy all these things and you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s alright for that piece of fabric.’ I probably should total it all up. Um… (laughs). I don’t know if it would even be like £100. It’s not like a ridiculous amount. Most of it is just the time it takes me to make everything really (laughs).
You described Siesta 00 (Chiester 00) from Umineko no Naku Koro ni as one of your favourite cosplays to wear.
Definitely!
Is that still your favourite?
I don’t know. Ariel was really fun to wear today. But I have worn Siesta 00 the most. But it’s also quite bad, because that’s one of the only cosplays that I’ve actually bought, surprisingly enough. At that time I didn’t have enough time to actually make a cosplay, because I was doing A-level finals, but I still wanted that cosplay (laughs).
I’m going to say Ariel is now my favourite to wear. I think Ariel’s creeping ahead.
What is it about Ariel or her costume that stands out for you?
(Pauses) I like to think Ariel’s quite over the top, with her over the top hair, like the eyebrows (laughs), the puffy sleeves. Even though it was a bit of a nightmare to wear today, it was still so much fun. With Siesta 00, it’s more like a military style, with the bunny ears. Who doesn’t love bunny ears? But then, I really like Princess Peach too (laughs).
With Peach and Ariel, do you have an affinity towards cosplaying princess characters?
I really have started getting into princesses. I don’t know whether it’s just the interaction with people [when I’m cosplaying] a princess.
Well, you have said, “Cosplaying princesses at conventions makes me want to start up a princess party business.”
Yes, I did say that! It was after I was at another convention (laughs). I met with this sea of photographers taking pictures of me as Peach and this little girl did not care, she just came straight through the crowd, just to come up to me and talk to me. It was so sweet. It’s that sort of interaction that really just makes me want to cosplay even more, to bring these characters to life, for me as well as other people.
Because you had that happen to you, does that motivate you, where you start to think, ‘I hope I get that kind of reaction with this cosplay. I hope I get that with Ariel’?
Sort of, yeah. I had it loads today. It’s just such a sweet moment that you’ve brought this character to life for this little child. When I was a child growing up, I went to Disneyland once when I was five, but I can barely remember it. I wish I could have come to conventions and met princesses (laughs). That would have been really cool.
So is a princess party business going to happen in the future?
I don’t know, maybe (laughs). I have been contemplating it.
 |
 |
You mentioned how when cosplaying as Nerine from Shuffle you had a guy crying over you. What happened?
Oh my goodness. It was like the sweetest thing ever, but a part of me was… more sort of shocked as to this guy’s affection over this character. I completely understand it, obviously. But it was the fact that he was just projecting it so emotionally on to me and my shoulder (laughs). It was really sweet though. That is like a moment that I’m never ever going to forget (laughs).
It’s quite an obscure anime too. That someone loved the character as much as I did was just really nice to see. I think I was the only Nerine that year (laughs).
How does that feel for you, knowing that your cosplay reduced a man to tears?
(Laughs) Obviously it feels really good, because I’ve hopefully done the character justice that he feels obliged to cry (laughs). I always hope to do a character justice so that people have some sort of reaction to it. I really just want to connect with people I guess.
What would your number one dream cosplay be?
I don’t even know (long pause). Is it really strange that I haven’t actually thought about that? Seriously, I don’t really think about an ultimate cosplay. I feel like every one that I do is my next dream cosplay to do (laughs). I don’t really know. I feel like a couple of years ago there would have been one. Like, ‘Yes, I must do that.’ But now it’s just moving onto the next goal. It’s really strange.
To be like the spitting image of every Disney princess, that’s the dream goal (laughs). To have the best fabrics and to be above the quality of Disneyland park (laughs). (Emphatically) That is the dream.
 |
 |
You’re also a member of the dance group Cinnamon Purin.
Yes, I am.
How did that come about?
It’s been like… years. Before [I was in Cinnamon Purin] they had me as a guest performer. So I wasn’t officially a member of Cinnamon Purin, but still performed with them. I guess being a member of the cosplay community you get to know all these different types of people, not just people that are into cosplay, but people that are into idols, K-pop, and you just mix and match what you really like with different people. So, I’ve become more interested in idols recently, but equally with cosplay.
