Fan Expo Vancouver: We Chat With Some Amazing Local Cosplayers!
After Fan Expo Vancouver 2016 I could not wait to see more cosplay at this year’s event. I knew I wanted to get more of an inside scoop on what it’s like to be a cosplayer and what inspires these people to spend so much time, money, and effort on their outfits, so I decided to get in there and ask!
I was super nervous to talk to people, but found out pretty quickly people don’t mind sharing. The thing with cosplayers is they know going into this type of convention that they are going to be stopped every three steps for someone to take a photo, and they’re into it. Heck, I would be too if I had put hours and hours of work into a costume.
Here are a few of the conversations had with cosplayers this year:
Who are you cosplaying as?
I am Jupiter Jones from the movie Jupiter Ascending. It’s a bit of an obscure movie even though it had really big characters in it, Channing Tatum was in it, Mila Kunis is Jupiter Jones.
What got you into Cosplay?
I love Halloween, I love making costumes, I love making things. Dressing up and being able to express myself is a lot of fun.
What was the first Cosplay that you did?
Belle from Beauty and the Beast.
That’s rad, did it take you a really long time?
Not as long as this one. This one took about 150 hours, because each of the gems and flowers is individually glued on.
What is your favourite character that you’ve cosplayed?
Probably this one, it’s been the most fun. Although I did a remake of Rainbow Bright in armour and that was fun, but it was not as fun as this.
What cosplay do you want to do next?
Have you seen the movie The Fifth Element? In it there is a blue alien called the Diva Plavalaguna, I am cosplaying that one in a competition in May.
Cool! Where is the competition?
In Prince George, it’s a huge competition, in its third or fourth year this year. [in Northern BC, Canada] The convention is small, but it’s almost as big as this, if that makes sense. And they do quite a large cosplay completion.
Who are you cosplaying as?
Dva’s mech. from Overwatch.
How long have you been doing cosplay?
I haven’t done very much cosplay, I actually do balloons as a job most of the year.
So is this the first time you’ve made an outfit out of it?
Not the first time!
How long have you been doing this?
Eight years. I started learning at festivals and stuff, then got a little bit more inspired every time.
Why did you choose to do this cosplay?
The voice actress who plays the character, there is a character who drives the mech. [Dva], she was here yesterday. That totally influenced my decision to make the matching mech..
Did you get to meet her?
Yeah, I did, she was really happy. You know, mission accomplished!
What is the next cosplay you want to do?
Oh my gosh. It depends on what comes out. It’s always gonna be something big, like bigger than a person size. One year it was Baymax [from Big Hero Six], on year it was T-Rex. Maybe I’ll bring back the Megazord, it’s been on my to-do list, but it’s a bit ambitious.
Follow on Instagram: @kwlballoons
Who are you cosplaying today?
I am The Doof Warrior of Mad Max: Fury Road.
How long did it take you to put this together?
Including shopping, maybe like eight hours?!
What got you into cosplay?
Isn’t this a question!
I’ve only done it twice, so I wouldn’t say I’m “into it”. It’s something that I can show what inspires me. It shows people what has influenced my life. The first time I did it, it was a little bit strange, people talk to you as if you are the character, not as if you’ve made something. So it’s also like you can so how what has inspired you has also influenced a lot of other people.
That must be great insight into other people’s way of thinking.
Yeah, you can immediately tell: he’s one of mine.
What do you want to do next?
No plans, but I like repurposing things, as opposed to making things from scratch, because I have school and a lot of other things. So this was Halloween things cobbled together, and I think that worked pretty well. So things that can be made from in house materials like clothes and the like, things that are practical.
Follow on Instagram: @takimusic
What are you cosplaying as today?
Taako from The Adventure Zone
What inspired you to do this cosplay?
I just recently got into McElroy content, the guys who make this show, and they are really great. It’s a really inclusive show, it’s super funny, and the character is really relatable and hilarious.
What character do you want to do next?
Oh gosh that’s hard, probably Korra from Legend of Korra.
What got you into cosplay?
This is my first convention ever! It’s just more of seeing a lot of stuff online, and seeing a lot of creators and people who are really experienced with cosplay, and wanting to get to that level.
How long did this one take you to put together?
Over the course of a couple of months just pieces here and there. Not a lot of intensive labour, just mostly going to thrift stores and finding clothes. Over all probably about ten hours.
What is your favourite part of Fan Expo so far?
All the costumes, I love seeing all the people dressed in their costumes and meeting people who recognize my costume and things like that. It’s really rewarding.
Follow on Instagram: @jamiekusack
What are you cosplaying as today?
I’m dressed as Ho-Oh from Pokémon.
What inspired you to do this cosplay?
You know it was kind of a last minute thing, I didn’t think I was going to come this year, but I really wanted to and I had a lot of red fabric, so I just kind of made it!
How long did it take you to put together?
I think the top took me about two days maybe, and the rest I just kind of added to it from stuff I already owned.
Have you done cosplay before?
This is my first time in public, but I do have other that I have done.
What do you want to do next?
I don’t know, I was thinking with my sister to do a pairs cosplay. Either Link and Navi, or Magicarp and Gyarados.
What’s been your favourite thing at Fan Expo so far?
