Losing Interest

        It happens. You find something you like and stick with it for a long time. Sometimes you can just get tired of it and grow out of it. Sometimes its a phase or a one time thing and that's okay too. Cosplaying just isn't for everybody. And sometimes life forces you to pause what you love to do because life doesn't like to make you happy. You punch life right in the face.

        There was a time I had to not cosplay or go to a con because school and life came first. It wasn't the best feeling especially when your friends are planning their next outfit and gather the materials for the props. It wasn't the best feeling. The tips we would give each other and overall helping each other making the costume.Just knowing the feeling of not being able to go the a con that you and your friends were planning on attending is a bit hurtful once you think about it. It's never a satisfying emotion knowing that your friends may be doing something fun without. But you shouldn't stop a friend from doing what they love just because you can't at the moment,that wouldn't be fair and that wouldn't make you a good friend.

      But one things about this hobby That's its pretty much like any other hobbies you can always pick it back up and try again. You can save and invest into it later until you are ready to get back in it. It's never too late; both for the young and old,it's for everyone.

                                             (Howl(left) and Sophie(right) from Howl's Moving Castle by Studio Ghibli)

All That Skin Though

Fanservice

Definition: material in a series which is intentionally added to please the audience. It is about "servicing" the fan; giving the fans "exactly what they want".

           We all have our favorite anime, Gurren Laguan , Naruto, RWBY, and others. But one thing about it is that we would love to cosplay all the characters that are built for the fanservice.Typically most anime series have moments where the characters are in positions were slight nudity may or may not be involved such as, hot springs scene or a beach scene, where the characters would have to show a little skin here and there.Or in the more PG-13+ range the characters will have outfits (or the lack there of) that will show exposed cleavage or short shorts and miniskirts for the male audience and Lack of shirts and hi-definition abs for the female audience. Mostly anime would be more 'male friendly' than there would be more anime appeal to the ladies. Just recently has the anime community grew in a more  female audience and now there are shows like Free or Swimming Anime as is call that consists of mostly male protagonists as the subject focus of the story. rather then shows like Gurren Lagann and Kill La Kill that seems to gear more towards the male side of the fandom.

Example of Fanservice characters:

Yoko from Gurren Lagann

                              





Haru from Free:Swimming Anime

     

             And let's face it we love to see sexy characters come to life through cosplay. And a good number of the time They are pretty good. To have the confidence alone to walk around showing bare skin in a large Con filled with over thousands of people with cameras and risking the few groups of stalks that may follow them around. But sometimes we need to keep some of that confidence to ourselves. Now some of us don't have the body or the proud boldness to show it off likes others do and cosplay is for everyone of many shapes and sizes,but there is a point were it gets a bit ridiculous and as the saying goes, 'just because they make it in your size doesn't mean you should wear it.'

Example of Not-To-Do:

The Cosplay Community reaction to this.....

    ('Sorry but you can't make that work.....')

Weeaboo Cosplayers vs. Otaku Cosplayers

 Pronouciation: wēʹəbo͞o
 Definition: A person who behaves or seeks to appear Stereotypically Japanese.
 Plural:(Weaboos)

           So you have the cosplayer who can separate the fact that the character is Japanese and not try to imitate the fact that the person themselves want to be Japanese. We call them weeaboos. Many people mush cosplayers and the weeabos together and in fact that is not the case. The two are totally different form on another.

                       Weeaboos:                                                                          Otakus:

Konnichiwa (hello)                                                                            Hello,hi,What's up? (Greetings)
Moshi moshi(greeting for the Japanese when answering the phone.)               Hey(When we pick up the phone)
Desu(Will say this word after everything they say for no reason.)                        Collects anime DVDs, manga,etc.
                                                                                                                                               (The list ends here........)
(In Japan, it means am,be or is.)                             

Example of Use by Weeaboos:

• 'You are so Kawaii desu.'
• 'I am so done desu!'
• 'Why is it so hot in here? I'm going to get icecream desu."

Kawaii (They use it often)

(A japanese word meaning cute.They will over react and point at ever think that is seen as 'kawaii')

• 'You're dress is so kawaii."
• 'OMG this is so kawaii,I'mma totes buy it!'
• 'It's so kawaii desu.'

(For the sake of this page it will end here...It's too much to even put here.)

              In fact, not all weeaboos are seen in cosplay but most are seen cosplaying so they fall into this category. They are fairly annoying to interact with if you are not one of the own. They will have a mixture of Japanese words in their sentences and will be attracted to everything and nothing but Japanese things and not just restricted to anime though it is fairly common to see them into anime related things, as such,people lump the weeaboos being mistaken for the otakus. Otakus are more of people who admire the anime culture and appreciate the Japanese who made it. As such, we collect figures, manga(comics), and the DVDs  and spend unnecessary amounts of money to dress up as the character we love,without the need to speak with Japanese words in our sentences every two seconds like we have  an English speaking problem.