You’ve said that personally making cosplay by hand is half the fun. So, what part of cosplaying do you find the most fulfilling for you?
Probably, as I said, interacting with people at the convention. Just making myself up. Even getting up at five o’ clock in the morning, like this morning, and sitting there with Netflix on in the background, making myself into this princess (laughs). It’s really fun in a really satisfying way, even though I am depriving myself of sleep. Then, making my way to the convention, interacting with people, getting photos, chatting, just networking with people, it’s just so much fun. I enjoy it so much. When I meet someone that really connects to the character I’m cosplaying, that’s probably one of the best things.
What are your future cosplay plans?
I really want to do Meg from Hercules, which is still within the Disney realm. She’s not technically a princess. But her purple gown… it’s just something a lot more different. Because I do big dresses, so it’s quite a different style of dress and with the massive ponytail and everything. So that’s going to be a challenge for me I think… my next one (crosses fingers), hopefully in May (laughs).
Thank you to Charlotte for taking the time out for the interview. You can follow her on her Facebook page (Char Cosplay).
Thank you also to Papercube for arrangement and photos. You can check out his work on his Facebook page.
VIDEO Under The Dome’s Alex Koch & Colin Ford Interview
The dome may have come down from over Chester’s Mill in the final episode of Under The Dome, but Buzz trapped Colin Ford (Joe) and Alex Koch (Junior) together on the Buzz Livestream stage at MCM London Comic Con this weekend. Here they were put Under The Scrutiny of Yael Tygiel of Yael TV fame, our guest host for the weekend.
More interviews and vids from MCM London Comic Con:
• VIDEO Beowulf: Return To The Shieldlands Panel Highlights
• EXCLUSIVE Walking Dead Interview: Greg Nicotero & Ross Marquand (Aaron)
• Game Of Thrones MCM Interviews: Eugene Simon, Ian McElhinney & Ian Beattie
Danielle Rianna Carter: Cosplay interview
“There have been characters where I’ve liked the design,” explains Danielle Rianna Carter on the characters she decides to cosplay. “I’ve gone to research them and realised once I knew them, I didn’t really want to do it as much as I thought. Having that kind of connection with them… that for me is what makes me want to cosplay someone.”
Danielle’s interest in anime began from a young age when watching Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura. Upon seeing that friends overseas with similar interests were going to conventions, she searched online for UK conventions, which led Danielle to find out about MCM. She then decided to cosplay when attending her first MCM convention back in October 2009.
Being fans of Sailor Moon, we initially talked a bit about Naoko Takeuchi’s magical girl series (“You have to love Sailor Moon,” said Danielle. “She’s just classic”). We discussed making her first cosplay, reactions from people at conventions and cake. Being an illustrator and animator too, we also touched on the possibility of being at the Comic Village at MCM in the future.
How did your interest in cosplay start?
When I was about 14 or so, I first got into online communities and I had a lot of friends overseas who were going to cons. I didn’t realise that cons were a thing in the UK. I kinda Googled it and came across MCM. I was blown away with the fact that we have them over here and I could go to this event and do this. When I realised I could go to a con and join in with it, I immediately decided that I had to do it.
You felt that you had to go to a convention, or you had to cosplay?
Both (laughs)! When I turned up I was just blown away with how big it was. I hadn’t realised that there was this kind of community in the UK. I was just amazed that there were all these people there that had [the same things] in common. It felt a bit like, ‘Okay, this is where our people are. This is where I was supposed to be hanging out.’ I was just really happy, because none of my friends at school were into it. So it was nice to know that there were people there that I could bond with. And it was fun. I went with my parents as well and they loved it, so that was good. I haven’t missed an MCM London since.
What was your first cosplay at the convention?
My first cosplay was absolutely awful. It was Ami Kawashima from Toradora. I found a little group on the MCM forums and they needed someone to be Ami. Not the best cosplay I’ve ever done, but it was so much fun.