I didn’t get here until a little while ago, but I just love the atmosphere. The community is always so welcoming.
Follow on Instagram: @chelo.cm
Who are you cosplaying today?
Azura, from Fire Emblem Fates.
What inspired you to do this cosplay?
Ever since I first played the game I immediately fell in love with the character. I really loved the dress that she wore in the cutscene in conquest, where she tries to break some sort of curse, I thought that was really cool.
How long did it take you to put this together?
It took me a while, I had a bit of time issues with the cosplay, getting the wig was the easy bit though.
Have you done cosplay before?
I have, last year was my first time cosplaying. Last year I cosplayed Princess Zelda, from the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
What is your next project?
I’ve got a lot of ideas in my head right now, I just don’t know which one to pick. I’m thinking about Ruby, Black Butler, Sword Art Online.
Follow on Facebook: Paige Dempsey
What are you Cosplaying as today?
Logan, from Wolverine.
What inspired you to do this cosplay?
The 2013 movie The Wolverine, started doing it then, just for Halloween. Then the last two years Comic Cons.
Have you done cosplay before?
Just on Halloween, then I found out there was such a thing as comic cons. Then I was like whaaat, I can do this every weekend if I can find a con somewhere around the world?
How many have you been too?
San Diego the last three years, Tokyo comiket, Singapore, Manila, one in Malaysia, Salt Lake City, one in Columbia, one in Mexico City, and a few other ones.
Do you have other cosplays that you wear?
This is a one trick pony.
Is there any other cosplay you would like to do in the future?
Yes, I really want to do Hector from Westworld.
Follow on Instagram: @CanadianWolverine
What are you dressed as today?
I am Princess Peach from the Mario series.
What inspired you to do this outfit?
I don’t have that many really girlie costumes, so I wanted to do something different, bright and fun. And she certainly is.
What inspired you to start doing cosplay?
I have been into anime and stuff since a young age and played video games growing up, and then it was a natural progression, I eventually found cosplay. I’ve always been creative and liked to sew.
How long have you been doing cosplay?
I want to say since I was 15, and I am 20 now, so about 5 years.
What cosplay do you want to do next?
I want to do Ashelin from the Jak and Daxter series.
Follow on Instagram: @spiralintohorror
What are you dressed as today?
I am dressed as Sweetums from The Muppets.
How long did it take you to put this together?
I started working on it about three months ago, but it was about 3 weeks total work time I would say.
What inspired you to do this as your cosplay?
I’ve always been a massive Jim Henson fan, so I’ve always wanted to do some kind of costume of his. Then I didn’t really want to do a hand puppet, so Sweetums was always my favourite really big crazy character, and I finally got to the point in my cosplay-ability where I was like yeah I could probably make that!
How long have you been doing cosplay?
About three years now?
Is this your favourite cosplay you have done so far?
I don’t know, I did Babar last year, which was really great. So I really liked Babar as well, but this one is much more comfortable, just really warm.
What is the next cosplay you want to do?
I’ve been thinking about doing Ludo from Labyrinth, maybe. But I am gonna coast on this one for a while, for Emerald City Comic Con. I just need to modify it and put some fans in the head.
Follow on Instagram: @jeff_porter_creative
What are you cosplaying as today?
Link, from Legend of Zelda.
What inspired you to be Link?
I just like it because he is a cool character.
What do you want to do as your next cosplay?
Deadpool!
Is this the first time you’ve cosplayed?
No, last year I was Harry Potter, which was a pretty cool costume.
Have you been to other Conventions with your cosplays?
No, only this one.
Follow ‘Link’s’ Dad on Instagram: @glasscannon.ca
What are you cosplaying as today?
I am Loki of Asgard.
What inspired you to do this cosplay?
I am so mischievous, just like Loki is, so he is like a part of me, he’s like a part of my soul. I absolutely love him.
How long did it take you to do this?
This is not even completed yet, it’s still in progress, but this has been how many months now? We’ve been working on it for about three or four months. And I still have to create some armour pieces to finish it off.
Are you going to take it to other Cons?
Oh definitely.
Where are you heading to next?
Probably Capitol City Comic Con, which will be in Victoria in March. And then after that not sure yet.
Have you done cosplay before?
Yes, I am from Toronto, so I have done these at Fan Expo Toronto. I have also gone as Tank girl, Pikachu, and Darth Talon.
What’s your favourite one so far?
Loki, I feel I can play Loki more than I can play some of the other ones.
Do you have an cosplay you would like to do in the future?
I’d like to actually do a Mystique, cause I do a lot of FX make-up and stuff like that, and I think I couls pull off something really cool.
Follow on Facebook: Gynnie Vi (aka Ginger Vicious, Burlesque persona)
Can you tell me what you are cosplaying as?
Chappie.
What inspired you to do this cosplay?
Chappie is my absolute favourite person in the world. Chappie is consciousness. Chappie is alive.
How long did it take you to make?
Three months.
Is this your first cosplay?
This is my second big one. I did a Xenomorph from the Aliens movie.
What is your next project?
I have no idea.
Are you going to get to wear this a few more times?
Probably. I think I am going to go to Victoria in March, or maybe Animerevo in August.
Follow on Instagram: @wartoast_cosplay
