of cosplaying

[argurotoxos]

In Ancient Philosophy, our professor asked us why we start making costumes in August for such a silly holiday like Halloween. I think he'd be even more confused by the cosplayers who start planning for next year's conventions when this year's aren't even over yet.

There are several cosplays I've completed since I first started going to anime conventions. There are several more that I started working on and never finished. And on top of those, there are more that have never gotten beyond the planning phase.

This post will consist of me sorting out what costumes I already have, any alterations that need to be made to them, and who [besides Bakura] to cosplay next year. A LJ cut has been provided for anyone who finds this incredibly dull.



--completed cosplays--

• Nuriko from Fushigi Yuugi [retired]
  ((The first anime cosplay I ever made. It's pretty badly done, though the gloves/arm guards came out fairly well. As it is, I fell out of the Fushigi Yuugi fandom several years ago [it feels like longer; it was only the second anime series I watched all the way through] and have no desire to make the necessary alterations to this cosplay.))
  
  
• Fujisaki Suguru from Gravitation [retired]
  ((A cosplay created for a Gravitation group at PortConMaine2004. Even though I'm not very good at playing the piano, I did learn one of the Gravitation themes for Fujisaki, even though I never performed it in front of anyone. Another cosplay where I fell out of the fandom shortly after, but I really did like Fujisaki and the way the cosplay came out. The hair was especially fun, no wigs used.))
  
  
• Kurosaki Hisoka from Yami no Matsuei
  ((I don't think I will ever get tired of this cosplay. There's also nothing that needs altered on it. Unless I want to buy green contacts.))
  
  
• Tsuzuki Asato from Yami no Matsuei
  ((Tsuzuki was originally just Fujisaki's outfit with a different shirt and a borrowed trenchcoat. Now, I finally have my own black trenchcoat, and it's not the grey one I tried to dye black that didn't turn out quite right. Tsuzuki's fun, but rather hot. Temperature-wise, that is; trenchcoat plus suit isn't the best for cons.))
  
  
• Killua Zaoldyeck [Hunter Exam and disqualified versions] from Hunter x Hunter
  ((I'd like to make another skateboard at some point - I messed up during the finishing process on the first one - and I really dislike wearing wigs, but other than that, Killua is much love. His disqualified version with the blood and nails is also fun, though rather unpractical because I can't do much of anything with the hand with nails; it would also be better if I had an extra t-shirt I could spatter blood on to match. Speaking of the t-shirt, the one I have is technically the wrong kind of collar; it's a u-neck rather than a v-neck. I also might make some Greed Island-style yo-yos for him at some point.))
  
  
• L from Death Note
  ((There's very little to do for L, but it's a very comfortable cosplay. I suppose I could get a pair of loose blue jeans instead of using black jeans, but . . .))
  
  
• Yami no Bakura from Yuugiou
  ((I don't even know if I should list this as 'complete'. There's so much missing and the only things I'm really happy with are the shoes, duel disk, and bandage. Needs wig, Sennen Ring, more accurate t-shirt and dress shirt, and grey pants. And there will be no Thief King scar for PortCon.))

--unfinished cosplays--

• Kurikara Ryuu-Ou from Yami no Matsuei
  ((I have a lot of the accessories, but am still missing the main jacket and wig [though since Kurikara cuts his hair in the later chapters, a wig isn't necessary]. Finding or making something for the jacket is really the only thing keeping this cosplay from being completed. It's been a while since I've read the Yami no Matsuei manga, but I'd still like to cosplay Kurikara.))
  
  
• Michael from Angel Sanctuary [retired]
  ((This was originally for an Angel Sanctuary cosplay group that never happened. I liked the series enough to be willing to cosplay it for other fans, but probably won't finish it on my own volition, even though I think all I'm missing is a wig [or hair dye], boots, and pants. And practice painting the dragon tatoo.))
  
  
• Chihaya from Earthian
  ((All I have for Chihaya is a cheap pair of black wings I bought that don't fit quite right, but I've been wanting to cosplay Chihaya off and on since I first saw Earthian almost four years ago. If I feel productive enough to try to make my own pair of wings and/or find clothing that fits Chihaya, it'll be a go.))
  
  
• Shinou Hikaru from Hikaru no Go [retired]
  ((A plan made back when I was first watching Hikaru no Go. It never got very far beyond buying a travel-size Go board. Severely over-indulging in the anime last year led me to distance myself from it, but trickles of interest occasionally reappear.))
  