With Power Girl, you said that when you saw the costume, you “felt a lot of distaste,” but you then decided to research the design of the costume and upon reading Amanda Conner’s Power Girl Vol 2, you fell in love with the character and wanted to cosplay her. What in particular stood out that made you suddenly change your mind?
The bit that made me change my mind was that I saw a panel from the comic. It was Power Girl using her laser vision to shave her legs, which I thought was absolutely hilarious. It felt very realistic, like, ‘Okay, this character, she’s very real and easy to identify with.’ She makes a lot of jokes, she struggles to get in her costume sometimes, there were all these little details that I hadn’t really come across in comic book characters before. She is funny and just a very inspiring character. If she was a person, then I would be her friend. I would like to be like her.
Tinker Bell was the first costume you made from scratch. You described it as a “dream costume that did happen” and that you wanted to cosplay her the day you started cosplaying. What is it about this cosplay/character that drew you in?
I’ve loved Disney since I was very young, and I love Tinker Bell. I have all this merchandise in my room. She’s very cute, very fun and has a big personality. People have called me Tinker Bell quite a lot; one of my nicknames in my family is Tink. Also because she’s quite short I get a lot of comments along that line as well. I like that she’s completely ridiculous, flies into rages, and tries to kill Wendy.
I wanted to do the costume as well because her costume isn’t particularly complicated, but it has the potential to be quite detailed if that’s what you want to go for. When I was getting into cosplay I thought, ‘Oh it’s a simple dress, I can do a simple dress.’ Even though it took me a long time to get around to doing her, the actual construction of it wasn’t particularly difficult. It took just over a month.
 |
 |
You took part in the Cosplay Masquerade at MCM London in October 2014 with your Tinker Bell costume and also Roxy Richter at MCM Birmingham the following month. Could we see you taking part in masquerades again in the future?
I really enjoyed being in the masquerades, but I don’t think I would do it again alone. I would love to do it in groups because I think it can be really fun; you can do something special with it. On my own I felt it was just a little too nerve-racking. If I were going to be in the masquerade again on my own, it would have to be a costume that can stand up on its own, something a bit more impressive. I’d definitely love to do it again in a group, do more group skits, so that’s something I’m looking forward to one day.
At MCM London Comic Con in May 2015 you cosplayed as Miss Piggy. You had a huge reaction to this cosplay, yet it was a somewhat uncomfortable experience for you. What did you have to endure with this cosplay?
The prosthetic nose, which was made by Steve Bosworth of Hobby F/X was amazing. He was incredible with that and I highly recommend him. The prosthetic was moulded to fit my face exactly; we did a face-to-cast for it, which meant that it blocked my nose, so I really struggled to breathe through my nose all day. I couldn’t really eat or drink anything, because it stopped me breathing. Also, I had heels which were slightly uncomfortable. My false lashes weren’t particularly comfortable either. I had to wear gloves all day [so I couldn’t] use my phone.
The prosthetic nose was the main issue. I had to eat in small bites. I had to tear bits off a sandwich and eat them quickly so I wouldn’t have to stop breathing. I went through as much of the day as I could without having anything to eat. My friends were like, ‘No, you have to eat something now.’ I had to drink through a straw; that was the only way I could drink anything without choking, spluttering and dying on the con floor (laughs). I owe my life to two gentlemen outside Subway who helped me get a straw, because I couldn’t get through the crowds to get one. I don’t know what I would have done without them.
It was a bit hot, a bit uncomfortable, I had to touch my make-up a lot, but it was definitely worth it. The reactions to it were just amazing. Even though it was difficult, it was just so much fun. I don’t regret doing it. I was having so much fun focusing on what I was doing in the day that I wasn’t really noticing the fact that I couldn’t breathe! When I’ve been Tinker Bell and Princess Aurora, I’ve had really lovely reactions from small children, which is a different level of… niceness. But it wasn’t quite as big as Miss Piggy.
 |
 |
Given what you went through, would you cosplay Miss Piggy again?
I would like to… but for me, I cosplayed her because I was staying at a hotel, so at any point, if I needed to leave and get it off, I could go back to the hotel and sort myself out. For a lot of cons, because I’m just outside of London, I commute in. I couldn’t wear her on a train. I couldn’t really put the prosthetic nose on or take it off in a bathroom. So, I would love to wear her again, but it would have to be organised well in advance.
