I recently received an e-mail from Green Team Cosplay about costume creation. You guys may have read the cosplay article from last week. Well today I have an interview with Robbie Smith - one of the members of Green Team Cosplay. I ask about cosplay and when and where they like to wear their cosplay costumes. So, on to the good stuff….
What made you decide to start participating in cosplay?
I was kind of talked into it before my first convention, just wanted to get more involved in all of the stuff that goes on at the conventions.
What appealed to you the most about the whole concept of cosplay?
The creating, engineering, getting to hang out with my friends and build all this stuff, then the reaction we get at the convention by everyone who sees us.
What genres do you cover in cosplay?
I think we’d be willing to cover just about anything. It all just depends on what were into at the time.
What do other people outside of the cosplay community think about it?
I’m not really sure, I’ve gotten mixed reactions in the past, some are surprised, a few thought it was weird, and others are actually a little interested in how we make it.
Do they even understand what cosplay is?
Not usually, but its not hard to explain.
Where do you generally wear your cosplay costumes to?
Conventions mostly, however, we have worn it on Halloween a few times, even went bowling in cosplay.
How many cons do you visit a year?
I think we’re up to at least 3 a year, A-kon, Animefest, and Izumicon. There’s some others we’ve been to, but those 3 are every year.
Have you ever dreamt of going to the San Diego Comic-Con?
I wouldnt mind checking it out, but I’d much rather go to AnimeExpo.
Have you won awards for your cosplay?
No. Not yet anyway, I have a lot confidence in our next project.
What are your favorites characters to make cosplay costumes for?
So far, my favorite is my newest, Dr. Stien from SoulEater.
Why him or her?
I’m not sure, it was just fun. Fun to make, fun to wear.
What would you say is your best costume to date that you have made?
Dr. Stein. At least for what I’ve worn. Our current best creation is the Madarame Ikkaku’s bankai sword.
What character are you looking forward to tackling next?
Rebuilding a new, better, transforming version of the Ikkaku sword.
Why that character?
I’ve never seen anything done on the level that we have planned.
How many man hours do you put into one of your costumes?
It really depends on the costume, and many parts are done individually, so its kind of hard to say how long a complete costume takes. I guess anything from days for something really simple, to weeks and months for something complicated.
What usually takes the longest?
I dont think theirs a real answer to this question, due to the many steps that can be involved.
Do you create the accessories as well or are those store bought and redecorated?
We create just about everything that we wear. I’d say around 98-99% of what we have is made by us.
What accessory was the most difficult to make in all of the costumes that you¹ve made?
The Ikkaku bankai sword, so far.
What would you like to see featured in Geek Nation?
Maybe something about the conventions, or anime its self.
If someone were to have a cosplay party in town, would you attend?
Yes. I love showing off our cosplay work.
What tips do you have for people wanting to venture into the cosplay scene?
Research your materials, dont be afraid to experiment with stuff, you never know how well something may be for cosplay, even if it seems useless at first. Dont be afraid to ask others for help, especially if you have friends to ask(i dont believe our stuff would be possible with out the team work the group puts into it all).
Most importantly, have fun! Dont let it stress you out, dont get to worried about it, just have fun with it.
What are some websites that are informative on cosplay?
www.cosplay.com is probably the biggest one, at the moment, I can’t think of any others, although there are many places to see great cosplay pictures, which can always be good for ideas and tips.
Thanks Robbie for the great interview. I hope you guys out there liked it. I will be putting the rest of the interviews from Green Team Cosplay in later.
I enjoyed learning a little bit about the cosplay community these past couple of weeks. It is very interesting and some of the costumes are awesome.
I suggest all of you out there check out some photos of cosplay creations online. You will definitely be blown away by some of the detail that goes into these things. I think that about wraps this one up and I will see you all next week. Enjoy the rest of the page.
