A new year brings with it new things. New work; friends, cosplay and expos. Today, I'm introducing something new to the blog. Over the Year I'm going to post interviews with Odinary Cosplayers from all over the world. We start with Austin Bemister. The Sixteen Year old, who lives in Southampton is the guy behind Anggul.
So, Who do you Cosplay?
So far I've done: Kratos Aurion from Tales of Symphonia, Cloud Strife (the original version... y'know, the cool one) and an Eldar Warlock. In May I'll be an Eldar Dire Avenger Exarch, and Mukuro Rokudou from Katekyo Hitman Reborn! Possibly Alto Saotome too, but that's a long shot.
Wow, that's a lot! So, do you go to Expos Often?
This will only be my Second time, in October I only went for the Sunday, but this time I'm going there with a lot of others from around here on Friday and staying for two nights. Going for the whole deal this time, I just hope I can make my main costume in less than five months.
Sounds Awesome! We hope you guys have fun. You say you're going with a lot of people. Would you say your friends where an important part of your cosplaying?
Well it would be boring just going by myself in costume, so in that respect yes. Also, a certain couple of them are a great help in figuring out how to make parts of the costumes, as when one mind can't figure something out, the other one can, and vice versa.
Well, they say two minds are better than one, Right? You make your costumes then... Have you always done?
Yeah, I mean, it's not commonplace to see a decent Buster Sword conveniently on sale, so sometimes you've just gotta force yourself to get up and do it yourself. Also, I tend towards cosplays that most companies wouldn't bother making, my most recent one, the Dire Avenger Exarch, being a prime example. Hell, I'm not even sure I'll get it done in time, but that's my challenge. For some reason I always chose characters with akward-to-make weapons. But Hey, if it's complex, all the better when it's completed.
That's understandable; It's a sense of Achievement. Would you buy if you had the option though?
Well the only one I'm buying is the Mukuro suit, as it being so simple, it's not worth the trouble wasting the time and money making, which would probably turn out more expensive, it just wouldn't really give me any sense of achievement. As for the others, I would be less inclined to cosplay them anymore, as anyone could just go and buy them, it becomes less about skill and imagination, and more about who has the most money. Also, the ones made by the companies are hardly ever as good, as simple things like shoulder armour get made out of material, when the simple act of taking a hacksaw to a £1 Police Helmet can do wonders.
Who's your favourtite to cosplay?
Well Cloud gets the most attention and it's always fun when you have a sword the size of a human that can shatter bone, but Kratos Aurion is my Favourite as a character, and he's by far the one I suit more, so I like cosplaying him the most. Once I've finished the costumes for May, I'm going to update my Kratos as he deserves more work.
It's cool that you're dedicated to your cosplay. Who's your least favourite, and why?
Well, I suppose in a sense Cloud, not because of the costume, but because so many people only know Advent Children Cloud, which didn't suit him at all. It did warm my heart a great deal when people ran up to me and hugged me because I wasn't Advent Children Cloud though; I'm glad some people recognise the original and love it.
The Rest of this interview can be found in Part Two!
Good stuff.
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