As well as having people ask for pictures, you’ve mentioned that one of your highlights at MCM was when you were cosplayng Princess Aurora and you made one young girl’s day. What happened?
I was at the front of Excel, the glass entrance and I was sitting with my brother, having a drink, having a rest. I was about to go and get changed actually. My brother tapped me on the shoulder and pointed at a little girl and her mum, they were staring at me through the window. I’m not sure if they were actually at the convention or just walking by. I asked my brother, ‘Should I go over? Should I not? I don’t know what to do!’ He urged me to. So I went over and the girl became very shy, she was hiding behind her mum. I talked to her for a bit, asked her how her day was going, what she was doing. Her mum asked me for a picture. The little girl was just so happy and couldn’t really believe what was happening. To get that kind of reaction, to know that that’s a memory for her that she’s going to really love, it’s just absolutely amazing. That kind of feeling is part of the reason why I cosplay. I love it! When you can go home and think, ‘I made someone else happy,’ that’s fantastic!
Does that feeling spur you on when it comes to future cosplays and conventions?
Sometimes it does. Most of the reasons why I choose a cosplay is because I think I can do that character justice. Some characters like Tinker Bell and Miss Piggy, I think I can do them well enough that it’s going to make people happy, it’s going to be something good in their day. That does make me more motivated; it’s part of the motivation.
I recall a list of cosplay groups you would love to do. If you had unlimited funds who would be at the top of your list to cosplay?
Oh… (pauses for thought). I’ve always wanted to do a Magic Knight Rayearth cosplay group and I would love to do one with full sets of armour, or really lavish CLAMP costumes. It’s a series I’ve loved for such a long time, the characters mean quite a lot to me. There are various different versions of Disney princesses I’d love to do as well. But I think Magic Knight Rayearth would be top of the list. The costumes are just gorgeously designed. They have so much detail and so many different designs to choose from. It’s one of those things where it would involve a lot of time, organisation and money to do. If I didn’t do it to my highest standard then I wouldn’t be happy with it.
 |
 |
Is it true that at one event you were giving out cakes to anyone that took photos of you in cosplay?
Yes, that was when I did Alice in Wonderland. I made little fairy cakes. They had ‘Eat Me’ on them and little cards. That was for a convention in July, the heat was outrageous and some of them melted. I love to do that kind of thing. I wish I could do that more often, but it does involve planning and it kind of has to fit with the character. Like with Tinker Bell, I would love to give out little bags of fairy dust. I wanted to do it with Alice because if I came across any children it would give them something extra; I wanted to make them feel like they had really met the character. I would love to do it again.
I see that you’re also an illustrator. Do you see yourself with a table at the Comic Village at an MCM event in the future?
I would love to do that. I’ve talked about it with a friend from university who frequently has a table at MCM. It just hasn’t happened yet because I normally focus on cosplay. I would like to get started at maybe a smaller convention, like MCM Birmingham, so I can give it a test and see how well it works before launching myself into the busyness that is MCM London. It seems like a lot of fun.
What are your future cosplay plans?
One of them is Super Sonico, which is something casual and fun to do. I’m hoping to be in a Love Live! group with some of my friends, but that’s currently in the works. And I’m planning on doing Sakura from Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE at some point as well.
Thank you to Danielle for taking the time out for the interview. You can follow her on her Facebook page (Danielle Rianna Cosplay).
Thank you to Papercube for arrangement and photos. You can check out his work on his Facebook page.
TOPP DOGG "Shut The Door" In London On Their European Tour
With TOPP DOGG‘s London concert upon us MCM Buzz sent out a small team to report on the event, get some photos and even hold an exclusive interview with the 12 members P-goon, Kidoh, Gohn, Sangdo, B-joo, Hansol, Xero, Yano, Nakta, Jenissi, A-tom and Hojoon.