  
• Kuroro Lucifer [York Shin disguised version] from Hunter x Hunter
  ((I semi-cosplayed Kuroro while in Tsuzuki's outfit for a photoshoot, but re-watching the anime, Kuroro's suit is actually navy blue, not black. No idea what to do about the earrings or whether I'll actually paint the cross on the forehead or just use bandages, but I really would like to complete this one. Will also need to make his nen book.))

--cosplay not yet started--

• Anthony J. Crowley from Good Omens
  ((I haven't even read the novel yet, but already want to cosplay him based on what I've read on fansites. Might be able to use parts of Tsuzuki for him, but will need sunglasses, [fake] snakeskin boots, and possibly a [fake] snake, apple, and/or cigarette as props. Will also need slitted yellow contacts if I'm being really accurate. There are a number of wonderful Crowley fanarts here; I particularly like the art by Linn on the third page, especially the book cover tribute and the picture where Crowley is pouring wine for Aziraphale. Would be lovely to cosplay with an Aziraphale.))
  
  
• Kurapika [York Shin disguise version] from Hunter x Hunter
  ((The all-black outfit with the long black wig Kurapika wore in the early part of the first OVA; he's wearing it when Gon and Killua turn themselves in to the Ryodan to keep Kurapika from being discovered. The idea came to me when Kurapika was still my favourite Hunter x Hunter character, but I knew I didn't want to sew enough to do any of Kurapika's regular outfits.))
  
  
• Hiei from Yuu Yuu Hakusho
  ((Suggested by my oldest friend. If I do cosplay him, I'll probably paint on the dragon mark.))
  
  
• Young Hephaistion from history
  ((This is the Ancient Greek cosplay. Or Macedonian, rather. Hephaistion because he's rather like Killua to Alexander's Gon [except for the part where he's a professional assassin, that is] and young Hephaistion because I'm not nearly tall enough to pull off Hephaistion as an adult. And yes, I do think you can draw a parallel between Alexander the Great and Hunter x Hunter.))
  
  
• Yami no Yuugi from Yuugiou
  ((I still like the idea of cosplaying Yami no Yuugi and Yuugi, but the thought of the wig makes me very hesitant.))
  
  
• Mighty Max from Mighty Max
  ((It's not very hard -- white T-shirt with a red 'M', blue jeans, sneakers, red cap with a yellow 'M', and a [fake] iguana. Plus, it's great to spread appreciation for lesser-known fandoms.))
  
  
• Armand from The Vampire Chronicles
  ((I see so few Armands that actually look like how he's described in the novels. However, I'm not very good at sewing and I have a suspicion that I'll have to make most of Armand's outfit myself. It'll also require a wig. [You can see some wonderful Armand artwork over on Dany and Dany; no direct links to images because they don't allow it.]))
  
  
• Young Muraki Kazutaka from Yami no Matsuei [retired]
  ((This is an idea from about two years ago while I was writing a fanfic about Muraki's youth that never got finished.))
  
  
• Garrett from the Thief computer game series
  ((I look absolutely nothing like him, but I really love the games. A random Keeper would also be acceptable.))
  
  
• Dev/Null from Vampire the Masquerade: Redemption
  ((No one would ever recognize me, but he's a fun character.))
  
  
• someone from Star Trek
  ((It strikes me as odd that I've been a Trekker longer than anything else, but I haven't cosplayed anyone from it. Who to cosplay, I'm not sure, but it'll be someone from either the original series or Deep Space Nine. Maybe Spock. Or a random Bajoran; I like their earrings and the make-up isn't as difficult as, say, a Cardassian's.))

--and next year's cosplays are . . .--

Yami no Bakura is committed. For my secondary cosplays, I'd like to use Kuroro Lucifer and Crowley with Killua and L as the backups, respectively. Kurosaki Hisoka might be tagging along for a half-day; I've never gone a convention without him. And for next Halloween [which I just realized I might not be in the US for], the plan is to finish either Kurikara Ryuu-Ou or Chihaya. Another goal of mine is to cosplay Killua with a Gon, but I have no idea when that'll happen.

Is anyone interested in cosplaying Aziraphale for PortCon? For that matter, has anyone read Good Omens? Also, even though I said I wouldn't be attending Anime Boston next year, my oldest friend who I haven't seen in nearly two years said he's going, so I might try to make it just for Saturday.