2006 Cosplay Review

[ladyofthethread]

Well, since it’s mid-December, I thought I’d look back at the year and do a little review of cosplay-related stuff. Feel free to steal this if you think it’s interesting enough. *laugh*



Costumes made this year: 4
Props constructed: 3
New series/games cosplayed: 2
Total series/games cosplayed (including older costumes worn this year): 6
Characters cosplayed (also including older ones): 8 (Wow, except for a couple of the oldest ones, I managed to pull out all of my costumes at some point during the year.)
Cons attended: 4
Most costumes brought to a con: 5
Masquerades/costume contests entered: 4 (only 1 was an actual masquerade)
Awards won: 4

New things learned/new techniques tried: making gravity-defying hair loops with extensions, using crimp beads, sequining, boning a bodice, fabric painting, glove making, installing eyelets, making frog buttons, sewing faux fur
Most difficult costume made: Count D’s peacock dress
Easiest costume made: original Count D outfit (closest I got to simple this year ^_^;)
Most time-consuming costume made: formal Terra (all those sequins!)
Quickest costume made: original Count D
Most expensive costume made: Terra
Least expensive costume made: original Count D (LOL There seems to be a pattern here…)
Favorite character to cosplay: probably a tie between Count D and Ayame
Favorite prop: T-Chan plushie
Favorite group: The Twelve Kingdoms/Juuni Kokki at Otakon
Favorite experience: attending the local cherry blossom festival in my nyosen uniform
Most embarrassing moment: my Terra scarves falling down as I was walking to the convention center at Otakon ._.;
Other Highlights: I finally made it to a con outside the NY area this year! ^_^ And finally got a Juuni Kokki group to take pictures with! And it was even a record number of North American Juuni Kokki cosplayers for one photo! XD
Other comments/observations: Hmm… I seemed to have a thing for fancy gowns this year. I made 3 in a row! >_>; *eyes Terra gown plus both Count D outfits*

Favorite picture taken this year:
(tie between these two by ngmaster)






Silliest picture:


I'd have done a cutest picture too but couldn't particularly think of one. ^_^;

Comments

[novaraven.livejournal.com]

Wow that is a lot of work you put in! It's so good to know I'm not the only one who cosplays so much. You should be so proud with so many awards! Thats a real acheivement!

We can't really get anything for cosplaying here. Once I got a participation ribbon for hall cosplaying but I lost it because my costume didn't have pockets, and once this year I got a peice of paper saying I did best wig styling in a masquerade (didn't know that was even a catagory, the jusdges actually do make them up as they go along here just so everyone gets something).

There are no trophies to win here or prizes or anything. Thats why I never enter contests unless my friends need me to help them with their skit. You are so brave for going on stage like that. I'm surprised you don't have more awards with all the things you've done. Five costumes at one convention all by yourself is amazing!

[ladyofthethread.livejournal.com]

Thanks. ^_^ Actually, I’ve only been in a couple of masquerades since I started cosplaying and never been in a real skit. I’m not good at acting or stuff like that so I’ve only done two walk-ons by myself. ^_^;

My awards have mostly been from hall cosplay contests. The ones here seem to be different than what you have at Anime North. Hall contests here usually mean you go to a room during certain hours to have your costume judged for craftsmanship only. I’ve heard that some US cons do have judges who walk around the halls but it seems rare compared to the other type.

Hmm… I guess award categories are up to judges’ preferences. Mostly, the cons here just have unnamed judges awards and honorable mentions in addition to best of show and best of division type awards. I remember the judges’ awards did have names this year though when Sarcasm-Hime and Kaijugal came to help judge the masquerade at AnimeNext.

Well, the 5 costumes at one convention was possible mostly since my father traveled with me that time. ^_^; I actually only made 1 new costume for that con; I don’t get a chance to attend that many in one year (normally only 1 or 2) so I usually try to bring 1 new costume and 2 or 3 old ones.

[novaraven.livejournal.com]

Nods, yes, recycling costumes is a very good thing. I just wish I could leave them alone and not do different versions and upgrades all the time. ^^

It's so hard to pack everything for a con sometimes, especially if you go alone! You're so incredibly lucky your parents support you in this hobby! I have to hide mine all the time and still get scolded and have them threaten to throw things out before they're even finished.

Sarcasm-Hime and Kaijugal are the reason I don't like our masquerades much. They really don't give you anything to aim for, only the judges opinions, and in trying to be fair they rotate the judges every year so you can't even count on what they might like. It's a very confusing judging process so I just avoid it whenever I can.

I'm really too shy to do walk ons by myself. I have to be needed by my friends or there's no reason for me to be there since there aren't any prizes to bribe me with. I really admire you for doing that! Going up on stage all by myself is my worst fear!