                                                  (As you can see Otaku Cosplayers people are better to interact. :I)

Cosplay Outside of Cons

                First off you will look like a weirdo and no one in the 'normal' world will accept you,end of story. Nah just kidding, but you people might find it peculiar for someone to be dressed up in a orange jump suit with spiked, exaggerated blonde hair. *cough* Goku *cough*  You will get looks,you will draw unnecessary attention to yourself when you sit down and eat at a restaurant. Personal experience don't try and eat buffet with a bright,white long wig. You will get synthetic hair all in your food! And you will be eating your own hair. Not my source of daily fibers.

               It's fun to go out cosplay in public especially at the mall, just an experience you want to keep forever....until the security guard seems to be following making sure you aren't trouble and be that guy cosplaying as Sasuke during the Fanime 2007 who though stealing merchandise and over all being a trouble maker was a good idea,like come on people think a little before you act. In character and how you portrait it in public are two different stories. For one act like you have home training don't go running around stores acting like you own the place and nothing can stop you because
you are in character.Law enforcement have no problem sending you in holding or jail for public misconduct. Have some class, don't look like trash. Thank you.

Let take a moment to reflect on Fnime '07. Sasuke(Character from Naruto) gets arrestted.

Know Who You Cosplay....Please.

If you been to a few conventions and I have just two under my belt,we all know the people who cosplay the most awesome characters.....but they don't know jack squat about them.Sigh. For now, I will just call them The Impostors.

Okay so maybe you haven't met any of these Imposters, well let's just say you did. You are walking around and you see this awesome cosplay like spot on outfit that looks like the exact character and you ask for a pictures. You know the whole point is to have fun,make new friends and all that. Well it's a bit awkward to had that moment when you try and make a comment about the character and talk about the manga or episode they were in and the person cosplaying them have no idea what you are referring to. Yes I had this awkward moment once! It was ....bad. It was just a complete disaster and awkward for a long while when they bring you mood down just because they have an outfit of a character you know of and they don't know anything other than they 'had a cool power,' or 'hey they were with the main character so I like them because blah blah blah.' Can you please use more detail....like we are talking about how awesome you look you have a perfect face and buld for the character I don't understand. Just tell me two things you know about the character that isn't the obvious like hair color or who they were hang with in season 2! 

All I'm saying is that if you cosplay. Take the time to do some research while you are laying up in you hotel room eating ramen noodles and watching the last 3 episode of Dragonball Z because you are making it awkward for the rest of the people to associate with you!

My expression when I see the Impostor walking around lie they know something.

To Sew or Not To Sew...That is the Real Question.

                      You wouldn't got without water so why should you go with out a sewing kit. In cosplay it is kinda required to have some level of sewing ability whether it be just a nick in you threading of your costume or just an all out handmade crafted outfit. You turn thread and fabric into a complete full blown outfit. You are the Jesus of Clothing. That's the mentality you have to have because its a pain in the rear when you are just kinda stuck with holes and tears and you are running around like lost puppy. You can ask anyone who cosplay that they have at least thread and an needle and if they say 'no' they either are just a rich kid to just get that crap fixed, they know someone who can do it for free or they just are too dumb to know what that is. Nah just kidding about that last part.....mostly.

                      But seriously you need a sewing kit, now don;t think you are a Picasso of the Thread and Needle and go out buying a sewing machine when you don't even know what it's like to sew by hand. Because you are gonna be like a monkey with wrench. Yard of fabric is expensive and going out and buying 30 dollars worth of it; would be a waste if you get a big head thinking you can make it.Your stuff will look like you a kindergarten crafting project full of glue and paint. It's also handy when you want to just add new additions to your outfit,like a few more frills or glitter....you don't need sewing skills for glitter......so just forget that glitter part! The will skills are useful and save you money in the end. So go to your granny or mom or even your dad and ask them how to sew a bit or if you are like me you just go on Youtube or Forums and look that stuff up because you are socially awkward and asking something from someone is like pulling teeth. But it's fun  and worth it in the end~.

Your feelings after you keep pricking your finger with the needle.That is all.

Wigs!

        Any cosplayer would tell you that the wig is the most important part of the cosplay because how hair tells about a person it mean a lot when it's on the character. Wig: pink,purple,black, green,whatever color under the sun it needs to be cleaned! Like your real hair when it gets all dirt and sweat from walking around and doing daily activities, your wig is the same. Now not saying ever time you wear your wig you need to wash it but if you know you been doing a lot of sweat just take the time to wash it your because people like to come up and give hugs and talk and they don't want to be first greeted by the funk of your wigs. People come on we can do better than that. It's quite simple to wash your wig and if you have good quality wigs then yeah you can wash them. Not I wouldn't recommend washing your party city with that will knot up if you just turn your head once. There is a reason why there wigs are cheap.

Steps to Cleaning your wig:

1. Brush or comb(wide tooth) the wig out to relive it of tangles.

2. Take the with and damp it and use a mild shampoo to wash it with.

3.After a minute or two washing it into a lather get a bucket or use a sink to soak it for 30 minutes to an hour.

4.Rinse out the shampoo thoroughly.

5 Lay out a towel and lay the wig on it so it may air dry.

6. After drying you may style as usual. Remember yo use hair irons on heat resistant wig. Not all wig can be hot pressed.

This is how you take care of your wig~