Arriving at The Troxy, there was already a large queue outside, predominantly teenage girls going crazy with excitement: singing, dancing and having a general good time. We were called into the venue early to prepare for our interview, and while we waited we scoped out the venue itself. We were surprised that the event was completely seated as the The Troxy is a medium-sized venue: this is definitely an event more akin to those you see for K-pop groups in Japan or for the smaller fan meetings in Korea. There was a lower floor, upper floor and upper tier but despite the seats, the fans stood throughout, singing and dancing to the music.
Interview completed, we waited for the show to begin, watching fans running to their chairs and talking to complete strangers who obviously shared the same interests. There was a nice sense of community and we can guarantee that some new friendships were made that night. As soon as the lights dimmed the hall was filled with high-pitched screams whilst a video began to play showing the handsome TOPP DOGG members touring other countries. As soon as the video finished the band members appeared on the stage to even louder screams and began to perform their first set of songs: “Open The Door” and “Follow Me“. At this point the crowd were beside themselves singing along and showing pure dedication to the group of men up on the stage.
There was a nice moment when the members introduced themselves individually and filled the hall with laughter and screams once again; their witty jokes and cuteness winning over the crowd. They decided to calm the hyperactive crowd by performing some of their chilled music – “Keep Smiling” and “Cigarette” – which had the desired effect and left fans calm and doe-eyed. This was followed by another video break where the boys were playing a game to choose teams for another game that would happen later on during the concert.
It was then time for the specialist sub-groups to show off a little bit. The rappers Jenissi, A-tom, Kidoh and Yano performed “Pretty Mo’F#cka” to the crowd’s delight, whereas the dancers of the group performed their own little piece and were joined with the rest of the members when they began to dance to Mark Ronson Ft Bruno Mars’s “Uptown Funk“. Something fans were happy to see was when the members performed their own rendition of Ellie Goulding‘s “Love Me Like You Do” which the group had teased fans with as a music video before their tour.
Having whipped the crowd into a frenzy, it was time for some games with some lucky members of the audience. Before the concert began, specialised wrist bands were given out, each with its own unique number. After calling out random numbers TOPP DOGG participated in a “Chinese Whispers”-style game but it came with a twist: instead of whispering they had to use their bodies and dance out their subject. The event caused lots of laughter and was really amusing and funny to watch. The lucky chosen fans and winners of the game were given some merchandise (bandana and signed poster) and were allowed to get a group picture with TOPP DOGG.
After the members leave the stage to change outfits and have a very well-earned rest, another video began to play and the crowd finally found out what that earlier game to decide groups was about. The teams had to enter a haunted house to retreieve an item from the heart of the building; this alone caused mass laughter once again.
When TOPP DOGG return to the stage once again they perform two more songs, one of which was “Top Dog“, a firm favourite of MCM Buzz’s. At this point the members line up and explain to the audience what they like about being in London and performing for their fans; some of their words were really heartfelt, and some were funny. It really did feel that they had a blast coming to London and performing for their UK fans. The last song before they leave the stage was “Arario” of which fans sang along to.
The sea of fans begin to chant “Encore” into the darkness of the hall, and on cue the members come out to perform two last encore songs. When they finished their songs they said their last goodbyes and genuinely look like they don’t want to leave the stage. Both fans and group members look exhausted but completely full of adrenaline and admiration, but everyone knows the show must end at some point. The lights go down, the members leave the stage, and the lights came back on to an empty space.The fans, though, were more reluctant to leave.
Attending the show was a little daunting for the team as a few of them had never been to a K-pop concert before, nor had they heard too much about TOPP DOGG beforehand. Although they had heard their music and seen their music videos they didn’t really know much more about the group than that. TOPP DOGG, though, won them over completely and left a great lasting impact on them.
MCM Buzz would like to thank TOPP DOGG and Stardom Entertainment for their invitation to attend the concert and to interview the members. We look forward to what TOPP DOGG have up their sleeves for the near future and to reporting on their growth as a must-follow K-pop group. Be sure to check out our TOPP DOGG In London photo album on the MCM Buzz Facebook page for more photos from the concert and from our exclusive interview with the members which you can read here!
Photographer: Sarah Tsang
Writers: Kay Ibrahim & Kpopkimi